Grange Castle GC

WHIP IT!

Any members or former members here lads? I'm familiar with the course itself but just wondering what it's like as a club. It's €390 for a year with greenfees as you play (€16 midweek, €22 wknds). I can't remember seeing any practice facilities any of the times I was there? Is there any putting/chipping greens, a net to hit balls into, anything like that?

I had heard before it can be difficult to get into the competitions. I would be playing mostly mid-week and to be honest, the main reason I would join is to have the GUI so I can play in Opens etc.

Any opinions or can anybody share their own experiences of the place?

the lawman

Not a member but work close by so have played it quite a lot.

Has a nice putting green beside tenth tee box. There is one practice net beside the first tee box but I've never seen it being used and it looks in pretty poor condition.

I like the course but that deal is not great as you're still paying 22 on weekends and 16 on weekdays. Not sure it's worth it but thats just my opinion.

WHIP IT!

the lawman wrote: »

Not a member but work close by so have played it quite a lot.

Has a nice putting green beside tenth tee box. There is one practice net beside the first tee box but I've never seen it being used and it looks in pretty poor condition.

I like the course but that deal is not great as you're still paying 22 on weekends and 16 on weekdays. Not sure it's worth it but thats just my opinion.

I'm the same. The wknd rate doesn't really concern me because I pretty much never play at wknds - but I do think €16 is a little steep midweek. I think if it was a tenner I'd definitely say yep, sign me up.

Having said that, the plusses are - it's about five minutes from my house, it's a decent enough course and there is mid-week competitions.

I suppose, if I was to pay €390 for the membership, then play the course 15 times this year (I couldn't see myself playing any more than that because I play with a work society that has 30-odd outings) I would be looking at it costing me €630... that's not bad all considered.

If there was a little bit more in the way of practise facilities - not even a range, just a decent net and maybe a chipping green - I think i'd have convinced myself by now.

the lawman

It sounds a better deal when you put into your context. Not a bad course for ~€630 all in.

Good luck with it.

WHIP IT!

the lawman wrote: »

It sounds a better deal when you put into your context. Not a bad course for ~€630 all in.

Good luck with it.

Yep, I actually dropped in for a nose on my way past earlier. Putting green is lovely, small - but adequate - chipping green and just the one net, not very conveniently located near the first tee, but it's something all the same. Hmm, me thinks I have a deal!

CaptainPendulum

I used to play this course a lot when I lived in Dublin. It was a lot easier before they added the new holes. Must say, I've always liked playing there and found the staff very friendly. The first is a right cracker too...think I only parred it once (is it still a par4?). Best of luck anyway and thanks for bringing back some fond memories.

WHIP IT!

CaptainPendulum wrote: »

I used to play this course a lot when I lived in Dublin. It was a lot easier before they added the new holes. Must say, I've always liked playing there and found the staff very friendly. The first is a right cracker too...think I only parred it once (is it still a par4?). Best of luck anyway and thanks for bringing back some fond memories.

Yeah always thought the first was a very stiff opening par four I must say. Think it's 430 off whites? Good strong hole.

the lawman

CaptainPendulum wrote: »

I used to play this course a lot when I lived in Dublin. It was a lot easier before they added the new holes. Must say, I've always liked playing there and found the staff very friendly. The first is a right cracker too...think I only parred it once (is it still a par4?). Best of luck anyway and thanks for bringing back some fond memories.

1st is still a par 4 and index 1. Tough enough to par, I think i've parred it twice.

As for the staffit must have a long time since you've been there! I find them very short and not very welcoming! I think the club is run by Target Golf which may explain the lack of genuine warmth from the staff.

CaptainPendulum

Pity about the staff. There used be a guy there who was deadly..always got me out.
The old 17th was a great hole too. Very long with a big tree on the RHS before the green. Must play it the next time I'm up.

spacecoyote

Can't say that I agree on the staff issue. I've been a member for 2 years there now & always find the staff very helpful, and they pretty much always address everyone by their first name.

Was a delay last weekend due to a bit of mist. We were sent off the back 9 first. Coming up the 17th one of the lads came up to let us know he was making sure he got us out to play the front 9 ahead of a society due to go out, so I can;t say I have any complaints at all!!!

