Clontarf golf club offered land swap

CMOTDibbler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123292004#Comment_123292004

That's extraordinary. Not a single slot for the entire month of April. Also checked a random few in May and the same.

There is a seniors open on 15th April and once every month. But that's it.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123338202#Comment_123338202

I checked a random bunch over the next 24 months and nothing available.

soverybored1878

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123338694#Comment_123338694

Exactly. The lack of visitor times irks me, especially with the amount of people in their catchment area who might want to play it. Places with that attitude, maybe bar Augusta or one of the premium tour venues, shouldn't exist in this day and age.

They also only seem to do Senior opens which again, just strikes me as stuffy.

billy3sheets

Jumping to a lot of conclusions there now! It's a small course with a large membership in all categories including ladies and juniors. They simply might not have the bandwidth for green fees. I'll find out for you or maybe you could call them and ask?

I've been involved in booking venues for a society around North Dublin last few years. Many clubs take no societies on weekends. I never thought they had attitude, only that they opted to and could afford to keep the course for members at weekends.

VW 1

I can confirm that they do take societies mid week, and that timesheets are consistently fully booked with waiting lists in place every weekend, and even midweek evening tee times needing to be booked several days in advance. Great to see the course so well used and utilised by its membership.

downthemiddle

Clontarf GC are not moving for the foreseeable future.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123339529#Comment_123339529

They're just playing hard ball. They want some more cash dangled in front of them.

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123292004#Comment_123292004

As someone actively seeking green fees across the country for the last few years this is nothing unusual, lots of courses are totally unavailable to book via their online portal

Russman

I know next to nothing about Clontarf GC, but do most online portals not open until about 10 days before the date you want ? I know in our place the timesheet opens tonight for next Saturday and that's the furthest out you can book, bar obviously booking an outing or event.

FixdePitchmark

I'm very sensitive to golf club snobbery, and often went to Clontarf with its reputation (justified) in my mind . But , have never had an issue at all , friendly enough . I always had to ring them and was always sorted.

People complain about the course , but I love the city feel to it and an escape in a heavily populated area is always welcome ..I would have given my left ball to have that as a kid. Had to play on soccer pitches around burnt out cars and pitch and putt courses.

There are a good few clubs in Dublin that are basically around under the structures of English society. But Ireland has changed dramatically and how these clubs evolve is a fascinating observation of modern Ireland.

It's an expensive round there and it isn't really suitable for big numbers, visitors, loads of lads hanging around at first tee or on the course.

It is like a museum of how golf was , and maybe should be .. A drive to 250 a mid iron or less , a 3 hour round , a drink lunch and home ..A run around. Golf I would have loved.

Somewhere along the road , we think golf is 4.5 hours , 300 yard wild off tee and maybe a provisional on every 3 holes ..and a 10 k walk.

I love golf in all formats , but something special about , true city based parkland, your escaping the pressure and madness of a city and escaping amongst trees and greenery.

Every Course has great holes , and 5 or 6 great holes in a round is enough ..There are definitely 5 or 6 great holes in Clontarf ..I think Celtic Tiger golf has made us lacking the ability to see the woods from a slight dog leg tree line..

I wouldn't be a fan of things like this lost in our great city and suburbs..

blue note

The problem with Clontarf golf club moving is that it will no longer be Clontarf golf club. I think of O'Tooles GAA club - a fairview club that moved out to Darndale - fairview is long forgotten. And if they're going from a short and flat golf course to a new Paul McGinley design - how suitable is it going to be for their old membership base? It brings in the interesting question of who is the club - is it the members? If so, moving further away for a presumably longer tougher course might not be the best idea. Is it the communities? In which case moving doesn't make sense either. Or is it its own entity? In which case a new state of the art golf course, attracting low handicap golfers could be the way to go.

I think it's a combination of all of these things. I know golf clubs in cities get a hard time, but there are millions of brownfield sites around Dublin that could developed. The couple of golf courses aren't a big deal in my view. I can see a case for them staying where they are. Although I suspect the younger members (and future of the club) might choose to relocate to a high end course. Sure it's up to them anyway.

MojoMaker

Dunlaoghaire GC absolutely boomed once it managed to escape the confines of Dunlaoghaire.

Russman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123340388#Comment_123340388

Excellent post Fix, especially the commentary on how golf maybe once was Vs is now. I've never actually played Clontarf, but I've always massively enjoyed rounds played on the likes of Milltown, Castle, Elm Park and as someone mentions above, the old Dun Laoghaire. No doubt the new Dun Laoghaire is a smashing course, but would I want to play it twice a week all year round ? Hmm, not so sure. You'd hope the Clontarfs of the world don't lose too much by going "bigger and better". There's so much to be said for a quick 6 or 9 on a summer evening on a compact layout.