Black Bush Golf Club

Sean_pop

Anyone played here recently??

How would you rate it??

dar_cool

Im a member here so might be a bit biased, its a nice course,in good condition at the moment, greens are nice, bit flat, no real distinctive holes but a good test of golf, off the back tees its 7100 yards and has ALOT of trees so requires good shots off the tee. Why are you asking?

Dr_Colossus

Also a member and played last night on 9's A & B which would be the main course. It's a 27 hole course with 9's A, B & C. All three are the same standard condition wise but C would be classified as the easier course as it's more open and that bit shorter.
Would agree with dar_cool's comments, greens however as he said are a bit flat and somewhat on the slow side for this time of year. Otherwise it's a good test of golf although there are a number of trees that are too close and encroaching on some fairways so you can be penalised for some good tee shots so you have to plot your way around.
If playing I'd advise trying to play off the back blue sticks as a number of holes (1st, 3rd, 14th, 16th and 18th) are very far forward from the whites and akin to the winter orange tees so holes play quite differently. Not sure if dar_cools comments with it being 7,100 yards of the back tees is correct, thought it was less than 6,900, but either way it's a par 73 so not crazy long.

dar_cool

Yeah your right actually, dont know where I got 7100 yards from!!:P

Sean_pop

dar_cool wrote: »

Im a member here so might be a bit biased, its a nice course,in good condition at the moment, greens are nice, bit flat, no real distinctive holes but a good test of golf, off the back tees its 7100 yards and has ALOT of trees so requires good shots off the tee. Why are you asking?

Never played it before and would like to play it some time in the next month or so!! Is there an open day every week???

Ken Shamrock

I like Black Bush.

dar_cool

Sean_pop wrote: »

Never played it before and would like to play it some time in the next month or so!! Is there an open day every week???

Yes every Wednesday.

Sean_pop

Cheers...

Dr_Colossus

Sean_pop wrote: »

Never played it before and would like to play it some time in the next month or so!! Is there an open day every week???

Open week also starting the first week of Aug and course should be in good condition as the captain's prize is the week before. There's usually an open day on bank holiday weekends also although the weekend price is €20 vs the €15 on a Wed.

Sean_pop

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Open week also starting the first week of Aug and course should be in good condition as the captain's prize is the week before. There's usually an open day on bank holiday weekends also although the weekend price is €20 vs the €15 on a Wed.

Thanks.:D:D

golfer555

Considering joining either Black Bush or Ashbourne. Can't say I've played Ashbourne but heard its hilly in places and no 2 holes the same. I've played Black Bush a few times and enjoyed it, the extra 9 holes would be great for practice on a weekend/evenings when competitions are on the main 18.

I'd normally just join Black Bush but Ashbourne would be less than a 5 minutes spin while Black Bush 20 minutes.

Can any members offer any insight into either club?

Ollieboy

Personally, I would go for Corrstown over both courses and I made the same discussion a few years ago.

Played Killen Castle a few weeks ago and that's the best course in that area.

First Up

golfer555 wrote:

Considering joining either Black Bush or Ashbourne. Can't say I've played Ashbourne but heard its hilly in places and no 2 holes the same. I've played Black Bush a few times and enjoyed it, the extra 9 holes would be great for practice on a weekend/evenings when competitions are on the main 18.

Ashbourne isn't hilly.

ridonkulous

golfer555 wrote: »

Considering joining either Black Bush or Ashbourne. Can't say I've played Ashbourne but heard its hilly in places and no 2 holes the same. I've played Black Bush a few times and enjoyed it, the extra 9 holes would be great for practice on a weekend/evenings when competitions are on the main 18.

I'd normally just join Black Bush but Ashbourne would be less than a 5 minutes spin while Black Bush 20 minutes.

Can any members offer any insight into either club?

I've been a member in Ashbourne, Killeen Castle, and St Margaret's and I've played Blackbush numerous times over the years. Killeen Castle is the best course by a distance of the lot, followed by St Margaret's, then Blackbush and then Ashbourne. It depends what you're looking for I suppose. Best value is St Margaret's, best overall is Killeen Castle, best members club is Ashbourne. If Ashbourne is a 5 minute drive I'd look at there and St Margaret's. The closer you are to the course the better value for money you will get in my experience.

golfer555

First Up wrote: »

Ashbourne isn't hilly.

I'm basing this on secondhand information. Only had chance to drive in and 1/2 holes looked to be on slopes. Is it flat in the main?

ridonkulous wrote: »

I've been a member in Ashbourne, Killeen Castle, and St Margaret's and I've played Blackbush numerous times over the years. Killeen Castle is the best course by a distance of the lot, followed by St Margaret's, then Blackbush and then Ashbourne. It depends what you're looking for I suppose. Best value is St Margaret's, best overall is Killeen Castle, best members club is Ashbourne. If Ashbourne is a 5 minute drive I'd look at there and St Margaret's. The closer you are to the course the better value for money you will get in my experience.

Yeah Killeen is fab but out given the price. I find St Margaret's gets packed on weekends and weekdays with groups, harder to slip out and play a few. This is one of the reasons black bush appeals to me with being able to play the spare 9 when the main course is busy. I presume when you say Ashbourne is the best members club it's a friendly place? What practice facilities do they have, doesn't say on their website. How long would it take to get round on a Saturday morning? Yes it would be on the doorstep so very convenient, to be fair blackbush would be a 15 minute drive so grand too, I won a competition years back there so always held a certain appeal.

First Up

golfer555 wrote:

I'm basing this on secondhand information. Only had chance to drive in and 1/2 holes looked to be on slopes. Is it flat in the main?

Yes. Very.

golfer555

Also does anyone know what they charge for comps in blackbush these days and if you have to enter on Saturday & Sunday mornings?

ridonkulous

golfer555 wrote: »

I presume when you say Ashbourne is the best members club it's a friendly place? What practice facilities do they have, doesn't say on their website. How long would it take to get round on a Saturday morning?

No I didn't mean it to indicate the friendliness of place although the majority of members are sound in my experience bar the odd prick but you'll get that everywhere. What I meant is that it probably has the most active membership. Members tend to play regularly and tend to get involved in the club too.

The practice facilities are ok. You can't hit much more than a 7/8 iron but there is a quality practice green, it's by far the best green in the place.

Pace of play in general is decent enough. I think they aim for just under 4 hours in 3 balls or maybe that's 4 balls, I'm not sure but they've an active ranger who moves people along or at least tries.

If it's the extra 9 holes that appeals I'd go for Corrstown over Blackbush myself. There is an option for Roganstown and Swords open too. They're under the same management now so you can be a member of both . I'm not sure what the pricing is but I remember it being decent plus there's the benefit of the gym/pool there. Just another option...