[Jimmy Muratt]

Seeing the current offer by Barnbougle Dunes for the founding memberships got me wondering which courses overseas offer memberships for us here in the States.  Are any of the great courses in perhaps Ireland, Scotland, or Australia offering an overseas membership that is somewhat reasonable for the amount of time that we could actually visit?  

[ForkaB]

Depends on what you mean by "great."  If it means a "name" course, you're probably out of luck.  However, if it means a good solid course that's fun to play, there are many of them over here is Scotland where you can get membership fairly easily and cheaply.

[Michael Whitaker]

Rich - For example?

[David_Tepper]

The Golspie Golf Club offers non-resident memberships for 140 pounds a year. Golspie is the first village north of Dornoch (about 7 miles) and is a very fun course (in a beautiful spot) to play. The food in the clubhouse is pretty good too. You can play as much golf as you want with no additional green fee charges and you can bring about 10 guests a year at a very modest green fee charge (about 10-12 pounds). While the course is not in the same class as Donroch, the positives are that getting on the course is relatively easy, especially weekday mornings, and the course is well maintained. The regular green fee there is 25-30 pounds, so if you expect to play at least 5 rounds a year there, you are better off being  a non-resident member!  

[ForkaB]

I was going to mention Golspie (which is a fine track, BTW), as well as nearby Tain and Brora.  Down here in Fife you could try Burntisland, Thornton, Kircaldy, Balbirnie, etc.  I can't assure you that all of these courses are "open," but I would be surprised if more than a few of them were not.  I do know that Burnistland is becaues I just joined.  6000 yards, par 70.  Great views over the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh.  Willie Park design.  Lots of quirk.  Sporty rather than teasing.  fiarly typical of the sort of course that is "available."

Best strategy is go get over there, play around and find something you like and then just ask!

[George Pazin]

I do know that Burnistland is becaues I just joined.

I'd say you owe us a couple home course writeups.

[jack Marr]

On the recommendation of Paul P, Carne golf club is something like £2,500 to join as an overseas life member, with a $70 administration fee.

[Jimmy Muratt]

Jack,

I was actually just checking out Carne's info on their webpage and it looks like a great course for the money.  I am actually scheduled to play there this summer and looking forward to it.  

Any comments from those who have played Carne?  It really looks like a great track and one of those I'm most excited to play.  

[ForkaB]

George

As Dorothy once famously tyoped:

"There's one place like home!"

[Jeff_McDowell]

If my memory serves me (and it rarely does) I recall that Cruden Bay's non-resident annual fee was less than the green fees I paid over a three day period.

[Stan Dodd]

Jeff, Re Cruden Bay  you are correct the price is great but the waiting list is loooooong. I have already made enquiry.
Cheers
Stan

[THuckaby2]

Great minds think alike, whitey.  I too made an inquiry two years ago and I am still waiting.  At least when I inquired, the price was so low that I just wanted it so I could have a bag tag and call that my home course!

TH

[Steve Wilson]

Fortrose and Rosemarkie--on the Black Isle 15 miles north of Inverness and about forty or so from Dornoch.  440 GBP.  220 for subscription (one time pay out) and 220 each year.

It's a quirky Braid course on a peninsula and has been the subject of some discussion here.  Huckaby really likes it.

[THuckaby2]

Yes, yes I do.  Thanks for remembering, Steve.  Hmmmm... that too would be a darn good club to call home... I shall inquire most definitely.  Going to visit my home course might also be an excuse that gets past the warden.

Oh who am I kidding?  She is way too smart for that.  

TH

[Stan Dodd]

Re Golspie
When I enquired ther they had a plan that offered reciprocal rounds at other area course including Dornoch (off season).  If that is still in effect you could go for two weeks join and get your fill of a variety of courses and Golspie is very good.
TH Would love to get the ok on Cruden.  Now if I can work a deal on one of those bungalows on #1.
Cheers
Stan

[Craig James]

Does anyone know about this deal at Ballyliffin?

http://www.ballyliffingolfclub.com/overseas.htm

It's $5,000 for a lifetime membership...  

I've never played there, but the folks at Portstewart recommended it highly...  Said $5,000 for a membership there was a good deal...

By the way, Portstewart also has an attractive overseas membership and (according to my caddie there) no waiting list.  Within the next year or so they will have two full 18s there.  

And Castlerock and of course Portrush are nearby.

