Co Clare

Club-by-club survey of golf in Ireland

Dromoland Castle

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - €1,275

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Entrance fee: €5,000 (includes first year subscription)

Membership availability: Open

Visitor Green fees rate : €77 (twilight €63)

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? Members get preferred rates in the leisure and health club as well as three complimentary guest passes for golf, six concession passes, a members' diary and annual bag tag.

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East Clare

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership fee: Full - €650 (+ GUI / ILGU levies); 5 Day - €500; Associate Membership - €300

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open

Visitor Green fees rate: Contact the club on 061-921322.

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? The club has introduced a number of new categories to encourage new membership, one of which is a Pay-and-Play membership for €300. The championship coursewas opened in 1997 and is located five minutes from beautiful Lough Derg and about 35 minutes from Shannon Airport.

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Kilkee

Holes: 18

Links

Annual membership fee:

Full - €400 Country/

Associate - €350

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor Green fees rate : €25

Any deals on membership: New members can avail of our one year trial rate of €169 Visiting green fees for 2014: Midweek deal €20

What is the greatest challenge facing clubs in 2014? Retaining membership levels and accommodating the lost generation (ages 20 to 35)

Mission statement for the season ahead: Maintain our standards.

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Kilrush

Holes: 18

Parkland

Annual membership - Full: €500. Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Open

Green fees: €20

Any deals on membership for 2014? The club has introduced a beginner's category, €200 for year one (plus GUI/ILGU levies) and €350 for year two (plus levies). Distance membership (over 60km) is also available at €150.

What are the challenges for 2014? The course was hit by the winter storms and lost over 120 trees. We have also shed staff and now rely on some voluntary work from our members but the course is in good shape and an upturn in the weather and the economy should help.

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Lahinch

Holes: 36

Links

Membership availability: Overseas Life Membership is currently available to persons who permanently reside in North America, South America or Australasia. This involves a one time only 'lifetime' payment whilst you are living outside Ireland.

Visitor green fees: Monday-Friday: Old €130 Castle €30; weekend/bank holidays Old €150 Castle €30. The club hosts open competitions every Thursday April to October on the Old Course and every Wednesday April to October on the Castle links. It was voted Links course of the year for 2013 in the IGTOA awards.

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Shannon

Holes 18

Parkland

Annual membership - Full €820 (plus levy of €100 and GUI/ILGU fees of €19 and €28 respectively); 5-day €500 (plus levies)

Entrance fee: Yes - €2,000 for full members, €1,300 for 5-day.

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor green fee rates: €40 Monday to Friday; €50 weekends and bank holidays.

Any deals on membership/visiting green fees for 2014? The club reduced the entrance fee from €4,000 to €2,000 a number of years ago and has maintained that reduction. New members are allowed spread the cost of the entrance fee over a period of 10 years.

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Spanish Point

Holes: 9

Links

Annual membership - Full €370 (excluding GUI/ILGU levies); Seniors €185; Juniors (14-18) €75 plus €5; Juveniles (under 14) €40

Entrance fee: No

Membership availability: Yes

Visitor green fee rate: Weekdays €20, weekends €25. Rates for societies depend on size of group.

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Trump International Hotel and Golf links, Doonbeg

Holes: 18

Links

Membership - Recently acquired by Donald Trump and now part of his international portfolio of courses, a number of new membership options are being devised. The links opened for play in 2006 and the new owners are expected to further enhance this luxury resort.

Green fees - the course is open for play Monday to Friday with a standard rate of €175 and a twilight rate of €90. These rates are currently under review. Hotel residents will also be offered preferential rates.

Philip Reid

Philip Reid

Philip Reid is Golf Correspondent of The Irish Times