The Links Thread

Sultan_of_Ping

Raisins wrote: »

Is there parity on the open entry fees too in this proposal? Would you be satisfied if they run 4 opens a year with a 300 quid entry fee?

Yeah, as you can see, I never suggested there'd be any kind of fee equalisation. I think that point was specific in my earlier posts.

Raisins

Sultan_of_Ping wrote: »

Yeah, as you can see, I never suggested there'd be any kind of fee equalisation. I think that point was specific in my earlier posts.

That’s fine, I didn’t realise the whole thing is completely academic. 4 opens for 300 quid nominally as a nod to Irish golfers for hosting opens at their own clubs but full of Americans who would have played either way.

gypsy79

Seapoint have lowered their prices to €45 with a bucket of balls

dan_ep82

Seapoint always had a GUI rate of 30 or 35

gypsy79

dan_ep82 wrote: »

Seapoint always had a GUI rate of 30 or 35

They had an open at 30, now increased to 35

They had actually scrapped or increased the GUI rate as they felt they were losing picking up an tourist money

From chatting to members, it turns out increasing green fees x2/x3 increased toursit visitors

dan_ep82

Played there last year on the GUI rate so it must be a new thing.

DuckSlice

gypsy79 wrote: »

They had an open at 30, now increased to 35

They had actually scrapped or increased the GUI rate as they felt they were losing picking up an tourist money

From chatting to members, it turns out increasing green fees x2/x3 increased toursit visitors

You here this quite a lot, Galway Bay put their green fee up to 100+ couple of years ago, apparently to attract Americans. they rate courses by how much it costs to play them is what seemed to be their thinking.

Mushy

etxp wrote: »

You here this quite a lot, Galway Bay put their green fee up to 100+ couple of years ago, apparently to attract Americans. they rate courses by how much it costs to play them is what seemed to be their thinking.

Happened Portstewart didnt it? Was cheap, but next door to the expensive Portrush which had a load of green fees going in. Up the price and now its busy

blackwhite

Same happened in Co. Sligo a few years ago as well.

GUI rates significantly lower

FixdePitchmark

blackwhite wrote: »

Same happened in Co. Sligo a few years ago as well.

GUI rates significantly lower

And I don't think I've any problem with them having a higher rack rate for tourists. It is the same for any tourist activity all over the world. Yes it is gouging, but the attitude with golf is, these tourists are loaded and makes no odds what you charge them. (it is a horrible attitude - but hey, welcome to the world).

But, When it comes to golf , you can sort of understand that attitude. But they are taking the piss with it here - the rates are a disgrace ("talk to Joe":D), for courses that have not got this multi million euro investment that is talked about here. They are fairly bog standard Irish golf clubs - with the big big ones having very fancy clubhouses. There are fairly low level rural clubs maintained to an equal or higher standard.
This additional investment needed , is completely over stated , look at golf in Kerry or Sligo. They are not much further on then their origins. Look at the European Club.

I've played with some of the Americans over , and most of them are not Joe Soaps on these trips. Many of them were millionaires and had multiple properties. It is true - many of them you could charge anything.

I won't name courses - but for other courses to use this as an idea to attract a tourist is laughable. They might get the odd one/fool , but we know the courses they are here to play. Then to make this even more laughable , to even mention these fake higher rates to an Irish person , is comical. I've rang a few pro shops and they did ask me for the rack rate. Was hilarious. Both of us knew it was a daft situation.

Look it is all somewhat academic with Covid as they (almost all) will be forced to offer a domestic rate / GUI rate.

I'd just ask, to avoid all the bull****. Keep the GUI rate up on website. A fair , high rate. This is not some sort of crazy Socialist State movement.

Remember they are supposed to be in the same union,
Remember that they enjoy full and regular access to every other course in the country,
And remember that they get a very significant tax break from the Irish state.

It isn't some form of crazy Stalinist movement.

Anyway - I'm looking forward to be invited back, with open arms now.

Hopefully - we do not get into this false reality again - that the tourist rate is the only rate, and there is not a GUI rate.

Raisins

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

And remember that they get a very significant tax break from the Irish state.

