Balcarrick Golf Club

waterford333

Hi, I would like to get people's opinion on Balcarrick golf course? I'm moving up to Dublin from the country and am thinking about joining this course, mainly due to the cheap memberships prices and that its only be a 2 minute spin from where I'll be living.

In general, is the course playable all year round? From what I can gather the course itself seems to be quite open, is that more or less true? Their website is a little OTT, making out the place is the best thing since slice bread! So not sure how much I can go on that.

Do people have any other thoughts on the course? Are their competition time sheets difficult to get on etc? All info will be very helpful.

f22

Very open and average IMO. Far from the worst course I've ever played though.

Unglika Norse

f22 wrote: »

Very open and average IMO. Far from the worst course I've ever played though.

very true, there are better golf courses out there than balcarrick for similar money, in fact I would consider that dear for the course

billy3sheets

Played there 2 weeks ago in a team comp. The course itself is flat as it's close to the sea and not much variation in holes. Clubhouse is a bit drab. Course was in good nick with really nice greens.
Haven't played it in winter time so don't know how drainage holds up there.
That whole area of Donabate, Malahide, Swords has a huge choice of good clubs for a variety of prices. There have been several discussion threads on here about members evaluating their merits.

Kace

My only memory was being able to stand in the middle of the course, do a 360 degree turn and see every single player in the place.

f22

One addition, by far the worst stocked pro shop I have ever been in, an embarassment to the club!

pitchnputt lad

waterford333 wrote: »

Hi, I would like to get people's opinion on Balcarrick golf course? I'm moving up to Dublin from the country and am thinking about joining this course, mainly due to the cheap memberships prices and that its only be a 2 minute spin from where I'll be living.

In general, is the course playable all year round? From what I can gather the course itself seems to be quite open, is that more or less true? Their website is a little OTT, making out the place is the best thing since slice bread! So not sure how much I can go on that.

Do people have any other thoughts on the course? Are their competition time sheets difficult to get on etc? All info will be very helpful.

ITS A LOVELY COURSE BUT LADYHILL AINT FAR EITHER AND THATS ONLY 500 FOR THE YEAR AND THERES ANOTHER COURSE BODENSTOWN BESIDE IT YOU CAN PLAY TOO.

bigtimecharlie

pitchnputt lad wrote: »

ITS A LOVELY COURSE BUT LADYHILL AINT FAR EITHER AND THATS ONLY 500 FOR THE YEAR AND THERES ANOTHER COURSE BODENSTOWN BESIDE IT YOU CAN PLAY TOO.

Those capital letters suggest that you are screaming.

So "caps lock" off please.

bigtimecharlie

pitchnputt lad wrote: »

ITS A LOVELY COURSE BUT LADYHILL AINT FAR EITHER AND THATS ONLY 500 FOR THE YEAR AND THERES ANOTHER COURSE BODENSTOWN BESIDE IT YOU CAN PLAY TOO.

"Caps lock" off please......

f22

pitchnputt lad wrote: »

ITS A LOVELY COURSE BUT LADYHILL AINT FAR EITHER AND THATS ONLY 500 FOR THE YEAR AND THERES ANOTHER COURSE BODENSTOWN BESIDE IT YOU CAN PLAY TOO.

Bodenstown is miles away and a dump!

Mister Sifter

pitchnputt lad wrote: »

ITS A LOVELY COURSE BUT LADYHILL AINT FAR EITHER AND THATS ONLY 500 FOR THE YEAR AND THERES ANOTHER COURSE BODENSTOWN BESIDE IT YOU CAN PLAY TOO.

If Bodenstown were an apple:



Serious contender for worst course in Ireland.

Oliver1985

Played there 5 times , worst pro shop going, course is in great nick greens are perfect but if its windy out there it can be hard with all that water!!!

pitchnputt lad

trust me ive played worse ......................grange caslte ,lutterlstown dumps

waterford333

Cheers for the replys guys.

In regards to the pro shop, theres two golf shops in swords which will do me, the clubhouse i might or might not use, so its not a big factor for why I would be joning the course.

