What DON'T you like about your own course and how do you rate it?

[Phil2511]

Even our Club Secretary's (who is also a Past Captain) son is a junior at Bangor and his brother in law is starting there in January. So that in itself says plenty. Another 16 year old was saying he is also leaving because it was £100 per year, but now he is 16 it goes up to £362.50.

 

[Chris1980]

Gave mine an 8. Greens always in superb nick all year round. Only gripe is a few holes become far too soggy in the winter on their fairways but to be expected in northern ireland! Plenty of mature trees everywhere and tough course. Not the best in belfast but close!

 

[Chris1980]

Have played blackwood several times and felt it just lacked that little something but thought it was still decent. I bring my wee fella to the range there all the time with the small putting green and he loves it but the place lacks a welcoming atmosphere. And as was said the lack of food/bar facilities is not great. The wee par 3 course is a good wee challenge!

 

[Phil2511]

Gave mine an 8. Greens always in superb nick all year round. Only gripe is a few holes become far too soggy in the winter on their fairways but to be expected in northern ireland! Plenty of mature trees everywhere and tough course. Not the best in belfast but close!

There was a team from our place played yours in one of the competitions. Senior cup possibly and said the greens were superb and lightning fast.

 

[Chris1980]

There was a team from our place played yours in one of the competitions. Senior cup possibly and said the greens were superb and lightning fast.

Yeah during the summer they were lightning and a joy! Clubs always been known for the greens but due to financial problems parts of drainage etc need updating but got a good lot of new members this year so more money now tto do it apparantly. Greens Bit longer at mo due to winter but running true. Had the misfortune of playing castlereagh hills last month as a favour for a mate! Now that is a shambles of a course!

 

[Phil2511]

Have played blackwood several times and felt it just lacked that little something but thought it was still decent. I bring my wee fella to the range there all the time with the small putting green and he loves it but the place lacks a welcoming atmosphere. And as was said the lack of food/bar facilities is not great. The wee par 3 course is a good wee challenge!

The same people that do the catering at Carnalea are taking over and opening on Monday. Hopefully they will stay being the 3rd caterer in 14 months and the place being empty twice for a total of 7 months in that time.
The par 3 course is a nice challenge and some of us have a great time playing superskins on it. Or par 2 feed the bag over 18 on the putting green.
1-9 then to 2-4-6-8-1-3-5-7-9 so you have 18 different putts at £1 entry then £1 for every putt over 2 and if someone has a 1 putt everyone else has to pay a £1
Seen the winner walk off with well over £40 on a few occasions and sometimes alot more depending how many are playing.

 

[Phil2511]

Had the misfortune of playing castlereagh hills last month as a favour for a mate! Now that is a shambles of a course!

One member who left our place went there and came back to us about 2 months ago and said it was a dreadful place. By the sounds of things not somewhere I'd be rushing to check out.

So far I've only ever played Blackwood, Carnalea, both Clandeboye courses, Scrabo, Kirkiston just last week and Ardee in ROI.
Need to venture further afield in 2012 and try out some others.

 

[brendy]

We have indeed got a fair amount of new members from Blackwood in the last three or so years. I could name a fair few too as our fourball nominated some of them as they were friends. I think the ability to play local on a decent maintained course with a structured tee booking system is a big draw.
Clandeboye keeps its two courses in very good condition throughout the year though is let down in other areas.
Carnalea has a very good front nine, hate it once you go the far side of the railway line.
Scrabo is a good course (half impossible in some places when the wind gets up) they did waste money in the new clubhouse when the old one seemed fine, all in all a good club.
Donaghadee is another of those courses you could play once and not be enticed back, some poor holes though decent grub iirc.
Castlereagh hills, royal county Gilnahirk as it used to be called ironically, used to be a tough little council course with a great little membership, a max of 60 went out on a Saturday to play. I was a member for a few years getting my handicap down before giving the game up for 6 years. In my opinion they ruined a decent 9 and replaced it with 18 bland holes.
Our place (Bangor) still isn't perfect but is heading in the right direction as we bought out own trenching equipment to look after drainage a couple of years back so we can do work as and when required without having to pull out the calculator. The green staff have cut back some trees and shaved the rough round the trees a tad so you have at least a chance of finding your ball. The course itself would benefit fron a few open trenches/burns as it would help clear any water and would enhance the look of the course. The food ain't bad and has the best proshop in co. down when it comes to expertise and helpfulness.
Kirkistown has a lovely links course which is playable practically all year round and is quite a challenge when windy.
Royal Belfast is also a decent course (couple of odd holes) though has a snobby membership consisting of judges, barristers, solicitors etc. only recently have you been allowed in without a jacket and tie. Helen's bay is a quaint little 9 holes along the lines of the front nine at Carnalea ( it's only a little further along the coast from it) also fairly locally we have Holywood, Knock and Shandon so I suppose we are well catered for with this many clubs within a ten mile radius though some clubs being more desirable than others.

