Membership Options in Wicklow

Barnaboy

Moving to Bray shortly and undecided on what to do about joining a club. I am fully paid up in my own place until the end of the year so no mad rush.

From my initial research many of the courses near Bray are full. Willing to travel but not too far.

Happened to play Arklow yesterday. Love the course and it is an option. Problem is that it is a fair spin. Longer than I expected.

Suggestions welcome.

Dtoffee

Delgany ? ..... members owned and very friendly club.

Barnaboy

Thought that I would add what info I have on courses so far.

Bray- 1,547 plus 2,500 joining fee. Waiting List in effect.

Woodbrook 1,623 plus 10,000 joining fee (unofficial. Sourced from third party site)

Old Conna 1,553 plus 6,000 joining fee payable over 3 years.

Powerscourt 2,520 per annum, no joining fee. Waiting list.

Greystones- No info on site, presumably closed to new memberships.

Delgany 1,895 per annum plus 6,000 joining fee. "The different membership types make the club accessible to as many as possible" Yeah, nothing says 'as accessible as possible ' like a 6k joining fee.

Wicklow 1,149, no mention of joining fee. Seems to be best value for money.

Paying 855 per annum in New Forest in Westmeath. So no matter what, this will be a nasty financial shock!

Barnaboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119447127#Comment_119447127

I'd seriously consider it, but hello money of 6 grand. Not a fan of this practice. Plus don't have that kind of money to spare.

slave1

I presume you will check out Blainroe?

Barnaboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119447844#Comment_119447844

Thanks Slave. Knew I'd miss some options. Checked it out, 1445. No mention of hello money. Decent option.

Slight issue is that they have a proposer and seconder.

Might explore it more.

BraveDonut

Bray are increasing the annual sub this year by 200 but reducing the bar levy by 50

swededmonkey

Druids Glen or the Heath would be viable options. But powerscourt would be my personal choice with two courses available to play

com1

Woodenbridge near Arklow - stunning course may be a bit far though

54and56

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119447129#Comment_119447129

To be a member in Powerscourt you have to buy a share and the price fluctuates depending on demand. It was €50,000 back in the good (stupid / bad) old days and was as low as €5,000 after the financial crash in 2009. Not sure what it is now but I've heard €10,000 and €12,500 mentioned. It's not a joining fee however, you can sell your share back to the club when you leave for the lower of the current market price or what you paid for it.

There is an option to play as a member without buying a share and that is essentially to step into the shoes of a member who can't or doesn't want to play, pay their annual sub for the year and off you go.

AFAIK both options have fairly lengthy waiting lists but I could be wrong.

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119448415#Comment_119448415

Always considered this a beautiful course to play once a year but I'd never be a member, the opening stretch is way too tight with balls flying across fairways and tee boxes, how there is not more accidents there is beyond me.

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119448256#Comment_119448256

The Proposer/Seconder is purely their constitution and not a hurdle if they are Open to members. It's a nice track.

I'd be phoning your shortlist and asking for a free round so you can go check out the course at the weekend, they should be open to that once you are genuine.

Barnaboy

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Personally not in a financial position to pay a joining fee/shares. Moving in to a house that needs at least 100k to renovate. Every spare penny has to be on the house.

Blainroe looks fabulous and may be the one. Wicklow is the cheapest. Nice enough place, very short iirc.

Druid's Heath might be an option.

slave1

D Heath a tough course to play day in day out

54and56

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119449742#Comment_119449742

A bit counter intuitive maybe but have you considered Stackstown? It's only 15-20 minutes from Bray and for evening golf in Summer you'd be heading against the traffic.

Barnaboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119451472#Comment_119451472

Thanks for the suggestion. Grew up in the area. Know it well. Looked it up there pretty pricy at just under 1600 a year. And a waiting list. But it's the hills that might turn me off!

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119449895#Comment_119449895

Agree, but how much is it out of curiosity ?

