Monkstown golf club - Cork

blee23

Just looking for some info on membership at monkstown, heard the joining fee has dropped. I not a member of any club at the moment was thinking of looking into joining as its local enough (south side).
Also what's the boards feeling about the course - value for money?

jimmystars

Some class holes on back 9 mixed with some terrible holes on the front 9. I played it expecting great things as i had heard it was class. Might suit you if your a fifty year old man or a lady. Bit on the short side.

mr.mickels

jimmystars wrote: »

Some class holes on back 9 mixed with some terrible holes on the front 9. I played it expecting great things as i had heard it was class. Might suit you if your a fifty year old man or a lady. Bit on the short side.

Class??? Who told you that, its a very average course at best in my opinion. Choices in Cork aren't great for top courses, outside of Cork and Fota there aren't many that would rate highly.

I too heard that Monkstown had dropped its entrance fees, rumour has it they are in financial stresses due to building a multi-million euro clubhouse they can't afford. A few members told me that the fees dropped, but then others who enquired "officially" were quoted the same rates as previous years. Must be worth calling them and bargaining on the entrance fee if the course suits you.

I am also southside and am looking to join somewhere in 2012 but Monkstown wouldn't be a consideration unless it removed the "hello" money.

blee23

I heard it was short all right and considering I'm neither a 50 year old man or women that is indeed a bit of a worry
Also heard it's got an ageing membership and it in a bit if financial difficulty after building the new club house about 4 years ago as mention above...hence the potential drop in joining fee.

Where you thinking about mr mickels seems I'm in the same situation as yourself - don't fancy paying (much/if any) hello money...

jimmystars

mr.mickels wrote: »

Class??? Who told you that, its a very average course at best in my opinion. Choices in Cork aren't great for top courses, outside of Cork and Fota there aren't many that would rate highly.

I too heard that Monkstown had dropped its entrance fees, rumour has it they are in financial stresses due to building a multi-million euro clubhouse they can't afford. A few members told me that the fees dropped, but then others who enquired "officially" were quoted the same rates as previous years. Must be worth calling them and bargaining on the entrance fee if the course suits you.

I am also southside and am looking to join somewhere in 2012 but Monkstown wouldn't be a consideration unless it removed the "hello" money.

Yea its not good. Wouldnt join myself even i had money to burn, might not have expressed that in my previous post

mr.mickels

blee23 wrote: »

I heard it was short all right and considering I'm neither a 50 year old man or women that is indeed a bit of a worry
Also heard it's got an ageing membership and it in a bit if financial difficulty after building the new club house about 4 years ago...hence the potential drop in joining fee

That would be very much the impression I had as well. Not even slightly inviting as far as I am concerned.
Would wonder of the wisdom for any golf club to get itself into huge debts for a club house in this day and age when golfers make use of clubhouses less and less, most players nowadays change their shoes in the carpark before and after the game and drive straight home plus the drink-driving has also impacted unfavourably for obvious reasons. I was told the clubhouse cost over 3.5million, these things often get wildly exaggerated and it is hard to imagine it costing even half that but that is the figure being mentioned. The previous clubhouse was very adequate from memory.
I was told that the debts had also impacted very unfavourably on their inter-club team events, but that may very well be hearsay. Anyhow for anyone interested in joining its got to be worth questioning the entrance fee. It would seem golf fees all around are only likely to reduce further for 2012 so worth considering before paying an entrance fee on top of the yearly sub.

D Hayes

I'm a recent member in Monkstown. I'd agree with some of the comments above about it being a short course. Especially off the white markers. And you'd see that reflected in some of the scores on the weekend.

I'm a big fan of the course though, always in great condition. A lot of great holes there. Good bunch of younger golfers there too. I'm under 30, and regularly play with 15-20 other younger fellas, so I wouldn't agree that it's a ageing, elitist membership.

There was a deal on recently for intermediate membership - anyone under 29 was applicable. No hello money and discounted sub until you're 30. Fantastic deal in my opinion.

