Balcarrick golf club

Dealerz · 12-11-2011 10:43PM

billyhead wrote: »

AD333 wrote: »

Over the last few years i've played with a work society but am hoping to play more regularly next year. Looking to join a club in the North side ...Did any of you go ahead and join Balcarrick?

Hi,

I am planning to join next year. It would be good if a few more lads posted here that are thinking of joining for the new year so we could arrange weekly 3 or 4 balls

Hi billyhead

After looking at both courses, me and the lads are heading to Roganstown! Much better course and closer to home. Roganstown has a full brs system in operation rather than the mixed (brs and manual) one that is in place in balcarrick, plus roganstown has only 450 members so no bother getting a slot!

Enjoy Balcarrick!

billyhead · 05-12-2011 08:22PM

I was just wondering did anyone who posted on this thread join Balcarrick for the new year?

Dealerz · 06-12-2011 09:09AM

billyhead wrote: »

I was just wondering did anyone who posted on this thread join Balcarrick for the new year?

Hi
As above, me and a mate joined Roganstown instead. Enjoy if you join Balcarrick!

cash in hand · 14-02-2012 06:28PM

Hi,
Just to let you know that I joined Balcarrick in 2011 and renewed for 2012. I've only been playing golf for 3 yrs and last year was my first proper year playing regularly. I think it is a great challenge for my hcap of 23. As mentioned by others the course plays differently every time due to wind speed and direction.
As regards the timesheet I've never had a problem in getting a slot at the weekends and now with the brighter mornings and evenings there will be more time slots available. I play every week and there's no stuffiness about joining in with a threeball and Steven in the Pro Shop will always sort something out for you.
There's also a new practice green and bunker(s) going into the practice area and finances are in a good state.

Best of luck!

Dr_Colossus · 15-02-2012 10:29AM

Have never played the course although I did try after purchasing citydeal vouchers last year. Admittedly and stupidly I let the vouchers expire and when I realised the error of my ways in November and rang Balcarrick to try and book a tee time they were having none of it. The vouchers had only expired by 8 days and the timesheet was otherwise deserted on the midweek winters morning in question. Yet despite my pleadings Balcarrick said they would not honor the vouchers and if I wanted to play I could pay green fees instead. I advised them if that was their standpoint I would rather bring my custom elsewhere and wouldn't be in a hurry to return.

I didn't see the logic in this somewhat draconian standpoint. I've had similar vouchers before for another golf course (Rathsallagh) and even though those vouchers had expired by a number of months the golf course had no major issues in honoring them and welcomed me to their club. As a result we had a great day out and a lovely dinner in the club house which we subsequently purchased and due to the good will shown have no hesitations in returning or recommending the course to others.

Reputation and first impressions have a role to play with visiting golfers and a good rapport can create alot of repeated business but certain establishments don't seem to realise this. In the case of Balcarrick it was my own fault for letting the purchased vouchers expire, I had a long enough opportunity to organise a game in the alloted time so have no one to blame but myself but it's the golf clubs handling of the situation that didn't exactly endear me to the club.

link_2007 · 15-02-2012 10:41AM

Dr Collosus - I have a friend who runs one of those deal websites and he was telling me that for some of the deals his company retain 100% of the fee paid until the voucher has been redeemed and then the company running the offer (or in this case the golf course) claim back their revenue minus his commission (which is usually 25% per voucher).

Once the voucher expires the course would not be able to reclaim their fee. While I agree the course could have handled the situation better - particularly if they were hoping for you to return at some point - this may go some way to explaining their stance on the situation.

AldilaMan · 15-02-2012 11:14AM

That's how Groupon and City Deals work ok with the voucher being submitted by the golf club for payment. However, the golf clubs can't be expected to forward the coupons the day after it expires and it would seem logical that they would have to present them within a reasonable timeframe after the offer ending (within 3 or 4 weeks probably). 8 days late could have been worked around. Bad form IMO

Kid Charlemagne · 15-02-2012 11:21AM

Seems to me the best people can say about this course is that it is possible to get on the timesheet?
Surely it has more going for it?

link_2007 · 15-02-2012 11:22AM

Oh I do agree it was bad form - I was just trying to provide a possible explaination as to why the course took that stance but I certainly wasn't agreeing with it.

ennisweed · 15-02-2012 11:30AM

my grandad used to be there captain in balcarrick from what i remember it was a great course i used to love been brought out on a Sunday for a game. i am sure its changed alot since then.... but if tonys still behing the bar u will get some awesome pint of guinness

PRAF · 15-02-2012 02:19PM

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

Seems to me the best people can say about this course is that it is possible to get on the timesheet?
Surely it has more going for it?

