News / Club Info

Updates 6th September 2010:

For Important member notices re club finances and men's shower room / toilets project, please go to members section (FOR USER NAME & PASSWORD, see earlier emails or ask any committee member).

For Fingal Independent article on charity fundraiser for Crumlin Children's Hospital, please click here.

For info on Work Placement Sales & Marketing Vacancy, please click on Job Vacancies Section above.

For photos from Fingal Seniors Final on 23/08/2010 - winners Hollywood Lakes - please click here & scroll to end.

For photos from Winner Presentations & Mixed Golf / Country & Western Night on 21/08/2010, please click here & scroll to end.

Updates 25/08/2010:

For urgent message to all members, please see members section and emails.
For details of latest Golf Greenfee Package deal, please click here.
For details of Membership Rates September - December 2010, please go to membership section.
For latest members bulletin, see Members Section & email.

Updates 19/08/2010:

New Green Fee Rates from Sunday, 22nd August - for details go to News / Club Info & Green Fees 2010/11.

For new Beginners Section, please click here.

For Balcarrick hole by hole description, please go to course and scroll down to just below first photo.

Note - Change to Online availability of teetimes for opens (17/08/2010):

Online Booking System - 13 days before competition day.
From clubhouse - two weeks before competition day.
For more info on opens, please click here.

Power Outage in Donabate area affecting Balcarrick (17/08/2010):

The club had a power outage from 10am this morning, Tuesday, 17th August, until 4pm this afternoon (owing to routine maintenance by the ESB) - this affected all our electrical systems including the telephone system plus bar and catering facilities.

Apologies to members and visitors for any inconvenience caused.

Note for your diary & member news (updated 15/08/2010):

For updates to course section & new pics., please click here.

For pics. of Captain's Prize for Juniors, 15/08/10, please click here.

Next big event - Saturday 21/08/2010:

Semi Open Mixed 9 Hole Fun "Golfer / Non-golfer" Competition - Non-golfer does putting only.

May be booked online.

Price incl. meal, live music & dance, "COUNTRY & WESTERN NIGHT" - €25 (€10 for golf only, €15 for social only).

Bring your friends / family for a great social occasion.

Golf starts at 4.20pm, meal served at 8.45pm.

Presentation night for 2010 Medals from March through to July, Peter Dunne Trophy Prize & Hole in One.

Guinness Mid Strength Promotion - Free pints of Guinness Mid Strength from 8pm (for as long as they last).

For more info., please contact Philip or Rosaleen Reid.

Balcarrick is on facebook:
Sign up - become a "fan" & tell your friends about our special offers and opens by clicking here.
Latest member bulletin (covering Finances, Shower Room Upgrade, Changes to competition bookings & formats) has been emailed to all members, whose email addresses are set up on the Online (BRS) Timesheet System.

Details are available in Members section - Your Userid & Password are different from online booking system - see emails / texts.

Why join Balcarrick? - to find out about Great Golf & Great Value plus comments by Roger Jones, Golf Course architect, please click here.

Balcarrick GC Fundraiser - 4 Person Team Scramble 30th July 2010:

27 teams played, which was a brilliant turnout for the peak holiday season. A great time was had by all and, although we had a few showers, it was a good day for golf with lots of prizes. Many thanks to our prize sponsors, organisers Ray Crilly & Paul Burke, volunteers Joan Stone & Joe English and all the other Lady and Men volunteers (5 day & 7 day) for all their hard work. Congratulations to Philip Higgins, Rory Murphy, Tony Sheridan & guest for a great winning score. For photos, please click here.

Updates 29/07/2010 (6.20pm):

Member Survey Results: Majority support Committee - for summary of results, go to Members Section. Requires separate Userid & Password to those used to make online bookings - see recent emails & texts for details or contact any committee member.

Unbelievable Reduced Membership Rates from August - December 2010 - Limited availability - when they are gone ..... they are gone! For more details go to News / Club Info & Membership 2010. For rates please click here.

Book online for Friday 30/07/2010 Open Classic Team Event (incl. meal) - for info, please click here.

