Galway

guitar_whizz

Im moving to Galway next month and interested in joining either Barna or Galway as more than likely I'll be living on the west side of the city. Any advice/recommendations on which is the best course/best membership/best value. All advice greatly appreciated

Kace

I don't know the prices these days but would join Galway GC in a heartbeat before heading out to Barna.

Try both though and based upon what you're willing to pay your decision will be made.

Barna will be significantly cheaper.

Davd

If living in the west side of the city/knocknacarra area, then both clubs area very accessible. Although, depending on where you are working, clubs like Athenry, Cregmore and Galway Bay could be a closer option for golf in the evening.
Galway GC still has 10k hello money and is always in very good condition all year round and nice facilities. It's easier to get in these days but better if you know a few members. Pre-2008 you could be waiting a few years to get in. Lots of drainage work means it takes the water well and can be played on when many are closed and proximity to the sea means few closures for frost.
Bearna was built on a bog and doesn't take the rain very well which is not good for a course on the west of Ireland. In wet conditions, a high flying drive can get plugged in the middle of the fairway and never be found again. When the wind dies in the summer, swarms (literally) of midges will terrorize even the toughest of golfers (but they do sell insect repellent in the Pro shop). But the holes are a challenge and you will probably need a good supply of balls the first time you play it.
Athenry is usually in good shape year round. Don't play it that often so not sure how it takes the rain but it's just a little boring in design.
Cregmore is the newest of the courses and a nice track. Doesn't take the rain well but I hear they have drainage plans in place. It's just a little immature yet and will probably age into a nice track when trees grow but just a bit too easy a track at the moment.
Galway Bay is probably the best of these courses at the moment. Not a links course but plays like one. Very long off the back sticks and the greens are usually in great shape year round. It's in NAMA from what I hear but still functioning as a golf club and the club house had reopened in the last year and now have restaurant facilities. Membership is on a year by year basis for obvious reasons and it has probably the highest yearly sub of all but is probably the best track. But not for you if you find the wind interferes with your game. Whatever the wind speed is in Salthill when playing Galway GC, it could be twice that in Galway Bay GC just because of it's exposure.
Hope this helps.

Goldenjohn

If your living westside/knocknacarra/barna side of the city don't discount Oughterard..check out the website for the current offer.

I'd suggest playing a few of the courses a couple of times before you sign up, most do open days and it would give you the chance to check out the facilities but If your set on barna v Galway, I'd pick Galway everytime

drfrank

Hi,

I have to agree with the other contributers.....
Galway is far superior to Barna as a course, however, it is expensive to join and tee times can be difficult to come by at peak times.

Galway Bay is a gem but the wind can make it hard going !

Athenry, Oughterard and others all are very pleasant tracks and have some good deals on memberships. The main problem lies with access, they are 30mins out of Galway !!

I recommend you play them all and see what you think !

cadobady

Davd wrote: »

If living in the west side of the city/knocknacarra area, then both clubs area very accessible. Although, depending on where you are working, clubs like Athenry, Cregmore and Galway Bay could be a closer option for golf in the evening.
Galway GC still has 10k hello money and is always in very good condition all year round and nice facilities. It's easier to get in these days but better if you know a few members. Pre-2008 you could be waiting a few years to get in. Lots of drainage work means it takes the water well and can be played on when many are closed and proximity to the sea means few closures for frost.
Bearna was built on a bog and doesn't take the rain very well which is not good for a course on the west of Ireland. In wet conditions, a high flying drive can get plugged in the middle of the fairway and never be found again. When the wind dies in the summer, swarms (literally) of midges will terrorize even the toughest of golfers (but they do sell insect repellent in the Pro shop). But the holes are a challenge and you will probably need a good supply of balls the first time you play it.
Athenry is usually in good shape year round. Don't play it that often so not sure how it takes the rain but it's just a little boring in design.
Cregmore is the newest of the courses and a nice track. Doesn't take the rain well but I hear they have drainage plans in place. It's just a little immature yet and will probably age into a nice track when trees grow but just a bit too easy a track at the moment.
Galway Bay is probably the best of these courses at the moment. Not a links course but plays like one. Very long off the back sticks and the greens are usually in great shape year round. It's in NAMA from what I hear but still functioning as a golf club and the club house had reopened in the last year and now have restaurant facilities. Membership is on a year by year basis for obvious reasons and it has probably the highest yearly sub of all but is probably the best track. But not for you if you find the wind interferes with your game. Whatever the wind speed is in Salthill when playing Galway GC, it could be twice that in Galway Bay GC just because of it's exposure.
Hope this helps.

