Druids Heath

stumpypeeps

I'm just looking to gather some feedback on Druids Heath? Its quite close to me and I'm planning on playing a round there sometime soon.

I've heard its plenty long but how else does it play?

Is it busy often, any members with some feedback would be greatly appreciated.

jimjo

Played there a while back and really liked the course. Depending what tees you play off it can be very long. We had to play off the greens and on some holes I felt it was a short because I was preparing myself for driver and rescue clubs all day but it wasn't near the case.

For some reason the place seems to get a little bad press which I dont know why, maybe cause some see it as the lesser of the Druid's courses, but it shouldn't be seen like this. The 2nd is a cracking par 5, 3th par over water on the front nine stick out. On the back theres a lovely par 3 14th i think and that index 1 and the hole directly after it all spring to mind. Each hole brought a different challenge, the greens were quick and in good nick. The day I played the course was more or less dead. To be fair its a real interesting course, maybe because I went there with low expectations it faired so well.

stumpypeeps

jimjo wrote: »

Played there a while back and really liked the course. Depending what tees you play off it can be very long. We had to play off the greens and on some holes I felt it was a short because I was preparing myself for driver and rescue clubs all day but it wasn't near the case.

For some reason the place seems to get a little bad press which I dont know why, maybe cause some see it as the lesser of the Druid's courses, but it shouldn't be seen like this. The 2nd is a cracking par 5, 3th par over water on the front nine stick out. On the back theres a lovely par 3 14th i think and that index 1 and the hole directly after it all spring to mind. Each hole brought a different challenge, the greens were quick and in good nick. The day I played the course was more or less dead. To be fair its a real interesting course, maybe because I went there with low expectations it faired so well.

Cheers Jimjo. I think I'll check it out sometime soon. It looks good from what I've seen. Down the line it may be somewhere I consider joining. Its very competetive price wise considering the quality of the course and its location.

stebed

I am a member. I play Thursday and Friday and the course is dead. Great course, can be long depending on what tee you play from, still tough from the front (greens) as 17 of the greens are elevated so anything short normally finds sand and off the sides is either sand or rough. The greens are very difficult also. Nice course in good nick at present, rough is down at moment but come in the summer when the rough is up and you will need to bring plenty of balls. I played Royal Dublin in March and I would say Druids Heath is about 4 shots harder!

d2ww

Stebed, just curious about which tees the members play off in your weekly comps, if it's the full length whites, you guys must be right bandits on other courses

heavyballs

d2ww wrote: »

Stebed, just curious about which tees the members play off in your weekly comps, if it's the full length whites, you guys must be right bandits on other courses

i find it doesn't normally work out like that when sss is taken into consideration,in my experience most bandit clubs are nor overly difficult

i concede there are bandits everywhere but i know some members up their playing off 5-8 and they are defo not bandits

i would consider the following all easyish courses but imo full of bandits Greystones,Delgany and Collattin gets first prize

BUACHAILL

i would consider the following all easyish courses but imo full of bandits Greystones,Delgany and Collattin gets first prize[/QUOTE]

When is the last time you have played Coollattin ?

I wont disagree about the bandits, but this year that will change. They have introduced a review of all handicaps every November and also doing a lot more cutting on general play which is encouraging !!

d2ww

Didn't think about the SSS, but I don't know if it levels scores enough for higher handicappers like myself. Personally, I find say Delgany to be at least 6 or 7 shots easier than your own Druids heath.
Anyway, getting back to the green or white tee issue, the reason I ask was that I was considering joining DH next year but would find playing the whites regularly a bit too much like hard work.

heavyballs

BUACHAILL wrote: »

i would consider the following all easyish courses but imo full of bandits Greystones,Delgany and Collattin gets first prize

When is the last time you have played Coollattin ?

I wont disagree about the bandits, [/QUOTE]

i played there 3 weeks ago,the new par 5 is really a long par 4,hit it with a 5 iron,r u saying the course is more difficult now than say last year?

r u suggesting you're course is difficult because it's not,but it's a nice course all the same
glad to hear they're sorting out the bandits,at last.

BUACHAILL

heavyballs wrote: »

When is the last time you have played Coollattin ?

I wont disagree about the bandits,

i played there 3 weeks ago,the new par 5 is really a long par 4,hit it with a 5 iron,r u saying the course is more difficult now than say last year?

r u suggesting you're course is difficult because it's not,but it's a nice course all the same
glad to hear they're sorting out the bandits,at last.[/QUOTE

I agree it never used to be difficult but they have added length, new holes, water, new sand based undulating greens and a brand new layout and yes I would say its difficult enough, not an animal by any stretch but not easy. I am not being boyist as its my course and I am honest in my appraisal's on courses but Coollattin can catch the best of players out and put you in all sorts of trouble and its far from easy in its new set-up unlike its old one which I agree was easy !!

