Feature Affordable golf :  Philip Reid on the clubs that provide an inexpensive way for golfers to step up from society or social play to GUI or ILGU card-holding status

The golf boom of the past decade and a half has resulted in a phenomenal growth in the numbers playing the sport and, it must be said, some head-scratching as to how the cubs of the Celtic Tiger are able - and more than willing - to fork out massive membership fees to join some of the so-called "blue chip" clubs. In such cases, members can expect to part with fees of up to €75,000, the cost of joining The K Club (at the highest end of the market) for example; and that's assuming you pass the membership entry criteria.

But there is also another more affordable rung on the golf membership ladder for those seeking to take the step up from society or social play to GUI or ILGU card-holding status.

One is to take up what is known as "country membership" - although the recent case of Boyle Golf Club, who fell foul of the GUI for failing to use correct procedures in accepting new members - means clubs will have to be more vigilant in doling out these "distant memberships" and also how they patrol them.

There are alternatives to the traditional clubs, however, and they don't cost an arm and a leg, or a huge bank loan. Neither do they come with the angst of having to wait a lifetime on a waiting list of potential members.

For instance, The Hibernian Golf Club, based at CityWest, pioneered affordable golf in the mid-1990s by offering all the perks of club membership with discounted green fees on a championship course and this has led to similar ventures being taken up on municipal courses in the main metropolitan regions of Dublin, Limerick and Waterford, where thousands of golfers who may not have been able to afford to become members of golf clubs have benefited.

Now we have the likes of Elmgreen, Corballis and Grange Castle in Clondalkin operating out of public courses in Dublin, Rathbane in Limerick and Williamstown in Waterford.

"It's a concept that has definitely worked," insisted Gerry Carr of Carr Golf, who run the municipal courses at Elmgreen in Castleknock and Corballis in Donabate for Fingal County Council.

"The vast majority of players who have joined the affiliated club at Elmgreen are new to club golf . . . and the bottom line is that they didn't have to sign a cheque for 10 grand or whatever to find out if they wanted to play golf."

Generally, the move to open up affiliated clubs attached to municipal courses - where club members pay reduced green fees and have their own competitions - has proved a successful initiative.

As Peter O'Connor of the Christy O'Connor Club, based at the Dublin City Council-owned Sillogue public course in Ballymun, admitted: "the game of golf is booming, and this has made it more accessible for everybody."

So, who's attracted to joining a club such as the Christy O'Connor?

"Well, we've discovered that many come from a society background, or there are those who have finished playing football or hurling and who have turned to golf. Once they join, we'll sit them down and explain the rules of golf and ensure they confirm to the etiquette on the course," explained O'Connor.

He added: "There's also a section who played golf as juniors, let their membership lapse and then found that it was too expensive to rejoin their old clubs . . . but the important thing is that we can offer value for money as well as encouraging them to play competitions and even participate in inter-club competitions."

Indeed, this value for money concept is central to the whole appeal of these clubs and, interestingly, some well-heeled golfers have been attracted.

"We've people from the broad spectrum of society," remarked Brendan Cooling of The Hibernian Club, "from carpenters to milkmen to chief executives of big companies."

As if to prove his point, among the members of the club are Michael Ioakimdes, the managing director of Diageo Ireland, and his wife Jane; John O'Reilly, the CEO of Paddy Power, and Richard Hetherington, the CEO of TV3, and his wife June.

"One of the important things we achieved was to create a real club atmosphere for all the members," said Cooling. This was achieved by holding regular club competitions - midweek and at weekends - where club members pay discounted green fees (the first year entrance fee of €712 includes 130 worth of discount vouchers) while all members receive a weekly email detailing results and upcoming competitions.

Cooling added: "There's still a big market out there of people who want to join a golf club . . . and many don't realise that clubs like The Hibernian that, really, have everything that a traditional club has . . . we play in the inter-club competitions, have a good club atmosphere with access to the facilities at CityWest and we provide an avenue for people to come into golf."

Although it is difficult get into one of the traditional clubs, especially in the Dublin metropolitan area, there are other alternatives available that won't break the bank.

And, if you look, it is possible to find value for money not too far out of Dublin. Nowhere perhaps is this more true than in the case of Highfield Golf Club in Carbury, Co Kildare. Just over half an hour's drive (mostly on motorway) from the M50 junction at Liffey Valley, the family-run Highfield club offers full seven-day membership, which is available at an entrance fee of 2,000 and an annual fee of 680. Five-day membership costs €600.

Alan Duggan, the owner of Highfield, and the designer of the course, explained that his philosophy is "to make the golfing experience as pleasant as we can . . . a lot of people, many playing society golf, can't afford to get into bigger clubs. What we've attempted to do is to take the elitist side out of golf, to make it as family orientated as we can."

To that end, a brand new Canadian cedar wood clubhouse has been constructed at Highfield with the design also including a barbecue area - fittingly called the Lumberjack Steakhouse - so that members are encouraged to bring their families to make the golfing experience a true day out. The clubhouse is beautifully crafted and required some 900 trees in its construction.

"We believe we've a good package to offer. Although we've plenty of mature trees on the course, it is short enough, not too hilly and designed so that most people will enjoy playing it. We've a healthy club environment and, basically, offer a good package at an affordable price and that is the way we intend to keep it," added Duggan.

So, the bottom line is that affordable golf is still available for those who want to play the game without having to break the bank to do so.

THE HIBERNIAN

Where: City West, Co Dublin

Cost: 712 (for first year; 394 annually in subsequent years)

Membership: Currently available

THE CHRISTY O'CONNOR CLUB

Where: Ballymun, Co Dublin

Cost: 370 annual fee

Membership: Currently available

WILLIAMSTOWN

Where: Waterford City

Cost: 480 (plus €130)

Membership: Currently available

RATHBANE

Where: Limerick City

Cost: €450

Membership: Currently available (limited)

ELMGREEN

Where: Castleknock, Co Dublin

Cost: 380

Membership: Closed (waiting list reopens in November)

CORBALLIS

Where: Donabate, Co Dublin

Cost: 325

Membership: Closed (waiting list reopens in November).

HIGHFIELD

Location: Carbury, Co Kildare

Cost: 2,000 plus an annual fee of €680. Five-day membership is available for €600.

Membership: Currently available.