CaptainPendulum

spacecoyote wrote: »

Can't say that I agree on the staff issue. I've been a member for 2 years there now & always find the staff very helpful, and they pretty much always address everyone by their first name.

Was a delay last weekend due to a bit of mist. We were sent off the back 9 first. Coming up the 17th one of the lads came up to let us know he was making sure he got us out to play the front 9 ahead of a society due to go out, so I can;t say I have any complaints at all!!!

Glad to hear it and what a nice touch too!

Tin_Cup

the lawman wrote: »

1st is still a par 4 and index 1. Tough enough to par, I think i've parred it twice.

As for the staffit must have a long time since you've been there! I find them very short and not very welcoming! I think the club is run by Target Golf which may explain the lack of genuine warmth from the staff.

Sorry Lawman, could you clarify this please?

the lawman

Tin_Cup wrote: »

Sorry Lawman, could you clarify this please?

Wow this could go pear shaped very fast!

I can see how that reads but it wasn't a dig at Target Golf but more that the place is run by an outside vendor and not an 'employee of the club'.

Its just my opinion but anytime I've been there I don't get the same 'club vibe' feeling and I foind the staff unapproachable.

Just my opinion mind.

Tin_Cup

Sorry just reading back my own post it didn't sound great!

I work for Target at another course and was just keen to find out if there was a major problem somewhere along the line in order to try rectify it.

WHIP IT!

Tee hee, Lawman almost got someone fired... :pac:

pistolpetes11

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Tee hee, Lawman almost got someone fired... :pac:

Speaking of that ,

Myself and a Mate went up this morning for a game , Set off at 8.05 am got through the front nine in about an hour and a half and we were both doing well enough.

Got on to the back nine and to say it was unplayable was an understatement,The wind was unreal, at over 15st In nearly got knocked over by a few of the gusts, Golf balls were coming off the Tee's and the Bags and trollys went flying on a few occasions .

Struggled trough the 10th, Teeing off the ball was like a boomerang landing back at our feet the wind was unreal .

We decided that it was unplayable and headed back to the club house , both having appointments to attend to later in the day we could not wait it out, (Although it didnt let up all day)

My mate decided to go in ask in the club house if he could do us a special or a discount on another round at a later date or even tomorrow as we could not finish out our round because of the conditions.

The lad behind the counter was unbelievably rude and dismissive, we were not looking for a freebie maybe a discount off another round , even a €5 would have sufficed just as a token of good will.

I will never be back nor will he or our fourball that we were planning to have on Tuesday, customer service means a lot these days and that chap working there should do a course on how to deal with people.

WHIP IT!

Golfer today, about six miles from where you were. Windy, yes, but balls blowing off the tee? Walking in after 9?? Hardly...

pistolpetes11

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Golfer today, about six miles from where you were. Windy, yes, but balls blowing off the tee? Walking in after 9?? Hardly...

Back nine in Grange castle has no cover what so ever , and we went in after some silly shots on the 11th , Hitting a shot about 150 yards left of the fairway and it ending up 200 to the right :eek:

Really enjoyed the first nine but the wind picked up something terrible on the back nine , spoke to a mate who is a member later on and he tells me even on quite a calm day the back nine is always a little blustery.

Even driving out in the jeep it was unsteady on the road with the wind , any way my point was the rudeness of the staff member up there,

And to the hardly jibe , im hardly going to be on here giving out about the conditions if they were not like that !

dublindave27

I was playing that day also in grange castle, I agree with the point you make about the windy conditions, However I cant help but feel that the "rude" lad behind in the clubhouse (in your opinion) was so, Because you didnt get what you wanted, if you got what you wanted I dont think you would have gone onto this site to say how nice he was..? The fact that you decided to walk in off the course by your own accord would also make me question why you thought you should get anything at all, If you where called in off the course then yes you should be entitled to something, but the fact you walked in yourself im sorry but I feel you have no entitlement to anything. Also I play up there a regular basis and alway found all the staff in the clubhouse and the greenkeepers very helpful and welcoming. Never had a problem on that front..

pistolpetes11

If the lad had of been nice I would have no bother with the situation ,


Instead he looked at us like we had 10 heads and muttered something under his breath.