I agree on the new par 5 being a par 4 but hey every course has its flaws, its certainly not a really long par 4 either I can reach it with a drive and 9 iron, only other poor hole is 18. Every other hole has plenty of trouble and even good shots get punished !!

if it was that easy for you your obviously a savage golfer because I have a lot of friends off single figure handicaps struggle weekly around the place !!

heavyballs

maybe it's just one of those courses that suits me,but in fairness one of my mates is a member and the scores that are winning the weekly comps are a joke,i play off 5 and although i said it was easyish i wouldn't be mapped in a comp down there goin by what he says,43 points +

BUACHAILL

there ye go !! It is a joke the scores that come in, guy off 21 last week won the v-par with 9 up, you would want to shoot some score for that off 5 but in fairness the days of them scores are coming to an end. I am the first to complain about the scores down there but it is slowly changing. But that is a seperate issue. The course as I have said isnt a monster by any means but it is a good test. Delgany, kilcoole etc just dont compare in my opinion !!

stebed

d2ww wrote: »

Stebed, just curious about which tees the members play off in your weekly comps, if it's the full length whites, you guys must be right bandits on other courses

Well We just had our first comp of the whites last week. Once a month we will play a Monthly Sableford golfer of the year comp from the whites. To be honest there are probably only about 6 holes that where a lot longer as we have been playing the greens from the front of the white boxes. Through the winter the greens were forward but still not easy. I play off 11 and my best comp score there was 34 points on a very windy day (about 4 clubs) that came second. The comp from the whites was won by a 15hcp with 38 points and the morning was no wind.

Yes there are bandits there but through the winter with lift and clean in the rough and all bunkers out of play it did make it easier for the high handicappers.

We will have to see what happens now with the bunkers are in play and the greens speeding up.

I played yesterday and shot 82, first time I have played to my handicap there so yes I think it is a very tough course but a real challenge that can only make you a better golfer.

heavyballs

stebed wrote: »

I played yesterday and shot 82, first time I have played to my handicap there so yes I think it is a very tough course but a real challenge that can only make you a better golfer.

how many approx play in your weekly comp,out of that number how many are the new yearly sub member
the reason i ask is i'm thinking of joining on the €1500 deal but i'd like to know what is the outook for those members in your opinion,i don't want to join and be told in 2 years to head on
if i knew the approx % i'd have an idea of how long it would last for
and finallywhat is the atmosphere lik up there to the new members and do the heath enter the interclub comps,thanks

BUACHAILL

Couple of my friends joined on this offer and said that the atmosphere is very good up there. I know for a fact they do not enter interclub comps as its a question I had asked myself. Not sure on a percentage of players in club on that deal for sure but I would hazard a guess at about 60-70%. Memebers of Druids Glen automatically qualified for the Heath and If I am right I think there is only 2-300 members in the Glen.

Personally I think the deal will be around for a long time to come. Members of the Glen I have been told tend to stay in the Glen hence why the Heath was originally never getting used. I dont think they can afford to cease the offer !!

Just my thoughts, I went for the interview originally and spoke with them, they all seem very nice.

WillyWonka

I love the place. I've been a member since last year. PM me if you want a game with reduced green fee as it's pretty steep.
The only bad thing I can think of is that the bunkers don't seem to be great. Or maybe it's just that I can't play them!

stebed

Not really sure what you are asking about the percentage?

There are about 250 heath members that came in on the 1500 offer. We don't enter the GUI inter club comps at this stage but don't see it being a problem in the future if someone steps up to organise it all. Sunday comps (saturday once a month) attract about 150 members, in the winter when there are reduced tee times due to light the start sheet is full. Generally it costs €5 to enter a comp and the winner gets €100. The atmosphere there isn't great in my opinion, but I don't really know anyone and haven't tried to make it any better, I does lack a club house but I joined for the course.

Would I recommend it to you? Yes great course and facilities just no real social scene.

heavyballs

stebed wrote: »

Not really sure what you are asking about the percentage?

QUOTE]

the reason i was wondering about the % is to get an idea on how relient the club are on those new members who didn't pay an entrance fee,(do they have any of these)

i'm thinking of joining next year,it's a pity they don't guarantee the 1500 for say 5 years,that would interest me,i wouldn't like to be turfed out after 2 or3 years although i would imagine that's unlikely

stebed

Ok understand now, cant say I have ever played with anyone that is a member at the Glen, someone though I was the other day because they hadn't played with me before but that is the first time I have heard it mentioned. I play pretty much every Thursday and Friday, pm me if you want an invite.

What Handicap are you Heavy ?

heavyballs

stebed wrote: »

Ok understand now, cant say I have ever played with anyone that is a member at the Glen, someone though I was the other day because they hadn't played with me before but that is the first time I have heard it mentioned. I play pretty much every Thursday and Friday, pm me if you want an invite.

What Handicap are you Heavy ?

i play off 5,just about,i'm 5.4,i strugle a bit off it tbh,i think joining somewhere like the heath where you have to drive the ball well would be good for me,will pm you later i'm off to the kids match now,ta for the invite.

stebed

Ok no probs. i am off 11, but should be more like 7 with the work I am putting in. It is such a hard course most people added 2 to their handicaps this season.

Go City.

Obni

I'm a member of Druid's Heath.
Well, technically speaking there are two golf courses "the Glen" and "the Heath", and only one golf club "the Glen". As a member of "the Heath" I'm actually a special class of member of "the Glen" club with no playing rights on "the Glen" course.