I am a member in Balcarrick and IMO it is a great test of golf. The course is long and tough, much longer and tougher than many other courses in the vicinity, but not US Open long or tough either!

The greens are always in great condition. I have played lots of top courses in Ireland and abroad and the greens in Balcarrick are without a doubt some of the very best I've ever putted on.

There is a great mix of par 3s (3), 4s (11) and 5s (4). Two of the par 4s and drivable for anyone with the liathroidis to try their luck.

There are water hazards in play on most of the holes with some feature lakes to enjoy and navigate past on the 5th, 7th and 14th.

The fairways are wide enough but don't let that fool you. Wind can be a real factor in Balcarrick and you need to be hitting it well to set yourself up for your iron shots. A couple of the par 4s are really tough when playing into the wind and are more like par 5s some days (the 9th and 11th in particular).

For visitors there is a pro shop with a friendly and knowledgable pro to give you advice on how to play the course, a putting green and practice nets to warm up, and a nice clubhouse to relax in and get a bite to eat after your game.

The club has lots of new and younger members these days as they had the good sense to get rid of their hello money a few years ago. The club is also investing in new facilities in our practice range which will include target greens and a bunker facility.

There is some nice scenery (views of Malahide, Lambay and Howth), lots of wildlife (swans, rabbits, hare, birds of prey etc.) and good facilities to enjoy. However, don't expect it to be Pebble Beach or the Old Head of Kinsale because it is not.

To summarise, Balcarrick is a true test of your golf game. It also represents great value for money for those of us who cannot afford to be members of Pebble Beach or the Old Head of Kinsale! There are opens on during the week so you've no excuse not to give it a try!

PRAF · 15-02-2012 02:33PM

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Have never played the course although I did try after purchasing citydeal vouchers last year. Admittedly and stupidly I let the vouchers expire and when I realised the error of my ways in November and rang Balcarrick to try and book a tee time they were having none of it. The vouchers had only expired by 8 days and the timesheet was otherwise deserted on the midweek winters morning in question. Yet despite my pleadings Balcarrick said they would not honor the vouchers and if I wanted to play I could pay green fees instead. I advised them if that was their standpoint I would rather bring my custom elsewhere and wouldn't be in a hurry to return.

I didn't see the logic in this somewhat draconian standpoint. I've had similar vouchers before for another golf course (Rathsallagh) and even though those vouchers had expired by a number of months the golf course had no major issues in honoring them and welcomed me to their club. As a result we had a great day out and a lovely dinner in the club house which we subsequently purchased and due to the good will shown have no hesitations in returning or recommending the course to others.

Reputation and first impressions have a role to play with visiting golfers and a good rapport can create alot of repeated business but certain establishments don't seem to realise this. In the case of Balcarrick it was my own fault for letting the purchased vouchers expire, I had a long enough opportunity to organise a game in the alloted time so have no one to blame but myself but it's the golf clubs handling of the situation that didn't exactly endear me to the club.

Dr Colossus I'm sorry to hear about that. Although as other boards members have pointed out, the club had no obligation to take your expired voucher, I'm a bit surprised they couldn't have come to an arrangement with you.

I have heard countless examples of the club doing being very accomodating to visitors in the past. The club often holds charity days to raise funds for good causes offerring time slots free of charge, they offer fantastic value for societies (who come back regularly) and are often very accomodating to people looking to try out the course before joining. More importantly, the club offers great value for money for members and visitors alike all year round.

I'd suggest you write a letter to the club explaining the particulars of this situation to see if they can help you out.

Dr_Colossus · 15-02-2012 05:34PM

PRAF wrote: »

Dr Colossus I'm sorry to hear about that. Although as other boards members have pointed out, the club had no obligation to take your expired voucher, I'm a bit surprised they couldn't have come to an arrangement with you.

I'd suggest you write a letter to the club explaining the particulars of this situation to see if they can help you out.

It's ok, I've nothing against the club it's just their handling of the situation that didn't exactly give a great first impression. The vouchers were very reasonable hence why I bought them and I've now written them off as a lesson learnt.

I've bought a number of these groupon type vouchers over the past year or two and will not be purchasing any again in future. They offer good value at the time of purchase but unless you book immediately you run into so many restrictions they become more hassle than they're worth plus there is the tendency to forget about them entirely.

