Paul Gallagher finds that public courses provide an invaluable service to all golfers, particularly in Dublin.

Ireland has long been regarded as one the world's premier destinations for overseas golfers to visit and experience the wealth of world-class courses on offer. But with heightened demand in the domestic market, especially in the Dublin area, the need for easy access and affordable "pay-and-play" municipal courses has never been greater as more people take to the fairways.

Public courses provide a service for golfers of all standards without having the financial constraints of paying hefty fees to become a member of a private club. At the same time, pay-and-play golf becomes an outlet for those who are unable to join a club because memberships to private courses are full or those casual golfers who cannot justify the joining fee, which can often run into thousands of euro.

Gerry Carr, director of Euro Golf Services and director of golf at Elm Green, runs all commercial aspects of five public facilities for the Fingal, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin county councils. He believes these facilities are essential if the Dublin area is to meet the new wave of demand to play golf.

"We look after the day-to-day running and all commercial aspects at Elm Green, Grange Castle, Stepaside, Marley Park and Corballis. Last year Elm Green had over 40,000 rounds played on it, and in that time we catered for 560 societies, usually because they found it difficult to get onto a private course, particularly at the weekends."

Grange Castle, just off the Naas dual carriageway, was affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland in 2001. The Patrick Merrigan-designed course shows the high standard visitors can expect when they choose to play a municipal course. The 6,000-metre layout is set to USGA standards and costs less than €30 - even at the weekends.

"These type of facilities are hugely important to non-member golfers who need to find somewhere to play that's not going to cost them €100 for a green fee each time," said Carr, who suggested golfers have also come to expect a certain standard on whatever course they choose these days.

For €16 during the week and €20 at weekends, Corballis in Donabate offers a good test of links golf on greens that maintain a good surface all year.

It's not a long course, as the emphasis is more on accuracy. Aside from three bland, out-of-character holes on the back nine from the 13th, Corballis is an enjoyable experience where many societies tend to take advantage of the course.

Alternatively, if looking for variety by way of an 18-hole course, two nine-hole loops, pitch and putt, or the par-three course, the Deer Park complex in Howth offers it all. Each course is individually priced and rates are favourable, whatever challenge is undertaken.

In Celbridge, Elm Hall provides visitors with a well-maintained nine-hole course with water hazards featuring prominently on four holes. This parkland course boasts greens that are championship standard, making the experience all the more enjoyable. Alternatively, the pay-and-play facility also offers two pitch-and-putt courses should the short game require some attention.

The need for so many pay-and-play courses to meet demand around Dublin is a stark contrast to the situation in parts of the less-populated west of Ireland. Dave Kearney, proprietor of the Galway Driving Range and national coach to the Irish Ladies Golf Union, says many private clubs there have reinvented themselves to attract more visitors.

"There are no public courses as such; instead there are many new and existing golf clubs who have put in a lot of effort into providing better facilities to attract visitors to come and play," explained Kearney. He highlighted Claremorris and Ballinrobe in Mayo as examples of clubs who underwent change.

Claremorris brought in course designer Tom Craddock, famed for his work at Druids Glen, when they extended their original nine holes into an impressive 18-hole, par-73 parkland in recent years. Ballinrobe is another scenic parkland that saw course changes in the early 1990s and now has the ability to challenge golfers of all standards.

Although these are private courses, the same pay-and-play principle applies as it does for the municipal courses around Dublin.

"As opposed to Dublin, clubs like Claremorris or Ballinrobe are actively looking for green fees, fees that are not too expensive because the clubs have to remain competitive," notes Kearney.

Damian Ryan, director of golf at Bord Fáilte, recognises the need to provide for the domestic market no matter what part of the country golf is being played. This philosophy comes despite his role, which focuses largely on bringing overseas visitors to these shores to play the gems, which have made Ireland a top golf destination.

"Part of the role I play is to bring people into Ireland and expose them to the many great links and parkland courses that we have. At the same time, the home market is extremely important and pay-and-play courses are an excellent way for golfers to play good courses and get real value for money," he said.

While Ryan attempts to increase the number of overseas golfers visiting Ireland from 250,000 last year to 400,000 by the time the Ryder Cup rolls into the K Club in 2006, there is also a buoyant home market needing constant attention as the popularity of golf continues to thrive.

The role of pay-and-play courses has proved invaluable around Dublin, not only for newcomers to the game but existing golfers who don't necessarily have access to a private club. The "no strings attached" method of playing golf therefore remains as popular as ever.