Druids Glen - The 2023 Re-Opening

Kevinmarkham · 21-04-2023 11:47am #1

The course re-opens on May 1st for Members, and June 1st for Visitors

I was there yesterday taking some photographs.

(I don't know anything about green fee rates at this stage)

Druids Glen 2023 April 12 lhs over bridge 1934.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 3 approach RHS 1898.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 4 approach crest 2 1070.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 4 green to fairway GK 1896.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 5 approach 1075.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 10 approach 1854.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 12 tee 1 1924.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 14 approach 1950.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 15 bridge over 16 tee 1863.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 16 tee 1876.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 17 waterfall bridges 1847.jpg

Druids Glen 2023 April20 18 tee 1883.jpg

spacecoyote · 21-04-2023 1:19pm

Looks fantastic, great photos Kevin.

Are the layout changes really significant?

Any high or low points from your perspective?

Frisbee · 21-04-2023 3:00pm

Green Fees look fairly extortionate. €190 for a visitor rate. Now whenever they start running Opens again you'd imagine that price will be significantly lower. But I played an Open there the summer before it closed for €50, can imagine there being much change left out of 100 now.

FixdePitchmark · 21-04-2023 5:01pm

Looks class....but far less dramatic a change than what was described...can see holes from before...

Can't see me paying 190 at any point...but of your staying in Druids Glen, you can afford...

Ivefoundgod · 21-04-2023 8:00pm

Will be very interesting to see if this new model is a success. I'd have my doubts that they'll ever be able to get many people paying €190 to play there or attract the US custom thats needed to keep that level of green fee. The obvious comparison is Mount Juliet but where that stands out is location, there isn't really any 'premier' courses nearby and Kilkenny is a popular destination. Druids Glen is essentially competing with Dublin to get customers and the east coast doesn't typically feature on US golf itineraries beyond the likes of Portmarnock.

Kevinmarkham · 21-04-2023 8:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120503789#Comment_120503789

Only one major layout change - and that's to the 4th, where the green has moved 70 yards to the right and down into the lake that was there before... but mostly out of sight. The 5th tee is now where the old 4th green was, turning the par-5 into a dogleg.

Plenty of highs and while there are no lows - IMO - the par-3 2nd is now more open than before, which disappoints me a bit.

Kevinmarkham · 21-04-2023 8:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120504193#Comment_120504193

Green fees will go up, certainly. I'll need to do some research into comparisons with K Club, Mt J, Lough Erne, Fota... but the Glen is ahead of them IMO. It's always a balancing act between quality, experience and value for money

Kevinmarkham · 21-04-2023 8:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120504623#Comment_120504623

Interesting, Fix. What changes did you read about? I was never expecting significant changes to the layout just an upgrade and 'modernisation' and a quest for additional length.

spacecoyote · 21-04-2023 10:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120505325#Comment_120505325

Taking the golf aside, have stayed with the missus in Druids, MJ, Fota and K Klub, and Druids would be comfortably bottom of the pile by a long way as a hotel destination to us

Xander10 · 21-04-2023 10:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120506200#Comment_120506200

Of them, I only stayed in Druids and found it quiet sterile and wouldn't be rushing back.

Which of the 4 would you rate highest?

FixdePitchmark · 21-04-2023 11:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120505331#Comment_120505331

A few people who were involved in the last set up - but I think it was fueled by people going - how could you change what was nearly a perfect parkland - I'm happy enough it isn't changed dramatically - the place did need an upgrade - but keep the general layout.

But again - the same with all things golf and even hotel wise - it has gone to a price that is just out of reach of most.

Besides, what was said above - I always loved the hotel there.

Seve OB · 21-04-2023 11:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120506244#Comment_120506244

Stayed in the other 3 myself. Know Druids and been in it lots, pool food etc, used to live close. I’m with Fix, I like it but can see why the guys are saying it the lowest of the 4. Was over 10 years ago now, but probably K Club felt most exclusive. Favourite is MJ and go there a lot but don’t stay in the fancy main house that often as the new hunters yard is better with the kids. Fota was just a very very nice 5 star hotel but the historic old houses of MJ and K club set them a level above for me but I’d have the other 2 level pegging and close behind

slave1 · 22-04-2023 8:03am

Like MJ I think DG is overrated, yes the conditioning is excellent but Headfort New and Slieve Russell are better golf courses and significantly better value

Kevinmarkham · 22-04-2023 10:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120506200#Comment_120506200

Mount Juliet and K Club definitely have the lead. There's a gravitas to both thanks to the buildings that form the key part of the hotel, plus the estate around them. Definitely a high-end vibe.