54and56

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119451742#Comment_119451742

It's certainly a bit of a slog, #9 & #18 in particular but #14 and #16 keep the legs and lungs going also as does the road hole (#16 on the road / blue course if its being played) so its not for everyone but in fairness it's a very well run club and is kept in very good condition and the newly renovated clubhouse, particularly the outside terrace, is super.

The sloping fairways (#4 and #9 are particularly bad) and poor tee boxes on a lot of holes are my main criticisms rather than the bit of climbing.

blackwhite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119448635#Comment_119448635

Powerscourt is currently €25k to buy a share. Was €9.5k last year. No waiting list in place when I enquired earlier this summer.

Two different wait lists in operation for 2023 "leased" memberships. Pay €500 for pre-paid vouchers and get onto the priority waitlist, or else just go on the normal waitlist and hope for the best.

Woodbrook aren't taking any 2022 memberships, but may have some vacancies in 2023.

Dun Laoghaire looking for €15k joining fee, and have a waiting list in place also. Need to take out Pavillion membership to get onto the waiting list

DonkeyPokerTour

Used to be a member in Wicklow and played Blaineroe a fair few times. Just an FYI I’ve been in Brasil for the last 10years and in that time I’ve probably played both courses 2-3 times so things might have changed slightly.

Wicklow is relatively short but it makes up for it with some tough holes and very tricky greens. The back 9 can be tough as it’s very hilly. The walk from the 11th tee to the 11th green and 17th green to the 18th tee are the reasons most members have electric trolleys. But it’s a good test and the 6th hole off the “nose” (back tees) is amazing. https://youtu.be/MNIKY091xVw

Blaineroe is a beautiful course and certainly longer (~6200m vs ~6000yards) than Wicklow. However there greens are very “flat” generally just hit it at the hole and you won’t be far off. I always found it very easy to “score” in Blaineroe where as I found Wicklow much tougher can’t really explain why 🤷

In terms of you getting there Wicklow and Blaineroe are much closer than Arklow (I lived in Wicklow Town and Arklow was 30-40min for me. So I’d say close to an hour for you). Wicklow is probably slightly handier to get to but I don’t think you’d be too disappointed with either.

Finally no idea about cost/how to get in but Greystones is a great course, I’d guess it’s expensive (genuinely no idea) but it’s a tougher course than Wicklow or Blaineroe.

Barnaboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119463165#Comment_119463165

Thanks good advice. Played wicklow years ago, hardly remember it. Never played Blainroe.

Probably should play both before deciding.

Seve OB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119447129#Comment_119447129

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119463165#Comment_119463165

I can give you info on Greystones, but you are looking at a long enough waiting list and up front hello money.💲

Cause I know ya (although you don't come out with us anymore 😂) i'll bring you out for a game there sometime. Wednesdays are always semi-open and alternate singles one week and fourball the following (we should play a forurball over next month or so?). always a 9 hole singles comp after. there is a tuesday comp, kind of a society within the club, but everyone welcome to play in it. ladies day thursday. main day is saturday and will be singles for about 4/5 weeks with a generous mix of fourball/foresomes thrown in. between oct and march, comps drop to 13/14 holes. sunday morning always a singles and always 18, even during winter months.

i don't live anywhere near the place, but still travel (45 mins) there to play most saturdays. it's a great club. i find with a lot of the newer places they just aren't clubs, but to be honest, most places mentioned on thread so far, are all similar and great clubs.

Seve OB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119467309#Comment_119467309

i know pro in blainroe a good lad, Greystones stock, just like the pro before him. Blainroe is a lovely track, definitely a better course than Wicklow. Not sure about membership options, let me know if you want me to hook you up with contact.

Mad one for ya, South County, Lisheen Springs? it's probably not much further than Wickla. depends where in Bray you are heading for, but courses off M50 might be a good option, even as far as Naas Road. eg Beechpark

Barnaboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119511214#Comment_119511214

Thanks Seve, really appreciate your advice and offer. FYI only stopped playing with the boards society as I am a founding member of our work society and committee member. Also play every weekend at home club. Risking divorce if I play much more 😉

I may take you up on the offer. I'll send you a pm.