I’m not well up on this tax argument that you mentioned a few times. Why does that impact on green fees? Do you mean because they’re not liable for VAT?

blackwhite

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

And I don't think I've any problem with them having a higher rack rate for tourists. It is the same for any tourist activity all over the world. Yes it is gouging, but the attitude with golf is, these tourists are loaded and makes no odds what you charge them. (it is a horrible attitude - but hey, welcome to the world).

But, When it comes to golf , you can sort of understand that attitude. But they are taking the piss with it here - the rates are a disgrace ("talk to Joe":D), for courses that have not got this multi million euro investment that is talked about here. They are fairly bog standard Irish golf clubs - with the big big ones having very fancy clubhouses. There are fairly low level rural clubs maintained to an equal or higher standard.
This additional investment needed , is completely over stated , look at golf in Kerry or Sligo. They are not much further on then their origins. Look at the European Club.

I've played with some of the Americans over , and most of them are not Joe Soaps on these trips. Many of them were millionaires and had multiple properties. It is true - many of them you could charge anything.

I won't name courses - but for other courses to use this as an idea to attract a tourist is laughable. They might get the odd one/fool , but we know the courses they are here to play. Then to make this even more laughable , to even mention these fake higher rates to an Irish person , is comical. I've rang a few pro shops and they did ask me for the rack rate. Was hilarious. Both of us knew it was a daft situation.

Look it is all somewhat academic with Covid as they (almost all) will be forced to offer a domestic rate / GUI rate.

I'd just ask, to avoid all the bull****. Keep the GUI rate up on website. A fair , high rate. This is not some sort of crazy Socialist State movement.

Remember they are supposed to be in the same union,
Remember that they enjoy full and regular access to every other course in the country,
And remember that they get a very significant tax break from the Irish state.

It isn't some form of crazy Stalinist movement.

Anyway - I'm looking forward to be invited back, with open arms now.

Hopefully - we do not get into this false reality again - that the tourist rate is the only rate, and there is not a GUI rate.

Like this you mean?

https://www.countysligogolfclub.ie/visitors/special-offers/

Doesn't explicitly state the GUI Rate for main course only, but when I played last summer it was €70

blackwhite

Raisins wrote: »

I’m not well up on this tax argument that you mentioned a few times. Why does that impact on green fees? Do you mean because they’re not liable for VAT?

https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/value-added-tax/part03-taxable-transactions-goods-ica-services/Services/services-member-owned-golf-clubs.pdf

It's nothing to do with the Irish State - it's a European Courts of Justice ruling, based on an EU Directive; and it only applies to not-for-profit, member-owned clubs

The likes of Old Head, or any of the "resort" courses don't fall under it.

Raisins

blackwhite wrote: »

https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/value-added-tax/part03-taxable-transactions-goods-ica-services/Services/services-member-owned-golf-clubs.pdf

It's nothing to do with the Irish State - it's a European Courts of Justice ruling, based on an EU Directive; and it only applies to not-for-profit, member-owned clubs

The likes of Old Head, or any of the "resort" courses don't fall under it.

The VAT issue has nothing to do with the State but that’s why I asked in fairness whether the poster was referring to vat or another tax.

The clubs might get corporation tax / income tax exemptions (which are obviously state based not EU based) because they’re not run for profit.

purdy1984

Played Old Head today for the €130.... highest green fee i have ever paid by about €50..it is the best course I have ever played, I played RCD five times, this place was better...bucket list and most likely only time I will play it. Facilities were top notch as were the staff. If ye can play it do it!

DuckSlice

purdy1984 wrote: »

Played Old Head today for the €130.... highest green fee i have ever paid by about €50..it is the best course I have ever played, I played RCD five times, this place was better...bucket list and most likely only time I will play it. Facilities were top notch as were the staff. If ye can play it do it!

Playing next Friday so I'm glad to be reading this.

Whiplash85

etxp wrote: »

Playing next Friday so I'm glad to be reading this.

