New Membership 9 months will do

heavyballs

I'm looking to join a club in south Dublin/north Wicklow next year.

Looking at the weather we had last winter and this poxy cold snap i'm reluctant to join any golf club for the full year.
Now i realize if you're a full member already you've no choice but i'll be joining somewhere like Druids Heath on a yearly basis.

If this brutal weather continues i won't be handing over €1500 to Druids for 9/10 months.

I might just bide my time,wait till Feb/March and make a few calls

Anyone else in a similar situation?

Dr_Colossus

Yes but I'm not sure of a way around it, no golf club that I've heard off offer a month by month membership. The idea is to wait until Apr and then try and negotiate a reduced membership amount? Would probably work as a once off but then you're faced with the same problem next year. GUI affiliation is for one year at a time so presume if you join in Apr you'd officially be covered until the following April but your club would cease your membership and handicap management at the end of Dec at their year end?
I've seen some clubs make end of year offers where you can join from Sep or Oct for the same annual price and effectively get up to 16 months membership for the price of 12. Tulfarris are currently doing such an offer where you can join from Nov and use the club until their year end in Mar 2012, GUI handicap however is only effective from Mar 2011 until 2012. This is the club I was going to join last weekend but had to postpone it with the course closed due to snow.

sweetswing

Cash is king heavy balls, I would imagine if you strolled down to your club of choice and had a quiet word you might just be lucky, if ya don't ask ya don't get .

Mister Sifter

Are you going to seek a rebate if a few of the sunday summer comps get cancelled due to rain too?

If you only want to pay for what you play then there are plenty of pay and play type membership offers out there.

thegen

Heavy you'd be better off getting distance membership and going the pay as you play route as you seem to have no interest in joining a club.

WHIP IT!

thegen wrote: »

Heavy you'd be better off getting distance membership and going the pay as you play route as you seem to have no interest in joining a club.

I love this. Clubs just can't seem to get their head round the fact people want value for money these days - the cheek of them, eh! the Gravy Train is over lads, deal with it & cut ur fees.

Mister Sifter

WHIP IT! wrote: »

I love this. Clubs just can't seem to get their head round the fact people want value for money these days - the cheek of them, eh! the Gravy Train is over lads, deal with it & cut ur fees.

Are club fees still artificially high? The last golf club AGM i attended they were running at a loss so couldn't cut fees. The annual fee would probably be classed by the likes of you as 'too high'. What's the alternative? Slash fees and increase membership numbers?

There's massive value for money out there currently - some cracking green fee deals around these days.

What i can't get my head around is that people living in Ireland expect to be able to play their golf course 365 days a year. Go to England or Scotland where a huge number of clubs basically shut their doors for the winter months with perhaps one winter comp per month, if you're lucky.

The_Architect

Mister Sifter wrote: »

Are club fees still artificially high? The last golf club AGM i attended they were running at a loss so couldn't cut fees. The annual fee would probably be classed by the likes of you as 'too high'. What's the alternative? Build courses that run on lower operating costs but agree that for existing clubs this can be difficult Slash fees and increase membership numbers?

There's massive value for money out there currently - some cracking green fee deals around these days.

What i can't get my head around is that people living in Ireland expect to be able to play their golf course 365 days a year. People should understand that links courses and courses with reconstructed USGA greens generally stay open in winter. Others need winter greens or need to close. Go to England or Scotland where a huge number of clubs basically shut their doors for the winter months with perhaps one winter comp per month, if you're lucky.

Response in bold above

Mister Sifter

The_Architect wrote: »

Response in bold above

My gripe is that people want what is available now, but cheaper. What is it they say about having your cake and eating it?

My point is that if you want cheap golf in this country then you can get it. People wanting all and everything available to them all the time and at 'cheap' prices simply isn't realistic.

The_Architect

Mister Sifter wrote: »

My gripe is that people want what is available now, but cheaper. What is it they say about having your cake and eating it?

