Any members of St. Margarets on here ...

dubber

... willing to share their thoughts on the club? Any input much appreciated. I have it down to Mags and Castleknock, I prefer mags as a course but popular opinion would seem to favour Castleknock?

Jazzzman

I'm not a member but from my experience Castleknock is kept in much better condition.

I'd also prefer it as a course.

dubber

Jazzzman wrote: »

I'm not a member but from my experience Castleknock is kept in much better condition.

I'd also prefer it as a course.

Thanks for the input. I played Margaret's a few weeks ago and the course was in great condition. I've read that they've increased the membership numbers (is there any authoritative source for member numbers?), so perhaps they've upped their game recently?

BigChap1759

Member numbers are much healthier after 60/70 of the ex-Turvey members joined. It is a friendly and welcoming group but I would agree that the course could have more money spent on it ideally, mind you Castleknock wasn't in the best of condition the last time I played it - dry lakes etc.

The layout is, IMHO, better than Castleknock.

istaunton

I'm a memeber of Corrstown its only about 2 mins from Mags. I know I might be biased but i much prefere our course to margarets. Plus with 27 holes the variety is great. Wont do you any harm to take a look at it. If you want anymore info on comps or the club let me know

jb2007

St Margarets is a much better design than Castleknock, big course feel and well spread out. There are some fantastic holes on it, long par 4's, short Par 4's, lovely selection of Par 3's and 5's. Theres really no comparison in the designs. It has also matured nicely is is quite tight when the leaves are out... The greens are large and when in good condition are great.

The drainage is poor and the course suffers in wet conditions, poor growth etc, so yes in general Castleknock will be kept better. However in the summer thats really not an issue.

There has been a significant rise in membership in the last two years, any Medal / Gofer of the Year event will have maybe 110 competitors. So from that side its doing well.

There are also decent practice facilities with a range covered and grass and two chipping greens with bunkers

Dr_Colossus

jb2007 wrote: »

St Margarets is a much better design than Castleknock, big course feel and well spread out.

There are also decent practice facilities with a range covered and grass and two chipping greens with bunkers

+1. Castleknock is usually in good condition but the place has a claustrophobic feel about it with holes bunched together. Also the course is lacking some significant length to make it a top course but in saying that it does have some nice holes. Have only ever played Castleknock on a weekend but the place always seems very busy with societies and green fees so that may be a concern also regarding trying to get an impromptu game.

No driving range or mid range practice area in Castleknock since the area was used to build the hotel.

Luttrellstown is a step above both Castleknock and St. Margarets I think both in terms of course design and facilities but you're paying extra for the privilege.

dubber

Thanks for the posts - most seem to confirm my own thoughts.

I'd also looked into Corrstown & Luttrellstown. Corrstown just isn't for me and Luttrellstown, whilst a nice course, I couldn't justify the premium.

istaunton

No Worries Dubber. Can I ask what was it about Corrstown that turned you off. The only reason I ask is I'm happy to promote my Home club when I can. So if the club are falling down somewhere I would hope that there is something that could do to rectify it and that way continue to attract new members.

Thanks

brianodub

dubber wrote: »

Thanks for the posts - most seem to confirm my own thoughts.

I'd also looked into Corrstown & Luttrellstown. Corrstown just isn't for me and Luttrellstown, whilst a nice course, I couldn't justify the premium.

I joined Margaret's last winter. Have to say, i'm really enjoying it. Very friendly and welcoming membership and its a terrific golf course IMO.
As has been said above, it does struggle with drainage a bit and the course has been closed on a couple of Sundays so far this year. But heading into the summer it will be in great condition.

dubber

istaunton wrote: »

No Worries Dubber. Can I ask what was it about Corrstown that turned you off. The only reason I ask is I'm happy to promote my Home club when I can. So if the club are falling down somewhere I would hope that there is something that could do to rectify it and that way continue to attract new members.

