Naas Area - Golf Membership

Lewie1989

hello all !

Im moving to Naas and was hoping for some insight into the golf !

I’m looking to join a club, the house is closer to Sallins side , and google maps is showing there’s a few in the area within close proximity 🙌

The ones I see are

Palmerstown

Castlewarden

Killeen golf course

naas would be perfect but spoke with them earlier and there is a 3k joining fee which sadly rules it out as it’s a lovely course.

If anyone is a member at one of these I’d really appreciate some insight into what the course is like, competitions , avg length of round , tee sheet availability etc

I’m a member at another course atm and which is great but closed quite often in winter either with rain or frost , probably will be similar in Naas but worth asking I think .

We’re new to the area so don’t know many folks, a good social scene would be a plus 👍 and my wife also enjoys playing so if there is a ladies scene then 👍👍

I asked a similar question a few years back on this forum and got really helpful responses and the course I joined in the end was superb and thoroughly enjoyed it so thanks again 🙌

Lewie1989

I should add , I’ve played palmerstown and thought it was very good but it was in December and the condition of the fairways wasn’t great , I think they were installing some drainage and a few winter tees, I imagine it would be far better in season . I’ve also played Naas which I really enjoyed, the other two I haven’t played yet

Lewie1989

any thoughts / comments would be much appreciated! Thanks again

irish_man

Hi Lewie,

I am a member of Naas. Definitely consider joining. It's a good course and you can spread out the hello money over a few years. It's a relatively quick round if you are out early. Busy time sheet, especially Sundays. On Sundays there are a lot of elderly members. One negative is that there isn't any midweek 18 hole competitions for members. One on a Wednesday or Friday would be great for a mid week qualifying round. They do have a Thursday comp but it's 12 hole.

I never liked Palmerston. Over 5 hrs on a good day. I actually have never played the other courses so I don't know.

Lewie1989

thank you for the response ! I thought Naas is a super course , really fun and some great holes - the one I remember in particular is on the back 9 where it’s downhill , left to right dog leg and a water hazard on the right. The approach shot is great fun, I think there is a lot of that there … just a lot of shots you really want to hit and fancy , tee off/ driving in particular.

But ye realistically I’ll be able to play weekends and in summer maybe the occasional after work round mid-week. So Sundays being busy is not ideal.

I’d be interested to hear from palmerstown members as that’s probably the closest… but 5 hour rounds is insane !

adgib

Haven't played in 10 years, but always liked Killeen

spacecoyote

Member of Castlewarden. Really nice members course with good facilities.

No joining fees, and potential options depending on your age.

Driving range (no covered bays) 50 yard pitching area with practice bunkers, chipping and putting green in a walled garden, small putting green near first tee. Decent food in clubhouse.

It's an easy walk, fairly flat land, so you won't get the elevation changes of the likes of Naas, or some the spectacular holes in Palmerstown, but it's a decent challenge. Will punish you if you're offline, but you won't lose a lot of balls. Greens are always in good condition, and are tricky.

For me Palmerstown is too big a site, with a very long walk between holes and not an easy way to play a few holes and loop back to the clubhouse.

At castlewarden, you could pop out and play the first 3 holes and get in a par 5,3,4 and be back to the clubhouse. Front 9 loops back close too.

its a relatively quick round normally, rarely goes beyond 4 hours, unless youre caught in an occasional midweek 4-ball. Weekend singles comps are always played in 3-balls.

About 6500 yards off standard comp tees, 6700 off medal tees. Third set of yellow tees, rarely used for comps, more society tees really, at about 6300 yards.

You generally play year-round except in very heavy rain (when basically every parkland will be closed). They have temp greens and play a "winter course" when its frosty to protect the greens.

I'd say that probably Palmerstown is a better course for a single round, but I wouldn't want to be a member of Palmerstown and play it week-in-week-out.

drawrj

I was previously a member in Killeen, left it and joined Castlewarden 2 years ago. It has proven to be a sound decision, I've found Castlewarden to be a more inclusive club with good facilities that Killeen does not have. Greens in Castlewarden are in good condition all year round. I've never had an issue getting on the time sheet. Weekend rounds are normally around the 4 hour, can be quicker if you get out early.

In my opinion, Palmerstown is not really comparable to the other two, it's a much larger property with a state of the art range. I have played it numerous times but I would not want to be a member, it can be slow mainly due to size if the property and 5 hours at the weekend would be normal.

JVince

Two others to look at

Millicent https://millicentgolfclub.com/membership/

And craddockstown

https://www.craddockstown.com/membership-options

Mantis Toboggan

Craddockstown is also decent and think the hello money is only a grand.

Also don't rule out the Curragh, only 15 minutes down the road, no joining fee and a better course than Naas or Craddockstown.

Kiith

Craddockstown is a nice course, and they'll give you a good handicap (and won't cut it...ever 🤣).

Was out at Millicent yesterday for a meeting, lovely club house and the course looks nice.

blue note

Well I'm pretty sold on Castlewarden from all this!

charlieIRL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124159270#Comment_124159270

it’s a lovely course to play.

spacecoyote

Id probably say that Naas is a nicer course than Castlewarden to be fair. More elevation changes, etc... and I think generally it rates higher on course review sites.

But theres no joining fees, and subs are probably a little cheaper in Castlewarden. Food is decent in the clubhouse too, and the guy who runs the kitchen is a former member, so theres plenty of goodwill and support for him.

Lewie1989

Hello all, thank you again your responses, very helpful. Certainly no shortage of good options around Naas ! Will have to play a couple of them and see what they're like, ah what a shame :) ! Still interested in hearing from any Palmerstown members if any out there !

allybhoy

I would definitely recommend trying to play all the courses and getting a feeling yourself of what you prefer. But my two cents based on experience.

Killeen, i was a member for a few years, front 9 is quite tight, back 9 opens up a bit and has some lovely holes but tough enough getting out on Sat and Sunday mornings which is partly why i moved. Practise Facilities arent great (no range) nor is the changing rooms although they might have improved.

Castlewarden, played it a good few times its grand nothing more, a few holes feel very samey, but practise facilities are good. No idea what tee times are like at the weekend.

Palmerstown house, proper championship course, excellent practise area, but as some have said its a long track and most rounds are at least 4.5 hours if not more. You wont get 18 holes in midweek in summer

Craddockstown, not dissimilar to Castlewarden, few of the holes are a little uninspiring but i would personally rank it slightly higher but thats just personal preference.

Millicent, always enjoyed playing it, great course design, challenging but not as tough \ long as Palmerstown. practise facilities are decent aswell.

srfc d16

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124161875#Comment_124161875

I'm not a member of Palmerstown but have played it at least a dozen times across various societies or interclub and despite it being a very nice course to play on a day out it would not appeal to me in the slightest as my home club.

I think it's too long and on too big a footprint so rounds are long no matter how fast you try to play it. As I said I'm not a member so might not be correct on this point but I have never been able to see a way where you could play a quick few holes after work midweek.

Pixied

I understand Palmerstown have only a handful of lady players, and Castlewarden has a big ladies section..if your wife is interested. Millicent also has quite a few lady players, Naas also.