Inter-club: Commiserations to Balcarrick Uden Cup team, who were beaten by the narrowest of margins (4 to 3) against Howth on Tuesday, 27th July 2010. We won 2 at home (1 home team beaten on 17th by a Howth team who played magnificent golf). We won 1 away match, 2 went to the 18th and the last match went to the 20th hole. A great team performance by Balcarrick & team managers, Phil Reid & Mike Tunstead - you did us proud, lads. Congratulations to Howth and best wishes in the final against Hollywood Lakes. For photos, please click here.

Balcarrick has a Litter Prevention Policy - for details click "Course" on sidebar - to go directly to policy, please click here.

For report on Captain's Day, please go to members section.

There was great craic at Mixed Golf & Irish Night, Friday 23/07/10, for photos please click here.

Availability of Buggies:

8 members are now signed up for the Buggy Club, paying an agreed monthly amount to the club, whether they use the buggies or not:
- Buggy Club members have priority use of these buggies as they are bearing a high proportion of the fixed cost thereof.
- For Buggy Club Terms & Conditions, Finances and draft roster, please go to members section. Note - userid & password are different from those used for online bookings - please see emails or contact any committee member for details.
- If interested in joining, please contact captain, Dave, or Phil Reid.
- From Tuesday, 27th July, 2010, we have 4 buggies available for hire at the following tariff rates:
  - Balcarrick Golf Club members at €20
  - Visitors at €25.

Now booking online or ring Pro Shop (01 8436957):

Friday 23/07/2010 Semi Open Mixed 9 Hole Competition (incl. meal, live music & dance, "IRISH THEME NIGHT") - €22 (€15 social only excluding golf).

Friday 30/07/2010 Open Classic Team Event (incl. meal) - for info, please click here.

Captain's Day, 17th July 2010, was an outstanding success:

Congratulations to Peter Quinn, who won Captain's Prize, the "Claret Jug". Results now available in members section.

For raffle results, more info. & to read Captain's speech, “making playing golf more accessible to all”, click on Members Section (for Userid & Password, please see emails or ask any committee member).

For photos, please click here.

News Updates 16/07/2010 (10.00pm):

Captain's Day, 17th July 2010 - If unable to attend, please contact captain:

We've had a few last minute cancellations - if interested in playing, please contact Captain.
Note change in cut for men who played in Saturday qualifier - cancellations re-assigned to next below cut.
Details of Qualifiers & Timesheet are available on members section and on notice boards in clubhouse. Cut for men = 26 pts (Sat) and 18 pts (Sun), for Ladies = 22 pts (both days), all scores subject to count back on back 9.

Click on members button on sidebar and it will ask you for userid & password (see below). Then look for "Private" on top bar. Click on Private and then General Section.

If you have forgotten website members section userid & password see emails or ask any committee member.

As previously announced, our next 4 ball fund raiser team event @ €100 per team will be held on Friday, 30th July - timesheet is now open on our online booking system.

Please go to members section for latest on Inter-club (Balcarrick in semi final of Uden Cup) / how to complete Member Survey.

Captain's Prize 2010 - Qualifiers, 3rd & 4th July:

- Timesheet / qualifying scores are being worked on and will be made available asap - see Member's Section of the website and Notice Boards in the clubhouse for more info. Scores for Main Capt Prizes will be based on combined score for qualifier plus Capt Day - all other prizes will be based on score for Capt Day.

- If you are in a position to sponsor a prize of any description, please contact Capt., Dave.

- Congratulations to leading qualifier for Sat, 3rd July, Peter Quinn, with magnificent score of 43 points and to Ciaran Murphy runner up, with score of 42 points.

- Congratulations to leading qualifier for Sun, 4th July, Patrick Donegan with a score of 38 points and to Alan Walsh, runner up, with 36 points - both brilliant scores in very windy conditions.

- Thanks to all who supported fun putting competition on Captain's Prize Qualifier Days (being run by Junior Section on behalf of the club). Best score was 9 putts for 6 holes on both days. Will have another putting comp. on Capt. Day, 17th July (when prizes will be awarded).

