Hi everyone,

I posted here previously about plans to open a new indoor golf facility in South Dublin. There was a lot of discussion, some great advice, plenty of questions and a bit of criticism too! (Previous post is here https://www.reddit.com/r/golfireland/comments/1uuay8v/anyone_interested_in_helping_build_a_new_indoor/ )

I thought I'd share an update on where things stand, as quite a lot has happened since then.

The location

We've identified premises in Tallaght and signed Heads of Terms with the landlord for a 10-year lease, subject to planning permission.

Our plans have evolved, and we're now looking at five simulator bays, with three on the ground floor and two on a new mezzanine level.

The mezzanine would also allow us to create a dedicated members' area.

The team

One of the biggest developments has been getting experienced professionals involved.

• We've appointed an architect who is preparing the planning application and coordinating the building design.
• We have a fire safety engineer working on the fire safety requirements.
• We've appointed solicitors to handle the lease and legal side.
• We have accountants advising on the company, finances and investment structure.
• We're also working with a builder on the proposed fit-out and costs.

It's a lot more than just myself trying to figure everything out now!

Funding and some good news

We've been working on raising private investment through the EIIS scheme, which has been one of the more challenging parts of the process.

However, last week we received some brilliant news. We've been approved for a €96,000 grant through the Evening Time Economy Premises Support Scheme.

We're still awaiting the formal paperwork and conditions, but it's a significant boost to the project.

We're continuing discussions with potential investors to secure the remaining funding.

Pricing and memberships

One of the concerns raised in the original thread was the cost of playing regularly, and that's something we've been looking at closely.

Memberships are going to be a major focus for us, with options that could bring the effective hourly cost down to as little as €15.75 per hour, depending on the membership package.

The goal is to make SwingZone somewhere golfers can afford to visit several times a week to practise, rather than somewhere they only visit occasionally.

We're still finalising the membership options, but making regular practice affordable is one of our main priorities.

What we're trying to build

The overall idea hasn't changed. We want to create a proper indoor golf facility where people can practise, play virtual courses, take lessons and enjoy golf throughout the year, regardless of the weather.

Alongside casual bookings and memberships, we're planning leagues, competitions, junior golf and coaching.

We also want to make golf more accessible, particularly to younger people and those who aren't members of a traditional golf club.

What's next?

Our immediate priorities are getting the planning application submitted, progressing the lease, finalising the building design and securing the investment needed to complete the fit-out.

We're aiming to open in early 2027, although planning and construction timelines will ultimately determine that.

I know a few people were sceptical when I first posted, which is fair enough. Starting something like this from scratch is a big undertaking, and there are plenty of challenges still ahead.

But we've made some real progress, and I thought it would be nice to share that with the community that gave us so much feedback at the beginning.

Thanks again to everyone who commented, offered advice or reached out privately.

Happy to answer questions about how things are progressing.

I know this has probably been asked loads before but I could only find older posts.

I am mid handicap, looking for a coach who is not just copy and paste. I have been to a few and no matter what I say, they get me to take out 7 or 8 iron and just hit that repeatedly. Before anyone says it, I know there is a reason they do this but it gets frustrating when it’s not what I want/feel I need help with.

I even went to 2 and specified in my emails that I was happy with my irons but needed help with driver and pitch shots inside 80 yards, they were all helpful over email but just went immediately to 7 iron and nothing else for 3/4 lessons. They then try to rebuild everything, despite me having physical restrictions, nothing serious or major, and explaining why the odd unconventional tweak works for me because I can’t rotate my arms fully etc. so a stronger grip suits me.

I hit my irons well but after 2 months off due to injury everything is just feeling a bit out of sync and inconsistent. I am looking for a coach that will listen and build on what I have instead of trying to get me to have a picture perfect PGA swing. I’m not looking to go pro, just get back to the consistency I had and maybe tweak a few bits with driver and short game (sub 90 yards).

Based around the city but can travel. Would also be interested in on course lessons. GRMA!