Kid Charlemagne · 15-02-2012 05:51PM

yeah they can be a pain in the neck, especially the hotels - with all the daft restrictions they put on usage. killing the goose that laid the golden egg. got one for knightbrook before - night and golf/spa treatment - had to take a mon off work to use it cos they had restrictions on numbers allowed for fri/sat. wont buy again. that whole thing seems to have been ruined by petty rules as far as i can see. plus most of the % savings they claim are pure BS when you look into it.

Dr_Colossus · 15-02-2012 06:23PM

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

yeah they can be a pain in the neck, especially the hotels - with all the daft restrictions they put on usage. killing the goose that laid the golden egg. got one for knightbrook before - night and golf/spa treatment - had to take a mon off work to use it cos they had restrictions on numbers allowed for fri/sat. wont buy again. that whole thing seems to have been ruined by petty rules as far as i can see. plus most of the % savings they claim are pure BS when you look into it.

+1. I have that same voucher for Knightsbrook which expires at the end of March. I checked availability online and then rang them to double check and they confirmed they had 3 free rooms for the Sat I was interested in. When I went to book and advised I had a groupon voucher they said they wouldn't accept it as they had reached the allotted number of groupon vouchers for that night. They wouldn't tell me what their allotted number was but that if I wanted to use my voucher which claimed to offer availability 7 days a week I would have to use it Mon to Thurs which was still available. A load of pants as can't take a day off work just to use a voucher I had bought in good faith for a weekend away.
Currently in discussions with Citydeal to try and get a refund since the voucher hasn't expired yet but Citydeal tell me they will only issue a refund in groupon credit since the small print of the original voucher had "subject to availability" written at the bottom. Citydeal were not able to tell me either how much weekend nights Knightsbrook had alloted for groupon holders so looks like there's nothing preventing them just saying all their allotted places are gone and forcing you to go midweek and out of season.
Curses on these Citydeal vouchers, better off dealing directly with golf courses/hotels especially when they're willing to offer good deals for cash customers and shun their voucher holders.
Sorry for ranting on and going off topic.

Kid Charlemagne · 15-02-2012 06:34PM

Exactly - they took a good idea and ruined it by trying to screw people over.

f22 · 15-02-2012 06:36PM

Does Balcarrick still have the worst stocked pro shop on the planet? I won a voucher there a couple of years ago and there was literally nothing to buy. I even asked if he had 50 bars of chocolate and the answer was no!

veetwin · 15-02-2012 07:18PM

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

Seems to me the best people can say about this course is that it is possible to get on the timesheet?
Surely it has more going for it?

Completely agree with PRAF, especially the greens. They are among the finest greens you will find anywhere on the East Coast. Some very interesting golf holes with nothing easy there. Also they have 2 Open Days every week during the summer one for seniors and one regular one. Great value at €15.

Not a member there but would like to join someday. It's not as glamourous as some of its neighbours but I wouldn't mind that. Just can't justify leaving my own club at the moment which is about 30% cheaper even though it's a bit of a drive.

pcasso · 15-02-2012 09:28PM

Having been a long time member of Balcarrick in the past I find the uncritical praise a bit over the top.
I agree that their greens are excellent, as good as you will find anywhere.The course is generally in good condition during the winter time as well though there are often only thirteen holes available to play as five holes (the back field) seems to be closed more often than open during this period.
There is a mix of short and long holes but there really isn't anything approaching memorable or remarkable among the entire eighteen.
The course, probably because of the relative flatness of the terrain, is rather featureless and open.
For someone who sprays it off the tee finding a fairway can be relatively easy as long as it doesn't have to be the one belonging to the hole you are playing.
It is a nice, modest, well run club with a course that measures up relatively favourably to it's near and not so near neighbours but in my opinion is neither a magnificent course or a magnificent test of golf.

PRAF · 15-02-2012 09:58PM

f22 wrote: »

Does Balcarrick still have the worst stocked pro shop on the planet? I won a voucher there a couple of years ago and there was literally nothing to buy. I even asked if he had 50 bars of chocolate and the answer was no!

No, there is a new pro now, shop is well stocked. It is a branch of Focus Golf so has a good range in the shop and an even better range available to members via their other stores. Prices are very reasonable too.

