Knockanally Golf Club in Kildare

bridestream · 15-09-2010 01:21PM

I'm not aware fund raising events are being planned.

Problem is, it's the usual relatively few 'usual suspects' who support the fund raising events and even they may be reluctant to do so again - I'm one of them!

Our membership peaked at 408 this year - we had 540 in 2009 - and an allowance has been made in the figures for slippage of another 100. The bottom line is, we need 300 out of 408 to support the funding proposal.

We will know early October if the 300 required pay up.
If they don't the course will be 'mothballed' - i.e. according to the Receiver.

koheim · 15-09-2010 01:35PM

So as a member I am asked to pay an 500 Euro to play golf from 1st October to 1st March. If we get the same winter as last year that is not much value for money, also I am sure that if I payed greenfee the times played til 1st March that would be close to 500 Euro.

Then again I guess I am not really a member anymore, well not after 1st October anyway.

Wonder if some of the other local clubs are preparing some good offers for ex. Knockanally members??

sheelbee · 20-09-2010 10:20AM

What with all the uncertainty regarding Knockanally et al I personally would not like to invest 500 euro for "winter" golf with no guarantees after. I have found a little gem of a course 9 hole just outside Blessington called Blessington Lakes formerly "Boystown" give it a try if your in the area they are really nice people too.

Deep Thought · 20-09-2010 10:49AM

koheim wrote: »

So as a member I am asked to pay an 500 Euro to play golf from 1st October to 1st March. If we get the same winter as last year that is not much value for money, also I am sure that if I payed greenfee the times played til 1st March that would be close to 500 Euro.

Then again I guess I am not really a member anymore, well not after 1st October anyway.

Wonder if some of the other local clubs are preparing some good offers for ex. Knockanally members??

I know our club are trying to do something for the members.

Unglika Norse · 20-09-2010 09:02PM

For gawds sake if your already a member why would you not take a punt on e500 to have a go at making it work. If you showd a bit of interest in keeping your club alive you might get the support of more of the golfing community like szondis place over in Kilcock

bridestream · 20-09-2010 09:23PM

In fairness to the members of Knockanally there is a chance it can survive. AIB is the one with the biggest problem.

They will not be able to sell the remaining 5 houses unless there is an an active golf course. In effect we, the members, have the bank by the s***t & c*****s. It's the bank that has the real problem.

The bank has no choice but to deal with us in a constructive manner and that includes agreeing to a 2/3 year lease at a nominal figure.
When agreed, we can offer a debt free member owned course at a very competitive sub.

How many member owned courses within the greater Knockanally catchment area are debt free? In fact my information is, most, if not all, are millions in debt.

The moment of truth will be known by mid October - will 300 of the existing 400 members agree to paying the 300 Euro to keep it operating up to end of December plus another 200 Euro paid early January to keep it operational to end of March.

During this period it is expected negotiations with AIB can be finalised.
Fingers crossed!

L.O.F.T · 20-09-2010 09:34PM

bridestream wrote: »

will 300 of the existing 400 members agree to paying the 300 Euro to keep it operating up to end of December plus another 200 Euro paid early January to keep it operational to end of March

Above is such a huge ask in the current climate with the payments being requested during such a tricky time of year that is Christmas and more so after Christmas when everyone is smashed. I wish you luck and without sounding overly negative I think you'll need it.

Trampas · 21-09-2010 12:15PM

L.O.F.T wrote: »

Above is such a huge ask in the current climate with the payments being requested during such a tricky time of year that is Christmas and more so after Christmas when everyone is smashed. I wish you luck and without sounding overly negative I think you'll need it.

I have to agree with LOFT here. With paying the €500 is there a certainty the club will be still open come summer of next year.

What is a nominal figure to pay AIB?

Wish you all the best but I wouldn't be thinking that you are going to gain €500 for 300 members

bridestream · 26-10-2010 08:01PM

The up to date situation is, circa 250 members paid the 300 Euro to keep Knockanally operational up to end of year.
However not one cent will be paid to Receiver unless there is agreement with our negotiating team and this will be put to the 250 members for approval.
Indications are there are many 'members' sitting on the fence and are waiting to see if satisfactory agreement with Receiver is reached.
I am led to believe a further meeting with Receiver was being held this evening.
I do not believe a Receiver cares too much about the members; I think he/she is more interested in the fee AIB will pay when the job is finished.
Without going into detail, being in Receivership is certainly not the ideal for a golf club. One can see the deterioration taking place everywhere; it's small but noticable.
I'm less and less hopeful of a successful outcome - hope I'm wrong.

reflog rehtona · 09-04-2011 11:31AM

What sort of nick is Knockanally in? Has anybody played it recently? I see that City Deal are doing a deal on it today. Any thoughts?

the lawman · 09-04-2011 12:23PM

reflog rehtona wrote: »

What sort of nick is Knockanally in? Has anybody played it recently? I see that City Deal are doing a deal on it today. Any thoughts?