My point is that if you want cheap golf in this country then you can get it. People wanting all and everything available to them all the time and at 'cheap' prices simply isn't realistic.

Agree absolutely.

heavyballs

thegen wrote: »

Heavy you'd be better off getting distance membership and going the pay as you play route as you seem to have no interest in joining a club.

have that at the moment,
yes i do have an interest in joining and hope to join Greystones possibly over the next 2-3 years,they still have a joining fee of €6k which is a bit out of my range at the moment
all i want is somewhere for a few years,most courses close to me still have a joining fee,i expect this to change within the next few years as most have a very high avereage age

btw i play a lot of scr cups around the country during the year,spend at €1,500 on those,i'm just looking for the best value,sorry

Russman

I think the suggestion of walking into a club and having a word is certainly worthwhile - cash is indeed king in these times.

There are a few clubs that have no joining fee or that do the annual membership thing. South County is one I know of, can't remember the price but i think its around €700-€800. I know Slade Valley have no joining fee but at €1,425 (incl bar levy) its a bit steep.

If you play a lot of scratch cups and aren't too bothered about where you have your membership then maybe something like Blessington Lakes (around €700 I think) or even Dublin Mountain (something like €500) might be worth looking into. Not that there's anything wrong with these clubs, Blessington Lakes is actually a fine 9 hole course, but you know what I mean.

downthemiddle

Russman wrote: »

If you play a lot of scratch cups and aren't too bothered about where you have your membership then maybe something like Blessington Lakes (around €700 I think) or even Dublin Mountain (something like €500) might be worth looking into. Not that there's anything wrong with these clubs, Blessington Lakes is actually a fine 9 hole course, but you know what I mean.

Blessington Lakes is 549 until March 2012 if introduced by a member. If anyone is interested in the offer send me a pm.

Sammo13

HBalls - I used to play 12-15 Scr Cups every year and was a country member, €300 for a handicap and then €600 or so on casual/open golf.

But since I joined DH in 2009, I have cut back on playing JSC's and next year I have decided to stick to DH and look to get on 1 or 2 of the teams.

I think €1500 a year (9/10 mths) is good value if year playing week in week out.. But if you want to play Scr Cups and opens then don't pay the €1500..

BUACHAILL

heavyballs wrote: »

I'm looking to join a club in south Dublin/north Wicklow next year.

Looking at the weather we had last winter and this poxy cold snap i'm reluctant to join any golf club for the full year.
Now i realize if you're a full member already you've no choice but i'll be joining somewhere like Druids Heath on a yearly basis.

If this brutal weather continues i won't be handing over €1500 to Druids for 9/10 months.

I might just bide my time,wait till Feb/March and make a few calls

Anyone else in a similar situation?

Howya me aul flower ?

You still looking for a club ? Jeez man just do it already
Just join the Heath you been name dropping them long enough:eek:

heavyballs

BUACHAILL wrote: »

Howya me aul flower ?

You still looking for a club ? Jeez man just do it already
Just join the Heath you been name dropping them long enough:eek:

you see BOY,it's grand for you,1 or 2 Tiger raids a month keeps the wolf from the door,a while back i see you joined Arklow to go along with your other club
must be great to have money:D

anyway i think €1500 for DH is great tbh,i was just pointing out that in my area a lot of clubs are still way out of my league,Greystones,Dun Laoire etc

there's a lot of value out there alright but there are still some clubs pulling the pish.......Glen of the Downs €1950 i think and no joining fee...joke imo,how can they expect to compete with DH for eg,couldn't get out of bed to play that place

heavyballs

Sammo13 wrote: »

HBalls - I used to play 12-15 Scr Cups every year and was a country member, €300 for a handicap and then €600 or so on casual/open golf.

But since I joined DH in 2009, I have cut back on playing JSC's and next year I have decided to stick to DH and look to get on 1 or 2 of the teams.

