Golf weekends away on a budget

Golfhead65 · 28-09-2021 9:13pm #1

As holiday season (what little there was) is coming to a close I was wondering about golf weekends away with value having recently come back from a 2 night 3 golf w/e in the Midlands and whether you get value for your buck, I know you can book top of the range hotel and courses but I'm interested in value hotels and decent golf courses..12 of us all GUI members at different clubs having nearly all been members of Blessington Lakes at one time and some still are headed off on Saturday of the Ryder Cup and played Mount Temple (not the best manicured) a great layout and very enjoyable course then on the Sunday we played Moate and what can I say about Moate only that everyone to a man wants to return and play there again when it's not lashing down with rain as we got caught mid round by a torrential downpour but in fairness the course held up very well and a big thank you to Wichita Lineman for organising a nice rate for us to play on a Sunday, we then played Portarlington on the way home and what a beautiful course that is. We Stayed at The Creggan Court Hotel with bed & breakfast in Athlone which was a great base as it was no more the 10 mins from both Mount Temple, Moate and the town centre which was an absolute gem of a town to go out in and all this for 165 euro. I wonder if anyone could get better value than this..

NotCarrotRidge · 29-09-2021 10:01am

I booked two nights at the New Forest lodges, with golf there and Esker Hills. Can't remember the cost, but excellent value, for top class golf. Could also add on Tullamore, another great course, if you wanted a third day.

Golfhead65 · 29-09-2021 1:14pm

Thinking of there for next year to do New Forest, Tullamore (20 euro on a Monday) and Moyvalley, I've also checked out playing Bunclody on a Saturday then checking into The Coast Rosslare Strand for 2 nights B&B playing Rosslare on Sunday and Courtown on way home on the Monday for approx 225 .Sat to Monday is much cheaper than Friday to Sunday but there is great value to be had if you plan it right.

willabur · 29-09-2021 1:40pm

just back from a weekend away. Went for a pricer part of the country for the trip but interesting for comparison sake

Dooks 80 euro

Ballybunion Cashen 80 euro

O'Mahoney point 50 euro

Waterville 140 euro*

Accommodation 148 euro

all in 498 euro

waterville price was covid only, unless you have an inside track green fees for tralee, ballybunnion old, waterville will cost 250 euro or so. Cashen is a nice option to have, booked it through their website. Dooks dropped their price just by taking a phone call

pairofpears · 29-09-2021 2:48pm

I dont golf myself but I'm near Enfield and we have a silly amount of courses locally. Staying in either the Hamlet in Johnstownbridge or Johnstown House would have you near Moyvalley, Rathcore, Kilcock, the 3 courses in Trim, Highfield and Carton House.

Staying in Trim would give you more options on hotels and leave you closer to play Tara as well.

blue note · 29-09-2021 3:09pm

I'd say the midlands are your best bet. There are just so many really good courses that are fantastic value. And you'll get good value accommodation in towns with plenty of places to eat and drink.

An alternative would be Dungarvan. There are three courses there, all nice courses and they do a deal to play all three. I'd imagine it's probably €20 a round or something. On top of that Dungarvan is just a lovely town. The courses wouldn't quite be on the same level as some of those in the midlands, but would be comparable to the two you mentioned (I believe for Mount Temple, I haven't played it). And that's not a slight on those courses, they very nice courses. I just think the likes of Tullamore and New Forest, etc are really good.

NotCarrotRidge · 29-09-2021 4:22pm

Dungarvan is a great call, actually.

I think Athlone is a good shout as well. Athlone GC itself is good, then you have Moate and Mount Temple almost as close. New Forest, Esker Hills and Tullamore are all within 30 minutes. 45 minutes brings you to Moyvalley on one side and the gorgeous Portumna GC in the other direction.

slave1 · 29-09-2021 7:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954004#Comment_117954004

That's some hike for Cashen, it's been €50 for the past few years.

callaway92 · 29-09-2021 11:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954004#Comment_117954004

Wait - Dooks was €80 AFTER you asked for a reduction? That’s grim.. they really have hiked their prices up

Motivator · 30-09-2021 8:16am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954567#Comment_117954567

Dungarvan is a great base. It’s a lovely town with plenty of drinking and eating spots, accommodation is fairly reasonable and there’s plenty of courses within a reasonable driving distance.

There used to be a deal on the three courses: Dungarvan GC, West Waterford, Gold Coast for €69 I don’t know if that price is still there now but there is a deal available.

then you have the option of:

Tramore

Faithlegg

Waterford GC

Waterford Castle

Then a small bit further afield (and totally opposite drives to one another) Castlemartyr and Mt Juliet.

FixdePitchmark · 30-09-2021 8:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954567#Comment_117954567

Our best golf trips that we talk about are Wexford Town and Dungarvan - whist it was in the crazy years of cheap everything. It still is talked about. The golf quality is unreal for the price - and then you have that coastal feel to it all.