Updates 03/07/10:

Congrats to Christy Anderson (H'cap10), who won Intermediate Scratch Cup in Greenore recently.
See Members Section for info on computer outages last weekend till now - issues now resolved.

Breaking News - Unbelievable New Membership offers from July - December 2010 (updated 26/06/2010):

In response to customer demand, we have reduced our membership rates for the remainder of 2010. We have also introduced new Beginner Membership rates (in support of our Beginners Programme). For details please click here.

Crumlin Children's Hospital Charity Day 25/06/2010:

This was a most enjoyable and successful occasion, with +€5,000 raised, thanks to all the participating teams, sponsors and organisers Phil & Rosaleen Reid, Mick Tunstead and others. Click here for photos and see article in Fingal Independent.

Member Updates 24/06/2010:

For latest info. on Finances, Captain's Day / Qualifiers, Lady Captain's Day, 5 Day Captains Prizes for Ladies & Men, Buggy Club, Showers, Website Stats, etc., please go to Members Section (see emails for User ID & Password or ask any committee member).

Great Inter-club win for Balcarrick, 22/06/2010, Handicaps 12 - 15:

Congratulations to Uden Cup Team, Manager Phil Reid / Mick Tunstead, on today's win against our neighbouring club, the Island. Commiserations to the Island - match went down to last putt by John O'Connor on the 18th. We are now through to the semi finals.

For photos, see Gallery / Inter-club 2010 (2). For full info. on Men's inter-club, see Member's / Men's Club Section (userid & password required).

Next match will be against winners of Donabate V Howth - details TBA.

Member Updates 17/06/2010:

Note changes to Restaurant Section and new Golf Tutorials Section under News / Club Info.

For latest info. on Finances, Pro Shop, Buggy Club, Showers and Restaurant, please go to Members Section (see emails for User ID & Password or ask any committee member).

Next Inter-club matches:

- Uden Cup - Manager Phil Reid / Mick Tunstead - Tuesday, 22nd June V The Island, 3.30pm - 7 x 4-ball betterball matches (H'cap 12 - 15)

- Barton Shield (Sponsored by Bulmers) - Manager, Gerry Mulholland - Saturday, 26th June in St. Anne’s Golf Club – 1st match 9.45am. H’cap: Lowest possible - 2 x Foursomes Matches, off scratch (Aggregate Scores)

For details of both competitions see Member's Section / Men's Club.

Restaurant Special - Recession Buster for Father's Day:

Fathers Day Lunch, Sunday 20th June from 1pm.

Bring that special father in your life and treat him to a 4 Course Lunch - Adults €22, Kids €11.

Reminder to all high handicapper members (14/06/10): Bunnies (players with a H/C 19+) section meet on Tuesdays from 4pm onwards - for more info. see members section (for userid & password see emails or ask any committee member) or speak to Joe Bishop.

Note 14/06/2010: Email messages from our timesheet system to Microsoft accounts (e.g. hotmail.com, live.com etc.) have been "bouncing" undelivered since Saturday. Our Timesheet Service Provider, BRS, is investigating with Microsoft.

Inter-club News (updated 13/06/2010):
Commiserations to Balcarrick Team in Jimmy Bruen Shield (Sponsored by Bulmers) - finished outside top 2 qualifiers on Sunday, 13th June in Clontarf Golf Club. Well done to manager, Paul Redmond, and the team for all your hard work and better luck next year.

For photos, see Gallery / Inter-club 2010 (2).

President' Day 12/06/2010 - for photos see Gallery, President's Day 2009/10.

For President's Day results, please click here.

Latest reports on impacts of economic downturn on golf business now available (10/06/2010):

For KPMG report on "Golf and the Economic Downturn" and related articles, go to Members Section. For userid & password, see member emails or speak to any committee member.

Inter-club News (updated 08/06/2010):

Support required for Balcarrick Team in Jimmy Bruen Shield (Sponsored by Bulmers) on Sunday, 13th June in Clontarf Golf Club – 1st match 12 noon – Manager: Paul Redmond (for contact details, please see Members section):

Handicap: Minimum 6 and Minimum 17 combined (and not lower than 6 the previous year)
Format: Five (5) Foursomes Matches

Commiserations to our Metropolitan Trophy team (manager Paul Redmond, home team captain Paul Burke, sponsor, Peter O'Brien & Sons Landscaping) on their defeat by narrowest of margins in match against Portmarnock on Monday, 7th June 2010.

