North dublin membership help.

Jimdagym · 01-07-2010 03:46PM

f22 wrote: »

Not sure about individual pricing but Beaverstown, Forrest Little (may be biased) and Skerries are three that spring to mind

I know you're in Forest little, I dont know the financial arrangements there (never played it either), but i know skerries is 6.5k. Spread out over 3 years max so its still 2k plus your subs. Beaverstown is 3k for this year inc subs. There is no mention on the site about how much of that the subs actually are, or whether or not there is a phased payment scheme. Several voicemails to the club and several e-mails to find out more details have gone unanswered.
TBH, i cant afford a few thousand in hello money, and if I was going down that route, it would be Balbriggan I would be joining (8k).
But I am not, so (untill the roganstown lease deal is clarified where also no-one wants to return v/mails or emails) it is increasingly looking like Corrstown on a playing membership or Hollywood on the 2k for membership and subs till end 2011.

lettuce97 · 01-07-2010 05:10PM

Hi Jimdagym, I'm in the exact same position as you so first of all thanks for starting the thread - and to all the others for the input.
Played Margaret's on Tuesday, the course seemed in grand nick bar what I thought were very slow greens for this time of year. Seemed very quiet though for a nice sunny evening, even if it was midweek.
I was looking at either Donabate or Corrstown for next year, that Hollywood Lakes deal looks tempting too though. I'd be interested to hear what you info get back from Roganstown too.
Also, does anybody have any opinions on when is the best time of year to join a club?
Cheers

Jimdagym · 01-07-2010 07:08PM

danthefan wrote: »

Roganstown do open singles competitions, costs €25 I think, might be an idea to play it before making a final decision. Haven't played it myself but have read very good things on here about it.

Cheap way of playing it alright, but dont you need a gui handicap to play in it?

danthefan · 01-07-2010 07:33PM

Jimdagym wrote: »

Cheap way of playing it alright, but dont you need a gui handicap to play in it?

Ahh I didn't even think of that. You could just fib I suppose.

Jimdagym · 01-07-2010 07:36PM

lettuce97 wrote: »

Hi Jimdagym, I'm in the exact same position as you so first of all thanks for starting the thread - and to all the others for the input.
Played Margaret's on Tuesday, the course seemed in grand nick bar what I thought were very slow greens for this time of year. Seemed very quiet though for a nice sunny evening, even if it was midweek.
I was looking at either Donabate or Corrstown for next year, that Hollywood Lakes deal looks tempting too though. I'd be interested to hear what you info get back from Roganstown too.
Also, does anybody have any opinions on when is the best time of year to join a club?
Cheers

Hello lettuce. Boy, did i save you some legwork.
Margarets. Love the course but its in serious neglect. Bunkers in bits, bald greens, tee's with lumps out of them. I'd love to join in, but its just in need to too much care. Half the handrails are rotted. €1500 per year, starts the day you join.
Corrstown. On the phone today. 1500 per year (750 from now till dec). All to be paid up front. After 3 years, must become full member at 4500 or leave. Entrance fee to be paid over 3 months. 100% rules me out of there. No help for prospective members at all.
Hollywood lakes. €1989 all in until dec 2011. You can pay over 10 months with fairways credit. Very helpful.
Roganstown, 1419 per year. 800 offer till end jan. The full year subs can be spread over the year. The guy i was talking to was not sure if the half year subs could be.
Beaverstown, 3k in for 2010 inc this years subs. 525 off for joining this late. Leaves 700 odd in subs for this year, can be staggered once its all in by year end. The 1500 entrance fee can be spread over up to 3 years. They were very helpful with providing suitable payment options.
Donabate. New associate membership. 3 year term, then you can apply for full membership at the current rate. At the minute its 9800e. Those associate subs are 1565 but you can say them off by DD or in stages in the clubhouse. 800 quid to join to end of year. Very helpful too.
Balcarrick 1300 per year. Very flexible payment options too.
Didnt look into turvey cos i hate it and forrest little cos its a little rich for my blood.
Given all the feedback i got on here, and the pricing and payment arrangements, i am currently between roganstown and hollywood lakes. I hope this helps you.