If any of you would like a game there sometime to try it out, send me a PM. More than happy to show you around there. Only 20 quid with a member too.

bailey99

buysellswap wrote: »

There was a deal on recently for intermediate membership - anyone under 29 was applicable. No hello money and discounted sub until you're 30. Fantastic deal in my opinion.

Wasn't the hello money deferred until you turned 30? It wasn't just waived if say you were 29 and joined and then turned 30 three months later.

According to the pro shop this morning the hello money is 14,000euros.

ssbob

mr.mickels wrote: »

Choices in Cork aren't great for top courses, outside of Cork and Fota there aren't many that would rate highly.

Depends on what you are looking for in a top course doesn't it? In my own opinion I really enjoy playing Lee Valley, I think Cobh has the potential once it is matured, Waterrock is getting better every year, maybe needs some extra yardage, played Castlemartyr twice and liked the linksy feel to it. I am a member in Blarney myself but think it lacks a Par 5 or 2.

Haven't played Monkstown or Douglas so can't really comment but from what I heard Douglas is also charging €14k hello money which is ludicrous.

bailey99

Correction to my earlier posting. I got the exact figures now. Monkstown is 9 years annual sub hello money. The annual sub is €1,320 so the hello money is €11,880. There is also a 'loan' of €1,000 per member to be given to the club. For what........i don't know!!!!

This can be spread out over 9 years easy pay, so in effect, its €2,640 per year for the first 9 years. That's ridiculous in my opinion.

Lee Valley has no hello money and is around €1,200 a year I think, same as Blarney.

ozymandias10

just a point..Monkstown is short but is a decent test of the blues as you need to be accurate. its main protection are the greens that are one of the best around...the clubhouse and lockerooms are second to none and there is excellent grub (reasonably priced ) in the bar and restaurant. It is a mature course and far better than cobh, waterock and lee valley.

jimmystars

ozymandias10 wrote: »

It is a mature course and far better than cobh, waterock and lee valley.

Your entitled to your opinion but bar the greens in waterock ( which were bad on the few occasions ive played it) its got nothing better to offer on the golf side of things than all the courses youve mentioned above imo. It has a nice clubhouse but is a weak course.

soundsham

ssbob wrote: »

mr.mickels wrote: »

Choices in Cork aren't great for top courses, outside of Cork and Fota there aren't many that would rate highly.

Depends on what you are looking for in a top course doesn't it? In my own opinion I really enjoy playing Lee Valley, I think Cobh has the potential once it is matured, Waterrock is getting better every year, maybe needs some extra yardage, played Castlemartyr twice and liked the linksy feel to it. I am a member in Blarney myself but think it lacks a Par 5 or 2.

Haven't played Monkstown or Douglas so can't really comment but from what I heard Douglas is also charging €14k hello money which is ludicrous.

Why don't you join leevalley its the same money and a better course IMO
As regards monkstown it's a fine course and clubhouse but very much on the short side
Don't rule out Muskerry as a fine course again not everyone's cup of tee but I love it and also mallow
As for Fota for 2k a year I'd want to playing the old 18 every week the new 9 are very poor in comparison
Douglas is a fine test off the blues
If I was choosing I'd pick it over monkstown especially because of the future financial prospects
For value leevalley I heard is around €1500 for this years remainder and next year too
Would be worth it and maybe in 2 years 2013 monkstown might be a different price

mr.mickels

soundsham wrote: »

Why don't you join leevalley its the same money and a better course IMO
As regards monkstown it's a fine course and clubhouse but very much on the short side
Don't rule out Muskerry as a fine course again not everyone's cup of tee but I love it and also mallow
As for Fota for 2k a year I'd want to playing the old 18 every week the new 9 are very poor in comparison
Douglas is a fine test off the blues
If I was choosing I'd pick it over monkstown especially because of the future financial prospects
For value leevalley I heard is around €1500 for this years remainder and next year too
Would be worth it and maybe in 2 years 2013 monkstown might be a different price