Would people feel the course is better than your Hollystown's or Turvey's?? You know that level of course. Refreshing to hear the greens are good, according to their website they spent a great deal on the course in the past few years. could people compare it to other courses around the Dublin area? I hope to play a lot of club comps so if people had info on timesheets and being able to get on them, that would be a great help?

I've havent had chance to play the course, I've drove around it but living so close I dont really want to rule it out. I did speak to the club but felt like they were telling me all I wanted to hear if you get me, so would be nice to get some proper impartial info.

GorHugh

pitchnputt lad wrote: »

trust me ive played worse ......................grange caslte ,lutterlstown dumps

Luttrlestown described as a dump thats funny !!!

Kace

GorHugh wrote: »

Luttrlestown described as a dump thats funny !!!

I thought the same - must be a typo.

f22

Balcarrick is far superior to both Hollystown and Turvey, neither of which I would play for free.

colmsix

hi i was a member there for a few years. always nice greens and the revamp they did a few years ago turned it into a harder challange than before. if your living in donabte try beaverstown great value at the moment. good luck

waterford333

colmsix wrote: »

hi i was a member there for a few years. always nice greens and the revamp they did a few years ago turned it into a harder challange than before. if your living in donabte try beaverstown great value at the moment. good luck

I looked at Beaverstown and its something like €3,000 to get in and thats your first year sub also.

Can I ask how did you find getting on the timesheet on weekend's? Does the club have an awful lot of members, making it difficult to get out if you call up late for a Saturday or Sunday tee time? I hear in other clubs like Corrstown members have experienced problems with timesheets filling so quick.

carnsoreboxer

Just back from playing in pro-am in Beaverstown. I'm not a member but it's one of those courses I love visiting. Course is very well maintained and visitors are always made feel very welcome. Food is good and there is always a good atmosphere in the clubhouse.

As I live on the far side of the city it was never an option for me to enquire about joining, thankfully they have lots of opens and invitations, however, if I lived closer to it I would give it serious thought.

Just my cents worth!

FlutterinBantam

Balbriggan is the best course in your area, giving good deals right now.

Worth checking out.

Oliver1985

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Balbriggan is the best course in your area, giving good deals right now.

Worth checking out.

Teetimes.ie is offering a few slots out there for 15euro during the week, i might check it out!!

billy3sheets

Be sure to check out HOLLYWOOD LAKES too
GREEN FEES FROM 1ST NOVEMBER 2010

€20.00 MON * WED * THURS * FRIDAY
€10.00 TUESDAYS - €10 GREENFEES ALL DAY!!

waterford333

Anyone with any more info on Balcarrick? My biggest concern the same with many Dublin courses is getting on the time sheet. Has anyone got bad experiences on this in Balcarrick?

From what i hear the course is generally in good nick? so thats in encouraging.

Oliver1985

I went on a monday two weeks ago 10am there was two cars in the car park!! No issues!

waterford333

Oliver1985 wrote: »

I went on a monday two weeks ago 10am there was two cars in the car park!! No issues!

In fairness though most clubs in the Dublin area would be generally quite on a Monday morning.

I was wondering about the timesheet on weekends, I know like any club in the Dublin area it will be busy, but hope that you can get a slot late enough in the week and dont have to book two weeks in advance which can be difficult due to work commitments at times...

waterford333

f22 wrote: »

Balcarrick is far superior to both Hollystown and Turvey, neither of which I would play for free.

Thats interesting, played Hollystown earlier this year when they gave out those free vouchers and thought, for paying nothing, it was grand. Wouldn't join, course a bit bland but grand.

So what course would you compare Balcarrick too? Altough not a top notch course the fees are cheaper than many others in the area.

koneb

Going to try play Balcarrick sometime this week and if I like it potentially join, I'm under 28 so I could get the introductory membership for €500 for the year, I can't see any better value proposition in north Dublin to get my GUI handicap and green fees included for the year....thoughts?