PRAF · 15-02-2012 10:14PM

pcasso wrote: »

Having been a long time member of Balcarrick in the past I find the uncritical praise a bit over the top.
I agree that their greens are excellent, as good as you will find anywhere.The course is generally in good condition during the winter time as well though there are often only thirteen holes available to play as five holes (the back field) seems to be closed more often than open during this period.
There is a mix of short and long holes but there really isn't anything approaching memorable or remarkable among the entire eighteen.
The course, probably because of the relative flatness of the terrain, is rather featureless and open.
For someone who sprays it off the tee finding a fairway can be relatively easy as long as it doesn't have to be the one belonging to the hole you are playing.
It is a nice, modest, well run club with a course that measures up relatively favourably to it's near and not so near neighbours but in my opinion is neither a magnificent course or a magnificent test of golf.

It is an estuarial course built on relatively flat terrain. On that point you are correct. As I said, it is not Pebble Beach, Augusta or the Old Head of Kinsale.

Totally disagree with you that there are no remarkable holes. One mans trash is another mans treasure perhaps but some stand outs for me are the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 9th, 11th, 14th and 18th. To be honest I've paid big money to play some of the fancy courses around Ireland and the vast majority of holes are soon forgotten about.

The course was relatively open years ago (and still is somewhat open) but after a significant redevelopment around 2008ish there are lots more features now in terms of bunkers, new water hazards, mounding etc.

I also fail to understand how finding the fairway is relatively easy. Relatively easy compared to where? Perhaps you are a better golfer than me but the 6th is a killer of a drive (OB on the right, water on the left, bunkers & shrubs within range) and the 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th are no picnics either.

AldilaMan · 15-02-2012 10:51PM

PRAF wrote: »

It is an estuarial course built on relatively flat terrain. On that point you are correct. As I said, it is not Pebble Beach, Augusta or the Old Head of Kinsale.

Totally disagree with you that there are no remarkable holes. One mans trash is another mans treasure perhaps but some stand outs for me are the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 9th, 11th, 14th and 18th. To be honest I've paid big money to play some of the fancy courses around Ireland and the vast majority of holes are soon forgotten about.

The course was relatively open years ago (and still is somewhat open) but after a significant redevelopment around 2008ish there are lots more features now in terms of bunkers, new water hazards, mounding etc.

I also fail to understand how finding the fairway is relatively easy. Relatively easy compared to where? Perhaps you are a better golfer than me but the 6th is a killer of a drive (OB on the right, water on the left, bunkers & shrubs within range) and the 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th are no picnics either.

I'd have do disagree with you on at least one of your stand out holes. The 1st (the old 17th) is a nothing hole. It's a short par 4 of around 280 yards but the risk reward ratio is unacceptable. Water on the right and water all around the back of the green which is deemed out of bounds. It's the only hole I can remember where you're in water but you're OB (apart from the sea on a links). If the water at the back of the green was a hazard it would at least be a risk and reward hole. So if you take out the driver and get a bit of run through the green then you're OB. Otherwise it's a simple par 4 played with a 7 iron and a wedge (how boring can you get).

pcasso · 15-02-2012 11:09PM

PRAF wrote: »

It is an estuarial course built on relatively flat terrain. On that point you are correct. As I said, it is not Pebble Beach, Augusta or the Old Head of Kinsale.

Totally disagree with you that there are no remarkable holes. One mans trash is another mans treasure perhaps but some stand outs for me are the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 9th, 11th, 14th and 18th. To be honest I've paid big money to play some of the fancy courses around Ireland and the vast majority of holes are soon forgotten about.

The course was relatively open years ago (and still is somewhat open) but after a significant redevelopment around 2008ish there are lots more features now in terms of bunkers, new water hazards, mounding etc.

I also fail to understand how finding the fairway is relatively easy. Relatively easy compared to where? Perhaps you are a better golfer than me but the 6th is a killer of a drive (OB on the right, water on the left, bunkers & shrubs within range) and the 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th are no picnics either.

Opinions differ I guess mate.
Certainly the redevelopment improved the course but in my book didn't go nearly far enough, although I am sure finances were a constraint.
The sixth is indeed probably the tightest driving hole on the course but on most you can usually miss the target fairway and hit the adjoining ones. 2,3,4, 7,8+9 to a lesser extent 11+12 and 17+18.
And I am probably not a better golfer than you as I have managed to somehow hack my way to a handicap of 14.
I am not trying to be disrespectful of Balcarrick, though I did think that the positive appraisal of it by some was very generous.

PRAF · 16-02-2012 11:31AM

If we all had the same opinions it would be a very sad and boring world I suppose. As golfers, we all have to make choices in terms of course quality, location, price, facilities etc.