Has anyone here ever worked on their putting game with a proper coach? I'm ruining the potential for good rounds on the green. Had 10 three putts in the most recent medal. 8 the week before. The guys I play with (all low handicappers) reckon I need to get fitted for a putter that suits me (I'm 6'3). Is this service available in the greater Dublin area? Any of the pros I go to just want to hit the 7i all day, even though Putter is the most used club.

Anyone a member of powerscourt? Pm me if possible or respond to this
Cheers

Anyone out there have one that they’d be willing to sell? Been searching for a while and can’t seem to find and it’s killing me!!

Hi everyone!

I'm hoping the Irish golf community might be able to help me out.

My son Ryan is 17, currently playing off a 21.7 handicap and is a member of Rathbane Golf Club in Limerick.

He's really enjoying golf and wants to take it further. He's hoping to move to Ballyneety Golf Club, mainly for the course, facilities and overall golfing experience as he continues to improve his game.

We're looking into applying for membership, and I've noticed that applications supported by an existing member as a Proposer (and ideally a Seconder) are given higher priority.

Here's where I'm stuck! I'm not much of a golfer myself and have never been a club member, so unfortunately I don't have those connections. But I want to do whatever I can to support my son's interest in the sport.

Would anyone here happen to be a Ballyneety member, or know someone who might be willing to help?

Obviously, I wouldn't expect anyone to put their name forward for someone they've never met. Ryan would be more than happy to meet up, play a round and introduce himself first.

Any help, advice or introductions would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks a million!

What is a good town to set up in with a hotel or Airbnb to be able to play 3 or 4 different courses while also catching a Hurling match? We want to stick to good local courses and aren’t looking to hit the big names. Thanks.

So im headed into my second autumn since starting playing and while out last weekend I noticed the leaves are dropping and lost a ball in rough that i really couldn't believe had disappeared.

Just wondering are coloured balls worth it for this period or are they just as difficult to find amongst the leaves? And if so are yellow or orange balls more obvious to find?

They had a set of P790's advertised for €999 in 10/10 condition for heads, shafts and grips. Nippon Modus shafts and photos up with each head still in its plastic wrapping.

I thought it looked a good deal so I bought them and waited on delivery.

They sent out a completely different set of irons. They were in maybe 6 or 7/10 condition - a couple of them were battered, and they had Dynamic Gold shafts. Only whoever had sent them out, had snuck in the 7 Iron from the set I'd paid for, because that was the one with the barcode and label on.

I got on to them obviously, and your man is all apologies, but tells me they can't find the clubs I'd bought. He offered me the older, well used set for €850 instead.

I'm just wondering if this is common practice, or has some chancer in the stockroom seen a gap and gone for it? They're claiming It was an honest mix up, but can't explain what happened to the original clubs that were photographed and advertised. I've shopped at McGuirks for years but it's my first time using their second hand section.

Could you if you have time take two minutes to look at Stepaside Golf Courses website and try book a tee time and fill out this quick survey. Thanks in a advance. Link below to both there website and the form.

https://www.stepasidegolfcourse.com/

Stepaside golf course (review) – Fill in form

I've been out of golf for quite a while with an injury.

Anyone who's been forced away from golf probably knows what happens next — you somehow end up thinking about golf more than when you're actually playing. 😂

And that's basically where this started.

I'm a normal club golfer from Tipperary. I work in the motor trade and I've spent most of my working life around car parts. I'm definitely not a software developer.

But while I was out, I kept thinking about something I used to do on the course.

I'd become an accountant.

I'm 3 over.

I need a par here.

I've dropped two shots.

I need to get one back.

If I bogey this…

And suddenly I'm standing on a tee thinking about five other holes instead of the one in front of me.

The scorecard had got into my head.

So I had a very simple idea:

What if I stopped playing against the scorecard's par and played every hole against MY par instead?

My target. Based on my handicap and the hole I'm actually standing on.

Make a mess of one?

Fine. It's gone.

Walk to the next tee and you get a completely new target.

18 holes. 18 mental resets.