Played it three weeks ago and in all honesty it was in great nick. Lovely course with some fantastic holes. Was gonna join but year runs jan to jan so might wait till next jan. Enjoy it if you play.

niall147 · 09-04-2011 04:48PM

Don't most clubs run from jan to jan? And it is only April Lawman! :-)
Played there yesterday and in great condition apart from greens having been pole forked. Earlybird 15 euro!!
n

bridestream · 03-08-2013 01:10PM

Knockanally reportedly sold for 1.1 mil Euro to a Kildare emigrant living in Birmingham.
He is supposed to own a golf course in England so should know what he is letting himself in for!
He will need to spend on upgrading a lot of the Tee Boxes and also get the drainage sorted before the coming winter. It was a mess last winter.
It looks like a new beginning and could result in the members being able to look ahead with confidence. Good luck to all.

sydneybound · 03-08-2013 03:02PM

bridestream wrote: »

Knockanally reportedly sold for 1.1 mil Euro to a Kildare emigrant living in Birmingham.
He is supposed to own a golf course in England so should know what he is letting himself in for!
He will need to spend on upgrading a lot of the Tee Boxes and also get the drainage sorted before the coming winter. It was a mess last winter.
It looks like a new beginning and could result in the members being able to look ahead with confidence. Good luck to all.

Hope the future is bright for Knockanally, looks it at the moment.

pucky8967 · 02-08-2014 10:51AM

Played Knockanally recently and it is in very poor shape. The T boxes in particular are for the most part dreadful. Word is new owner is not providing any financial help to the course.
It badly needs a substantial injection of funds to bring it up to the standard of courses nearby such as Castlewarden, Craddockstown, Rathcore, Naas, Killeen (4 lakes) & Millicent.

ozymandias10 · 05-08-2014 04:54PM

pucky8967 wrote: »

Played Knockanally recently and it is in very poor shape. The T boxes in particular are for the most part dreadful. Word is new owner is not providing any financial help to the course.
It badly needs a substantial injection of funds to bring it up to the standard of courses nearby such as Castlewarden, Craddockstown, Rathcore, Naas, Killeen (4 lakes) & Millicent.

three posts two of them the very same about Knockanally...have you some other agenda we should know about.

pucky8967 · 12-08-2014 01:23PM

Played Knockanally again during the recent Open Week.
Some of the Tees are so bad we were playing off winter mats!
Nice layout but fact is it has deteriorated during the past few years and it's obvious there has been no financial input made by the new owner.
Pity, because it's not fair to the remaining loyal members.

ozymandias10 - please expand on your 'agenda' assertion.
Have you played the course recently? Or are you a member?

ArielAtom · 12-08-2014 02:27PM

If the course is that bad why do you keep going back to play it?????

Donkeygonads · 13-08-2014 10:15PM

I played it about 2 weeks ago for the first time in 5 years and I have to agree some of the tee-boxes were dreadful , especially the 12th .... But the worst issue by a mile were the flys !!!!!

pucky8967 · 14-08-2014 05:32AM

In reply to arielatom - I was invited by a member - in fact by more than one member.
I do admit they did say they were still waiting on funds from the new owner to undertake on course improvements.

If they don't get the funds soon to carry out the very obvious improvements that are required I would not be surprised if some of the current membership will go elsewhere at the end of this year.

There are so many courses not too far from Knockanally that have excellent facilities and are in superb condition and they include include - Lucan, Millicent, Rathcore, Moyvalley, Craddockstown, Beech Park, Naas, Killeen, Hermitage, Trim, Knghtsbrook, Castleknock.
All of these courses I have played and from T box to Greens are 'streets' ahead of Knockanally.

tigerwood1 · 14-08-2014 09:52AM

Donkeygonads wrote: »

I played it about 2 weeks ago for the first time in 5 years and I have to agree some of the tee-boxes were dreadful , especially the 12th .... But the worst issue by a mile were the flys !!!!!

I remember playing on a humit evening in august about ten years ago the flys were bearable until we played the 14th after that it was unbelievable the swarms of flys that surrounded us so much so we could bearly hear each other talking we ended up runing off the course at the 16th.

ozymandias10 · 14-08-2014 10:33AM

pucky8967 wrote: »

In reply to arielatom - I was invited by a member - in fact by more than one member.
I do admit they did say they were still waiting on funds from the new owner to undertake on course improvements.

If they don't get the funds soon to carry out the very obvious improvements that are required I would not be surprised if some of the current membership will go elsewhere at the end of this year.

There are so many courses not too far from Knockanally that have excellent facilities and are in superb condition and they include include - Lucan, Millicent, Rathcore, Moyvalley, Craddockstown, Beech Park, Naas, Killeen, Hermitage, Trim, Knghtsbrook, Castleknock.
All of these courses I have played and from T box to Greens are 'streets' ahead of Knockanally.

I play a course that I don't like...hmmm what will I do.. I will join a message board to slate it and promote other courses...but I don't have an agenda..

pucky8967 · 12-09-2014 07:52AM

Played what is now called The Royal Curragh Golf club on 11 Sept 2014 in their Open.
(Such pretentious nonsense).
I always loved playing the Curragh. Good layout and great greens.
But the Greens are now in a shambolic condition.

Played with a member and he told me €350,000 was spent last year resulting in a lack of funds for new equipment and the irrigation system is currently broken. Allegedly no funds to fix it. The members were hit with a €100 levy for 2014.

The showers are out of order too! However the food was very good.

Re Knockanally - I understand an EGM is coming up shortly to discuss financials. Oh dear! Knockanally in my view has great potential but requires someone who is prepared to invest sufficient funds to bring it up to the standards expected to-day. Good luck to the members there.

Knockanally Golf Club in Kildare

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