Credit based membership

eoghan104

Hi All,

I am thinking of leaving my current club at the end of October and Castleknock is the front runner for becoming my new club.

I was looking at the membership rates and the credit based scheme for €1,450 looks good. A weekend comp costs 30 credits and mid week 20. That means I will be able to get 50 odd comps a year. Hard to know for sure but this seems like a lot more than I have played this year in my own club. Can also use the credit in the bar and pro shop which I will try to avoid doing or else Ill be buying a dozen Pro Vs on a whim! If you run out of credits you can top up.

The thing I like about it is that I won't play much golf in terrible conditions, so that's a few weekends out, I don't really play a lot of casual golf so that won't impact my credits and I can always top up if I run out.

Anyone have a membership category like this or is a member of Castleknock? Would love some thoughts.

First Up

eoghan104 wrote:

Anyone have a membership category like this or is a member of Castleknock? Would love some thoughts.

Lisheen Springs has introduced a "Flexi" membership, where you buy credits in €400 blocs and draw it down. It might suit the ocassional player who still wants membership benefits.

eoghan104

Thanks for the reply.

That option doesn't really suit as I want to be eligible for all competitions really. It's a bit far out for me too.

First Up

eoghan104 wrote:

That option doesn't really suit as I want to be eligible for all competitions really. It's a bit far out for me too.

I think you are eligible for everything but location is important.

First Up

I think CityWest have something similar but the course isn't great.

eoghan104

First Up wrote: »

I think you are eligible for everything but location is important.

It says on the website not eligible for Medals and Majors.

Yeah the location is key. I live in Grand Canal Dock so zipping up the keys to Castleknock is handier than getting to my current club which is Bray. I like the course too.

Seve OB

eoghan104 wrote: »

Hi All,

I am thinking of leaving my current club at the end of October and Castleknock is the front runner for becoming my new club.

I was looking at the membership rates and the credit based scheme for €1,450 looks good. A weekend comp costs 30 credits and mid week 20. That means I will be able to get 50 odd comps a year. Hard to know for sure but this seems like a lot more than I have played this year in my own club. Can also use the credit in the bar and pro shop which I will try to avoid doing or else Ill be buying a dozen Pro Vs on a whim! If you run out of credits you can top up.

The thing I like about it is that I won't play much golf in terrible conditions, so that's a few weekends out, I don't really play a lot of casual golf so that won't impact my credits and I can always top up if I run out.

Anyone have a membership category like this or is a member of Castleknock? Would love some thoughts.

There is a thread on here about Castleknock and I have written lots on it, maybe a few threads.

To answer your questions, you can use your credits for absolutely anything. bring friends out for games, pay on your card and get them to give you the cash. use credits in bar and restaurant. use them in the pro shop to buy balls, tees, shoes and clubs. use them to bring a society out. whatever you want really.

have a look through my other posts about Castleknock, there is loads there to give you as much info as you need, but feel free to ask me anything else

First Up

eoghan104 wrote:

It says on the website not eligible for Medals and Majors.

Fair enough.

eoghan104

Seve OB wrote: »

There is a thread on here about Castleknock and I have written lots on it, maybe a few threads.

To answer your questions, you can use your credits for absolutely anything. bring friends out for games, pay on your card and get them to give you the cash. use credits in bar and restaurant. use them in the pro shop to buy balls, tees, shoes and clubs. use them to bring a society out. whatever you want really.

have a look through my other posts about Castleknock, there is loads there to give you as much info as you need, but feel free to ask me anything else

Thanks for that. I think that all the ways you can use the credits is very positive as if you end up not playing a huge amount of golf you are not losing out as you can spend them other ways.

Do you know if under this membership you can play in ALL comps including majors?

I saw some other threads but the latest was 2011 as far as I could see. Will have a look for more now. Cheers.

Seve OB

eoghan104 wrote: »

Thanks for that. I think that all the ways you can use the credits is very positive as if you end up not playing a huge amount of golf you are not losing out as you can spend them other ways.

Do you know if under this membership you can play in ALL comps including majors?

I saw some other threads but the latest was 2011 as far as I could see. Will have a look for more now. Cheers.

yea, you are a full member with all playing rights
only difference is for about 300 quid more, you can be a full, full member where you have unrestricted playing and no payment necessary as you play.

point to note, I think the prices you quoted might be casual golf. stick a fiver on top for comp fee. stick another 5 on top for a plate of whatever the special of the day is

eoghan104

Seve OB wrote: »

yea, you are a full member with all playing rights
only difference is for about 300 quid more, you can be a full, full member where you have unrestricted playing and no payment necessary as you play.

point to note, I think the prices you quoted might be casual golf. stick a fiver on top for comp fee. stick another 5 on top for a plate of whatever the special of the day is

Yeah the 30 is without the 5 entry. The way I see it when calculating the value is that I already pay €7 entry to comps in my own club on top of subs so that €5 shouldn't come into the equation.

That food for a fiver was excellent the one time I had it.

Have you a lot of knowledge of the place? anything I should know?

