Membership Cork area- 2023

Douglas GC and Cork GC are full.

Douglas taking applications until this Friday, so I presume there are vacancies

What's the financial situation there? They built a big clubhouse and almost went bust, but seem to be doing some good works there. It's a lovely course

Heard previously that Lee Valley had reintroduced entrance money but not certain if correct

The 3rd hole in Monkstown is not great. It's a blind second shot and a good second shot can often take a few mins to find if you find it at all and it's the one hole with a poor green. I've no issues with 4 and 5. The fifth is a tricky par 4 given its length and the fact it has no bunkers. The 4th is a nice little index 18 par 4. Reachable for most golfers I would think. I like that index 18 is undebatably the easiest hole on the course. Would have eagle putts there fairly regularly.

Yeah seems to be the trend based on comments, I imagine in dry weather it's impossible to hold the green

Lot of clubs took in members during Covid. I wonder will numbers start dropping back again in next couple seasons if financial pressure starts to hit people

I wonder how long until clubs feel the hit. In a strange way Covid proved a positive for some struggling clubs with increases in membership and revenue from green fees, open comps, etc.

Even equipment prices seemed to jump hugely as a result. Some second hand clubs have sold for crazy money past 2 years

Muskerry advertising their membership on social media this evening

€1,501 for next year. So up another €150 which surprised me. I don't see it as a course worth that annual fee

I thought with other costs rising so much in everybody's life that demand for golf membership wouldn't be high on list of priorities but looks like you could be correct

Is €1,500 very pricy for muskerry? Or just a sign of where things are at moment

Would you believe Blarney was €15,000 when it opened, I know 2 lads who paid it at the time. And one isn't even playing golf anymore. Absolutely a sign of the times , crazy money. At one stage they had a scheme running that if a member brought in a new member they were given a cut of the joining fee, something like €1,500. Shows the way money was being thrown around in Ireland at the time

The Muskerry €1,500 includes the GUI levy and a bar levy

Cobh are doing membership at €77 a month. I'm not mad about the course but would say it's good value for anyone living within a decent proximity to it

It's how most people do the membership there, I'll likely rejoin in a few years when the child can look after themselves. Have some new equipment so would like to get a go at the place again, definitely think can get the handicap down there, it's a tough spot

Lee Valley put in an artificial chipping green, maybe in the last 18 months or so. It is beyond awful.

I would personally rate Muskerry as good as Lee Valley (probably slightly prefer it to be honest). It has a couple of biggish climbs which I know some people moan about, but the greens are always great, it has excellent par 3s, and the finishing 2 holes are excellent.

As previous guy said, they're both easy to get on so you can make your own mind up.

An artificial green only sounds like something that would work for putting

To be fair I've never seen the greens poor in muskerry, always top quality over the years.

Monkstown have membership available

€5,000 entrance fee (can be split into two payments of €2,500 per year in years 1&2)

Annual sub- €1,467 (this can be paid via direct debit)

Obviously the entrance fees are off putting, especially if you're not staying in Cork long term.

Monkstown have opened a new academy as far as I know.

Fota has great practice facilities but you'll pay a lot there

Not sure regards muskerrys practice facilities, didn't play there in few years.

Cobh and Blarney ok value money wise, but muskerry or Lee Valley might be worth the extra cost

Which part of city is probably important, makes travel quicker to certain courses