Help choose a course to join

Macker1

A simple question but important to pick right

Looking a moving course for a number of reasons. The main one being joining somewhere nearer home in Meath.

Two courses are sticking out which are Kilcock and Co Meath (Trim)

I played both during the summer and they are nice tracks in my opinion
Membership of either is reasonable and both are within 20 mins of home as I live in Ballivor so on that score fit the bill.
Co Meath has the better practice facilities and would appear to be more established.

Any thoughts/comments welcomed especially from past or present members whom might be able to highlight any pros or cons I may not be aware of.

Is there any any course I should be looking into that I may not be aware of ??

dar_cool

Have you thought about black bush in dunshaughlin. 27 holes. Good practise facilities and reasonable membership.I'm a member there and really like it. I do like kilcock gc. I don't like the grass cuttings left on fairways and greens though. Royal Tara is another one around that area

sydneybound

Wasn't mad gone on Kilcock when I played it although to be fair it is a nice course. I like County Meath however in my mind and thinking about practice facilities Blackbush is head and shoulders above with the additional nine holes and driving range, chipping area etc.

the lawman

Have you thought about Rathcore? I'm a member but to my mind a better course than Kilcock. Haven't played the others so can't comment.

It's a great club feel and comps run well. Good lads too.

mafc

the lawman wrote: »

Have you thought about Rathcore? I'm a member but to my mind a better course than Kilcock. Haven't played the others so can't comment.

It's a great club feel and comps run well. Good lads too.

Have played them all and would have to agree with you re the course, however if practice facilities are very important I would suggest Co. Meath.

Benny Cake

What about Knightsbrook?

Macker1

the lawman wrote: »

Have you thought about Rathcore? I'm a member but to my mind a better course than Kilcock. Haven't played the others so can't comment.

It's a great club feel and comps run well. Good lads too.

Never played Rathcore but will try it out before making decision.

Macker1

mafc wrote: »

Have played them all and would have to agree with you re the course, however if practice facilities are very important I would suggest Co. Meath.

Practice facilities are important but in order of what I would mainly look for is as follows

Course in great condition
Well mannered membership with a down to earth homely feeling
Reasonably Priced
Decent practice facilities that include Putting Green, Chipping Green, Practice Bunker, Nets.

I played with a friend today in Kilcock with two members and they were spot on. Upon finishing the 18th Hole the Captain of the club came over and we had a nice chat in which he was open and honest. This gave me a very positive feeling regarding the club. This is ticking all the boxes for me so far.

Macker1

Benny Cake wrote: »

What about Knightsbrook?

To be honest I had always thought is was out of my price range. My brother is a member and he payed big money to join during the mad years. It is a nice course but never really liked it enough to play often.

Without wishing to offend anyone I don't think it would ever have the homely felling I would look for. During the boom like a lot of the large fancy courses/golf clubs it attracted a certain percentage of members who were too far up their own arse and this snobbish elevated self-importance is a huge turn-off for me.

sydneybound

Macker1 wrote: »

like a lot of the large fancy courses/golf clubs it attracted a certain percentage of members who were too far up their own arse and this snobbish elevated self-importance is a huge turn-off for me.

Now there is a statement!

FixdePitchmark

Macker1 wrote: »

To be honest I had always thought is was out of my price range. My brother is a member and he payed big money to join during the mad years. It is a nice course but never really liked it enough to play often.

Without wishing to offend anyone I don't think it would ever have the homely felling I would look for. During the boom like a lot of the large fancy courses/golf clubs it attracted a certain percentage of members who were too far up their own arse and this snobbish elevated self-importance is a huge turn-off for me.

There is only one thing worse than a snobbish elevated self-importance

A reverse snobbish downtrodden self-pityness.

I've been in both beds, depending on age and mood.


By the way - it is hardly expensive now to join Knightsbrook ?

Macker1

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

There is only one thing worse than a snobbish elevated self-importance

A reverse snobbish downtrodden self-pityness.

I've been in both beds, depending on age and mood.


By the way - it is hardly expensive now to join Knightsbrook ?

To be fair the costs of joining Knightsbrook are more realistic these days but it just doesn't appeal to me.

Macker1

sydneybound wrote: »

Now there is a statement!

As I stated I didn't wish to offend anyone but there are certain types of people that will happily join a club with no interest in the sport itself but rather use the membership as a status symbol. Clubs that attract this type of person are not my cup of tea.

This of course is not limited to Golf but affects many sports.

Benny Cake

Macker1 wrote: »

As I stated I didn't wish to offend anyone but there are certain types of people that will happily join a club with no interest in the sport itself but rather use the membership as a status symbol. Clubs that attract this type of person are not my cup of tea.

This of course is not limited to Golf but affects many sports.

Àh yes, the classic get out of jail free card, stating "no offense" before proceeding to cut the back off the members of a golf club. I'm not a member of Knightsbrook but have always enjoyed playing there when I've had the chance. I don't think there will be too many tears shed if you decide not to join.....

