Ballyneethy driving range (Limerick)

irish bloke

Hi All,

Does anyone know what the status is with the Ballyneety driving range in Limerick. The golf course closed over a year ago but the driving range stayed open for some time after that.

Would like to know if it is opening again anytime soon or if any other range is on the horizon in Limerick besides the already open one with the crap balls in Coonagh..

Thanks in advance

the_blackstuff

As far as I know the banks took it over at that time when the many attempts to keep the place running failed. They were trying to sell it on again both the course and the range. From what I was told the banks were keeping the course some way maintained up until recently even though it wasn't open. I'm assuming it may only have been greens and an odd clipping. I'd say the range opening is subject to the course being sold on. It's a pity because it was a great facility and open grass bays were super to have.
The former pro there recently tried to get planning permission to open a range and academy is annacotty but was shot down. Search the limerick forum for more details on that! I agree coonagh is a dump and in need of some investment but you'll have to drive I'm afraid if you want something better.

dines08

Coonagh is shocking. The balls are terrible and the distance markers can't be accurate at all. The whole set up is a run down mess

irish bloke

Ya, the loss of ballyneety driving range is a big miss. The difference between that and Coonage is night and day.

I drove to Coonagh last week for the first time in years and couldnt believe the shape and distance the balls were moving. I left there worse off and more confused about my game then when i went there. Learnt nothing....

Ild say the_blackstuff is right about the range opening being subject to course opening, more to the pity.

I reckon anyone who could get a hold of the range on its own, would make a nice few quid too

dvemail

Agreed, everything about coonagh is muck. Its set up for hitting balls into a crosswind, so it could completely ruins your swing. There is no give in the mats either. Could be very easy to harm your wrists hitting from them.
I've heard that the annacotty range might get the go ahead again late this year or next year but I wont be holding my breath.

JerryHandbag

I was at Coonagh a few weeks ago for first time....are the furthest away distance markers only 200yds? Hard to see due to them being on the brow of a hill, dunno if there were 250 yrd markers beyond them

the_blackstuff

Never realised the range was setup into a cross wind but it would explain as few thing to me. I was trying to correct a problem I had lately and it was fine there but on the course it came back . It's not easy to know where the wind is coming from when your in the bay out there.

As for the markers I always thought the 200 was on the back fence.

I remember talking to a member in the know in ballyneety and he told me tthe range was profitable even when the rest was in trouble. On its own it would make money. I need a backer

brousuka

I must agree with the above comments. Coonagh is a very poor facility. You have to have 2 euro coins only for a start ffs! i found the balls to be of inferior quality and the set up of the range is disgraceful. I cannot believe that the owner was successful in stopping the planning permission for the new range out by Castletroy, it's an outrage.

irish bloke

Anyone got any more news on Ballyneethy driving range in Limerick??

New owners, re opening, etc etc....

The Coonagh range is so bad its not funny. Limerick needs a good facility...