Playing 11am Monday week. I asked them would they do it for a €100 a man and they agreed. Cant wait.

slave1

Enjoy guys, I've had two previous invites to play there but both were huge clashes so I declined, regret it now of course

BoldReason

purdy1984 wrote: »

Played Old Head today for the €130.... highest green fee i have ever paid by about €50..it is the best course I have ever played, I played RCD five times, this place was better...bucket list and most likely only time I will play it. Facilities were top notch as were the staff. If ye can play it do it!

Would have RCD ahead of it myself tbh. Have played both twice. It's a fantastic course but I would I'd prefer RCD personally.

Whiplash85

For those who have played old Head. Have you any tips? A friend of mine in work played it and I would consider him a competent player. He had 3 birdies but lost 6 balls which resulted in 3 triple bogeys and still managed to shoot 14 over. I have seen a flyover of some holes like the 2nd or 12th that run beside the cliff. Safe to say any pulled shots left are dead. In the absence of big traditional links dunes and trees where do you get caught? Might head down nice and early and make use of the practice facilities. I hate turning up 15 minutes before a tee time and under pressure already.

Benicetomonty

Another unprecedented move. Portmarnock offering "domestic rates" for August and September according to their instagram. Golf tourism shutdown starting to bite.

rooney30

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Another unprecedented move. Portmarnock offering "domestic rates" for August and September according to their instagram. Golf tourism shutdown starting to bite.

You’ll have lads haggling over the price of a packet of tees in the pro shop . The members will be horrified

jarrieta

BoldReason wrote: »

Would have RCD ahead of it myself tbh. Have played both twice. It's a fantastic course but I would I'd prefer RCD personally.

I also played this on Monday, really stunning course, was in pristine conditions and really liked all the holes.I preferred this to RCD but it is hard to compare, and obviously the history is not the same.

A few stunning photos we took of the course https://photos.app.goo.gl/YZ1tqi5xdxgLuERo8

Really happy of having played it as I guess I won't play it again

Sultan_of_Ping

BoldReason wrote: »

Would have RCD ahead of it myself tbh. Have played both twice. It's a fantastic course but I would I'd prefer RCD personally.

Likewise.

Kinsale has about 6 holes that are stunning, and objectively world class......and it has an incredible setting, but most of the rest of the holes are pretty mid-range and there's three, maybe are a bit mediocre.

RCD to me is just an unrelenting test of your golf!

FixdePitchmark

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Another unprecedented move. Portmarnock offering "domestic rates" for August and September according to their instagram. Golf tourism shutdown starting to bite.

Thanks to me :p:D:D

10 years in trying.

finglashoop

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Thanks to me :p:D:D

10 years in trying.

What is the domestic rate?

purdy1984

Whiplash85 wrote: »

For those who have played old Head. Have you any tips? A friend of mine in work played it and I would consider him a competent player. He had 3 birdies but lost 6 balls which resulted in 3 triple bogeys and still managed to shoot 14 over. I have seen a flyover of some holes like the 2nd or 12th that run beside the cliff. Safe to say any pulled shots left are dead. In the absence of big traditional links dunes and trees where do you get caught? Might head down nice and early and make use of the practice facilities. I hate turning up 15 minutes before a tee time and under pressure already.

Bring plenty of balls and don't get annoyed when you lose them it will happen!! we had a light wind but it still took a straight ball down the fairway and put it in the sea on the 2nd. 9 holes run along cliffs so that's were you will lose them. I lost a good few.

Range is very good balls included and set out for you and practice bunkers and green are right beside the first tee

Book a table for food after the round. the views from the restaurant are worth it.

PARlance

finglashoop wrote: »

What is the domestic rate?

They tell you that after the interview!

ahnoyouregrand

purdy1984 wrote: »

Played Old Head today for the €130.... highest green fee i have ever paid by about €50..it is the best course I have ever played, I played RCD five times, this place was better...bucket list and most likely only time I will play it. Facilities were top notch as were the staff. If ye can play it do it!

That is some value! How did you get it for 130 can I ask? Would love to play it but regular green fee is just too high....

mighty magpie

Signed up for the portmarnock emails via instagram.

Found it strange they asked for golf club and GUI number. Will most likely take a trip south after GAA finishes and play either portmarnock or european for first time.