Regards joining a club, can't really afford to be paying hello money atm. New house will need every spare penny I have. But I have a bit of time. Current membership runs to year end.

Skyfloater

Roundwood Golf club really is a strange set up. According to the Golf Ireland site it only has 77 members, and little or no green fee income. For example, tomorrow the timesheet is completely empty except for one slot at 2pm. It's like that nearly every day, and has been for years.

Does anyone know how it's still going?

Seve OB

played it in PP a few years ago. Weirdest greens ever. They were like a spongy bed of moss.

beautiful location but miles away from anywhere! some nice holes, some poor holes. It wouldn’t rank very high in my list and I wouldn’t be recommending anyone to play it.

blackwhite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119514930#Comment_119514930

It's main selling point is that it's never any hassle getting a tee time - even at weekends. Beyond that a lot of holes had the feel of one huge field on the side of a hills with some greens plopped around it and the fairways based on what strips the farmer decided to cut

Skyfloater

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119515740#Comment_119515740

It's hard to believe that it's not losing money at a rate of knots though, I keep expecting to see sheep on it any time I pass by.

blackwhite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119517408#Comment_119517408

I can’t imagine there’s a whole lot being spent on it.

Its 6/7 years since I last played it, but driving past doesn’t look like it’s changed much.

Clubhouse is a shell with next to nothing open, and the course maintenance looks like it’s just cutting greens, tee boxes and fairways - something the owner or his family would do at very little cost to themselves. Bunkers never gave the impression of having had much tlc

Barnaboy

Looks like Roundwood is off my list! Not that it was ever on it. Golf needs courses like this.

PokeHerKing

Blainroe would get my vote over Wicklow.

I think wicklow is a tricked up course that really should have been left to the goats. Its no country for old(or young) golfers imo.

54and56

Anyone nominate Tulfaris as an option? I've no idea what the joining situation may be or the annual sub etc and haven't played it in 10 years but surely its worth some consideration?

Seve OB

Not an option from Bray. He may as well stay in New Forrest

oh_no

@Barnaboy I'm in the same boat, moved to Bray this year and struggling with joining a club. Did you end up deciding on anything? My feeling at the moment is I need to justify the cost by signing up somewhere within 20 minutes so I use it more...so I'm looking mostly at Woodbrook, Bray, and Old Conna as best choices, though all have joining fees of different degrees, and waiting lists. Dun Laoghaire looks brilliant but the joining fee is way too big.

I did look at Druids Heath which I understand doesn't have either a joining fee or a waiting list, but so many of the reviews I read speak terribly about the management, lack of a club atmosphere, difficulty getting on the time sheet as it's taken on loads of members (and temporarily hosting the Druid's Glen members during the restoration). I wonder if anyone has experience as a member after the restoration from last year? Is the course much better and the bad reviews true?

Barnaboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119792651#Comment_119792651

@oh_no nothing sorted yet. Moved 5 weeks ago. So much to do with new house that golf took a back seat. Definitely want to sort something soon though.

Based on replies in this thread I'm drawn to Blainroe. Haven't made any enquiries yet and have never played it. So take it with a grain of salt.

prawnsambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119792913#Comment_119792913

If Woodenbridge is an option for you, maybe have a look at Macreddin. It's a tough course, but they're doing an offer at the moment for membership from 1st October until 31st March 2024 at €999, no joining fee. It's actually a shorter run than Woodenbridge according to Google.

Details here: http://www.macreddingolfclub.com/membership

Frisbee

Macreddin may be shorter to play than Woodenbridge, but it is a much tougher walk. Up and down non-stop and then you have about a kilometre walk from 9 green to 10 tee. Don't think I would ever bother playing Macreddin again without a buggy.

gypsy79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119794459#Comment_119794459

Macreddin much longer even without the 1km walk. There are many holes with long uphill walks back to the tee boxes

I do often wonder if it would get easier as a member

Spectacular course

oh_no

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119792913#Comment_119792913

Yea, that's fair. I do wonder if there may be potential for entry fees to go down in the next year or two if we do get this recesssion everyone is talking about...