Druids Glen and Fota are a level down. Both purpose built so don't have the same history or ambience. I'd have Druids above Fota, though

Kevinmarkham · 22-04-2023 10:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120506677#Comment_120506677

Personally, I think DG is under-rated. It's down in the 30s in Irish Golfer's Top 100, yet I'd have it above MJ and the K Club.

Squeaksoutloud · 22-04-2023 11:26am

I'm fairness I think the room prices would reflect that hierarchy also. MJ does have the cheaper Hunters Yard alright. It's a bit like Kelly's Rosslare and Inchodoney. Even tho they are 4 star hotels they would feel a cut above some 5 stars and price would be too.

Played Druids in an Open for 65 the year before. Hope the opens can still be reasonably priced. Love the course.

Count Dracula · 22-04-2023 11:43am

Great venue and 2 great tracks. As always a great pity about the fees.

I would put the glen in my irish top ten any day, but at the prices I would rather play Killeen Castle 3 times. It makes sense.

blue note · 22-04-2023 11:55am

Is Killeen castle not €150 a round? I remember looking at it last year for a night away and thinking it was good value until I realised that was each!

Growing up I never thought about parkland vs links, but now I'm a total links snob. If I'm going to pay a premium price I'll probably only do it for a links course. I reckon it's all those top 100 lists that have done it to me. So there's not a chance I'd pay 190 for druids glen, whereas I could be convinced if I was down in Kerry to pay it for ballybunion / waterville / Tralee.

That said, the photos look spectacular. I'd love to have a crack at it.

Kiith · 22-04-2023 1:40pm

I've played Druids 3 times and loved it. Never stayed there, but its a great parklands course, with some excellent holes.

Not paying €190 for it though...i'd struggle to cough that up for the best links courses in the country.

PokeHerKing · 23-04-2023 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120507236#Comment_120507236

More than a year since Kileen was 50e a round.

They jacked their prices up spectacularly after the pandemic.

dan_ep82 · 23-04-2023 1:34pm

65 for an open now I think

spacecoyote · 23-04-2023 2:22pm

Followed up for some official ratings from the boss.

No 1 is K Klub, for quality of hotel, restaurants and service too

Would be close between MJ and Fota, MJ would be better for quality of accommodation, but Fota was superb and better than MJ for service.

Druids was worse than all 3 for accommodation and service

Count Dracula · 23-04-2023 4:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120511099#Comment_120511099

I think you get my point?

3 rounds at Headfort, Rathsallagh etc etc - 5 rounds in Portarlington?

FixdePitchmark · 23-04-2023 5:35pm

I haven't played the K club...but would put Druids Glen ahead of Mount Juliet...

I do love Mount Juliet ..but Druids has far more interesting holes and way more stunning holes...Druids has the run of holes at the turn that make some of the best holes in the country...whilst a few like that in MJ , not as many or as good...

Also feel Mt Juilet has been dumbed down a bit and set up for resort type golf.

I know we have drifted a bit talking about accommodation...but the old house in Mt Juilet is one of the best places I ever stayed ...found the hunters lodge place very average ...full of kids and too much going on.

Frisbee · 24-04-2023 10:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120511143#Comment_120511143

Where are you seeing that? Being honest was expecting Open prices to probably go up to around €80 so if it's only €65 that's good value. Will definitely play it once anyway to see the changes.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120507621#Comment_120507621

Yeah by comparison I am playing all three courses in Rosapenna for €210 in August. I get that Druids Glen are trying to put themselves into that sphere of 'Destination Golf' but they are never going to draw the same interest as any of the Major Links courses imo, there's just not enough around it.

awec · 24-04-2023 11:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120511393#Comment_120511393

Yea we've stayed in Druid's Glen twice. It's nice and all, but it's not as nice as the price tag suggests.

awec · 24-04-2023 11:27am

What's the story with membership at Druids? Are the Glen and the Heath two separate memberships? Is there a difference other than the quality of the course?

Am I right in assuming DG membership is a lot more expensive?

spacecoyote · 24-04-2023 12:20pm

My understanding is they are bringing in a significant joining fee for the Glen for the reopen.

Spoke with a couple of guys who joined it before it shut down, who were previously Heath members as they were able to get in before the joining fee was introduced

swededmonkey · 24-04-2023 4:17pm

A mate is a member in DG. For a good while before they closed, he could bring guests out for €20 once a month on a saturday morning for a team comp. That got heavily exploited on my end. I've always enjoyed it. Nice course, well maintained, good variety of holes and not excessively difficult for your average golfer