this sums it up very well, if you have the money, if you can get in (still not so easy i think) and if you are on the west side then Galway is a no brainer. Its a magnificent course, super drainage, pristine condition and i always look foward to playing there.

on east side i would (and did) go for athenry over cregmore. galway bay is also a great course last time i played and i hear things are picking up out there and its getting back to where it once was

fearruanua

*Galway-would be my first choice. Fantastic course with great short game practice facilities. long game practice facilities aren't great but i hear they are extending the range.
*Barna- as previously posted barna gc is built on a bog so drainage will always be a problem especially with all the rain we have had recently. the course though has improved alot in the last few years. alot of work being done up there at the moment. new driving range was seeded in the last few weeks. tough course.

if money isn't a problem, galway wins hands down. but if u can't afford the 10,000 plus for galway barna would prob be your next best option.

Creasy_bear

They have extending the range, it's still waaay too short. Galway's biggets downfall. I can't see him getting into Galway unless he has family/friends already in there. Even if he did, he'd be waiting a couple of years to get in. As far as I know, no one gets in on their first attempt. His best chance would be if he's around scratch and would play senior cup. I wouldn't join Barna if you let me in for nothing tbh. My choice would be athenry....nice course 15mins outside the city. Cheap too.

Webbs

Creasy_bear wrote: »

They have extending the range, it's still waaay too short. Galway's biggets downfall. I can't see him getting into Galway unless he has family/friends already in there. Even if he did, he'd be waiting a couple of years to get in. As far as I know, no one gets in on their first attempt. His best chance would be if he's around scratch and would play senior cup. I wouldn't join Barna if you let me in for nothing tbh. My choice would be athenry....nice course 15mins outside the city. Cheap too.

Agree with above, though Athenry is impossible to get out on weekends and is excruciatingly slow. Cregmore and Galway Bay would be far more accessible to play at weekends and would be easy enough to turn up and play on most days.

I would recommend taking a bit of time go to the clubs see what the feel is of the place, how your welcomed by the club and how approachable members seem as I assume you wont know anyone else in the club. Also ask around in the club or pro shop how busy the time sheets are etc. No point in joining a club where you cant get out or is a 'closed shop' of fourballs.

guitar_whizz

Thanks for the advice guys all greatly appreciated. Unfortunately don't have 10k under the bed so rules Galway out but will look at other options and definitely play them few times and make the decision.

madds

A little o/t but there are 15-20 of us heading down to play Galway Bay at the end of Sept (Ryder Cup weekend to be specific) and was interested to read people's views on the course here. Had originally enquired about Galway GC but heard the Bay was a better track.

Goldenjohn

guitar_whizz wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys all greatly appreciated. Unfortunately don't have 10k under the bed so rules Galway out but will look at other options and definitely play them few times and make the decision.

What course did you pick op?

antoobrien

Webbs wrote: »

Agree with above, though Athenry is impossible to get out on weekends and is excruciatingly slow.

The trick with getting out at the weekends in Athenry is knowing when the timesheet opens, so if you're checking on Sunday afternoon for next weekend, you're probably too late to get a 3/4 ball out. If you're looking for a single spot you'll usually get one late in the week.

As for slowness, ever since Ron Willis (the former course ranger) left the club a few years ago as part of cost cutting, the timesheets have gone to crap. If you're unlocuky enough to get caught behind the wrong group, then you're screwed