Co Kildare

Club-by-club survey of golf in Ireland

Athy

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - €800

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Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open

Visitor green fee rate: €15 Monday-Friday; €20 weekends/Bank holidays

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? Contact Peter Tompkins 087-6761312 or info@athygolfclub.com

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? To maintain existing numbers playing golf and to encourage new memberships going forward.

Mission statement for the season ahead : To deliver an enjoyable experience for our members and visitors by presenting a quality golf course and amenities.

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Bodenstown

Holes: 36

Parkland

Annual membership fee:

Full - €694

Membership availability: Open

Visitor green fee rate : Bodenstown (from €12 midweek), Ladyhill (from €10 midweek)

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Carton House

Holes: 36 - Montgomerie Course, O’Meara Course

Parkland/Inland links

Annual membership:

Full - €2,300

Membership availability: Open

Visitor green fee rate:

From €55

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees 2014? To find out more details on membership options contact Francis Howley on (01) 6517721 or email fhowley@cartonhouse.com

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Castlewarden

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee:

Full € 1,055; 5 Day € 595

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Green fees rate: €20

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014 - Membership is only € 1,055

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Declining playing numbers.

Mission statement for the season ahead: To maintain the clubs facilities and course to the standard that we have got them to.

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Cill Dara

Holes: 9

Heathland

Annual membership fee: Full - €500

Membership availability: Open

Visitor green fee rate:

From €10

Any deals on Membership / Green Fees for 2014: New members, who have not been members of the club during the past five years, can join for €400 (plus GUI/ILGU levy and insurance).

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Craddockstown

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - €1,169. Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open

Visitor Green fees rate: Monday to Thursday: €25; Friday to Sunday: €35; Guest introduced by a member €15; Day Rate €40.

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? The club has launched an introductory membership for €969 with a transfer to full membership in April 2015.

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Dunmurry Springs

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee:

Full €800, 5 Day €450,

Ladies €500

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Green fees rate: Saturday & Sunday (€40), Monday - Friday (€25)

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? Where husband and wife are members for 2014, their children are members for free.

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Clubs who are panicking and as a result are reducing their membership/green fee to a level which is insufficient to cover their operating costs. This creates a downward spiral from which many clubs

will not recover.

Mission statement for the season ahead: Keeps costs under control!

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Highfield

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: New Full Members €395; New 5- Day Members €295; New Flexi Members €195 (All including GUI or ILGU levies)

Entrance fee: No

Visitor green fee rates: €15 -€25

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? This year we have introduced a new 'Flexi' membership which is affordable and inclusive for only €195 to attract a casual golfer or somebody who wants to play but cannot justify an expensive alternative.

What is the greatest challenge facing golf clubs? The greatest challenge is react to the market in Ireland and compete with the oversupply of golf courses competing for society and casual business. Over the past year several profile courses have been sold by receivers or NAMA and this is good for the likes of us as these must now be run as bona fide businesses and not kept running artificially.

We are privately owned and we understand that our golfers are our customers and as Fergal Quinn says - “the customer is King!” Looking after them is crucial to the lifeblood of the business and the atmosphere at the heart of the Club. We have a vibrant Club in Highfield which is immediately apparent to new members and visitors alike. We adopt a very ‘hands on’ approach as it is our family business and we are constantly looking at ways to improve. We are flexible in the marketplace and can adjust quickly to trends which is a real plus for us.

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The K Club

Holes: 36 - Palmer and Smurfit courses

Parkland

Annual membership fee - €5,505 (plus VAT)

Membership availability: Open: As a genuine country club, members enjoy access to a wide range of first class facilities these include:

– Two Arnold Palmer designed championship golf courses

– The luxurious K Spa & K Health and Fitness Club

– River and Lake fishing on the Liffey

– Members may bring up to seven accompanied or eight unaccompanied guest per day at preferred rates

– Members qualify for special rates on hotel, meeting and conference rooms, as well as Golf Shop Product and Food and Beverage

– Special rates for family golf

Green fees - The Palmer Course from €125. Check K Club website for any special offers.