Jimdagym · 01-07-2010 07:41PM

and regard the roganstown lease, the guy seemed to think that once your in, your in. I'd rather discuss that with the GM or someone before i signed on the dotted line.

lettuce97 · 01-07-2010 10:50PM

You certainly have Jim, much appreciated! I might try a bit of research into husband & wife options to see if there's any offers anywhere and will definitely be in touch with Roganstown. Shame about Corrstown, I can't see myself going for that commitment after 3 years either. Thanks again - will let you know if I make any decisions!

danthefan · 02-07-2010 10:04AM

Off topic, sorry, but what exactly has happened to St. Margarets? I played there a few years ago and thought it was really nice. Members have left (recession?) and they can't afford to keep the course in good condition or what?

billy3sheets · 02-07-2010 10:14AM

Jim, Here's a suggestion - useful for making decisions on all sorts of things.
List out all of the things you are evaluating about each club, weight each one for importance, then score each one for each club & multiply by the weight. Then tot it all up & you'll have a score for each. Then you'll have an objective result which you can use to help you decide.

Jimdagym · 02-07-2010 01:38PM

billy3sheets wrote: »

Jim, Here's a suggestion - useful for making decisions on all sorts of things.
List out all of the things you are evaluating about each club, weight each one for importance, then score each one for each club & multiply by the weight. Then tot it all up & you'll have a score for each. Then you'll have an objective result which you can use to help you decide.

Thats a fine way of doing it ordinarily Billy, but at this stage, since I have pretty much decided its between Roganstown and Hollywood Lakes (please god don't let someone offer another option to muddy the waters even more!!), what I want to do know is go down and walk around both set-up's, play both courses, check the facilities and get a good "feel" for the place.
I had a good chat with Seamus (GM?)in the lakes yesterday, a very nice man who I dont think could have been more helpful. I rang Roganstown today, and also yesterday, and each time I seem to have gotten someone who wasn't really informed / interested, which proved to be very uninformative. I wont say its off-putting, but it didnt leave a fantastic impression Would anyone know the name of someone who might be in more of a position to go few more of the details with me, maybe even show me around a bit if i ventured over?

lettuce97 · 05-07-2010 09:21AM

Jimdagym wrote: »

Thats a fine way of doing it ordinarily Billy, but at this stage, since I have pretty much decided its between Roganstown and Hollywood Lakes (please god don't let someone offer another option to muddy the waters even more!!), what I want to do know is go down and walk around both set-up's, play both courses, check the facilities and get a good "feel" for the place.
I had a good chat with Seamus (GM?)in the lakes yesterday, a very nice man who I dont think could have been more helpful. I rang Roganstown today, and also yesterday, and each time I seem to have gotten someone who wasn't really informed / interested, which proved to be very uninformative. I wont say its off-putting, but it didnt leave a fantastic impression Would anyone know the name of someone who might be in more of a position to go few more of the details with me, maybe even show me around a bit if i ventured over?

Hi Jim,
I wandered up to Roganstown yesterday for a look around, place looked well - good and busy. Elaine was the person in the pro shop, very helpful in answering any questions I had about membership. I don't think she's there every day though. I'm going to hopefully play the course some evening this week and assuming I like the course (which I'm sure I will based on the feedback here) I reckon I'll go with the membership - pro rata rate for the rest of the year is €719.50.

lettuce97 · 07-07-2010 03:39PM

Done and done - joined Roganstown at the pro rata rate. Have to say I've been hugely impressed with everything up there so far. Now to watch my handicap drop faster than NAMA's profit estimates!!

Jimdagym · 07-07-2010 03:51PM

lettuce97 wrote: »

Done and done - joined Roganstown at the pro rata rate. Have to say I've been hugely impressed with everything up there so far. Now to watch my handicap drop faster than NAMA's profit estimates!!

The best of luck up there. I'm sure you'll be welcomed by what seems to be a hugely friendly membership.

Golfgraffix · 07-07-2010 04:14PM

Hey Lettuce, welcome to the club, hope you have a blast playing there.

Just in time for Capts day on Saturday, you wont be able to win but I am sure you can still play.

If you are interested in mid week golf, there is a Tues comp every week, in fact there is two and open and a members comp.