I was told earlier this year that Fota has a €15k entrance fee on top of the €2k per year, this can be paid in €5k up front plus your €2k per year for 5 years, and then pay the same for the next 5 and again once more, which means you are commited to paying for 15 years if you sign up and this costs €45k total. Perhaps that has been revised in the last few months, or may even be revised for next year.
Of the others I was told Douglas wants new members but won't drop their entrance fee because of the €6million that developer gave them, is €1300 a year on top of the €14k entry fee, its quite a pleasant course in good condition but no way worth the entry fee, I would be willing to pay the yearly sub as the location is good, course is also a bit on the short side but pleasant without being brilliant by any means.
I also enquired about Cork golf club, am told they are also looking for new members for the first time but haven't and won't drop their fees, perhaps they don't need to, €15k to enter and €1,400 per year. Again I would be very willing to pay the yearly fee to play there but the entry fee isn't worth it.
Monkstowns entry fees do seem steep for what you get bearing in mind most golfers join a club for the course rather than to admire a clubhouse.

Of the others I would think Lee Valley seems most interesting, some of their greens were built far too severe but having no entrance fee means alot and you have to hit the ball well to score there.
The future seems a bit uncertain at Castlemartyer. Can anyone confirm the current entry fees there.

CaptainPendulum

mr.mickels wrote: »

Of the others I would think Lee Valley seems most interesting, some of their greens were built far too severe but having no entrance fee means alot and you have to hit the ball well to score there. The future seems a bit uncertain at Castlemartyer. Can anyone confirm the current entry fees there.

Best deal in Cork IMO. Superb course but maybe a few too many doglegs?

bailey99

Castlemartyr (3rd best course in my opinion in Cork after Fota and Cork) was €5,000 hello money and €1250 a year annual sub).

They took on 50 new members over the past month or so after reducing the hello money to €2,500. The annual sub remains the same.

They are over 100members now and looking to take on more members in the coming months/year. If they survive and find a permanent owner, it would be a great club to join.

For what its worth, when property taxes, household charges, water rates, new income taxes, rising health insurance and all other insurance forms coming in the next couple of years, golf clubs wont know what's hit them.

They are going to lose a lot of members. People won't pay upwards of €1,400 a year for membership, but play on green fees if and when they can afford to. As a result, Castlemartyr and Monkstown will reduce their hello money significant again to attract new members.

I don't ever see Monkstown having zero hello money, but I can certainly see it being €1,000 in these places just to ensure they attract a 'certain' type of person!

ssbob

soundsham wrote: »

Why don't you join leevalley its the same money and a better course IMO

Hi Soundsham,

Three reasons I joined Blarney and not anywhere else:

1. Closest course to me(less than 10 minutes, whereas Lee Valley is about 30 minutes)
2. Can pay by Direct Debit(€100 a month, as far as I am aware you can't do that in Lee Valley)
3. Free Gym and Pool membership(which I do use because I play a small bit of rugby in the off season:D)

In Blarney you also get €20 worth of vouchers each month for the clubhouse so if you use these your real cost of membership is only €960 for the year.

Must really try and play Muskerry soon.

tax_tutor1

Understand that Monkstown has now reduced entrance fee to twice annual sub + 1K members loan and that this amount can be paid over two or more years.

Probably only getting into line with other clubs!
Also they do have temporary greens on 6/7 greens at present.

bailey99

tax_tutor1 wrote: »

Understand that Monkstown has now reduced entrance fee to twice annual sub + 1K members loan and that this amount can be paid over two or more years.

Probably only getting into line with other clubs!
Also they do have temporary greens on 6/7 greens at present.

Can confirm that Monkstown is now two years annual sub (which has increased to just over 1400euro) for the entrance money. Plus your first years sub. Plus a €1000 refundable loan to the club. This 'loan' is returned to you when you leave the club or when you die.