Seve OB

eoghan104 wrote: »

Yeah the 30 is without the 5 entry. The way I see it when calculating the value is that I already pay €7 entry to comps in my own club on top of subs so that €5 shouldn't come into the equation.

That food for a fiver was excellent the one time I had it.

Have you a lot of knowledge of the place? anything I should know?

loads
I was a 5 day there for a few years. I even have my name on one of the big trophies there gave it up this year for a few reasons, but main one is that due to family circumstances, midweek golf is not really that easy to get out. I'm a full member elsewhere so play my weekend golf in greystones. I live right beside Castleknock gc. so regularily go there for grub, but just no golf there lately food is probably best in d15. thought I have noticed the prices have crept up over the last few years. we used to go a lot, now it's more for a treat

interesting, I went to a focus group there last week. it was about how they can improve and do things better. It has its shortcomings, possibly a lot more than most other clubs, but this was nice to see that maybe they are trying to address those shortcomings and make improvements

First Up

eoghan104 wrote:

Have you a lot of knowledge of the place? anything I should know?

Castlenock is a nice course and well maintained but I assume you have/will check it out for yourself.

They had financial problems but I think they have been sorted (others can update).

eoghan104

Seve OB wrote: »

loads
I was a 5 day there for a few years. I even have my name on one of the big trophies there gave it up this year for a few reasons, but main one is that due to family circumstances, midweek golf is not really that easy to get out. I'm a full member elsewhere so play my weekend golf in greystones. I live right beside Castleknock gc. so regularily go there for grub, but just no golf there lately food is probably best in d15. thought I have noticed the prices have crept up over the last few years. we used to go a lot, now it's more for a treat

interesting, I went to a focus group there last week. it was about how they can improve and do things better. It has its shortcomings, possibly a lot more than most other clubs, but this was nice to see that maybe they are trying to address those shortcomings and make improvements

Do you wish to expand on the shortcomings?! no problem if you don't, my club has them coming out their ears so not massively concerned.

eoghan104

First Up wrote: »

Castlenock is a nice course and well maintained but I assume you have/will check it out for yourself.

They had financial problems but I think they have been sorted (others can update).

Thanks for that.

Yeah I have played it a couple of times and always enjoyed it. I think a lot of clubs have some level of financial difficulty at the moment so I am not overly concerned considering there is no entrance fee.

First Up

eoghan104 wrote:

Yeah I have played it a couple of times and always enjoyed it. I think a lot of clubs have some level of financial difficulty at the moment so I am not overly concerned considering there is no entrance fee.

They went into receivership but were bought by a US group and as far as l know they are operating OK.

No entrance fee but you would have your "credit" to consider.

However I have no reason to think there is any risk there any more than anywhere else.

Seve OB

eoghan104 wrote: »

Thanks for that.

Yeah I have played it a couple of times and always enjoyed it. I think a lot of clubs have some level of financial difficulty at the moment so I am not overly concerned considering there is no entrance fee.

I wouldn't be either. there are new owners in place since then and as far as I know, there is no financial issues to worry about. plenty of money been spend this year on the course, they did a heap of bunkers apparently just recently

Seve OB

eoghan104 wrote: »

Do you wish to expand on the shortcomings?! no problem if you don't, my club has them coming out their ears so not massively concerned.

mainly me being pedantic. have a look at my posts, I'm not going to regurgitate it all over again.

as I say, it looks promising. I will be rejoining again

eoghan104

I tried searching threads you started but had no luck. I am brutal at using the search function. It's a pity but if you think it's improved that's good.

If you re-join lets get a game in.

There is a fire on Bray head and the course has been closed because it is so close, could wake up tomorrow with no club to leave behind!!!

Seve OB

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=85937869

Seve OB

more on this thread
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055581951&page=13

eoghan104

That's all great stuff thanks.

I think I am sold. I'm a member in Bray 20 years but feel it's time for a change. Can always go back.

Seve OB

eoghan104 wrote: »

That's all great stuff thanks.

I think I am sold. I'm a member in Bray 20 years but feel it's time for a change. Can always go back.

its kind of a no brainer really

will get a game with you maybe next year

pcasso

I joined Castleknock as a five day member a few years back because I am an irregular golfer and felt that the credit based system offered me the best value membership around.
I have never used up all my credit playing golf so it has been used mostly in the proshop and a bit in the bar and restaurant.
I have usually brought out a few mates courtesy of my credit as well.
Castleknock itself is a very decent course, pretty much always in good shape and keeps pretty dry during the wintertime in my experience.
I normally just stick my name down on the timesheet for the open competition and bye and large anybody I have played with have all been sound and welcoming.
The fact that I have never got into a regular fourball is mostly down to my irregular pattern of playing golf as I work shift.

This isn't exactly a great deal of information I know but from my experience I wouldn't hesitate recommending Castleknock, though I understand that the credit system works very well for me and may not suit everyone.

ridonkulous

Anyone know of other courses in the Dublin area that offer this type of credit membership? Seems like an absolutely great idea to me and would suit my needs perfectly. I'm not particularly interested in club "majors" or matchplays to be honest but weekend comps and medals would be a must.