New Golf Club to join near Swords?

Jaybeemaestro

Hello, first thread ever on boards.ie but had read other threads and people seem to really know their stuff so here it goes. I was looking to join a golf club near Swords and had it narrowed down to St. Margaret's, Roganstown or Forest Little. Mainly due to pricing and most local to me. Playing off 5. Would be looking for decent greens and inter-club stuff too. More Jimmy Bruen than Junior Cup. Any suggestions?

Ollieboy

Why did you leave Corrstown of your list?

Jaybeemaestro

Ollieboy wrote: »

Why did you leave Corrstown of your list?

@Ollieboy. No particular reason, just don't know it or the golf clubs in the area. Forest Little would be closest but would have leaned towards the other two mainly. Happy to hear about Corrstown as well as any other courses close by.

newindublin

I have been evaluating the same area (sadly at not same handicap though). Been a member at Roganstown for a few months and its a solid choice. Strong competition there for sure, the tee sheet will fill up but its not usually impossible.

Other courses of note that I have played in that area are St. Margarets, Corrstown, Donabate, Corballis Links, Swords, and Beaverstown. Of those I would recommend Beaverstown first and St. Margarets second purely based on the course. Personal preference does come into play here a lot so I am not discrediting the other courses, I just liked them more myself.

Ollieboy

Jaybeemaestro wrote: »

@Ollieboy. No particular reason, just don't know it or the golf clubs in the area. Forest Little would be closest but would have leaned towards the other two mainly. Happy to hear about Corrstown as well as any other courses close by.

I think you need to play them first, but St Margaret’s and Roganstown are very similar in business model style were society golf is a big part of the business at the weekends but both are top quality tracks.

Forest Little is a members club and as 18 holes and a very established members club. It’s a very mature course with lots of trees. Corrstown is the same type of club but younger and as the benefit of 27 holes. I feel it’s a longer course and more forgiven off the tee.

Members clubs are usually better clubs for involvement in inter-club but not always.

Do you qualify or the underage offers?

Jaybeemaestro

Ollieboy wrote: »

I think you need to play them first, but St Margaret’s and Roganstown are very similar in business model style were society golf is a big part of the business at the weekends but both are top quality tracks.

Forest Little is a members club and as 18 holes and a very established members club. It’s a very mature course with lots of trees. Corrstown is the same type of club but younger and as the benefit of 27 holes.

Do you qualify or the underage offers?

I'd be looking for somewhere i could get out at the weekends. Club comps and I generally play 3rd or 4th slot so early enough. Somewhere with online BRS booking ideally. Inter-club is a good way to get to know people. Don't get out much midweek so the 27 holes isn't as much of a plus for me as others. Will look up Corrstown today. Sadly don't go qualify for underage offers.

Johnk16

Joined Corrstown 2 weeks ago. Serious clubhouse, neat practice areas and greens in great shape. Its not cheap but comparable with most clubs around the area. I haven't played any comps yet but I've been told there is no major problem getting on the time sheet in the busy months. I went out and had a look around before I joined, they offered me a comp round of golf to see if I liked the course itself so might be worth giving them a call. I think its Darren in the office that I was dealing with. No advice to give on the interclub scene......yet

mike12

Member of Roganstown as well. Never any problems getting out early at the weekends.
Comps on Sat and Sunday. Open on Tuesday.
9 holes on Thursday plus you have 5 day rights on swords Open who have a open Friday.

If you pay your membership up front you get full access to the gym and leisure centre.
Course drains really well only closed for frost full tees and excellent greens open thru the winter.

RGS

I echo Mike12.
Roganstown member as well.

We do enter the inter clubs.

Full tees and greens all year and 18 hole comps all year round.

RoadRunner

St Margarets is nice but getting the slot you want at the weekend is not always guaranteed

Jaybeemaestro

RoadRunner wrote: »

St Margarets is nice but getting the slot you want at the weekend is not always guaranteed

Thanks for that. I'd be playing nearly all my golf at the weekend, early in the morning. I don't want the hassle of not being able to get out.

billy3sheets

RoadRunner wrote: »

St Margarets is nice but getting the slot you want at the weekend is not always guaranteed

Not that much of an issue at all. I've missed the timesheet opening on Mondays on many occasions. There's a waiting list system and I've always got out in the time range I wanted. I'd imagine it's similar to everywhere.

Jaybeemaestro

billy3sheets wrote: »

Not that much of an issue at all. I've missed the timesheet opening on Mondays on many occasions. There's a waiting list system and I've always got out in the time range I wanted. I'd imagine it's similar to everywhere.

Ok thanks, any idea about the early slots?

kopkidda

You seem to have discounted Balbriggan , serious golf course!!

Jaybeemaestro

kopkidda wrote: »

You seem to have discounted Balbriggan , serious golf course!!

Not discounting anything. Just listed clubs I know / had heard of and that would be local to me. Distance-wise Balbriggan would be too far as I'm the airport side of Swords and want something close by. Thanks for the suggestion though.

billy3sheets

Jaybeemaestro wrote: »

billy3sheets wrote: »

Not that much of an issue at all. I've missed the timesheet opening on Mondays on many occasions. There's a waiting list system and I've always got out in the time range I wanted. I'd imagine it's similar to everywhere.

Ok thanks, any idea about the early slots?

My normal range is 7.45 to about 9.30. Couldn't comment outside of that.
At AGM on Thursday they said they are increasing members time by 1 hour at weekends.

kopkidda

Jaybeemaestro wrote: »

Not discounting anything. Just listed clubs I know / had heard of and that would be local to me. Distance-wise Balbriggan would be too far as I'm the airport side of Swords and want something close by. Thanks for the suggestion though.

