Co Down

Club-by-club survey of golf in Ireland

The binth  hole at Royal County Down Golf Club. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
The binth hole at Royal County Down Golf Club. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Ardglass

Holes: 18

Links

Annual membership fee: £674; External (resident outside NI) £330 men/£351 women

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Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open

Visitor green fee rate: Midweek - £49 (£20 with member). Daily rate £70. GUI/ILGU card £41. Weekends - £75 (£20 with member).

Any deals on membership/

visiting green fees for 2014? Members of Ardglass can receive a 50 per cent discount on green fee rates on the 10 other courses in the North and West Coast Links Group.

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Banbridge

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: £630

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open

Green fees rate: Midweek £18 (£14 with member)/Weekend £23 (£19 with member)

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Bangor

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full £850; 6-day £755; 5-day £640

Entrance fee: Yes (Full £425 6-day £377 5-day £320)

Membership availability: Contact the club for details

Visitor green fee rates: Weekdays £27 (£17 with member)/Weekends £35 (£22 with member)

Any deals on membership/

visiting green fees for 2014? There is a special offer to societies for a limited period: Mon - Fri £28 pp (includes one course meal);

Sunday - £35pp (includes one course mea)l.

Information: The Club prides itself on being a friendly, family orientated golf club. Many families have long associations with it and membership policy encourages this principle. Competitions are held weekly for all members and standard of golfer and there are opportunities to invite visitors. Visitors are warmly welcomed and packages are tailored to meet the needs of each individual party, large or small.

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Carnalea

Holes: 18

Parkland/Clifftop

Annual membership fee: £580

Entrance fee: Yes

Membership availability: Details from club

Visitor green fees rate: Midweek £18 (£13.50 with member)/Weekends £22.50 (£15.75 with member)

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Clandeboye

Holes: 36 - Dufferin and Ava courses

Parkland

Annual membership fee: £930

Entrance fee: Yes

Membership availability: Open

Visitor green fee rate: Midweek £40 (£17.50 with member)/Weekend £45 (£20 with member)

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Crossgar

Holes: 9

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full £335/5-day £220/Youths (18-21) £90/Junior £65

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open

Green fee rate: Midweek £12 (£10 with member)/Weekend £15 (£12 with member)

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Donaghadee

Holes: 18

Annual membership fee: £718

Entrance fee: Nil

Membership availability: Open

Visitor Green fees rate: Monday-Friday £22 (£15 with member); Weekends £26 (£15 with member)

Any deals on membership/

visiting green fees for 2014? We take great pride in providing one of the best golfing experiences in North Down, at the best possible membership rates. There are a number of membership categories designed for young players, for example: Aged 21/22 (£323) up to aged 29/30 (£675). For societies who pay for more than 16 green fees, the club will provide two complimentary two-ball vouchers.

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Helen’s Bay

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full £740

Membership availability : Open

Green fee rates: Midweek £18 (£15)/Weekend £20 (£15)

Any deals on membership/

visiting green fees for 2014? The club has a very innovative approach to attracting younger members with under 18s getting membership for £50 and 18-25 year-olds able to avail of membership for £195 (plus GUI/ILGU fees and insurance). Helen's Bay has a number of types of membership including Full, Associate and Junvenile as well as House memberships for both mens' and ladies' sections which offer access to all the restaurant, snooker, social and bar facilities.

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Holywood

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - £840; 6 Day - £640; Under 31s - From £340

Entrance fee: Yes £120

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Green fees rate:

From £15

Any deals on membership/

visiting green fees for 2014? Yes, green fees online special rates can be found at www.holywoodgolfclub.co.uk from £15. From May 2014 - Flexible membership offers to suit those that do not play enough golf to justify a full membership. Details available on enquiry: paul@holywoodgolfclub.co.uk / 02890423135

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Membership numbers falling off

Mission statement for the season ahead: Grow the game in your local community!!

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Kilkeel

Holes: 18

Annual membership fee: Full £595

Membership availability: Yes

Green fee rates: Midweek £25 (£17 with member)/Weekends £30 (£20 with member).

Any deals on membership/

visiting green fees for 2014?

The club has introduced a category for beginners - £450 in the first year and £550 in the second for men, £300 in the first year for women and £375 in the second. There is a deal for visitors on Mondays (except Bank holidays) and Wednesdays: golf with meal for £15.

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Kirkistown Castle

Holes: 18

Links

Annual membership fee:

Full £568/5-day £430.50/

Lady Associate £384

Entrance fee: £500 (can be spread over five years)

Membership availability: Open

Green fee rates: Midweek £27.50 (£15 with a member)/ Weekends £33 (£20 with a member)

Information: Kirkistown Castle - where Rory McIlroy's coach Michael Bannon grew up playing - is the most easterly golf course in Ireland.

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Knock

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full (men) £981/£790 (women)

Membership availability : Open

Green fees: Midweek £30 (£18 with member)/ £45 (£20 with member)

Any deals on membership/

visiting green fees 2014? The club has a wide array of memberships aimed at young adults, ranging from £493 annual subscriptions for men aged 23 up to £881 for me aged 27. The range for young women aged 23 is £385 up to £691 for 27 year olds.

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Mahee Island

Holes: 9

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full £450 (men) £456 (women)/6-day £330/£125 junior

Membership availability: Open

Green fees: Midweek £13 (£10 with member)/Weekends £18 (£12 with member) Information: Societies have, for many years, been experiencing the delights of golf at Mahee Island. From the warmth of the welcome you will recieve, to the beauty of the scenery through to the relaxing way in which you can unwind after an enjoyable round of golf, has led many societies to come back time after time. For further details in relation to Catering arrangements, Green fees for societies or booking availbilty, contact the club.

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Mayobridge

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full (men) £415/Full (women) £50/Junior £153.50

Membership availability: Yes

Green fee rates: Midweek £12/Weekends £16

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Rockmount

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full (men and women) £767/5-day £485/Young adult £485

Entrance fee: Yes (£600 for full membership, option to spread over three years)

Membership availability: Open

Green fee rates: Midweek £25 (£15 with member)/ Weekends £30 (£18 with member)

Information: European Ryder Cup player and 2011 British Open champion Darren Clarke performed the opening ceremony and then played in a four-ball when he partnered Robert Patterson to a 2 and 1 victory over then European Tour player Raymond Burns and sports presenter Mark Robson.

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Royal County Down

Holes: 36

Links

Membership: By invitation only

Championship Links

Green fee rates: April 2014: £100 per round. May to October: Weekdays £185 per round am / £170 per round pm. Sunday pm £185 per round. Two rounds in one day £285. Concessionary rates are available throughout the summer to golfers who are members of The GUI (Ulster Branch) and ILGU (Northern District).

Annesley Links

Green fee rates: April 2014-October 2014: £28 per round.

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Warrenpoint

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - £819.50

Membership availability: Open

Green fee rates: Available online through the club's website

Information: The club has a comprehensive range of membership options, including full, 5-day, country memberships and young adult.

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