| There are about 55 golf courses in Dublin city and | | | | courses in this area include Carton Golf & |
| county, evenly distributed north and south of the | | | | Country Club, Kilkea Castle and Highfield Golf |
| Liffey. The population of the greater Dublin area is | | | | & Country Club. |
| about one and a half million people and growing so | | | | In Co. Meath there are about 12 golf courses and |
| the demand for memberships in the golf clubs is | | | | a few of the more recent additions are |
| growing too. | | | | noteworthy including Headford and Knightsbrook, |
| Assuming the average membership of any of | | | | both privately owned and both built on historic |
| these golf clubs is about 800 then the total | | | | estates. In Co. Wicklow the most famous golf |
| number of places available is in the region of | | | | courses there are Druid's Glen, Powerscourt, the |
| about 45,000. Because of this disproportion the | | | | European Club and Coollattin (built on the Fitzwilliam |
| availability of memberships is practically negligible | | | | Estate but member owned). |
| and this is reflected in the astronomical prices | | | | Membership in many of these clubs is very |
| being charged for membership and the huge | | | | expensive with the exception of Highfield Golf |
| waiting lists. | | | | & Country Club in Kildare and Coollattin in Co. |
| Most of these courses are member owned while | | | | Wicklow. |
| a few are owned by the City Councils and a | | | | When considering membership of a club a |
| lesser number again are owned privately such as | | | | prospective golfer should take a number of |
| The DeerPark Golf Club in Howth which is owned | | | | factors into account |
| by the Gainsford St. Lawrence family of Howth | | | | (A) The joining fee |
| Castle. Membership in the member owned golf | | | | (B) The annual subscription |
| clubs is controlled by the committees of the golf | | | | (C) Type of membership - e.g. family, five day |
| clubs and membership for ladies is prohibited in at | | | | etc. |
| least one club - Portmarnock. | | | | (D) Course usage - will it be relatively easy to get |
| Outside the Dublin area in counties Kildare, Meath | | | | a game there when required |
| and Wicklow there are quite a number of Golf | | | | (E) Facilities - are the facilities modern - has the |
| Courses, some member owned and quite a | | | | restaurant a good name - Is there a pro shop |
| number privately owned. In Kildare there are | | | | and driving range? |
| about 20 golf courses that include the world | | | | (F) Accessibility - Is the course reasonably |
| famouos K Club at Straffan, where the Ryder | | | | accessible from one of the major road networks? |
| Cup was held in 2006. Other prestigious golf | | | | |