So in essence, its around €2,800 hello money, €1,400 annual sub and €1,000 loan to the club. That's €5,200 for the first year.

If you pay over two years, its €3,300 in year 1 and €3,300 in year 2.
If you pay over three years, its €2,675 in year 1, €2,675 in year 2 and yes, you guess it €2,675 in year three.

This is assuming the annual sub remains at just over the €1,400 level in 2013 - 2015.

Gophur

I applied for membership in Monkstown, once. Never even got the courtesy of a reply.

OK Golf Course, but not half as good as they seem to think it is.

tetrapak

what are the other clubs around Cork city charging for 2012?

tax_tutor1

I believe Cork and Douglas are still very expensive 12-16K approx. I think that Muskerry is down to 1K and Lee Valley and Mallow have no entry fees at present.

hurleronditch

Macroom have had no joining fee for a few years now, and sub is 795, 100 of which is bar tab. Theyve recently posted that its now reduced to 600 (100 bar) on their website. Great deal as far as i can see. Decent course, some nice holes. Seems to be a half decent club scene there, and theres usually a decent crowd in the bar saturday and sunday afternoons.

bailey99

I contacted all the clubs and here's what I found out.

Cork - €14,000 hello & €1,300 sub
Douglas - €14,000 & €1,300 sub
Fota - €5,000 hello & €1,899 sub
Monkstown - €2,800 hello & €1,400 sub & €1,000 refundable loan
Castlemartyr - €2,500 hello & €1,000 sub
Cobh - €3,000 hello & €790 sub
Muskerry - €1,000 hello & €1,300 sub
Lee Valley - €1,300 sub
Blarney - €1,200 sub
Kinsale - €1,175 sub
Bandon - €1,089 sub
Mallow - €971 sub
Bantry Bay - €670 sub
Charleville - €650 sub
Mitchelstown - €500 sub
Macroom - €600 sub
Lisselan - €520 sub
Frankfield - €150 sub
Mahon closed for membership

Freemount09

Cheers for that Bailey.
Unusual that Mahon, are not accepting new members in these stringent times !?? Are they that full that they can turn away potential members ?

Atlantic1

Mahon Golf Club is owned by the City Council so the Men's and Ladies Clubs have no control over such matters, like Fota, etc.

Members in Mahon have adequate members' time but the City Council do well from the large number of green fees they get. More members might mean less green fee time.

I'm presuming that's the answer to your question but, of course, I can't be sure of that.

bailey99

I just contacted them and they said they did not have vacancies for membership and that if i wanted to, my name could be added to the waiting list.

Atlantic1

bailey99 wrote: »

I just contacted them and they said they did not have vacancies for membership and that if i wanted to, my name could be added to the waiting list.

Yes, their waiting list does roll in a fairly honest way, as far as I know. It will probably take you a few years but you will get in, if you're patient.

They have a very good Men's Club and they're quite competitive every year in the Purcell and Bruen. And they're a nice bunch also. I'm not sure how much it is to join, though. I'd imagine it isn't anything huge and would represent good value all round, especially given its central location.

You do have another option with Mahon. You can buy a 6 or 12 month green fee ticket from the City Council. I'm not sure how much it costs but you'd have playing rights but you wouldn't be a member of the Men's Club and you wouldn't have a GUI handicap.

And here's how that works for Men's Club members .......... The cost of that City Council green fee ticket is included in their annual sub. I'm using made up figures here now but, if we'll say that Members pay an annual sub of €800, €500 might go to the City Council for the green fee ticket and €300 would go to the Men's Club. So Members can play in Members' time and can also play when there's no course booking.

rushhour

the deal with mahon is season ticket is 630 or 2 x 330, mahon golf club is 500 hallo 730 subs 630 to course and 100 to club witch is great value! im new to the game and went with a season ticket this year cant wait till days get bit longer can get out after work!