Ballykisteen or Tipperary?

westtipp

Hi All,

Just about to take the plunge and join a golf club after a long break from the game. I'm based in Tipperary so trying to decide between Ballykisteen or Tipperary?

Tipperary is €690 a year, Ballykisteen is €950 including €150 hotel credit but it also includes membership of the gym & swimming pool.

I'm a former member of Tipperary and like the place but I'm nearer Ballykisteen (which I also like) so it would be handier.

Any advice welcome!

PS: Forgot to mention that I used to play off 16 and have a 12 year old son who will be joining with me.

Aesop

Have you looked at Dundrum? Super course. I'm afraid I don't know what the joining fees are like. I suppose you do have to bear in mind both Dundrum and Ballykisteen are hotel courses which in the current environment are only as healthy as the hotel balance sheet?

Keano

Never played Tipp but played Ballykisteen and a great course with facilities to match. It would be my pick

Myksyk

Free gym and pool membership? Surprised you're even thinking about it. I have a 800 club membership and €740 for gym/pool and that's with a €100 discount for being a member of the club. Great deal for you.

westtipp

Aesop wrote: »

Have you looked at Dundrum? Super course. I'm afraid I don't know what the joining fees are like. I suppose you do have to bear in mind both Dundrum and Ballykisteen are hotel courses which in the current environment are only as healthy as the hotel balance sheet?

Yes. Have played it and love it:). Contacted them the other day and they are reducing their fees to €760 for next year. They also mentioned a new scheme paying half up front and a reduced green fee each time you play. Problem is it's just not as convenient to get to as the other 2

westtipp

Myksyk wrote: »

Free gym and pool membership? Surprised you're even thinking about it. I have a 800 club membership and €740 for gym/pool and that's with a €100 discount for being a member of the club. Great deal for you.

Sounds like a great deal alright - surprised you're having to pay that much - is that for Ballykisteen??:eek:

Myksyk

westtipp wrote: »

Sounds like a great deal alright - surprised you're having to pay that much - is that for Ballykisteen??:eek:

No, just in my own club here in Clare.

kagni

I'm a member in Tipp but seriously considered moving to Ballykisteen over the last couple of years, since the membership price dropped (I even had the joining form filled out last year but decided to stay where I was in the end).

Ballykisteen is undoubtedly a better course and the gym/pool membership is a big bonus if you will use it.
Also it's probably better for winter golf as it's drier than Tipp, although Tipp is a lot drier now than it used to be.
Tipp is more of a "club" with a friendlier atmosphere and more local members, the course has also been improved in recent years (greens in particular are always excellent) but overall is still well behind Ballykisteen.

As far as facilities go, Ballk has probably got the edge, both have decent bar and restaurant, size of changing rooms in BallyK is the only slight minus.
Practice facilities are similar in both - both have good putting greens, both have good driving ranges (Tipps is better IMO), BallyK has a chipping green and the pro shop there is much better.
Tipp has more member competitions, and a better set-up for juniors also the online booking is handy if you are starting out and don't have regular playing partners.

ballyk

Kagni has given an excellent summary and I would agree with those comments. Only other thing that might be worth taking into account is that getting a game in Ballykisteen is normally easier. Tipp is generally fairly busy in my experience as they have a much bigger membership.

You can get around Ballykisteen very quickly particularly in the afternoons.

Best of luck making your decision.

westtipp

Thanks Kagni and BallyK for the great advice,

Despite my fond memories of my previous time in Tipp I agree that Ballykisteen is undoubtedly a better course. I wasn't aware that Tipp had more member competitions though... Are comps very scarce in Ballykisteen?

The junior setup is probably going to sway this one....

ozymandias10

Ballykisteen all the way...there is an open singles there every wednesday and club competitions every weekend as well as 9 hole scrambles etc on some fridays of the summer...plenty of club competitions and are very competitive in inter club comps. Tipp has bigger membership but ballykisteen is the better course and has good facilities.

there are junior comps every week and also a junior camp with the club pro

westtipp

Thanks Ozymandias for the advice
I'm definitely favouring BallyK now...
My son is becoming the problem as all his friends are junior members in Tipp . Feck him, he'll have to make new ones
Or he can join Tipp on his own! :eek:
Thanks again