Commiserations to O'Grady Cup team (managers: Pat Dillon / Dorothy Moynihan) in match against Hollystown on Sunday, 6th June - again beaten by last shot of the day on the 18th.

Well done to both teams on their performance in the most adverse of weather conditions playing against very strong opposition.

For photos see Gallery / Inter-club 2010 (2).

Owing to a technical problem, our website was offline between approx 10pm on 07/06/10 till 10am 08/06/10 - Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

New Website Information 06/06/2010:

New Sidebar Sections on website - "Opens", "Course", "Handicap Online", "Weather".
New Junior Golf Section - see under club Info.
Updated "Links" Section now contains lots more useful links.
New Handicap facility - if going abroad for golf - you can print your own handicap certificate by going to the Handicap Online Section, logging into the GolfNet System and selecting the relevant page to print your own cert.
For O'Grady Cup photos - see Gallery & Inter Club 2010 (2).

Balcarrick in the news - winners of Andy Desmond Trophy - for Fingal Independent article, click here.

Congratulations to Kevin LeBlanc who finished 5th overall in the European Junior Golf Championships in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. For more info, please click here.

To help attract and retain members, we have made a start on 2 new sections of the website, one to promote Junior Golf (under Club Info) and a second to make it easier for high handicappers to contact one another (on Members Section).

Balcarrick is on facebook:

Sign up - become a "fan" & tell your friends about our special offers and opens by clicking here.

Unbeatable Summer Green Fee Promotion 2010:

The following green fee rates now apply outside of competition times (go to online booking for details of availability):

Every Day - €15 per person or €20 including all day breakfast or soup / sandwich combo.

Early morning (before 10am) or twilight (3 hours before sunset) - €10 per person or €15 including all day breakfast or soup / sandwich combo.

International Competition News:

Best wishes to Kevin LeBlanc who represents us in the European Under 11 Championships in Scotland. Kevin will be accompanied by his dad, Hugh, to this prestigious 3 day event starting Sunday, 30th May 2010.

For more info. on the U.S. Kids Golf European Championship, please click here.

Inter-club (updated 30/05/2010):

For Inter-club achievements, see Club Info & click on History.

Commiserations to our McDonnell Cup Team (manager: Michael Tunstead / Phil Reid), which was narrowly beaten by Hollystown on Sunday 30th May 2010. For photos, see Gallery / Inter-club 2010 (2).

Well done on a very strong performance to our team in the Junior Cup (Sponsored by Bulmers) on Saturday, 29th May in Donabate Golf Club. An early start pitted us against wind & rain to finish just outside the top 4 qualifiers. Great credit is due to team members, Andrew O'Reilly, Padhraig Carr, Gerry Mulholland, Kevin LeBlanc, Michael Bradley, team manager, Terry Kelly and caddy Eddie O'Reilly. You did us proud!
Handicap: Minimum 5 (and not lower than 5 the previous year). Format: Five (5) Singles Matches, off scratch. For photos see Gallery / Inter-club 2010 (2).

Next round O'Grady Cup (managers: Pat Dillon / Dorothy Moynihan) is against Hollystown on Sunday, 6th June.

The Balcarrick Team gave a creditable performance in the Pierce Purcell Shield (Sponsored by Bulmers) played on Saturday, 22nd May in Howth Golf Club, with mid-table finish out of 16 teams (only 4 teams qualify for final stages).

Well done to the team and to managers Tony Byrne and Malachy Nulty - for photos see Gallery / Inter-club. Planning for 2011 has now started!

H’cap: Minimum 12 and Minimum 27 combined (and not lower than 12 the previous year)
Format: Five (5) Foursome Matches

Balcarrick is in quarter final of Uden Cup (manager: Phil Reid / Michael Tunstead) against the Island, details to be arranged.