Thanks

I don't think they're falling down at all, it's just personal preference. Seem like a great bunch of people there and a very active membership from what I hear.

mike12

I think what would put me off Coorstown is the diffculty in getting out at the weekend in comps it is always really busy from what i hear.
If i was joining a course in the area i think i would go for Roganstown myself.
Mike

charlieIRL

mike12 wrote: »

I think what would put me off Coorstown is the diffculty in getting out at the weekend in comps it is always really busy from what i hear.
If i was joining a course in the area i think i would go for Roganstown myself.
Mike

i think every course in the country is busy at the weekend!!

mike12

charlieIRL wrote: »

i think every course in the country is busy at the weekend!!

Ya but in St. Margrets if they are only getting 110 for a medal that is 3 hours of tee times, Roganstown would be something similar, i hear the comps in Corrstown are full in a hour so if u are not on the ball u don't get to play.
Mike

istaunton

dubber wrote: »

I don't think they're falling down at all, it's just personal preference. Seem like a great bunch of people there and a very active membership from what I hear.

Cheers. Thats good to hear.

istaunton

mike12 wrote: »

I think what would put me off Coorstown is the diffculty in getting out at the weekend in comps it is always really busy from what i hear.
If i was joining a course in the area i think i would go for Roganstown myself.
Mike

If you have a specific time you have to be out at then yes you usually have to get in early. But you will always get out. I usually dont put my name down until a thursday or friday before the weekend and there are always places.

LALA04

I am a member for the last 8 or 9 Years. The course is challenging, particularly off the Blues (Medals).
The Manager (Ciaran) runs a really good ship with Gary (Club Pro0 very friendly and helpful.
Greens have been poor in the past but for the last Year or so they have been very good. Competition rounds can be a little slow with the influx of recent members but if you can shoot around 38/39 points you are always there or there abouts.
Would certainly recommend it.

FixdePitchmark

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

+1. Castleknock is usually in good condition but the place has a claustrophobic feel about it with holes bunched together. Also the course is lacking some significant length to make it a top course but in saying that it does have some nice holes. Have only ever played Castleknock on a weekend but the place always seems very busy with societies and green fees so that may be a concern also regarding trying to get an impromptu game.

No driving range or mid range practice area in Castleknock since the area was used to build the hotel.

Luttrellstown is a step above both Castleknock and St. Margarets I think both in terms of course design and facilities but you're paying extra for the privilege.

Very good info there. Agree Castleknock looked very busy when I was there and was very slow as a result, greens were showing sign of the passing trade. But, at the same measure St. Margarets is a big course that needs plenty of work to keep it right.

Correstown is a fine golf complex, always get a game (3 x 27). But a bit short IMO. Great for lads not wanting to break there back playing a game. Nice quick round.

who_ru

5 day member of castleknock here.

agree that it's a very narrow course, tight fairways,and doesn't have the protection of mature trees. i was out on monday this week and when the wind blows, it really does blow there.

in terms of layout margarets is way ahead, as is luttrellstown. castleknock is busy at the weekends, has opens on tuesdays as well, has a lot of society traffic also.

FixdePitchmark

who_ru wrote: »

5 day member of castleknock here.

agree that it's a very narrow course, tight fairways,and doesn't have the protection of mature trees. i was out on monday this week and when the wind blows, it really does blow there.

in terms of layout margarets is way ahead, as is luttrellstown. castleknock is busy at the weekends, has opens on tuesdays as well, has a lot of society traffic also.

The only good thing is, looks like loads of cash coming in ?

battser

You said you wouldn't go with Luttrelstown for the premium which suggests budget may be an issue however I am unsure if it is from your other posts and so if it is not then the simple answer is luttrelstown. Miles ahead of all those courses and rarely in poor condition. I'd jump at luttrelstown if I had the monies.

My opinion on the others is Castleknock is always mental busy and the 5day membership is not worth a sh!te if your gonna want to get out two or three times a week maybe more.

Mags is nice. Similar to corrstown but corrstown is a much better club to join. Even when its busy its never a problem getting out due to the spare 9. It would be more of a challenge than margarets IMO.

Nice one on getting a membership

fullstop

mike12 wrote: »

Ya but in St. Margrets if they are only getting 110 for a medal that is 3 hours of tee times

You'd want to be looking at 6 minute intervals for that :eek: Is it any wonder rounds are taking 5+ hours!

dubber

Thanks for all the replies - much appreciated ... have decided to go for St. Margaret's, it's the best balance of course/location/price for me at this moment in time.