Glencarraig

No contest, it has to be Royal Tara, fantastic course, clubhouse and very friendly members.

FixdePitchmark

Macker1 wrote: »

As I stated I didn't wish to offend anyone but there are certain types of people that will happily join a club with no interest in the sport itself but rather use the membership as a status symbol. Clubs that attract this type of person are not my cup of tea.

This of course is not limited to Golf but affects many sports.

Well - I don't mean to offend anyone - but I don't think you have much to worry about in Meath :P:) (joking)

Look, at this stage - all that is out the window - they would let a criminal join a golf club now, if he had money (I know they wouldn't but, not far off that).

Course that have that sort of atmosphere are few and far between now. It was a sort of 80s, 90s and Celtic tiger thing, now that is out the window.

There Is maybe 5 or 6 course like that in Dublin - but can't imagine many more - sure most golf clubs are full of societies from pubs, even over weekends - so any grandeur is misplaced or will be quickly put in it's place.

I was in Knightsbrook , it was one of the cheapest hotels I've been in, in years. So - would be interested in how it is going as a golf club. The whole place was just a mad idea.

There are so many golf course around there , it is hard to see how they can all stay open , if I'm being honest.

Macker1

Glencarraig wrote: »

No contest, it has to be Royal Tara, fantastic course, clubhouse and very friendly members.

Played an open there over the summer. Great track which was really enjoyable

PARlance

Macker1 wrote: »

As I stated I didn't wish to offend anyone but there are certain types of people that will happily join a club with no interest in the sport itself but rather use the membership as a status symbol. Clubs that attract this type of person are not my cup of tea.

This of course is not limited to Golf but affects many sports.

There's only one group worse than "them" and that's the "look at them" group.

Build a bridge.

I stayed there for a night during the summer, chanced my arm for a game, timesheet was full unfortunately.
If the staff are anything to go by, it's a cracking spot.
I was invited to use the short game and putting green for as long as I wanted.
Chatted to lads on the putting green, all of them sound.
Went to the chipping green, had a 30min chat/free lesson from one of the staff there.

The members would want to be real c****.

Eoinyh

Kilcock is too easy,wet in the winter an the greens need another 5 million, moyvalley has it all if its close enough

Macker1

PARlance wrote: »

There's only one group worse than "them" and that's the "look at them" group.

Build a bridge.

I stayed there for a night during the summer, chanced my arm for a game, timesheet was full unfortunately.
If the staff are anything to go by, it's a cracking spot.
I was invited to use the short game and putting green for as long as I wanted.
Chatted to lads on the putting green, all of them sound.
Went to the chipping green, had a 30min chat/free lesson from one of the staff there.

The members would want to be real c****.

What do you mean by build a bridge. I haven't slated any course so what do you mean.

Macker1

Eoinyh wrote: »

Kilcock is too easy,wet in the winter an the greens need another 5 million, moyvalley has it all if its close enough

Course too easy ??? Depends on your level of play surely.

Played today after a lot of rainfall overnight and to be fair the course held up well. A few bunkers with pools but what course doesn't suffer the same issue with the inclement weather.

I played Palmerstown Stud and The Heritage during the last two weeks and they were the same.

Greens not bad for this time of year. Again this is based on personal opinion

Moyvalley I believe is close to winding down If I heard correctly

Eoinyh

It could well be,It's up for sale alright, can't believe everything u hear, I heard kilcock was struggling an was going, but were isn't,only time will tell,, u have to say of the courses in the area moyvalley is the pick of the bunch with rathcore a very close second,but to say kilcock is not very wet an soft in the winter, an the greens arent slow is just untrue,may as well give the true facts when someone is looking to spend there hard earned money, as for been easy, in terms of course difficulty rather than player ability it would be classed as easy

FixdePitchmark

Hi there PARlance - whilst I would agree with your sentiments.

I too, would have needed a bridge at times, even a candle in the window - golf in the 80s and 90s was a bit of an odd ball sport. It definitely had a posh image problem - in fact, it was not a problem at all , it was relished by the clubs in question. Including a sexism problem. So somebody entering the golf course membership scene , could understandably have a few hang ups. But when you get older - you probably shift a bit right yourself and don't give as much a **** what other people think. You also find out some of the hang ups are you - the world will move on.

But the poshness (perhaps not the perception) , is long gone - except for a few who are hanging in there - and fair play to them - you should be able to start any club you want - with any rules or atmosphere you want - with the exception of breaking the law of the land etc.

But society has changed in many ways - these lads all shop in LIDL and fly Ryanair, we all are in the same queue. Well sort of.

So - times have changed - golf is not like that for 95 % of clubs in the country.

I can totally understand that during the boom years - certain lads got a few notions about themselves - they started to believe their own bull****.

I was playing with a lad in his 60s a year or so back - a working class lad, he was off 4 in late 60s - His observation of the whole golf scene was interesting - he said there are always a few assholes around a golf club - notions about themselves. He said, the worst of them all, are normally lads who have nothing, or came from nothing themselves.

Interesting observation.