Sure it would be great to have majestic pine trees lining every fairway and panaronic views over sea facing cliffs. But Balcarrick isn't Augusta or Pebble Beach. IMO it offers fantastic value for money and is a very good course, playable year round, with superb greens and enough difficulty to challenge the majority of golfers.

Until the Island gets rid of its 20k hello money or until Porto Links drops its annual sub, I'll be staying where I am!

f22 · 16-02-2012 12:02PM

PRAF wrote: »

If we all had the same opinions it would be a very sad and boring world I suppose. As golfers, we all have to make choices in terms of course quality, location, price, facilities etc.

Sure it would be great to have majestic pine trees lining every fairway and panaronic views over sea facing cliffs. But Balcarrick isn't Augusta or Pebble Beach. IMO it offers fantastic value for money and is a very good course, playable year round, with superb greens and enough difficulty to challenge the majority of golfers.

Until the Island gets rid of its 20k hello money or until Porto Links drops its annual sub, I'll be staying where I am!

The Island is 7.5k now, including first years subs

Kace · 16-02-2012 01:48PM

pcasso wrote: »

Having been a long time member of Balcarrick in the past I find the uncritical praise a bit over the top.
I agree that their greens are excellent, as good as you will find anywhere.The course is generally in good condition during the winter time as well though there are often only thirteen holes available to play as five holes (the back field) seems to be closed more often than open during this period.
There is a mix of short and long holes but there really isn't anything approaching memorable or remarkable among the entire eighteen.
The course, probably because of the relative flatness of the terrain, is rather featureless and open.
For someone who sprays it off the tee finding a fairway can be relatively easy as long as it doesn't have to be the one belonging to the hole you are playing.
It is a nice, modest, well run club with a course that measures up relatively favourably to it's near and not so near neighbours but in my opinion is neither a magnificent course or a magnificent test of golf.

+1 - my overriding memory of Balcarrick was that it had decent length and greens, and that if you did a 360 turn on your heels you could see and count the number of people out on the course.

PRAF · 16-02-2012 05:21PM

f22 wrote: »

The Island is 7.5k now, including first years subs

Ok, its gone from utter madness to grossly exorbitant. Progress! When it comes back down to ridiculously priced, I'll give it my consideration

FixdePitchmark · 16-02-2012 05:31PM

PRAF wrote: »

Ok, its gone from utter madness to grossly exorbitant. Progress! When it comes back down to ridiculously priced, I'll give it my consideration

Sorry off thread , lads what is the 5 day cost at The Island ?. Unreal course.

golfwallah · 16-02-2012 06:04PM

Agreed – places like the island, still demanding hello money, continue to be over-priced. It was much easier for the average person to get into clubs like the Island 25 - 30 years ago, if you were a low handicap junior or were related to a member.
But growth in prosperity and increased popularity of golf put prices at the established clubs way beyond the average Joe Soap, particularly in the Dublin area.
The resulting scarcity of affordable golf prompted golfers to form their own clubs (e.g. Beaverstown, Balcarrick, Corrstown and Hollywood Lakes).
Clubs like these will survive the current recession if they continue to provide value for money, do not pretend to be something they are not and live within their means. There are plenty of examples of those that excessively borrowed (for the best of reasons at the time, e.g. Turvey), could not avail of protection from NAMA or County Council subsidies, that are now no more.

FixdePitchmark · 05-10-2014 09:18PM

Played here today - only got to play 10 - time and was a very busy ahead. I walked the last few I could as well ( Did I miss much - 15/16/17/18 - actually look better holes.

I had been there years before and course and I was very young at the time. The course has changed a good bit - but still lacking maturity, I think the reeds around the par 3s has got a bit long ? - can't even see pin on what looks like great par 3s on front.

I'm not the biggest fan of parkland over links - but enjoyed the change.

Intesting start - does anybody go for that (lol) - 6 iron wedge did me.

Played the whites and didn't seem that long.

Greens very good - similar grass to the stuff in Beaverstown - very robust and nice and fast.

So enjoyed the change - played well helped.

This year I played every course out there. Amazing place for golf Don't know how all the clubs stay open - but fair play to them , the place was packed. Every course was busy enough - Sunday and the last of the Summer season golf.

So must head back and play back nine. Again I find many of these type of courses too similar. But for lads who just want good quality golf at a fantastic price - you couldn't go wrong.

I've played The Island this year and Corballis loads - both of them can tear you apart even playing well - so interesting change.

I actually surprised myself that I liked a parkland course like that. (for a bit of a change)

Balcarrick golf club

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