Arklow GC

Ben1010

Received a leaflet in the post!!! Arklow GC full membership €919, sound like a good deal. Anybody thinking about joining up...love to try for the 5 day membership but they don't do much open singles comp during the week.Pity!!

Anybody joining up?

acejeff

Ben- Arklow is a a good course and an excellent test of golf. As word of warning it is notoriously difficult for getting on the timesheet for the weekend. I know a few people who have told me this, basically in the past they have had far too many members and thus it proved difficult to get a game. Perhaps they have lost members in the last few years and may be easier but worth considering.

{Cue irate Arklow member who will come on to strike me down for bad mouthing his club} But if what I have mentioned above is no longer a problem I will happily stand corrected

sssssiiiiimon

I joined at the start of this year 1500 euro and I've just joined another club this week. No doubt it WAS a top club at one stage. Never really a problem with the time sheet as long as your on at 7 on Friday night.

My main issues are

A really bad greenkeeper. Greens are atrocious bunkers are full of grass and just a really bad upkeep in general. It definitely does not merit it's place in the top ranked courses in Ireland. The teams have their own little niche. Friends of friends and so on.

The course is difficult plays to a CSS of 33 points usually. It looks wide open but you really need to be dead straight off the tee.

As far as I know the is a potential issue with the proposed marina. Although not set in stone.

The guys in the office are helpful when it suits them.

No midweek singles comp. For me this is one the main reasons for leaving. I have to work at leas one if not two Sundays a week and found myself playing a lot of opens around. So it was a bad return on membership fees.

900 euro and a max of 30 games a year = 30 euro plus 6-10 euro comp fees.

Just my take on it.

Dtoffee

recent EGM was a disaster when no solution was reached and the committee were told to sort out their own mess ...... they wanted to levy members for more money in a year were the course has been a shambles.

The atmosphere is crap and the latest news is that two committee members have forwarded a motion to kick other committee members off the committee because they reportedly said they dont want the dublin crowd. Its a joke and not in a heathy financial state, you could find that you could be in a very small club by the time you join as the word is the committee are so out of touch that they dont realise that there are already many many members heading out the door. Courttown, Wicklow, Blainroe, Macreddin and Coolattin are all HUNGRY FOR YOUR CASH, think hard about what you want. Take your travel costs into account and by the way, the timesheet is no longer a problem at Arklow - plenty of spaces as the exodus grows by the week.

sssssiiiiimon

Hey @dtoffee have you found another club yet or are you hanging on

Dtoffee

sssssiiiiimon wrote: »

Hey @dtoffee have you found another club yet or are you hanging on

Haven't been there for a while, so I'm half way out the door ...... got fed up listening to the usual lackeys saying the course is coming back (ignoring the fact thats even with some growth, the greens are still as patchy as ever).

Its really only a matter of when I go and I am in no hurry to jump in as the word is that theres a few more clubs on the edge of closing their gates. I am also aware that I can get a lot of green fees for the money I spent on arklow this year, so cheap membership and plenty of opens is also a consideration.

Hope all goes well for you in your new club and you get to enjoy your midweek golf on a course that values its members.

Ben1010

Gosh, didn't relise it was that bad! Such a pity coz value wise, it's within my budget and its a few minutes away from me!:(

Might look around now!!!

george67

Ben1010 wrote: »

Gosh, didn't relise it was that bad! Such a pity coz value wise, it's within my budget and its a few minutes away from me!:(

Might look around now!!!

It is value for money especially if you live local. The problems with the course are in the process of being fixed the greens are well on there way and are quite good for this time of year the bunkers have got new sand and tidy up.

All in all it's coming back to where it should be plus the fact that I think It plays better in the winter makes it good value all year

As sssssiiiiimon said it's a tough course but you learn quickly he dropped from 15 to 11.

As they say it will put manners on ya

DiegoWorst

That's good to hear. I played Arklow once in a scratch cup about three years ago, loved the course, it was in great condition that day, real pity about all the messin going on there in recent times, but if they're getting things sorted I'll look forward to a round or two there next year

the anser

Great offer available in Courtown- about 20 mins away- a grand a year for 5 years. Excellent course, plenty of mid week and weekend comps

Ben1010

the anser wrote: »

Great offer available in Courtown- about 20 mins away- a grand a year for 5 years. Excellent course, plenty of mid week and weekend comps

not actually a great deal...1k a year for 5 years..too much commitment. I'm seriously thinking of going to Arklow...the main plus for me would be location..3mins from me!!!

george67

Ben1010 wrote: »

not actually a great deal...1k a year for 5 years..too much commitment. I'm seriously thinking of going to Arklow...the main plus for me would be location..3mins from me!!!

Call down and see how things are coming along and see what you think for yourself

Dtoffee

Yeah, call in ........ Sunday around 2.30 could be interesting as the AGM is on and it will give you the full story and you will find out how much the levy will be.

I would say Macreddin would be also worth a look before you deffo decide.... there may be good news in terms of what they are going to offer for €800.

Irishvillian

As george67 says call down and check it out,especially if your only 3 mins away,I played it tuesday and greens were in great condition and there was no grass in any bunkers and I should know I was in enough of them!!!

thegen

I know a course super who played Arklow during the week and he said greens, bunkers were great. Tee boxes need minor surgery!!!