If you want to find the lay of the land on the course there is some very good simulation stuff on the website, you can even play it on your pc as a simulation, there is also a iphone app due in a couple of days.

http://www.roganstown.com/golfApp001/preview01.html (FLYBYS)

http://www.roganstown.com/golf-dublin-airport-north-dublin/play-golf-online/ (How to install the simulation)

J

RGS · 07-07-2010 06:53PM

Lettuce as a Roganstown member welcome to the club. Just get your name down for the weekend comps and you will meet a few members--we are a friendly bunch.

lettuce97 · 07-07-2010 07:30PM

RGS wrote: »

Lettuce as a Roganstown member welcome to the club. Just get your name down for the weekend comps and you will meet a few members--we are a friendly bunch.

Thanks for the great welcome all - totally in line with what I've experienced at the club, incredibly welcoming. Lovely course too. Hopefully plenty of practice and I'll be ready to meet a few of you at the competitions!

Osgoodisgood · 13-07-2010 08:19AM

Jimdagym wrote: »

Hello all.
I am in the final stages of choosing which club to join, and i have all my research done more or less, but...
I am looking for input from members of clubs in the area. Not negatives really, just deal makers like whether the members are welcoming? Is there generally a good social element in the bar/clubhouse? Is it hard to get out on the course with regards visiting societies and provision of enough members allocated times? Are there many members?
Any help really would be appreciated. I have 3 or maybe 4 clubs in mind and i really cant decide which one is the best for me. I wont say which ones they are yet so as not to influence anyone.
Cheers boardsies.

Jim, So what did you eventually decide to do? Have you joined anywhere?

Jimdagym · 13-07-2010 10:13AM

Osgoodisgood wrote: »

Jim, So what did you eventually decide to do? Have you joined anywhere?

Actually not yet. In the early stages of this thread i hurt my back, so this is my third week off work. Doc ordered me at the start of july not to hit a ball for at least a month. So waiting to be able to swing again to try out one or two final courses. Although truth be told, despite some minor problems with customer service up in roganstown when i tried to enquire up there, the overwhelmingly friendly response i received from members there on here has pushed it to the top of the list. I think, once i play it and dont absolutely hate it, it'll be there.

Osgoodisgood · 13-07-2010 10:36AM

Why Roganstown over Hollywood Lakes? I had a similarly excellent response from HL so I'm in a real 50:50 situation.

Jimdagym · 13-07-2010 10:42AM

Osgoodisgood wrote: »

Why Roganstown over Hollywood Lakes? I had a similarly excellent response from HL so I'm in a real 50:50 situation.

Hl is the last other one on my list, but all else being equal, it would be easier to get out in RT. And i work shift, so thats important to me. A lot less members for stop you playing.

billy3sheets · 13-08-2010 02:53PM

Jim,
What was your final decision? Did you join Roganstown?

Jimdagym · 13-08-2010 09:16PM

billy3sheets wrote: »

Jim,
What was your final decision? Did you join Roganstown?

I am out the last 7 weeks with a torn disc. So nothing. Gonna finish out the year building myself back up, and join somewhere in Jan. It was in the course of this thread that it happened, Maybe it jinxed me

Ollieboy · 13-08-2010 11:14PM

Wow, I'm really supprised how this thread turn out.

I feel you've left out all the important questions so maybe this reply will help!

Firstly where to you live? This is the most important question as been close to the course means you will go more often and not use excuse off travelling etc not to go.

Secondly is the membership transferrable? If you pay money up front is it a share you get or is it gone for ever.

Other questions which you did asks but never really got a response to, is how good the facilities are? Practice area, how many holes, timesheet busy, good athmosphere etc?

I really think you need to look at the first question and question how you will travel to the course.

Finally St Margarets is a no. This course is meant to be up for sale and its a dying club. Forrest Little have been trying to take it over for years and if the new Run Way gets built at Dublin Airport I reckon they will move to it.

You actually rule out Corrstown for the wrong reasons too. Firstly it's a 27 hole complex which means on competion day you can get out on the spare nine with guest etc. The membership fee is actaully a share and at its peak was worth 10k, currently 4.5k. This is a equal share memberships which means you own part of the land, which is 110 ac. So that money can always be got back and they have a loan buying option over 3 years with one of the local banks.

So if you pay the 1500 for 3 years, save the other 500 and then borrow 3k and pay that back over 3 years its actually cheap enough.