Other good trips we has were Athlone and Arklow.

We also had a great trip to Thurles - but whilst there is great golf in Tipperary - I'd say picking a town to keep the lads happy is a challenge.

One I'd like to know more about myself is Louth - we did do one to Carlingford and it was a great trip - but again - like to know more about Dundalk /Drogheda as a night out.

Golfhead65 · 30-09-2021 10:31am

Update, we've just booked The Central hotel in Tullamore for next September B&B for 12 costing 112 per head, New Forest on the Friday for 25 per head (open) Tullamore on Sat 35, then on way home it'll be somewhere cheap en route eg Portlaoaise ,The Heath but total cost will be 200 approx

willabur · 30-09-2021 11:06am

that's inflation I guess and maybe a bit of golf clubs clawing back cash after a quiet year.

Whether they keep the prices that level will depend on footfall, its well documented that increasing the cost increases the footfall of a certain kind of client

FixdePitchmark · 30-09-2021 7:42pm

Whilst you can still get a very cheap round of golf still - I found the last while, 25 euro is the new low point - and typically it is 30 euro +

slave1 · 30-09-2021 8:35pm

I played Rathdowney and Abbeyliex during the early Summer on a cracker of a day, €40, it was a great day

swededmonkey · 01-10-2021 3:38pm

Recently back from a golf trip postponed due to covid.

Stayed in the Great Northern in Bundoran. 3 nights B&B with an evening meal and a round in Bundoran €200, Murvagh €50 and played the Faldo in Lough Erne €50 on the way back to Dublin

allybhoy · 01-10-2021 3:46pm

4 of us went to Kerry in August played Tralee, Cashen and Ballybunion in consecutive days, The 3 rounds, plus 2 nights accomodation with breakfast in hotel and one evening meal for 490 PPS which considering the current rates of hotels we felt was really good value for money. The meal was really nice aswell and the hotel couldnt be closer to Ballybunion GC

Special Offers Ballybunion Golf | Teach de Broc

Raytown Rocks · 01-10-2021 3:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117958065#Comment_117958065

Did this exact weekend away last weekend. 2 smashing courses.

Hotel is located close to the town, but basic enough bar area

Nice staff and rooms were nice

No sky sports, so don't expect to sit in the bar watching any games

Paid €170 for 2 nights B&B, 1 evening meal and 2 rounds of golf at the above mentioned courses.

Golfhead65 · 01-10-2021 7:10pm

Great pubs in Tullamore so I don't think we'll be socialising in the hotel..Just goes to show that Ireland is a great place to play golf with your mates for a weekend and it doesn't need to cost the earth, Personally I prefer staying local (Ireland ) than the likes of Spain and Portugal

whizbang · 10-10-2021 10:04pm

Thinking of heading to Enniscrone, Carne (If Boards.ie society has done it, thats the best recomendation!)

Anybody got a recommendation for the Diamond Coast Hotel ? or somewhere similar ?

thanks

11-10-2021 9:56am

7 of us went to Killarney first weekend in September stayed in Old Weir Lodge on Muckross Road 2 nights B&B and played the two Killarney courses for just under €180

CSWS101 · 11-10-2021 11:46am

Thoughts on the Killarney Killeen course? Played it there a few months ago, thought it was in poor condition. First few greens especially were very patchy. Lovely finish to the course and views but overall wasn’t impressed

prawnsambo · 14-10-2021 8:25am

I heard about this deal a couple of days ago and couldn't believe the value. That's the midweek price in the screenshot, but the weekend price is only €270pps.

Link here.

dk1982 · 15-10-2021 10:10am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118002470#Comment_118002470

Played 27 holes in Carne in June, then travelled to Enniscrone that evening, drank pints of stout for the night in the Diamond Coast then played Enniscrone the next morning right on the doorstep of the hotel. Couldn't recommend enough, food, pints and accommodation top notch.

Golfhead65 · 15-10-2021 10:12am

Yeah we did that one last year, Played Woodenbridge 1st and last day and Macreddan in the middle, we got weekend cheaper than midweek quoted there as we booked everything individually, If I did that one again I wouldn't play Macreddan as it's so tough and personally didnt find it enjoyable but that's me

prawnsambo · 15-10-2021 10:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118022654#Comment_118022654

Well Coollattin is a fun course and Blainroe is always in top condition, if a trifle boring. Arklow a good shout too.

Lefty2Guns · 29-10-2021 11:34am

Probably not the right forum.

Looking to book golf in Portugal. Flights and accommodation already sorted.

Anybody got any recommendations on companies to deal with?

srfc d16 · 29-10-2021 12:51pm

It will depend on where you have booked. I have used teetimes.pt the last few times while staying in villamoura. If you are staying in a Dom Pedro hotel transfers to Dom Pedro courses are usually included.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118089202#Comment_118089202