Pitch and Putt

obi604

Does anyone know of any pitch and putt courses in East Galway or around Galway city?

they seem to be few and far between.

Fitz*

There used to be a lovely smaller 9 hole course in Taylor's Hill. I hope it's still open, it was run for a lovely older gentleman, very friendly and full of helpful advice and chat.

There's quite a big one out in Esker too, near Athenry. I think that's an 18 hole course.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118002594#Comment_118002594

Thanks. I think the Esker one is closed. Passed by a few weeks ago and it did not look in use, rundown, no flagsticks etc.

Tilikum17

There’s one at the army barracks in renmore.

ben.schlomo

Used to be one out in Barna, Inch was in the name and it looked across to the golf club. It's years since I was out there though.

The sign is still up outside Taylor's Hill so I assume it's their still. Used to love playing there.

obi604

Thanks. It seems pitch and putt courses are indeed few and far between.

B_Sharp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118003015#Comment_118003015

The one is Barna is gone. Redeveloped as extra pitches for the GAA club. Opened yesterday by the GAA President, as it happens.

obi604

The only 110% confirmed one open is in Renmore barracks so

Taylors Hill has a facebook page but last post was 2016, so thats probably gone too

Anyone else aware of any other pitch and putt courses?

DuhJerk

There's a pitch & putt in Cregboy, not far outside the city. Has a driving range as well

klr87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118002594#Comment_118002594

I thought that was a full 18-hole pitch and putt course off Taylor's Hill? At least it was when I last played it, which wasn't yesterday nor the day before. Sometime during the 1990s as I recall.

Busterie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006009#Comment_118006009

This is a par 3 golf course but it is closd for the winter.

The P & P course in Esker monastery near Athenry closed because of Covid.It is unlikely the whole centre will ever open

Rossie11

The one on Taylor’s hill was open (and busy) during the summer. Not sure if its closed for the winter. Same lad running it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006226#Comment_118006226

It's 9 hole, and very short holes too.

Screenshot_20211011-224150.png

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006533#Comment_118006533

thanks. Why do you reckon Esker will not open again? Just not making money is it.

klr87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006931#Comment_118006931

I certainly remember the holes as being short (most of them anyway), but unless my memory is playing tricks, it used to be 18 holes. In the top left corner - where that scruffy patch is - there was a hole where the tee shot was played over a low stone wall, right to left. Maybe the course got reduced to 9 holes during the property boom.

I was talking to someone only 40 minutes ago with whom I played the course all those years ago, but I forgot to ask him what he remembered it as.

ben.schlomo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118010723#Comment_118010723

Ya I remember that too, you went left on that side of the course and then gradually played downhill, so to speak.

daniel_h

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006938#Comment_118006938

It was actually closed before Covid as they were gonna do some work on it. Then covid came... There was a bit of work done earlier this year but now no mowing again. Not sure what's going on. The walks around the monastery are still closed as well. Pity.

aw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118010723#Comment_118010723

It was 18 holes. About maybe 20 years ago the owners sold off some of the land to a developer, I think it's the row of house along the north as we look at that image. And I think some was used for private dwellings for the owner's family. It then became a 9 hole.

There used to be a lovely course in Toghermore in Tuam run as part of a work programme for people with additional needs. But that closed too. Struck me as a great project. The residents were trained in landscape maintenance and some became entrepreneurs, running a little shop and cafe there too. A real shame to lose it.

I think it's just Renmore, and Cregboy's 3 par now. And depending how far east you are in Galway, Woodview Country Club this side of Athlone might suit.

obi604

Thanks all. Seems like pitch and putt in Galway is a dying thing and probably all over Ireland.

An old satellite image (OSI) from 2000 indeed shows the full course at Taylors hill. That row of houses went in by 2005.

Fitz*

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006645#Comment_118006645

Glad to hear he is still running it. The last time I was there, his grandkids were manning the ship!

klr87

Thanks everyone. Its good to know I'm not losing it ... not just yet anyway. That tree in the back yard of the second house in the first picture, is clearly visible in the second (older) picture. It was right in the middle of that NW part of the course. I remember playing back down the hill (East I guess), it was very hard to stop the ball on some of the greens. In the top left, there is a green just beyond a dividing wall/ditch, which is very likely the hole where you had to play over the wall to the green. All gone now unfortunately. I suspect the 9-hole course is nowhere near as fun or as challenging to play.

Busterie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006938#Comment_118006938

To be honest I don't think the monastery will be there much longer.