 

[Phil2511]

Nice write up Brendy though I think our proshop might give you guys a run for your money these days lol.

Clandeboye puts me off with its massive joining fee that they have reduced for friends and family but still almost £900 and you won't get a fourball tee time on a Saturday.

My dad was at Carnalea for 30+ years until he passed away in 2003 but it's changed plenty since then. But still a short course though was popular for its social side which my dad ran for many years.

I like Scrabo for a change and i get on for free there but couldnt stick it permanently. The hills kill me lol

We should try and get a game sorted sometime and do a local tour lol

 

[chris661]

So far I've only ever played Blackwood, Carnalea, both Clandeboye courses, Scrabo, Kirkiston just last week and Ardee in ROI.
Need to venture further afield in 2012 and try out some others.

If you ever want to come down to my neck of the woods you are more than welcome.

 

[Phil2511]

A mate of mine is a member there too. Mike Finlay. Plays off 3. Need to boost my list of courses so may make the trip up.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I've given mine an 8 because...

The pro, Gavin, is excellent. Easily the best asset the club has.
Lovely new(ish) club house with great facilities.
The course itself is also very enjoyable to play. Maybe it isn't in great condition at this time of year, but which course is?
Friendly membership.

Where could it improve....
The bunkers could be more consistant.
The tees could be a bit more level.
There needs to be improvement in the path between holes 15 and 16 as it gets very muddy in between.
Practice facilities could be better, however, space constraints dictate this.

 

[Tommo21]

Seems to be a lot of 8's on here. Either forum members are all joining top end clubs, they are providing top notch service or they have a rather blinkered members view. Just a casual observation really. Are a lot of clubs really that good?

Is yours really that bad.....Dont know about you but I'm not rating mine in comparison to up the road at Muirfield, I'm rating mine in value for money, year round playability, good booking system, quality course, super greens, play medal tees, good pro shop, friendly bar......bla bla bla.

 

[Aztecs27]

Is yours really that bad.....Dont know about you but I'm not rating mine in comparison to up the road at Muirfield, I'm rating mine in value for money, year round playability, good booking system, quality course, super greens, play medal tees, good pro shop, friendly bar......bla bla bla.

This.

Comparing my club to the top clubs around the country is ridiculous. I pay £400 a year for my membership it would cost me not alot less to play one round on the West course at Wentworth. The greenstaff keep it in excellent nick year round (despite the fact it gets ALOT of traffic), the club house is decent and the course is enjoyable to play but just lacks the maturity of some older courses. Hence my 7.

 

[patricks148]

I gave Nairn a 9, the only fault would be the rough is full of weeds and that looks scruffy imo. in comp with RDGC not a weed to be found in said rough. if they can do it why not ours.

 

[CMAC]

I rate mine a 10

Tremendous condition-all of them-weather permitting
Stunning practice facilities open air and covered.
Stunning views
Extremely friendly
Modern relaxed atmosphere.

Downside, not cheap, but relatively speaking its the same as everyone elses probably

 

[SonicBoom]

Rate mine an 8. Both courses are excellent all year with some great holes. Downsides are that the practice facilities are spread out and not the best, at busy times you never see a marshall pushing the play along, and for some reason there isn't a pro shop. There is a Ralph Lauren shop that sells v expensive clothing, and they can manage tee and balls but they don't sell much else.
Ther showers are also almost worth the joining fee on their own!

 

[thecraw]

I may have been a tad harsh on my course as I plumped for a 6. Was going to go 7 however I was comparing it to top courses which after reading further I realised was not the case.

Old Ranfurly, its a decent track and has a fabulous run of holes from 4 - 10 which are a great mix. The greens were superb in the summer and the course drains well. Our bunkers are always well edged and consistant sand wise. Silly things like the paths are all kept well so I think I was being a tad critical with giving it a 6.

Biggest grype is that the last 3 holes are crammed in and the 17th hits over the first fairway however it is a very good hole. Anyone is welcome for a knock.

 

[bignev]

I rated mine at an 8 , The course is well maintained and in reasonable condition, my main gripe is the par 3s.
Most other clubs I go to have at least one par 3 as a signature hole, around 110 yds to 130 yds even off the whites all 4 of our par 3s off the whites are over 175 yds with the longest 202 yds . Dont get me wrong they are all good holes but it would be nice to stand on one tee thinking easy wedge possible 2.
Only other gripe is the same as other people sand in bunckers is not consistant.

 

[Chris1980]

Kirkiston is a fantastic course with one of the hardest par 4's in the country in my opinion. Helens bay is always in good nick but just shame its only nine holes as the views are amazing. Only played royal belfast once years back and too many snobs about as brendy says. Rockmount at the top of belfast is meant to be decent too phil! Only one down north down area ive not played is bangor.