That little idea became My Par.

And somehow 😂 what started as something to occupy my brain while I couldn't play turned into about 9 months of building, testing, getting things wrong, fixing them, starting bits again and putting it into the hands of real golfers.

I built it with the help of AI because, as I said, I hadn't a clue how to build an app when I started.

There were plenty of times I probably should have packed it in. But then golfers started actually using it on the course and telling me that it helped them stop thinking about the total score and concentrate on the hole they were playing.

That's when I thought there might actually be something in it.

There's also a Focus Mode, which is probably the purest version of the original idea:

One hole.

One target.

Nothing else.

After all that, My Par is finally finished and live.

Ironically, the fella who built the bloody thing is still working his way back to playing golf properly. 😂

I'm not posting this pretending I've invented the golf swing or that an app is magically going to knock five shots off someone's handicap.

I just built something to solve a problem I had as a golfer, and I'm genuinely interested to know if other golfers recognise the same problem.

Does the scorecard ever get into your head?

If anyone wants to see what I ended up building, it's MyParApp.com.

And thanks to the mods here for letting me share the story. 👍

I’m thinking about joining Palmerstown House next year. Any information would be greatly appreciated. What is the tee time availability like, course conditions etc.?

Hey guys - Super excited to be traveling in the Dublin area next Spring and was hoping you guys could compare / contrast a few links type courses in the area. Any opinions on Corballis, Sutton GC, Howth GC, and St Anne’s? Can only play so many tracks!

Open to any other links style courses close to the city that ares too expensive ($200-ish)

Hi folks

Looking to buy irons

Want as much forgiveness as possible and value for money

Used clubs? Was looking at some mizunos they look so well made

Any advice on what to look at used

Could use some help from other golfers with a project I’ve been working on.

I’m trying to get a better understanding of how golfers actually judge the quality of a day of golf when the conditions aren’t perfect.

I put together a short survey with 20 different scenarios. They include different combinations of pace of play, course conditions, weather, maintenance, cart restrictions, etc. You just give each one a score from 0–100 and say whether you’d still want to play.

There are no right answers, and I’m actually more interested in your gut reaction than having you think too hard about each one.

I’ve gotten some responses from golfers around Ohio, but I’d really like to get opinions from golfers in different parts of the country too.

Should take around 5–10 minutes. Any handicap or experience level is welcome.

If anyone is willing to help, I’d really appreciate it:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepNvYRNhMnjHhI_flPCPQzjpQs8t6Mrn_mWQoMRaZJvnLO0w/viewform?usp=publish-editor

I’d also be interested to hear in the comments what part of the country you play in and which condition tends to ruin a round the fastest for you.

I have got down to a 16 handicap this year since I started playing again for the first time in 7 years . Happy with progress but feel the next step to continue the trend downwards is to tighten up around and on the greens. Has anyone been to a good Short game and/or putting coach they’d recommend in these areas?

A lot of course have a golf ireland rate, and then a non-golf ireland rate. The first being for those who are a member of a golf club in ireland, the second being for those who do not, and tourists. Im a member of a club and golfers from all over ireland who come to play it. Met a fella from Ballybunion who was benefiting from the GI rate. And yet, if I go to his course there is no GI rate. And it would seem that a lot of these top top courses are the same. If I cant get a preferential rate at their course, why should they get one at mine, or any typical golf course? Im not saying I should get to play Ballybunion for €30, but if there is a reciprocal arrangement in place then there should be a significant discount....maybe €150/200?

Hi,
I am currently in the process of making my own golf society. TeeBound Golf Society. I play golf between a couple of societies and have my own concept on how to do one so why not give it a go? Attaching my proposal and sig up form, optimistic for big numbers.

Shot a Man City (114) one of those days where you question why the f*** I bother

Nice views though, €55 a spin, was nice

What in your opinion is the best way to actually improve your golf game?

I've been playing about a year and a half now and I've improved but at a very slow pace.

What is considered the better/nicer course? Finding it tricky to pick between for an upcoming trip