IMO the back nine was unplayable at the time, I may be incorrect but I think the 11th was a par 3 with water, I hit a lovely 5 iron and as soon as the wind took hold of it , the ball came flying back towards me and ended up in the water about 35 yards from where I played from.

Hit the 20 degree rescue next , same thing happened but it managed to go about 60 yards this time but ended up in the water again.

The mate hit a 3 wood then which barely cleared the water , I was just going to drop and play me shot and he was stood to the left of me when a gust of wind caught both our trollys/bags and sent them flying , mine ended up at the edge of the water.

Got up to the green and when putting he lets our a roar that the bag and trolly was on its travels again !

It was becoming really unenjoyable and went back to the clubhouse.

Im not the greatest golfer in the world but even a pro would of struggled out there on Friday morning.

There were gusts of 65KM/h at Baldonnel airport that morning which would be more sheltered than GC.

paul75

I'm a member. Nice course for the price - prob the best in dublin. The weekend rate is a little steep but still not too bad - depends how often you play. If I don't have a playing partner I tend to play a lot of the open events around dublin.
Currently there's an 18 hole course along with a another 7 holes that you can play for a tenner - not bad if you just want to get out after work for a couple of holes.
I think they're almost finished adding another couple of holes also, haven't played this year so not sure how this is going.
All in all it is a very decent course and probably the cheapest way to get a GUI handicap and be associated with a good challenging course in Dublin.

WHIP IT!

pistolpetes11 wrote: »

IMO the back nine was unplayable at the time, I may be incorrect but I think the 11th was a par 3 with water, I hit a lovely 5 iron and as soon as the wind took hold of it , the ball came flying back towards me and ended up in the water about 35 yards from where I played from.

Hit the 20 degree rescue next , same thing happened but it managed to go about 60 yards this time but ended up in the water again.

The mate hit a 3 wood then which barely cleared the water

Guess you should've hit a 3wood then?

I hit a driver to(wards!) a 190-yard par-three at Killeen GC in Kildare last week and I hit a driver to(wards!) a 185-yard par-three at Rush GC today. The best iron I hit all day today was a four-iron off the tee that went straight into the wind and travelled about 130 yards. That's golf.

Metro Golf Lounge has no wind, give there a try.

pistolpetes11

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Guess you should've hit a 3wood then?

I hit a driver to(wards!) a 190-yard par-three at Killeen GC in Kildare last week and I hit a driver to(wards!) a 185-yard par-three at Rush GC today. The best iron I hit all day today was a four-iron off the tee that went straight into the wind and travelled about 130 yards. That's golf.

Metro Golf Lounge has no wind, give there a try.

Should have ,

Il give Metro golf a miss, like the real stuff , although played the The Heritage today , nice and windy but a beautiful course

brick tamland

Just a quick question for any members

I'm thinking of joining, played it recently and it was in good nick. The thing is though I like to play early at the weekend and knowing there is such a big membership how easy is it to get a tee time say 8-9 at the weekend. Is it online booking?

Cheers

bgaughan

has anyone heard if there is a club pro with Grange Castle GC? and if so who is he / she and would you rate them?

spacecoyote

Hi. I'm a member. The time sheet tends too fill up reasonably quickly. They open it first thing on Saturday morning for the following Saturday. You can book online, so if you logged on about 9/10 in the morning you would easily get a time around 8-9 the following weekend.

If you wanted to play the Sunday rather than saturday, they open up the time sheet frst thing on Monday mornings.

As to course pro, I'm pretty sure there is one there, but I've never really looked into it. I know a lad that won a prize in a team competition there and rather than buy something in the club shop, I think he got a 3/6 hole playing lesson. Sorry can't remember the specifics off the top of my head.

I'm sure if you rang the clubhouse they'd know for sure.

bgaughan

bgaughan wrote: »

has anyone heard if there is a club pro with Grange Castle GC? and if so who is he / she and would you rate them?

hey all.

the club pro is a guy called Niall Mahony. I had a lesson with him last night (30 quid for about 40 minutes). he concentrated on my grip and swing. after the lesson I played 9 holes (for 12 euro) and applied the lesson. I was delighted with result.

definitely recommend Niall for a lesson.