Looking to join a club in Glasgow area

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Kev59

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Hi, this is my first post.

I moved from Ireland to Glasgow a couple of months ago and am looking to join a club in the new year. I'm living in the West End and debating whether to join somewhere in the city area , Cawder for example, or whether to make the trip down to Ayrshire for links golf, Barassie. Currently playing off 7 and enjoy my weekly competitions.

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.
 
West end. I'd look at Douglas Park, Hilton Park, Milngavie, Buchanan Castle, Cawder.

You could head to Ayrshire but it'll be an hours plus drive depending on traffic conditions. Bogside has a 5 day membership, not sure what the waiting list is like for Barassie. Good track though.
 
Thanks for the replies. I called to East Ren alright and was impressed with the place, how is it for drainage? I've played Douglas Park and wasn't gone on it. I've heard good things about Cawder but haven't played it myself, the main reason that I'm contemplating Ayrshire is that I'm not sure I want to join somewhere and then be stuck using mats for half of the year.
 
Kev59 said:
Hi, this is my first post.

I moved from Ireland to Glasgow a couple of months ago and am looking to join a club in the new year. I'm living in the West End and debating whether to join somewhere in the city area , Cawder for example, or whether to make the trip down to Ayrshire for links golf, Barassie. Currently playing off 7 and enjoy my weekly competitions.

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I used to play cawder quite frequently as I knew a member there. There's 2 courses at Cawder and the "big" course (the Cawder) will be a true test of 7 handicapper, without it being unenjoyably difficult. The other course, the "Keir" is ok for a bounce game but the issue with the club is that some (maybe too many?) medals get played on the smaller course and for the men there's no par 5s on the smaller course. Both courses really well maintained but the smaller course really struggles with wet weather drainage. Greens on both courses are very good, and it's very close to west end.

East Ren is a great course in the summer but I believe it struggles with wet weather although I also understand that there's been drainage work done in the last few years. Great course in the summer, and not too far away from west end.

Ayrshire won't be over an hour away on a Saturday, although it depends where in Ayrshire you're thinking of. I've played Irvine bog side and thought it was ok, but no more than that. Nice closing stretch of holes, but too many other quirky ones for me, although I got a great welcome and course was in good condition.

Suggest you go and speak to the courses/clubs that have been mentioned to get a feel for the places, and there's probably members on this forum who'd happily have a game with you.

Often it's not the course, but the club and its members that make the difference in terms of enjoyment for a new member.

hope this helps.
 
Kev59 said:
Thanks for the replies. I called to East Ren alright and was impressed with the place, how is it for drainage? I've played Douglas Park and wasn't gone on it. I've heard good things about Cawder but haven't played it myself, the main reason that I'm contemplating Ayrshire is that I'm not sure I want to join somewhere and then be stuck using mats for half of the year.
Click to expand...

We use mats in winter:confused:
 
The club and members definitely make the difference for me, no point in having a lovely course if there's no one to play with or somewhere nice to eat/relax afterwards. I'll be working in Irvine after Christmas so I'm used to the drive up and down, East Ren could be ideal alright though as I could pop in for a few holes on the way home when the evenings get longer.
 
Cawder is a pretty good course, Iv played there a few times, depending on your budget Haggs castle in the west end has always been a good course but Iv not played it for a few years. It's a fairly expensive place though but some very good golfers there. Around 50 CAT 1's last time I heard.
 
Kev59 said:
Thanks for the replies. I called to East Ren alright and was impressed with the place, how is it for drainage? I've played Douglas Park and wasn't gone on it. I've heard good things about Cawder but haven't played it myself, the main reason that I'm contemplating Ayrshire is that I'm not sure I want to join somewhere and then be stuck using mats for half of the year.
Click to expand...
East Ren is doing a lot of work on their drainage. They replaced the major part of the 17th fairway last year and it was so successful they have just done the same to the 18th. On the whole it stands up to winter pretty well and stays on full greens unless frosty.
This year we went on to winter protection from 16th November and come off them early spring, dependant upon course condition. Believe me it's worth it when the season starts. :)
In the winter you can either use mats off the fairway or take the ball to the rough and play it there. Standard fairway protection as you find at a lot of places and you get used to it.
Socially the members are really friendly but the course is the big bonus.
 
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My course also use mats of the fairway Nov-Mar would think all the courses around Glasgow would be the same to be honest.
 
Robster59 said:
East Ren is doing a lot of work on their drainage. They replaced the major part of the 17th fairway last year and it was so successful they have just done the same to the 18th. On the whole it stands up to winter pretty well and stays on full greens unless frosty.
This year we went on to winter protection from 16th November and come off them early spring, dependant upon course condition. Believe me it's worth it when the season starts. :)
In the winter you can either use mats off the fairway or take the ball to the rough and play it there. Standard fairway protection as you find at a lot of places and you get used to it.
Socially the members are really friendly but the course is the big bonus.
Click to expand...

I love East Ren - but admit to being biased as was a member yonks ago. Played a couple of times in last year or so - the trees have grown up (a lot) since I was a member near 40yrs ago - and IMHO not to it's benefit - but they are there and it's still an absolutely excellent track - not long but lovely holes and spectacular views over Glasgow to the Lomond, Campsies and Kirkpatrick Hills.
 
Mar Hall wouldn't be a bad shout either from the West end. Head to Anniesland Cross, left towards Dumbarton and cross the Erskine Bridge. Great course, handles water very well too being built on an old beach.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
I love East Ren - but admit to being biased as was a member yonks ago. Played a couple of times in last year or so - the trees have grown up (a lot) since I was a member near 40yrs ago - and IMHO not to it's benefit - but they are there and it's still an absolutely excellent track - not long but lovely holes and spectacular views over Glasgow to the Lomond, Campsies and Kirkpatrick Hills.
Click to expand...
We've actually taken down a lot of trees (hundreds) over the last few years and as part of the improvements to the 18th ALL of the trees down the right of the fairway and some on the left will be coming down. Wait till you see it next year! :)
 
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