Frisbee

Yeah that as well. So while it might look shorter on the scorecard in reality you'd probably be walking double the distance over much less flat ground. Small thing as well but there is zero phone signal on the course. (for me anyway) While this is probably good as means people aren't on their phones it can be a bit of a disaster if someone is trying to get you for something urgent and you're totally off the grid.

I do enjoy looking at all the McMansions on the back 9 though.

prawnsambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119794459#Comment_119794459

Love the exaggeration. 🤣

Very few ups and downs on the front nine. 4th green to 5th tee box being the most. 2nd to 3rd is the only other one really. And yeah, it's a bit of a walk from the 9th to the 10th, but it's not even 500 metres if you cut through the hotel car park. Back nine is hilier, but it's definitely walkable. Each to their own I suppose.

It's probably one of the best courses in the area apart from The European and maybe Arklow (although they're links courses so not really comparable). It's a real test because you have to be accurate off the tee and often for your second shot too.

gypsy79

I lost a lot of balls in Maccreddin too. Wuld love it to be on the Boards list next year

Its unique

Although the European is definitely not links

prawnsambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119795003#Comment_119795003

I wouldn't let Pat Ruddy hear you say that. 🤣

blue note

I played Maccreddin 2 years ago and the walks on it are huge! I was warned before going to get a buggy and I can see why. The walk to the 4th green and uphill to the 5th tee box are severe. And the walk from the 9th green to the 10th tee is probably the length of a long par 5. Be under no illusions - the walks are far longer than normal and the course is hilly!

And when I played the condition was poor. It was in September so you'd expect the course to be in good nick, but the tee boxes were rough and the fairways patchy. That said, I mentioned it to others who played there and my experience does not seem to be the norm at all.

But as a course it's fantastic. I'd be concerned about time it takes to play rounds - it's very tight there. Missing a fairway by much can result in a lost ball. Add that to the long walks and I'd be worried that long rounds would be the norm. When I played there were holes where we got to the next tee and got to see the group ahead of the group ahead of us teeing off. But just to repeat - it's a great course! I'd definitely love to play it again. Especially after being so bad the first time. Try it out as it might be a really good option for membership.

Have they any clubhouse yet by the way?

Edit: I just did the walk on google maps from the 9th green to the 10th tee clicking along the path between them. It's between 550 and 600 meters. Then the 10th green to the next tee is 150m as the crow flies so probably close to 200m the way you have to walk it. That's a bit on the crazy side. 17th green to 18th tee was a bit of a walk too if I remember. And as I say, a lot of hills.

paulos53

I am hoping to play Macreddin for the first time this weekend. Having read the last few posts, I think I will go the for the buggy option!

gypsy79

Do Paul, I did it with electric trolley (new toy at the time) and was completely wrong option

Its so tight too and so many blind shots it helps with lost ball too.....hope there arent many leaves

srfc d16

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119795003#Comment_119795003

Curious why you would not consider the European links?

gypsy79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796157#Comment_119796157

Cause it is a heathland in my opinion (and most other peoples) and very much a parkland set up

Just because somewhere is by the sea doesnt make it a links (blainroe and wicklow are other local examples that are not links)

thewobbler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796557#Comment_119796557

I got the same feeling for large parts of it. A handful of holes have a links persuasion no doubt, but a handful of them could be dropped into the K Club with little difference to topology.

But as every links listing compiled includes the European Club, either they’re right, or else Pat has serious reach!

con___manx1

Arklow have an offer on now if you join you get 14 months membership. They do distance membership aswell which would cover you in bray. The fee is good value. You will find it on arklow golf club website. No joining fee either.

Seve OB

Bray is considered distance membership for Arklow? That’s mad. Probably only 30 mins away max

but I guess with distance membership you probably can’t play in likes of Saturday comps, medals, captains etc