Club with best practice area near Dublin

daveconn10

Anyone any suggestions on this one?

willabur

daveconn10 wrote: »

Anyone any suggestions on this one?[/quot


Portmarnock is 👌👌👌

billy3sheets

Not sure what you mean by near but north of the river...
St Margaret's has driving bays, chipping and putting
Black Bush similar
Royal Dublin similar
Roganstown similar but not quite as good

Of the courses I'm familiar with near Dublin, these are the best.

Golfhead65

Not a member but Palmerston House is fantastic

spacecoyote

If you mean "in Dublin" then this is no use, but near Dublin, Castlewarden has a driving range, short game area and extra putting green beside first tee. Started installation of practice bunker at the first tee green last year, but its not finished yet

daveconn10

The reason being is it's a massive consideration in joining a club. Getting value is nearly as much about the facilities as the course.

GreeBo

Can you narrow down "near Dublin"?
Big difference between Wicklow and Drogheda for example.

daveconn10

GreeBo wrote: »

Can you narrow down "near Dublin"?
Big difference between Wicklow and Drogheda for example.

Near would be within 20k of the city centre

Felexicon

daveconn10 wrote: »

Near would be within 20k of the city centre

Beaverstown have good facilities.

No long driving range though

hurleronditch

Carton House surely? Massive driving range, top quality short game and bunker practice area and very nice putting green

Sultan_of_Ping

hurleronditch wrote: »

Carton House surely? Massive driving range, top quality short game and bunker practice area and very nice putting green

I’d second that - expansive practice area, excellent short game facility (including top notch bunkers and contouring) and as well maintained as the courses.

Seve OB

There is quite possibly no club in the country who has better facilities than Carton House

DaveQuinn2020

Howth has a very good practice range. Decent size putting green, 2 small chipping greens, one other larger chipping green with space to hit full wedges. 2 practice bunkers. Ball dispenser (€1 for small bucket!!), driving range mat and a well maintained grass driving range. It's an under rated feature in Howth.

FixdePitchmark

The Island and Portmarnock and Royal Dublin are the best I have seen.

But I guess you have to be realistic in life too.

Parkland wise. I think Luttrellstown and Margert's are good.

Agree on Seve on Carton - but Seve are you talking GUI facility or Carton itself ?

Seve OB

DaveQuinn2020 wrote: »

Howth has a very good practice range. Decent size putting green, 2 small chipping greens, one other larger chipping green with space to hit full wedges. 2 practice bunkers. Ball dispenser (€1 for small bucket!!), driving range mat and a well maintained grass driving range. It's an under rated feature in Howth.

What’s the new pro like there now? Well I guess he is not really new anymore

spacecoyote

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

The Island and Portmarnock and Royal Dublin are the best I have seen.

But I guess you have to be realistic in life too.

Parkland wise. I think Luttrellstown and Margert's are good.

Agree on Seve on Carton - but Seve are you talking GUI facility or Carton itself ?

Would be the GUI centre, but I think that you may get access as part of the membership of the club?

spacecoyote

Seve OB wrote: »

What’s the new pro like there now? Well I guess he is not really new anymore

What's Howth like in general as a club and course? Its Dublin, its links, and after Corballis, seems to be the most reasonable value in Dublin for membership if you want (ex Covid) year round golf

BigChap1759

spacecoyote wrote: »

What's Howth like in general as a club and course? Its Dublin, its links, and after Corballis, seems to be the most reasonable value in Dublin for membership if you want (ex Covid) year round golf

IMO it’s a fairly poor course, some crazy greens in terms of elevations from the landing area - savage views though

gypsy79

spacecoyote wrote: »

What's Howth like in general as a club and course? Its Dublin, its links, and after Corballis, seems to be the most reasonable value in Dublin for membership if you want (ex Covid) year round golf

Its parkland in style with some very very unusual holes. One leg short than other would be useful

Only played it once

First Up

Dun Laoghaire has excellent practice facilities for all aspects of the game.

Ollieboy

gypsy79 wrote: »

Its parkland in style with some very very unusual holes. One leg short than other would be useful

Only played it once

Most people only play it once to be honest, you need a buggy. If you have a poor heart I would stay away from it, it’s a tough walk. But cracking views of Dublin which are worth the green fee.

Ollieboy

I don’t think you will find better then Carton in greater Dublin area but Malahide is really good and Margaret’s.

frink

Dun Laoghaire had the potential to create the best facilities but they made a mess of the planning/layout as well as the uphill driving range. That said they have a new academy with trackman which is top of the range.

First Up

frink wrote:

Dun Laoghaire had the potential to create the best facilities but they made a mess of the planning/layout as well as the uphill driving range. That said they have a new academy with trackman which is top of the range.

Good short game area too.

frink

First Up wrote: »

Good short game area too.

The pitching area is brilliant but the chipping green is an after thought as the green is terribly designed.
But where they are located so far from each other is my biggest problem with it. You can't hit a bucket of balls on the range, practice your chips and then putt before playing given the distance between all 3

DaveQuinn2020

Seve OB wrote: »

What’s the new pro like there now? Well I guess he is not really new anymore

Alan O'Sullivan. He is excellent. The club invested a lot in the Pro-Shop when he joined so it is a huge improvement on what McGuirks had in place previously.

I've used him for lessons and he has helped me bring my handicap down significantly. Really nice fella too!

DaveQuinn2020

spacecoyote wrote: »

What's Howth like in general as a club and course? Its Dublin, its links, and after Corballis, seems to be the most reasonable value in Dublin for membership if you want (ex Covid) year round golf

Its playable year round off fairways and no temporary greens. Its not a links course, more heathland with some quirky holes. Its a tricky test, with a lot of different shots required and some semi-blind shots There is a good active membership with lots of evening competitions mid-week which is a huge advantage in my book. Easy enough to get on the timesheet compared to other north Dublin clubs. Very good value. Very active in inter-club also.

Some people complain about the hills, but I've seen 80 year olds carry bags. I carry a bag most of the time, and only use a powakaddy for big competitions. If you are reasonably fit and healthy its not a problem at all. Great views.

Seve OB

DaveQuinn2020 wrote: »

Alan O'Sullivan. He is excellent. The club invested a lot in the Pro-Shop when he joined so it is a huge improvement on what McGuirks had in place previously.

I've used him for lessons and he has helped me bring my handicap down significantly. Really nice fella too!

good to hear, I have met him a few times & know his dad quite well

swededmonkey

DaveQuinn2020 wrote: »

Howth has a very good practice range. Decent size putting green, 2 small chipping greens, one other larger chipping green with space to hit full wedges. 2 practice bunkers. Ball dispenser (€1 for small bucket!!), driving range mat and a well maintained grass driving range. It's an under rated feature in Howth.

Is the driving range open to non members?

DaveQuinn2020

swededmonkey wrote: »

Is the driving range open to non members?

I'm afraid not, members only.