No problem, they have a great introductory offer on at moment as well for full membership with full rights.

ridonkulous

I'm in St. Margaret's, I joined earlier this year. I'm from the area originally but now I live about a 30-minute drive away. I know all the courses in the area well and I have to say that of all of them, Margaret's is the best value for money for me and I'm not just saying that in the hope I get the referral . For me it's the most enjoyable course, I'm a single figure player and I'm playing the game almost 20 years and for me, it's the most challenging (not the hardest) and the most fun to play. The course has been playable all year, even during one society outing there which I was sure would be called off. It was played and apart from a few puddles on the 8th near the hazard you'd never have known there had been torrential rain the day before.

I've heard a load of stories from friends about horror shows with the timesheet in Margaret's, I've never had an issue. Up until recently, I had been playing in more or less the same company week on week around the 10 am mark and unless we forgot to book in at 12 on a Monday we'd always get in and around the time we wanted. Never seen/heard of a case of someone missing out with the system in place. Is it perfect, no, is it good value, it's great value in my opinion.

#NotAPaidForPost :D

Jaybeemaestro

ridonkulous wrote: »

I'm in St. Margaret's, I joined earlier this year. I'm from the area originally but now I live about a 30-minute drive away. I know all the courses in the area well and I have to say that of all of them, Margaret's is the best value for money for me and I'm not just saying that in the hope I get the referral . For me it's the most enjoyable course, I'm a single figure player and I'm playing the game almost 20 years and for me, it's the most challenging (not the hardest) and the most fun to play. The course has been playable all year, even during one society outing there which I was sure would be called off. It was played and apart from a few puddles on the 8th near the hazard you'd never have known there had been torrential rain the day before.

I've heard a load of stories from friends about horror shows with the timesheet in Margaret's, I've never had an issue. Up until recently, I had been playing in more or less the same company week on week around the 10 am mark and unless we forgot to book in at 12 on a Monday we'd always get in and around the time we wanted. Never seen/heard of a case of someone missing out with the system in place. Is it perfect, no, is it good value, it's great value in my opinion.

#NotAPaidForPost :D

Thanks for that. It's probably the handiest for me along with Forest Little. Is there a referral system?

ridonkulous

Jaybeemaestro wrote: »

Thanks for that. It's probably the handiest for me along with Forest Little. Is there a referral system?

They brought one in this year. Person who gets a new member to join gets €100 off their sub, so if you know someone there make sure to use their name as your referrer.

billy3sheets

ridonkulous wrote: »

They brought one in this year. Person who gets a new member to join gets €100 off their sub, so if you know someone there make sure to use their name as your referrer.

Would just negate the €100 rise in subs for 2018!

Ollieboy

billy3sheets wrote: »

Would just negate the €100 rise in subs for 2018!

Forest Little increase there sub by €100 this year, that’s a lot in one year?

billy3sheets

Ollieboy wrote: »

billy3sheets wrote: »

Would just negate the €100 rise in subs for 2018!

Forest Little increase there sub by €100 this year, that’s a lot in one year?

Was referring to St Margarets. I know nothing about Forrest Little subs.

FixdePitchmark

Ollieboy wrote: »

Forest Little increase there sub by €100 this year, that’s a lot in one year?

Ollieboy are you involved in Corestown ?

I've said it before - but if people are in a club or have an interest in a club, it makes a thread like this a nonsense.

100 euro is not "a lot" - you would need to know what the 100 euro is about and why.

A round of two drinks is over 10 euro these days. 100 euro is one meal.

If you are getting a course plan, extra facilities, improved course - 100 euro is something regular golfers will put up with.

I've played forest little a few times and it is a course that needs investment.

But it has potential and is a far superior location than many of the courses mentioned on this thread in the context of Swords. It is in swords and that is key. The six holes, the few drinks, the course in a town, summer golf a few holes.

Many of the others are literally in the middle of nowhere.

Ollieboy

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Ollieboy are you involved in Corestown ?

I've said it before - but if people are in a club or have an interest in a club, it makes a thread like this a nonsense.

100 euro is not "a lot" - you would need to know what the 100 euro is about and why.

A round of two drinks is over 10 euro these days. 100 euro is one meal.

If you are getting a course plan, extra facilities, improved course - 100 euro is something regular golfers will put up with.

I've played forest little a few times and it is a course that needs investment.

But it has potential and is a far superior location than many of the courses mentioned on this thread in the context of Swords. It is in swords and that is key. The six holes, the few drinks, the course in a town, summer golf a few holes.

Many of the others are literally in the middle of nowhere.

I am glad you think €100 is nothing, I would love to have your job or pension!

My question was in relation to my shock that a sub went up by so much in one year when it’s already about 1400.

In Forest Little cases this would have been a bigger shock due to the practice area they lost this year due to the road changes and new run way which is now right beside the club and I believe will be a major issue for the club but the members believe differently and I was told they have expansion plans which is great news.

But if you saw the next post in the thread the actual increase was st Margaret and not FL, which does makes sense.

reax

Ollieboy wrote: »

Forest Little increase there sub by €100 this year, that’s a lot in one year?

I have noticed that Ollieboy does try to promote Corrstown by sometimes mentioning other clubs financial difficulties. I haven't promoted my club in this thread as I felt that's not what the poster wanted to hear
I'd do it if I felt the thread justified it but I definitely wouldn't belittle any other club. Currently I think we're all in a race to the bottom

swededmonkey

I have noticed that Ollieboy does try to promote Corrstown by sometimes mentioning other clubs financial difficulties.[/quote]

Agreed, this is poor form. If you have a vested interest in a club, sell it on its own merits. Not by running down others.

Btw, as a member of St. Margaret's I would highly recommend it to anyone. Great atmosphere about the club, all the staff make a point of getting to know you and the course is in fantastic shape all year round.