Ollieboy

mike12 wrote: »

Ya but in St. Margrets if they are only getting 110 for a medal that is 3 hours of tee times, Roganstown would be something similar, i hear the comps in Corrstown are full in a hour so if u are not on the ball u don't get to play.
Mike

You can always get any tee-time you want and the on-line computer system as a waiting lists, which is currently empty for tomorrows medals plus spots available on the sheet. A lot of members book the tee-time straight away, but then pull out the day before, so I've always got a tee-time around the time I need. This is a positive sign for any club in the current market place, plus a big inter-club set up with two Pierce All-Ireland finals in the last 3 years.

All the majors are ran over 2 days and comps 3 to 4 times a week on the course other weeks. So during the majors we must be getting 350 players out etc out of 750 membership. Usual winning score is 66 in strokes. The main 18 hole course is 6298 meters and off the whiles its 6077 meters, I don't think thats short, but the spare nine is short.

My only problem with St Margarets and Castleknock and even Carton House is that the land is not own by the membership and all these clubs are business first and members can end up coming 2nd. St Margarets was a Corp golf club for years and only taken members now because it needs the cashflow. But its a very nice set-up and great track.

Did you look at Clontarf and Malahide?

dubber

Ollieboy wrote: »

Did you look at Clontarf and Malahide?

I've haven't played either, but had ruled out Clontarf based on length and had forgotten about Malahide :eek:

Oilbeefhooked!

battser wrote: »

You said you wouldn't go with Luttrelstown for the premium which suggests budget may be an issue however I am unsure if it is from your other posts and so if it is not then the simple answer is luttrelstown. Miles ahead of all those courses and rarely in poor condition. I'd jump at luttrelstown if I had the monies.

My opinion on the others is Castleknock is always mental busy and the 5day membership is not worth a sh!te if your gonna want to get out two or three times a week maybe more.

Mags is nice. Similar to corrstown but corrstown is a much better club to join. Even when its busy its never a problem getting out due to the spare 9. It would be more of a challenge than margarets IMO.

Nice one on getting a membership

Couldn't disagree with you more re. Castleknock 5 day membership.
Have been a member since Jan and have yet to have an issue with getting a midweek teetime! Always seems to be loads of slots whenever i look online!??
Usually go out tuesdays and friday morning not a bother.
Also have played a few invitationals when the timesheet is chocabloc , i couldn't believe how smoothly and unhindered our rounds were.(less than 4 1/2 hrs)
The new gps system they give each group really works, and the ranger will be out to you by the 2nd green 3rd tee if it looks like you may be falling behind.
If you can play midweek golf, Caslteknock 5 day membership is by far the best deal out there!!Top Class course, played last week and the greens are fantastic, no sign whatsoever of heavy traffic whatsoever!?
Played society at Luttrelstown a week ago, although i love the course layout it was really wet,tee boxes were black, greens were patchy, (10th) in a jocker and the first 7 holes took 2 1/2 hours to play ,almost walked in after 9.
If Luttrelstown had anywhere near the amount of maintanence,upkeep,attention to detail of Castleknock, it maybe then could justify the membership fee.
Just my humble opinion

scubapro

Oilbeefhooked! wrote: »

Couldn't disagree with you more re. Castleknock 5 day membership.
Have been a member since Jan and have yet to have an issue with getting a midweek teetime! Always seems to be loads of slots whenever i look online!??
Usually go out tuesdays and friday morning not a bother.
Also have played a few invitationals when the timesheet is chocabloc , i couldn't believe how smoothly and unhindered our rounds were.(less than 4 1/2 hrs)
The new gps system they give each group really works, and the ranger will be out to you by the 2nd green 3rd tee if it looks like you may be falling behind.
If you can play midweek golf, Caslteknock 5 day membership is by far the best deal out there!!Top Class course, played last week and the greens are fantastic, no sign whatsoever of heavy traffic whatsoever!?
Played society at Luttrelstown a week ago, although i love the course layout it was really wet,tee boxes were black, greens were patchy, (10th) in a jocker and the first 7 holes took 2 1/2 hours to play ,almost walked in after 9.
If Luttrelstown had anywhere near the amount of maintanence,upkeep,attention to detail of Castleknock, it maybe then could justify the membership fee.
Just my humble opinion

