Co Cork

Bandon

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - €1,095

Entrance fee: No

Visitor green fees: €30 midweek, €35 weekends. Society rates vary from €25-€30

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? The club took the decision to do away with the entrance fee, which previously stood at €4,000 and that has made an impact in attracting new members.

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Bantry Bay

Holes: 18

Links

Annual membership fee: Full - €670; couple - €1,015; family - €1,225

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open

Visitor green fee rate: €38

Midweek (€65 for 36-holes)

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? The club has introduced a beginners category for €350. There are preferential green fee rates for societies/groups)

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Berehaven

Holes: 9

Links

Annual membership fee: Full - €320; Country - €150; Distance - €220; Junior €50; Youth - €100; 3rd Level - €150

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open

Visitor green fee rate: Contact the club

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? The club has an introductory membership offer for those new to the sport at €150.

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Cobh

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee:

Full - €790

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Green fees rate: €25 (early bird €20)

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? The club has introduced an incentive scheme to encourage new lady members. For €400, women can join - the voucher takes them up to the end of October - and avail of the club's course and practice facilities.

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Cork GC

Holes: 18

Parkland

Cork Golf Club

Annual membership fee: Full - €1440

Entrance fee : Yes/ €10,000 & €5,000.00for spouses and sons /daughters

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Green fees rate: €60 midweek /€65 weekend Groups €50 midweek /€55 weekend

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? Early Bird €48 before 10.00 am

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Retaining membership numbers.

Mission statement for the season ahead: Continue to monitor costs & grow green fee revenue.

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Doneraile

Holes: 9

Parkland

Annual membership fee: €355 Full Member €150 Student/ U25 Member €90 Juvenile Membership.

Entrance fee: We don’t have an entrance fee to join the club.

Membership availability: We are open for membership.

Visitor Green fees rate: €20 per round.

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014?

Beginner/Starter programme €300 1st year.

Reduced Green Fees available on groups of 10 or more.

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014?

Retaining existing membership rates and attracting new members to take up golf. In particular this is a problem for the ladies club and this is evidenced in the ILGU survey showing that only 5 per cent of lady membership in Ireland is under 40. Another challenge for golf clubs will be balancing the books as costs at best remain static or are increasing to be met by a decreasing income from both subscriptions and sponsorship. Clubs are under pressure not to increase subscriptions for members but then have to find savings elsewhere.

Mission statement for the season ahead:

To explore all available opportunities to attract and retain new members to the club. Golf is a great game that offers many opportunities whether it is socialising with friends, meeting new people in a community or indulging your competitive spirit. Doneraile Golf Club will endeavour to communicate this message to a non-golfing audience throughout 2014 which hopefully will have benefits in the long term for everyone. Also, to create a positive atmosphere in the club to allow members to leave the doom and gloom behind for a few hours.

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Dunmore

Holes: 9

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - €419 (men), €428 (women)

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open for all categories.

Visitor Green fees rate: €20 (18 holes), €10 (9 holes)

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? Our club, like so many other clubs, has in the last year or two felt the effects of the economic situation in the country. It is a tribute to existing membership that we have been able to continue under such trying circumstances in this difficult time. If there is a positive aspect to the current situation, it is that we are in a position to welcome new members with special introductory offers and without having to go through a waiting process. No matter what your age, or level of golfing ability, you can be assured of a warm welcome as a member of Dunmore where you can meet new people and enjoy one of the most ancient and enjoyable sports ever devised. The introductory membership is available from €250 (terms apply). For information call 023-8834644

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East Cork

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual Membership fee:

Full - €710

Entrance fee: Nil

Membership availability: Open

Green fees rate for visitors: €25 all week (€20 with a member)

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? New membership deal available, please contact the club for details.

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Weather and Nama sites

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Fota Island

Holes: 36

Parkland

Membership availability : There are a number of membership packages available: contact cobrien@fotisland.ie for membership enquiries. A limited number of individual memberships is available.

Entrance fee: Yes.

Visitor green fee rates: Deerpark (championship course) €75 Monday-Friday;€95 weekends; Belvelly & Barryscourt course €65 Monday-Friday; €85 weekends. Rates are also available for societies.

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? As host venue for the Irish Open in June, Fota Island has increased its profile and offers three championship courses - the Deerpark, Belvelly and Barryscourt - to challenge players.

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Kinsale

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - €975 (men), €984 (women)

Membership availability: Open

Visitor green fees rate: From €35 with special rates also available online

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? Kinsale - which played host to the national inter-club championships in 2012 - has earned a fine reputation for the quality of its course. This year, it has reduced its membership for first time new members to €800.

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Macroom

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full Gents €779 Ladies €788

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Yes.

Visitor Green fees rate: Weekends & Bank Holidays €25 Weekdays €20 (discounts available) Monday Madness €10

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? New Members €400 (Beginners) €550 (Previous Golf Club Member)

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Maintaining our income from members, societies and green fees.

Mission statement for the season ahead: Our aim is to provide a top quality golfing experience to our members and visitors in a friendly and welcoming club atmosphere at an affordable price. Our members and visitors must feel that the club welcomes them warmly and the golf course challenges them fairly and they look forward to repeating the experience again and again.

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Mallow

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual Membership Fee: €699.00 Full Membership & €500.00 5 Day Membership

Entrance Fee: No

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Greenfee Rate: €25.00 Midweek & €30.00 Weekend

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014: No.

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs for 2014:

Loss of membership, escalating costs, saturated market & fewer first time golfers taking up the sport, especially women

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Mitchelstown

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full year 1 €500 / Distance €295

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Green fees rate: €20/15

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014 : Yes.

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? : Membership decline.

Mission statement for the season ahead: Maintain course to high standard, grow membership base and offer value for money to all categories of membership.

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Youghal

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - €650; 5 Day - €510; Overseas - €185 (Note: GUI Poll Tax €19/ ILGU Poll Tax €28 to be added to above list of fees, plus social credit €30).

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Green fees rate: €20 Midweek / €35 Weekends / Twilight Rates & Early Birds available

Deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? There is a new introductory category: €380 plus GUI/ILGU fee. Alternatively, new members can avail of the new offer for one year or €860 plus GUI/ILGU poll tax for two years.

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Golf clubs up and down the country are coming under pressure financially. A vast majority are increasingly under pressure because of today's economic factors.

Membership Retention - The traditional business model of most golf clubs is to create a core membership who provides that club with a chunk of money each year. This is used to fund all the golf course, clubhouse upkeep and pay salaries, so it is no surprise that as the number of club members dwindles, golf clubs are faced with a huge problem.

Membership Acquisition - With the current economic climate, more and more people see Golf as an expensive past time and it’s proving increasingly harder to entice new players/ members.

Course Maintenance & Development - The costs involved in maintaining huge areas of manicured land and having up-to-date equipment will always be high, but with the severe weather that we have already experienced this year, costs are mounting and it’s going to take some clever cost management to use funds, where available, to the greatest effect for the year ahead and maintain a level of course quality that both members and guests expect.

Mission statement: To maintain our reputation as being "the friendly golf club".