Atlantic Coast Challenge 2015

mike12 wrote: »

Played the down links challenge a couple of times and they swap one of your group
Each round, winning score was 99 points total each year.

Swap one of your group as in make you play with a different group ?

And 99 total for all 3 days ?

So back after my second year at the ACC. Unfortunately the weather we had the first year was a distant memory this year but at least we got some sunshine on the last day.

I hadn't played any links since last year and you could tell on day 1 in Carne. It was a tough day with a howling wind and lashing rain. Throw in plenty of blind shots and a wayward game off the tee and a poor return of 21 points was the result. I spent too long playing the shots I wanted to play rather than the ones I should play. A lesson I learned last year but forgot in between. To be fair neither the 3w or driver were working so on those holes into the wind I couldn't bring myself to hit shorter than that - even though I absolutely should have. Tees were much further back than last year and throw in the weather it was a long tough day.

Day 2 in Enniscrone was pretty much the same weather wise. The stretch of holes down along the water (7, 8, 9, 10) were just as miserable as you get in golfing terms. But my game was in better shape and I had learned some lessons from day 1 so I ended up with a score of 36. Had the same score last year so this course seems to suit me. Course in great condition.

Day 3 was the best of the weather...albeit with a really strong wind as well. This was first for me last year and I did not do well on it. This year was much better and ended up with 34 points which could have been better but for a few silly mistakes in the closing holes. The holes into the wind here were long and tough and the cross wind was no picnic but at least it was helping for the closing stretch.

So overall a great 3 days despite the weather. A big thanks to my playing partners Senna and B - good golfers and even sounder lads. That's me for links golf for another year I would guess. Would love to make it back again next year. The rotation this year was better as the driving was lessened by the order we took. You are still talking 5 hour rounds even being out fairly early but once you know that's the deal it's easier to take.

Few sights in golf better than standing on the 9th tee in Rosses Point and taking in that vista !!

mike12 wrote: »

Was going to ask how long rounds were taking later in the day. We were out first out and round in less than 4 hours each day. It looked like there was a gap after the 3rd group. Think we held the group behind us up for a minute at one stage over the 3 days.

The group in front of us were pretty slow yesterday. But with the move to all 3 scores to count I think it was bound to slow things down somewhat as a lost ball that could previously have been left now had more focus.

I think long rounds are bound to happen with courses such as these....blind shots, tough courses, tough weather, non-links lads playing, heavy rough etc etc

Less than 4 hours is great going.

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Oddly, our tee time of 2.36pm got us around faster (just under 5 hours) than our 11.50am tee time in the three previous years (5.5. hours). We got out early yesterday, at Enniscrone, and we were around in 4 hours 10. We had 3 ladies in front of us and, apart from waiting for them on the par three 3rd, they were usually on the par four greens (that we could see) as we were teeing off.

A lot to be said for short and straight hitting versus long and wild. We lost balls on the 4th and 5th which slowed us up, but we simply couldn't catch the ladies.

This....oh this in Carne on Day 1 x 100