[Mike_Sweeney]

Jack,

I was actually just checking out Carne's info on their webpage and it looks like a great course for the money.  I am actually scheduled to play there this summer and looking forward to it.  

Any comments from those who have played Carne?  It really looks like a great track and one of those I'm most excited to play.  

I played Carne last summer and it is a great great course. One of my favorites. Greens are a little flat and not as good of shape as others, but just a great place. The back nine runs to, along and back from the Ocean, and it just does it for me. The only downside to Carne is also its attraction for me. It is very very remote, and there is no other game in town.

I am a member at Enniscrone www.enniscronegolf.com , great course, great membership, and a better location than Carne if you want to play County Sligo/Rosses Point, Donegal and a bunch of other NW courses. Every Sunday there is a Club Match in the morning, where you put in your 5 Euro the night before. Enniscrone has not been rated since the new holes came in, so my guess is it will go higher. There is also a 9 hole course for kids seniors and late night play. Similar pricing to Carne. Sligo is also a good choice, but there may be a list there and you have to have local members sponsor you. Like most things in Ireland, not a big deal, stay at an B&B or inn where the innkeeper is a member and 99% will sponsor you. Email me if you want the contact info at Enniscrone. You can also check out www.westcoastlinks.com .

[David_Tepper]

Whitey-
My understanding is the reciprocal playing privileges among the members of Golspie, Dornoch, Tain & Brora are available only to regular members, not to non-resident members.
I believe that if you are a regular member at one of these clubs, you get 3 reciprocal rounds per year at each of the other 3 clubs (9 rounds total). However, you cannot use these rounds during July and August. A great perk any way you look at it.
DT    

[Stan Dodd]

Thanks David,
I was going on information given me by the Inn Keeper at the Links Hotel in Golspie, I don't think he was too keen a golfer.
Cheers
Stan

[rpurd]

For the exclusivity, you cannot beat Mid-Ocean.........and for the price, it is a great bargain.  Of course, you need to find the sponsors to bring you before the board.

[Jerry Zgoda]

Craig -- I've seen that membership deal on the Ballyliffin web site and do not know if it's still valid, but if I were to join an Irish club for affordability, variety and the town/surroundings, Ballyliffin would be it (haven't been to Carne, though). Four of us played both courses there on a perfect May day last spring and it was probably the most enjoyable day of our 11-day trip. I know this will bring absolute shrieks of horror here on this site, but two of the fellows rated the Glashedy course as their favorite of the trip and the other guy had it in his top 3 and we played County Down, Portrush, Ballybunion Old, Lahinch, etc. (OK, so flog me now). I preferred Ballyliffin Old myself to Glashedy, but the clubhouse was great fun, the courses combined made for a day of great variety and we all loved the area. Visited Malin Head (most northern point in Ireland) at dusk, one guy hit a couple of balls for the top of a bluff a couple of hundred feet down into the ocean...just absolutely beautiful. Went to a pub one night in nearby Clonmany and after a few pints got invited to a wedding the next night. Great fun. Ballyliffin also isn't too far, as you mentioned, from Portrush, Castlerock, Portstewart or Portsalon, Rosspenna or even Donegal for that matter.

[Jack Marr]

Jimmy, as Mike said... I would not like to dwell on the bad points of Carne, but it's quite hilly. Apart from that, it's brilliant. Maybe the green complexes are mundane, but I would not even notice that. If you get a good day there, the views are amazing.

There are only two holes I'm not mad about on the course, but they are excellent driving holes - the 11th and 12th. After that, the back nine is superb. 10th, and 15 to 18 are some of the best holes in the country.

On Enniscrone - it may be my favourate layout in Ireland. It's much buisier than Carne because it's closer to everything (and because it's a great course). There are a few holes in the middle that leave the dunes that are maybe a bit average, but taht's only in comparison with the other holes. I think there's overseas membeship here too. Both courses are unmissable, in my opinion.

Jack

[ForkaB]

Jerry Z

Thanks for the memories of the pub in Clonmany. My wife and I had a memorable night there about 10 years ago.  The whole Innisowen peninsul is a very special place.

[ChipOat]

I hear Machrihanish is do-able (or it was 2 years ago).  You have to work hard to get there but the annual tariff is probably reasonable.

[John bernhardt]

It is a shame that so many course have over played their hand in this area. It is an easy way form them to make money andget a great per round price. I think to have that as an option in the summer is agreat way to live

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