And Yes I'm a member off Corrstown and went through the same questions you had about 5 years ago. I finally came down too Carton House which was only 10k at the time and Corrstown. I like the members at Corrstown and still do so pick it. Roganstown was also in the running but due to its youth at the time and problems with flooding and only 18 holes Corrstown came out on top.

People sometimes feel that Corrstown 1100 playing membership is to big, but this is actually a big asset to a club as it allows them tap into a bigger fee pool and the extra 9 holes don't increase the overheads by 50%, so scale of size actaully makes the club more profitable.

Also never a problem with Timesheet you always get out if you're bit flexible and get you're name down in time.

Hope this helps.

Golfgraffix · 14-08-2010 09:54AM

Ollieboy wrote: »

Roganstown was also in the running but due to its youth at the time and problems with flooding and only 18 holes Corrstown came out on top.

Been a member at Roganstown since before it opened and never once seen it flooded.

J

jimjo · 14-08-2010 10:06AM

Talking about courses in the North of Dublin area, has anyone played Balcarrick recently? Heard they've done a good bit of work on the course. I presume it must have improved, anyone with any views on the course?? It must be the cheapest members club in the North Dublin area to join, they must be looking for loads of members at the moment.

f22 · 14-08-2010 04:54PM

Ollieboy wrote: »

Finally St Margarets is a no. This course is meant to be up for sale and its a dying club. Forrest Little have been trying to take it over for years and if the new Run Way gets built at Dublin Airport I reckon they will move to it

That's utter ****e. I can guarantee you there is zero interest in buying St Margarets. The idea was touted several years ago and a E50m price tag was laughed at. Incidentally the new runway impacts only slightly on part of the practice ground and that's from the detoured main road.

Metro North may have a future impact but there are far better opportunities out there such as Portmarnock Links.

Jimdagym · 14-08-2010 05:56PM

Ollieboy wrote: »

Blah blah blah

You said you read the thread, you onviously didnt. I asked for members of clubs in North Dublin to give certain information about their clubs (which was done very well by many, thanks Boardsie's), and a couple of month's later you decide to TELL me that not only were my questions not answered to my satisfaction, but that I was, in fact asking the wrong questions and completely unaware of what I wanted out of a club.

And if that wasn't enough you had to thrash talk a few of your rival clubs on here to. Way to take the moral highground, that was exactly what I didnt want.

Ollieboy · 14-08-2010 06:29PM

Jimdagym wrote: »

You said you read the thread, you onviously didnt. I asked for members of clubs in North Dublin to give certain information about their clubs (which was done very well by many, thanks Boardsie's), and a couple of month's later you decide to TELL me that not only were my questions not answered to my satisfaction, but that I was, in fact asking the wrong questions and completely unaware of what I wanted out of a club.

And if that wasn't enough you had to thrash talk a few of your rival clubs on here to. Way to take the moral highground, that was exactly what I didnt want.

Didn't see this thread a few months ago and didn't trash any club.

I actaully asked a few people today what the most important aspect of picking a club was and they all agreed, location to you're home is important. You asked for feedback and I gave it to you and now you don't want certain feedback.

On Forrest Little I was told my a member that the new Runway will actually force the movement of a tee-box (shorten the par 4 beside the road) and be a problem in relation to noise etc, but this is a quality course thats unlucky to be so close to the airport and a cheap move to St Margarets would be excellant news as St Margarets as already mention by you is a excellant designed course.

As for the 50 Million I reckon you will get if for a lot less now.

But if you take time to read the points I made you might come see the merits in what I'm saying.

I also remember a 27 hole complex in Donbate region which should be worth considering and I've been told that Hollywood Lakes is amazing at the moment.

Finally I never heard anyone say a bad word about Roganstown, but I gave the reasons why I didn't pick it. I was told at the time it had a problem with flooding on one hole but I know this as been resolved, remember I'm going back to 2003/04.

To be honest I'm 100% sure you made the right choice after you're last post.

Mister Sifter · 17-08-2010 10:58AM

I hear rumours of a big chop in fees on the way at Castleknock for 2011.

jimjo · 17-08-2010 12:37PM

Mister Sifter wrote: »

I hear rumours of a big chop in fees on the way at Castleknock for 2011.

About bloody time, €2,750 plus Vat and a €250 bar levy on top.... those jokers know how to charge and give **** open day prizes!!

North dublin membership help.

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