New forest or Moate GC

ABitofsense

Hey, I'm after moving to the Moate area and I'm interested in joining either New Forest or Moate. I haven't played any of them yet but I hopefully will over the next couple of weeks/months.

Could some members of these clubs be able to tell me info on the club like time sheet availability, online booking?, course Condition during winter, tempory greens? Etc etc.

Beaulieu

Why not join Tullamore? Super course & over 200 playing in comps every weekend Great value too but then Im biased. NF is wonderful also but Im not too sure about its medium term future

slave1

I've played both a lot and with respect to Moate, New Forest is better in every respect, it was built from scratch at Celtic Tiger times and it shows, there's no comparison. If, however you are thinking of joining Moate drop me a PM as I'm probably going to join next year as that's where most of my mates play and they do a deal for multiple new joiners...

slave1

Sorry, should have commented on your specific questions, you can book online in Moate usually no probs getting out once you book in advance, don't know about NF, Moate use temporary greens, NF do not, some holes in Moate very wet in Winter eg 16-18, just the one in NF 14th IIRC. Play both, if you want quicker rounds on a shorter course then Moate else NF...I'm around mid week next week if you want to play either...

Wichita Lineman

Moate use temporary greens :eek: :eek::eek::eek:

We have had to use the 8th as a temporary recently and although smaller it is as good a temporary green as you will get. There have been no other temporary greens in play in 2014. The only other reason for temporary greens being in play will be for heavy frost and that would be to protect greens and very rarely happens! What course wouldn't do that.

16-18 is not very wet either. There was an issue on 17 and the tee was moved forward for winter so you would be hitting past the dodgy spot. We have also done a lot of drainage work in various places over the past few years and after all the heavy deluge of rain last week there was one really wet patch on the course - in the bunker on the left hand side of the first hole and that was it.

I have no problem with anyone recommending other local courses over Moate which may have different things to offer but at least tell the truth!

charlieIRL

I was a member of Moate for a few years, open day is a thursday and can be busy enough after 4pm. Lovely course and always well maintained. Always a friendly chat in the pro shop before you go out as well. I don't ever remember playing off temporary greens either and i played the winter league there.

Have played New Forest a good few times as well. Harder course but a different challenge. Can be very quiet and am not sure about any competitions there as I've only played casual rounds there - and enjoyed every one of them.

Great to have the choice between the two but to confuse you more I also would consider Tullamore (Membership deals on at the moment and far superior course), Esker Hills, Castle Barna and Mount Temple.

slave1

Wichita Lineman wrote: »

Moate use temporary greens :eek: :eek::eek::eek:

We have had to use the 8th as a temporary recently and although smaller it is as good a temporary green as you will get. There have been no other temporary greens in play in 2014. The only other reason for temporary greens being in play will be for heavy frost and that would be to protect greens and very rarely happens! What course wouldn't do that.

16-18 is not very wet either. There was an issue on 17 and the tee was moved forward for winter so you would be hitting past the dodgy spot. We have also done a lot of drainage work in various places over the past few years and after all the heavy deluge of rain last week there was one really wet patch on the course - in the bunker on the left hand side of the first hole and that was it.

I have no problem with anyone recommending other local courses over Moate which may have different things to offer but at least tell the truth!

Don't misread my intentions, I'm most likely rejoining Moate next year I said but I've been playing Moate for 18 years, there is wet problems on 16 through 18, maybe not the last two years but they are there and were there, the flags are often removed from 17/18 taking them out of play as the rough separating 17/18 gets waterlogged, I'm being open and honest with that comment and in no way misrepresenting the course as I remember how wet it was before the ponds on 14/16 and drainage works improvement way back, perhaps you played it when they were in play?
Regarding temporary greens, the OP wanted a direct comparison to NF where their greens are open always as they are not as susceptible to heavy frost due to their construction and they have a zero temporary greens policy. I remember going out for a round in late 2011 and Moate were closed due to heavy frost, I drove to NF where they were open and all in play. I never even mentioned the 8th as that green is to be repositioned further back, and by the way I've played on temporary greens that play as well as regular greens and the 8th is not as good 'as any temporary' green.
IMHO Moate's best feature is actually their greens, I commend their strict and regular sweeping of morning dew and they have a good variety of slopes with selected pin positions.
As I stated in my post, the best way to decide is to play both courses, and I'd mention you are looking for membership OP as they may give you a good or free green fee.

Sean_pop

Mullingar is around that area as well.

I would join there if i was you.

hollywoodhoppy

I would like to reiterate what others are saying here in relation to NF. I was a member in Tullamore for about 18 years so I know it quite well, I am now a member of new forest. It is a fantastic golf course so play it first and see if you like it, it is far superior to Moate and in some ways better than Tullamore in that it easy to get out at most times and there is a casual friendly atmosphere.

Some of the holes in new forest are spectacular, the 7th, 10th and 13th being my favourites.

They are also building a golf academy/ driving range currently which is a massive draw for me anyways. But play it and see what you think. For 550 a year it is also superb value.

Best of luck and enjoy wherever you end up.

slave1

Yeah, something lacking in the midlands is a decent practice area, Galway Bay has a georgous short and long chipping area with decent bunkers and all off the grass. I played a round there in Sept and noticed a young lad there with a rake of balls, when I came in from my round he was still there chipping 4 hours later, bliss