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Kilcock

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee:
Full - €799. Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Yes

Green fee rate to visitors: Monday to Friday: €24; Weekend : €30

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? Kilcock golf club is looking to help increase participation in golf by allowing suitable membership options to suit every type golfer . They recently launched a scheme to a members owned club called Flexible Membership. This new membership provides great value to anyone looking to join and provides for every budget. To cater for golf membership to suit all types of golfer Kilcock's Flexible Membership is an innovative form of membership. It reflects the modern way of life where pressures from work, or a limited budget results in golf membership going off the radar. This new type of membership addresses these pressures.

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Killeen

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual Membership Fee: Full Membership is €899 plus €100 Bar/Restaurant Levy. Junior Fees from €50.
Entrance Fee: No

Membership Availability: Yes

Visitor Green Fees Rate: From €20

Any deals on membership for 2014? Membership Fees reduced by €160 this year. Greater reductions for groups joining with minimum 5 golfers. Free playing rights at our reciprocal clubs of Rathsallagh &Dundrum. Free Junior Member (under 15) with new member joining. Call Proshop at 045 866 003 (Ext. 1)

Any deals on visiting green fees for 2014? Reductions Off-Peak tee-times. Discounts for larger groups. Catering deals on larger groups. Online promotions. Call Proshop at 045 866 003 (Ext. 1)

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Economic climate and low-cost distance membership at particular clubs.

Mission statement for the season ahead: Killeen proudly welcomes all golfers to share the beauty and challenge of our championship golf course, with its variety of features including lakes, trees and wildlife. We pride ourselves on a friendly service and hospitality at all times, as we strive to consolidate our position as a leading club in the region.

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The Hibernian

Holes: 18 (based at The Smurfit Course, The K Club)

Annual membership fee: Full Pay as you Play €195-00

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability : Yes

Any deals on membership/

visiting green fees for 2014? Rate brought down to a very competitive €195

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Bringing Members back to golf clubs

Mission statement for the season ahead: To make golfers aware that they can control the annual cost of their golf by becoming a member of the Hibernian golf club, they have a championship course as their Home course, have an official GUI handicap and the availability of weekly competitions. To make golfers aware that the Hibernian club is the perfect club for players to join to retain their handicap while taking leave of absence from their home club and save money.

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Knockanally

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee:

€750 (full)

Membership availability: Yes

Green fee rate for visitors: €15 weekdays/€20 weekends and bank holidays. Golf and dinner packages start from just €25, with various other offers including freshly baked scones, hearty breakfast baps, the full 3 course dining experience or stay & play packages.

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Millicent

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - €850;5-Day - €600

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Limited (almost at capacity)

Visitor Green fees rate : Mon- Fri €20, Sat €30, Sun €25, Seniors Tues €15, Open Thurs €15

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014 ? Dependent on numbers.

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? at time of writing the weather

Mission statement for the season ahead: Endeavouring to ensure retention of members
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Naas

Annual membership fee: €931

Entrance fee: An additional €100 or €200 per year on membership fee for a limit time. (€100 if having an existing family member)

Membership availability: Limited availability only

Visitor green fee : High Season & Weekends €35 / Midweek €30 / Open Competitions €20

Deals on membership / visiting green fees: Contact Club Manager at 045 874 644

Greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014 : keeping costs in line with budget. Maintaining optimum membership numbers.Funding course improvements

Mission statement for the season ahead : To maintain the high standards of our golf course, bar, restaurant and pro shop for the enjoyment of our members and visitors. To continue investing in our youth, golf course 5 year plan, facilities and teams. To continue to generate an atmosphere of belonging and collegiality amongst our members and to hopefully bring home an all Ireland green pennant in 2014

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Royal Curragh

Holes: 18

Heathland

Annual membership fee:

Full €850

Entrance fee: Yes

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Green fees rate: Midweek €30 (€17 with member); Weekends €35 (€25 with member).

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The Smurfit

(At The K Club)

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: €1,500. Entrance fee: No

Membership availability : yes

Membership information: costs €1,500 per year with no joining fee. The membership fee allows players to enjoy golf on The Smurfit Course, access to the Member’s Locker Room, complete with private sauna and steam rooms while the first 100 members will also be allocated their own locker. All memberships will include full GUI affiliation and members can enjoy full use of the extensive practice facility including a chipping and putting green and a driving range.

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Philip Reid

Philip Reid

Philip Reid is Golf Correspondent of The Irish Times