For further details, incl. how to participate in Men's Inter-club Teams and results to date, please go to Members Section (User ID & Password protected) and see club Notice Boards. See email for User ID & Password or ask any committee member.

Matches Saturday, 15/05/2010 & Sunday, 16/05/2010:

Congratulations to Metropolitan Trophy Team (Manager: Paul Redmond / Paul Burke) on win against our neighbouring club, Corballis and to Uden Cup Team (Manager: Phil Reid / Mick Tunstead) on win against Deerpark.

For photos see Gallery / Inter-club 2010.

Notice to Team Managers & Members:
All team managers (Men's & Ladies) must ensure that the home match time requirements for their teams are updated on the computerised BRS Timesheet System (through Pro Shop).

Matches Saturday, 08/05/2010 & Sunday, 09/05/2010:

Congratulations to O’Grady Cup Team: Managers: Paddy Dillon & Dorothy Moynihan on their 1st round win V Luttrellstown.

H’cap: Minimum 10 for Men and Minimum 20 for Ladies

Format: Five (5) Foursomes Matches

Commiserations to Barton Cup (2nd round) and Ladies Junior Foursomes Teams on losses against Skerries and St Anne's respectively.

For details of most improved golfer of the year competition, see members section (posted 07/05/2010)

Congratulations to our Junior Boys, Team Manager, Hugh LeBlanc & Junior Convenor, Michele Callan on winning the Andy Desmond Trophy in Portmarnock 03/05/2010.

This is a great achievement and bodes well for the future of Balcarrick Golf Club.

We wish all our Junior boys & girls continued success in the future - they are a credit to their parents and the club.

David Rafferty

Captain

Inter-club Update 25/04/2010 - Double win:

See Photos in Gallery (Inter Club Folder).

Metropolitan Trophy (Sponsored by Peter O’Brien & Sons Landscaping):

Congratulations to Paul Redmond, manager, Paul Burke, home team captain & their team on 5 to 4 win versus Turvey in Metropolitan Trophy. Commiserations to Turvey - match played in very sporting manner right down to the last match on Saturday, 24th April 2010.

Uden Cup:

Congratulations to Phil Reid / Mick Tunstead and team on 4 to 3 win against Balbriggan in Uden Cup on Sunday, 25th April 2010. Commiserations to Balbriggan, who lost by narrowest of margins - 2 matches went to 19th.

Barton Cup Team (Sponsored by FBD):

Congratulations to Myles Worth / Paul Burke on win in 1st Round v Malahide on Saturday, 17th April 2010.

Women in Golf Initiative:

Congratulations to Lady Captain, Dympna, Lady Vice Captain, Rosaleen and committee members, Marlene, Dolores and Marie (amongst others) for the successful completion of the 8 weeks programme for golf beginners, under the auspices of the ILGU, here in Balcarrick on Saturday, 24th April 2010.

Despite the cold and wind, today saw 28 ladies, who are all new to golf, compete in a fun competition over 3 holes - prizes all round and a most enjoyable family occasion for all concerned.

Particular mention has to be made of our much appreciated resident PGA Professional, Stephen Rayfus, who put so much work into this initiative with coaching for golf beginners, including use of the Golf Center™ - click here for info.

See photos in Gallery under "Beginner Women & Men in Golf" folder.

Watch this space for planned additional initiatives to encourage beginners - both men and women in golf.

Balcarrick Revised Green Fee Rates - best value around Dublin

See new Visitors section for great value green fee deals.

For Society, Open & Member rates, go to Club Info and Green Fees.

Coping with the recession:

“Our core values are providing an enjoyable experience and value for money.” - to see Irish Times article on Balcarrick, Tue, 20/04/2010 click here.

Balcarrick is now on Facebook, please click here

Balcarrick are finalists in Golf Inc. magazine’s annual Renovation of the Year competition 2008, for info, click here.

For more photos by Mark Stewart, please click here.

To see Fingal Independent article on Captain's Drive In 2010, please click here.

To see Fingal Independent article on Black Tie, December 2009, please click here.

For Women in Golf Promotion for new lady golfers (sponsored by ILGU), please click here.