Well all I can say is the green keepers must of worked day and night in Luttrellstown because the course was absolutely spanking today, the fairways were lush and tightly cut, the greens were fabulous, best I have played on this year.
Actually couldn't believe the condition as I played it last year and the place was in sh**e.
Gonna try and play it a few times more this year, its a cracking course, well up there with some of top parkland courses (when in this condition) and a great test of golf.

dubber

scubapro wrote: »

Well all I can say is the green keepers must of worked day and night in Luttrellstown because the course was absolutely spanking today, the fairways were lush and tightly cut, the greens were fabulous, best I have played on this year.
Actually couldn't believe the condition as I played it last year and the place was in sh**e.
Gonna try and play it a few times more this year, its a cracking course, well up there with some of top parkland courses (when in this condition) and a great test of golf.

Probably a topic for a different thread but it would be great if Luttrellstown is one of the courses that survives. I played there last year and enjoyed the course (despite the bad weather on the day), the clubhouse and food were fantastic too. Members seemed friendly, their "celeb" former captain went out of his way to have a bit of banter with us. If I lived in Castleknock, I could perhaps justify paying their premium ... but if the their rates were a couple of hundred above the competition I think most would give the place serious consideration for membership and perhaps get them onto a better footing member-wise.

Oilbeefhooked!

scubapro wrote: »

Well all I can say is the green keepers must of worked day and night in Luttrellstown because the course was absolutely spanking today, the fairways were lush and tightly cut, the greens were fabulous, best I have played on this year.
Actually couldn't believe the condition as I played it last year and the place was in sh**e.
Gonna try and play it a few times more this year, its a cracking course, well up there with some of top parkland courses (when in this condition) and a great test of golf.

Dont get me wrong , i love the place and would probably say Lutts is my favourite course in Dublin, when its in peak condition.
That was 3 weekends ago i played it and yes the fairways were lush and a few great greens.They must have been working hard on it!
Awesome clubhouse too.
Just feel that Castleknock has the edge, maybe not on layout but on condition and attention to detail
(manicured teeboxes, greens, gps trackers etc)
And as someone who has played teetimes for years and finally took the plunge this year with the 5 day membership,really feel that for 600 euro
then there is nothing to compare with it.Also when played of the back tees can pose a fair test too .:)

scubapro

dubber wrote: »

Probably a topic for a different thread but it would be great if Luttrellstown is one of the courses that survives. I played there last year and enjoyed the course (despite the bad weather on the day), the clubhouse and food were fantastic too. Members seemed friendly, their "celeb" former captain went out of his way to have a bit of banter with us. If I lived in Castleknock, I could perhaps justify paying their premium ... but if the their rates were a couple of hundred above the competition I think most would give the place serious consideration for membership and perhaps get them onto a better footing member-wise.

Agreed, didn't want to hijack this thread, I just wanted to clarify the current condition in Luttrellstown.
Never played St Margarets, but wish you all the best with your golf there.

spacecoyote

Playing a society outing here on Saturday. Any helpful tips from the members.

The kilcock guide I got last time out on here helped me to 3rd place overall so looking for a repeat performance

n2o

spacecoyote wrote: »

Playing a society outing here on Saturday. Any helpful tips from the members.

The kilcock guide I got last time out on here helped me to 3rd place overall so looking for a repeat performance

Just after playing there for the first time today. You don't need a course guide, everything is in front of you. You can take driver on all the par 4s/5s, although maybe not on the 7th if you're a big hitter. Greens are slow, in general it's not in brilliant nick. Pity, it's a nice layout.

dubber

spacecoyote wrote: »

Playing a society outing here on Saturday. Any helpful tips from the members.

The kilcock guide I got last time out on here helped me to 3rd place overall so looking for a repeat performance

5th par 3, easier to go out of bounds on the left than you think!
6th par 4, can cut the corner here, if going with driver don't be too straight as you'll end up in the rough (shorter than it looks)
Dog leg left Par 4, cut the corner here too!
11th - stay right off the tee, if you're short and left you'll roll into the water
The rest of the back 9 be wary of water hazards in front of greens, if "going for it", don't underestimate the wind.