Laois Today: With golf set to be the first to benefit from eased restrictions, what deals are local clubs offering?

Golf clubs around the world enjoyed a boom in activity in 2020 as it was one of the activities that experienced the least restrictions.

Though courses were closed on a number of occasions, they were opened earlier than other sports facilities and clubs duly saw a surge in memberships.

While that posed some challenges for clubs, it was a welcome reversal following years of declining membership.

Currently golf clubs are closed around the country but they are once again expected to be among the first to be allowed to re-open if the Coronavirus-related restrictions are eased next month.

And for the many people who have left the game in recent years or would like to take it up, they will no doubt be looking around to see what it will actually set them back to become a member somewhere.

With that in mind we have looked around at the various local clubs to see what they’re charging for membership and what offers they have in place.

Here we take a look at all seven Laois clubs as well as at Athy, Castlecomer and Roscrea, all of whom are within easy driving distance.

Abbeyleix

Full Membership: €599
Full Husband and Wife: €1150
Senior Over 65: €525
Senior Husband and Wife: €950
U-35: €350
Over 80: €300
Junior Membership (No GUI Card): €50
Junior Membership (With GUI Card): €75
Student Membership: €125
Distance/Country Membership: €225
Social Golf (excluding competitions ie. no competitions, no GUI card): €200
Special Offer: €400 Full Membership scheme Year 2: Recruit a new or lapsed member and both members are locked at €400 (Per person) each year for a period of two years.
Pavilion Membership: €50

Athy

New Full Members: €500 + €50 machinery levy
24 to 30 years: €360 + €50 machinery levy
31 to 49 years: €500 + €50 machinery levy
Overseas Membership: €250 + €25 machinery levy
Country membership: €300 + €50 machinery levy
Student – 18 to 23 (in full time education): €200
Student – 11 to 17: €85 or €115 when playing in competition
Cubs – 6 to 10: €30
Clubhouse Membership – €50

For enquiries re membership please contact Ned O’Donnell – ned1950@me.com

or 086 8124247

Castlecomer

Family Membership: €1,202
Male: €622
Female: €622
Male/Female U-35: €393
Male/Female 1st time deal: €400
B Membership (Over 65 with 15 years membership): €466
Existing full member with new member: €1,000
Distance Membership: €333
Country Membership: €326
5-day Member: €264
Pavilion: €25
Mature Student Over 23: €306
3rd Level Student Under 23: €109
Junior Secondary School: €75
Junior Primary School: €50
Super Senior (Over 80 with 15 years membership: €214

Additional Golf Ireland fee of €24 plus insurance of €27 must also be paid on almost all of the above membership options.

You can find out more about Castlecomer’s membership options here.

Mountrath

New Full Membership: €400
Distance Membership (Residing outside 65 km): €300 GUI/ILGU
Student Subscription: €150
Juvenile Subscription: €55
Country Membership (Must be a full member of another GUI/ILGU Affiliated Club: €200

All of the above rates include the GUI/ILGU levy.

More information including application forms available on our website.

Portarlington

Male/Female Full: €675
U-35: €415
U-29: €350
Lady Associate: €475
Student: €130
Junior: €95
Overseas: €275
Country: €300
Pavilion: €105

You can find out more about Portarlington’s membership options here.

Portlaoise

New Member: €375
Full Member: €475
Family: €900 (children under 18 years)
Student: €154
Away: €200.00
5 Day: €225.00 (T &C applies)
Juvenile: €105.00
For further information: email portlaoisegolfclub@gmail.com or telephone 0578661557

Rathdowney Golf Club

Rathdowney

Full: €550
Husband and Wife (Full Member): €1,050
Senior (Male or Female): €430 (A senior member is a member over 65 years of age with 15 years continuous membership)
Husband and Wife Senior: €800
Country Member: €300
Social: €250
Student: €125
Juvenile (U-17) with Handicap: €50
Juvenile: €25

For the duration of the COVID-19 shutdown contact Matt Doyle on 086 0537356 or Sean Bolger on 087 9356509 or Adrian Sheppard on 085 2445738 to discuss your membership options or any urgent query

Roscrea Golf Club