I think €1500 a year (9/10 mths) is good value if year playing week in week out.. But if you want to play Scr Cups and opens then don't pay the €1500..

you're right,if i can get the cash together i'll join,it's about 5 mins from me,what's the craic like up there,i heard from a mate the meeting last month went well
is it true if you're a member you can play in the Druids Glen open singles comp fro €15 or something like that?

The_Architect

heavyballs wrote: »

you see BOY,it's grand for you,1 or 2 Tiger raids a month keeps the wolf from the door,a while back i see you joined Arklow to go along with your other club
must be great to have money:D

anyway i think €1500 for DH is great tbh,i was just pointing out that in my area a lot of clubs are still way out of my league,Greystones,Dun Laoire etc

there's a lot of value out there alright but there are still some clubs pulling the pish.......Glen of the Downs €1950 i think and no joining fee...joke imo,how can they expect to compete with DH for eg,couldn't get out of bed to play that place

I think Glen of the Downs gets a bad rap. I like the place. There are enough golf holes with good variety to make the place a really fun round.

With a few tweaks, it could be very good indeed. That costs money of course so it's not going to happen.

BUACHAILL

heavyballs wrote: »

you see BOY,it's grand for you,1 or 2 Tiger raids a month keeps the wolf from the door,a while back i see you joined Arklow to go along with your other club
must be great to have money:D

anyway i think €1500 for DH is great tbh,i was just pointing out that in my area a lot of clubs are still way out of my league,Greystones,Dun Laoire etc

there's a lot of value out there alright but there are still some clubs pulling the pish.......Glen of the Downs €1950 i think and no joining fee...joke imo,how can they expect to compete with DH for eg,couldn't get out of bed to play that place

Money ? Whats money I wouldnt know. You cant bring it with you Heavyballs just put your hand in your pocket its liberating :P, Id say you hate this time of year knowing you have to spend money on xmas presents or do u pick fights with your clan this time of year just so u dont need to buy em anything ha

I will bring you for a game, name the day ? I will even bring you for a freebie on DH but catch is we go in afterwards and you sign up ...

Your right though its as good as it gets for the dollars so stop your nonsense and sign your life away............:rolleyes:, in my opinion well worth the sub but that said your one of these 5 handicappers who dont have a club and talk a good game.....:eek::eek::eek::eek: Im not so sure you could manage a good course like the Heath so could actually be better having a look at Glen mill

heavyballs

BUACHAILL wrote: »

Im not so sure you could manage a good course like the Heath so could actually be better having a look at Glen mill

remember the last time you played up there, i think it was Stebed gave you a bit of a pasting if memmory serves;)

BUACHAILL

heavyballs wrote: »

remember the last time you played up there, i think it was Stebed gave you a bit of a pasting if memmory serves;)

Not only Scrooge like tight but a failing memory too ! I played Stebed in the Glen and yes I was beaten but that's no shame he is a damn good player. For your info last time I played the Heath I shot a 73 winning an open.

Stop this knit picking buddy just spend some cash !!

londonred

heavyballs wrote: »

I'm looking to join a club in south Dublin/north Wicklow next year.

Looking at the weather we had last winter and this poxy cold snap i'm reluctant to join any golf club for the full year.
Now i realize if you're a full member already you've no choice but i'll be joining somewhere like Druids Heath on a yearly basis.

If this brutal weather continues i won't be handing over €1500 to Druids for 9/10 months.

I might just bide my time,wait till Feb/March and make a few calls

Anyone else in a similar situation?

In a similar situation lucky enough to be working 9 till 6 , five days a week at the moment and can't get my hands on a 2 day membership anywhere , I find it ironic that as your get older retire and have more free time the subs go down in most clubs where they could be charging the guys who play the most a premium.

Sammo13

HB - Chris Adams was voted in Capt this week, he is keen and will have h'cap committee in place for new year.

Will have junior cup, barton cup, jimmy bruen and pierce purcell teams.

DG offer is Tuesday open fourball, €10 for Heath members, must bring a guest, which is €40.. great deal.