There were no member of this type before 2009. From chatting to Barry (the course manager) there were 300 members taken in at the start of 2009 and 50 more joined in the summer. They lost about 50 at the end of 2009 and admitted that many at the start of 2010. So there's a stable membership of approx 350 "Heath" members and 100% of them are on the €1500 per annum deal.
The Glen only has a fraction of that number and even fewer regularly active members. Last Sunday we had our first medal competition and there were exactly 99 names on the timesheet, compared to the Glen competition the same day with about 20 on the timesheet.
I can't imagine they'll scrap the €1500 scheme anytime soon, and lose the extra €525,000 income per annum. That must fund a huge portion of their greenkeeping costs for the year.

Interclub golf requires that you represent a club, not a course. So, we can only represent the Glen golf club, and they, quite rightly, pick the 'full' members of the Glen for their teams. There are a few competitions they don't enter, so maybe we may propose putting forward teams for those competitions next year under the Glen club name. Then you have the problem of teams coming to play a fixture against "the Glen" and being brought out on "the Heath". As picturesque and challenging as the Glen may be, it plays 3 or 4 (or 5?) shots easier than the Heath.

heavyballs

Obni wrote: »

I'm a member of Druid's Heath.
Well, technically speaking there are two golf courses "the Glen" and "the Heath", and only one golf club "the Glen". As a member of "the Heath" I'm actually a special class of member of "the Glen" club with no playing rights on "the Glen" course.

There were no member of this type before 2009. From chatting to Barry (the course manager) there were 300 members taken in at the start of 2009 and 50 more joined in the summer. They lost about 50 at the end of 2009 and admitted that many at the start of 2010. So there's a stable membership of approx 350 "Heath" members and 100% of them are on the €1500 per annum deal.
The Glen only has a fraction of that number and even fewer regularly active members. Last Sunday we had our first medal competition and there were exactly 99 names on the timesheet, compared to the Glen competition the same day with about 20 on the timesheet.
I can't imagine they'll scrap the €1500 scheme anytime soon, and lose the extra €525,000 income per annum. That must fund a huge portion of their greenkeeping costs for the year.

QUOTE]

thanks for the info,sounds good,but tbh i really would need conpetitive inter club comps to sway me,
although in sayin that the course is about a 3 min ride from my house so that's the possitive

Ben1010

stebed wrote: »

I am a member. I play Thursday and Friday and the course is dead. Great course, can be long depending on what tee you play from, still tough from the front (greens) as 17 of the greens are elevated so anything short normally finds sand and off the sides is either sand or rough. The greens are very difficult also. Nice course in good nick at present, rough is down at moment but come in the summer when the rough is up and you will need to bring plenty of balls. I played Royal Dublin in March and I would say Druids Heath is about 4 shots harder!

Sir, how much are the green fees for an open competition tomorrow?

Hacker111

Druids Heath played in Pierce Purcell qualifier in Wicklow yest?

heavyballs

Hacker111 wrote: »

Druids Heath played in Pierce Purcell qualifier in Wicklow yest?

and................they're gui affiliated this year i beleive

Hacker111

heavyballs wrote: »

and................they're gui affiliated this year i beleive

just saying that they are playing inter clubs now....

heavyballs

Hacker111 wrote: »

just saying that they are playing inter clubs now....

sorry,they would be a tough team to beat at home that's for sure

Ben1010

Obni wrote: »

I'm a member of Druid's Heath.
Well, technically speaking there are two golf courses "the Glen" and "the Heath", and only one golf club "the Glen". As a member of "the Heath" I'm actually a special class of member of "the Glen" club with no playing rights on "the Glen" course.

There were no member of this type before 2009. From chatting to Barry (the course manager) there were 300 members taken in at the start of 2009 and 50 more joined in the summer. They lost about 50 at the end of 2009 and admitted that many at the start of 2010. So there's a stable membership of approx 350 "Heath" members and 100% of them are on the €1500 per annum deal.
The Glen only has a fraction of that number and even fewer regularly active members. Last Sunday we had our first medal competition and there were exactly 99 names on the timesheet, compared to the Glen competition the same day with about 20 on the timesheet.
I can't imagine they'll scrap the €1500 scheme anytime soon, and lose the extra €525,000 income per annum. That must fund a huge portion of their greenkeeping costs for the year.

Interclub golf requires that you represent a club, not a course. So, we can only represent the Glen golf club, and they, quite rightly, pick the 'full' members of the Glen for their teams. There are a few competitions they don't enter, so maybe we may propose putting forward teams for those competitions next year under the Glen club name. Then you have the problem of teams coming to play a fixture against "the Glen" and being brought out on "the Heath". As picturesque and challenging as the Glen may be, it plays 3 or 4 (or 5?) shots easier than the Heath.

Obni...any ideas for the green fees for tomorrow singles stableford at he the heath course?

Obni

Ben1010 wrote: »

Obni...any ideas for the green fees for tomorrow singles stableford at he the heath course?

Visitors €35. Couple of societies out tomorrow also. Recommend you play early or after lunch.