Ben1010

Got a tee time booked for next Monday morning!!

davidrafferty

Look forward to playing Arklow for 1st time next week - wonder if it's as tough as some people make out?

Irishvillian

Ben1010 wrote: »

Got a tee time booked for next Monday morning!!

How did you get on??

Ben1010

Irishvillian wrote: »

How did you get on??

Quite enjoyed it, got out early!!! Greens weren't too bad...tee box were a bit shabby but i'm not too bothered about that! Some great holes out there. The first hole is a nice starter..went a bit downhill after that especially when u had to cross over and mind urself! Then back up with some great holes!

Overall it was a good test! Valued for that kind of money! The clubhouse was nice enough!

Ben1010

davidrafferty wrote: »

Look forward to playing Arklow for 1st time next week - wonder if it's as tough as some people make out?

Not that tough..the fairways r quite generous especially in the back 9.

the lawman

Playing here in a couple of weeks. Any members or regulars on here can tell me what condition it is in and how its playing?

george67

the lawman wrote: »

Playing here in a couple of weeks. Any members or regulars on here can tell me what condition it is in and how its playing?

Probably in the best nick of any normal club in the area

JR23

Played it last week and it was in decent condition, greens have recovered well after last years problems.

FixdePitchmark

george67 wrote: »

"normal"

expand please.

Benicetomonty

I've played it twice now in the last 2 months and was very impressed with the layout if not the condition of the course. Greens were average; not terrible but probably not what you would expect from a links. Ditto the tee boxes, with a couple of par 3s off mats (less of a surprise though because of time of year.)

Very enjoyable overall though I must say. Unusually, we played in January and the full course was in play, then played again last month, when we had to drop off fairways (except when inside 100 yards, where most wedges are played/damage is done: go figure) so might be worth ringing ahead to see if that's been done away with. Few cross-overs alright so make sure you yell/demand fore when necessary! Course not overly tight, IMO. Enjoy

davidrafferty

Played in semi-open team competition in Arklow last December.

All in all an enjoyable experience - birdied a par 3 over water (the 7th, I think), the course was in great nick, nice clubhouse with reasonably priced menu and the members very friendly. There was a great buzz about the place and the timesheet that day was pretty well fully booked.

Thought it was a bit tough for the average golfer, undulations on the greens are a tad tricky and a felt the fairway bunkers were a bit unfair - these features would appeal more to the low handicapper.

But then, I'm only a 15 handicapper & we didn't feature on the day. Like any place I was unfamiliar with, thought I could make a better fist of it if I knew it a bit better.

That said, a challenging test of links golf and good value for money - I'd definitely go back.

If you want a hole by hole description, I suggest you go to their website, which contains a good virtual tour of the course.

Irishvillian

I am a member and I can honestly say the greens are in fantastic condition,there is only one par three off a mat and that is the 11th,there are two cross over holes which are the second that crosses the sixth and the sixth that crosses the second;),there are a couple of tee boxes that need work mainly the 10th and the 16th.Dropping off the fairways is finished this weekend.€919 in my opinion is fantastic value for a course that you can play all year round,the only time I have ever seen Arklow closed in my time as a member has been because of snow or heavy frost:mad:.You could play Arklow twice in the one day and it will more than likely play differently both times,and if there's wind it can be a totally different challenge again.As for getting on the timesheet when I joined was told your mad joining there you'll never get on the sheet,that's a load of crap I have never had a problem getting on the timesheet.

george67

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

george67 wrote: »

"normal"

expand please.

Normal as in not the high end clubs like Druids glen etc

jackal

It's a hard course for a high handicapper, but still very enjoyable. I like the change from links to parkland in the back nine. Some very scorable holes scattered amongst some tough as nails ones, and most holes have something interesting about them. Its not a real slog in terms of elevation changes like some of the courses on the coast (blainroe and wicklow) but conversely the view is of an old factory and concrete breakwaters rather than unspoiled coastline.

Don't like the crossover aspect on the few holes it happens, and you do hear "fore" a lot, especially if there is a crosswind as there is not much in the way of trees to protect you from wayward balls on adjacent holes.

I liked the cut of its jib, hard to define why exactly. Too far from me to be a member, otherwise I would, but I would say you would get your handicap down fairly fast or else tear your hair out in frustration!

JR23

I know its been a long time since someone last posted on this topic bit i though id comment anyway. Played Arklow Golf Links last week during open week and it was in great condition, well worth a trip to play it, green fees are very competitive too.

FixdePitchmark

Played yesterday.
Lovely course, well the type of course I like. Very tricky approaches to greens. You must have the right club in your hand. Or you're facing a 3 putt or very hard up and down.

Nice mix of holes with great par 3s. Was looking at earlier comments from say 2 years ago . The course is in great condition. Greens not perfect, but not far off. Funny they have an infestation of ladybirds . Never seen that, I guess they will fly away at some stage.

Some holes a little bit dangerous. Also for a newcomer can be hard to know where others are on course.

Front 9 could do with a par 5 , but picking there.

Funny- the place is a lovely place, in an ugly quarry and port.

A must do for the Links fans.

Couldnt hit a wedge to save my life, but loved it.

JR23

I read back over the comments too pitchmark, wasn't the best endorsement ive seen for a golf club. However from talking to a few members last week, things seem to be on the up, which is good to hear, it would be a pity to see a good links course go by the wayside as they are few and far between.