Lord Mayor's Matchplay / Anyone familiar with Clontarf GC?

ShriekingSheet

Lord Mayor's is this Sunday. Is anyone playing? It's 18h strokes to qualify and then matchplay in the weekday evenings to follow.

I've heard it's a very tricky/awkward course so if anyone who knows it could post up some details on holes to watch out for that'd be great.

Mister Sifter

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Lord Mayor's is this Sunday. Is anyone playing? It's 18h strokes to qualify and then matchplay in the weekday evenings to follow.

I've heard it's a very tricky/awkward course so if anyone who knows it could post up some details on holes to watch out for that'd be great.

I'm not playing myself this year but love it last year. Great competition. I've played the course a few times since too so got the hang of it. Generally it's fairly tight. If you keep the ball on the fairway then you will be halfway there. It's not the longest course.

1st - Bit of a tight teeshot with overhanging trees in front. Aim for the bunker on the left side of the fairway with a 6-7 iron. You'll then have a perfect line in and only a 7 iron or lower left.

2nd - One of the longest on the course. Right is out of bounds so keep away from that. Take the driver at this one, a par would be a good score on it. If you bogey it, don't get down though as there's a few birdie opportunities coming up after.

3rd - Short par 4. Take a rescue / 3 iron / 5 wood. You'll only have a flick in. Definite birdie chance.

4th - short par 3 - good birdie chance.

5th - a bit tougher. make sure you hit the fairway down the left as there's a slight dogleg right. You could take driver, but it's not really needed. you'll have -9 iron left in with a 3-iron.

6th - just a flick of a par 3 - really sloping green though. Anything short will spin off down the hill.

7th - Think about the tee-shot. A nice drawn three wood will be perfect. Left side of the fairway will be blocked out by trees. Find the left side of the fairway and it's a straightforward par 4 though.

8th - Tougher hole. 4 is a good score. Find the fairway here. You'll get away with driver. Short iron left to green above you.

9th - Short dogleg par 4 - anywhere around the corner will be fine. just a flick left in, although it's a tricky enough green. Birdie chance all the same.

10th - They've put a new fairway bunker in on the right. Avoid it. Take the driver though. Check where the flag is first. Two tier green. Be happy with a par on this one.

11th - long par three. Loads of room left. Par is a good score.

12th - signature hole, which in truth is a bit of a ****er. No driver off the tee. You'll run out of room. get your tee shot up the top near the end of the fairway though. Second shot is blind but go up and have a look. Green is guarded by two ponds (which were re-done over the winter) and also a good few bunkers. Don't be afraid to go left if you're a good bit back. This one could ruin your card. 5 really ain't a bad score!

13th - No driver here. Just knock a low iron up the fairway. You'll only have a flick. Go too far with the tee shot and you could block yourself out with the tree in the middle of the fairway. Birdie chance if you hit the fairway.

14th - Dogleg par 4. Aim for the corner over the mound with a 3-iron. You'll only have a wedge in. careful with the spin though as i've had it spin off and down the hill on me. Tee shot is the key on this one.

15th - Straight forward enough par 3 - don't go right though. Tough chip up.

16th & 17 th - both straight forward par 4s. On 16 don't block yourself out right. Too far left and you'll run in to the trees though.

18 is reachable in 2 if you get a good drive away.

In short, just keep it on the fairway. It's tight enough, but not too bad. It's short and definitely scoreable. Nice enjoyable track with some fun holes on it.

71 was best qualifier last year. Just worry about getting yourself into the matchplay.

madds

There's a .ppt file attached to this page (http://www.clontarfgolfclub.ie/course.html) with overhead photos of each hole. Just click on "Click Here" at the bottom of the page to download/open it.

With Graeme's tips above and layout of holes we're expecting you to get to the semi's at least. :P

ShriekingSheet

Graeme, that's brilliant, thanks a million.

I've printed off the course guide from the site too.

Would I be right in saying the course predominantly suits a cut? I hit it left to right, especially with the driver, and with the exception of one hole which requires and obvious draw it seems to suit left to right shots?

By the looks of the 3rd (on paper) I don't see a reason not to have a bash at the green or green-side bunkers. It suits my shape and I can max a drive into that ball park. Is there any reason to hold back?

ShriekingSheet

madds wrote: »

There's a .ppt file attached to this page (http://www.clontarfgolfclub.ie/course.html) with overhead photos of each hole. Just click on "Click Here" at the bottom of the page to download/open it.

With Graeme's tips above and layout of holes we're expecting you to get to the semi's at least. :P

Haha, yeah got it cheers. The added expectation is also much appreciated Madds

Mister Sifter

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

By the looks of the 3rd (on paper) I don't see a reason not to have a bash at the green or green-side bunkers. It suits my shape and I can max a drive into that ball park. Is there any reason to hold back?

I've never did that myself, so not sure. There is out of bounds down the right side though. So early in the round it wouldn't really be that advantageous. A tee shot anywhere on the fairway and it's just a flick in and a great birdie chance anyway. If you're going to have a pop at a par 4 i'd make it the 13th. By that point you'll know if you need to push it to make the cut.

Both holes though are very simple if played iron from the tee/flick. Just get it round in 76 blows or less and you'll be in no probs.

ShriekingSheet

Graeme1982 wrote: »

I've never did that myself, so not sure. There is out of bounds down the right side though. So early in the round it wouldn't really be that advantageous. A tee shot anywhere on the fairway and it's just a flick in and a great birdie chance anyway. If you're going to have a pop at a par 4 i'd make it the 13th. By that point you'll know if you need to push it to make the cut.

Both holes though are very simple if played iron from the tee/flick. Just get it round in 76 blows or less and you'll be in no probs.

Yeah fair enough.

I'd love to get in to the matchplay stage and give it a spin. I'll post up how I get on.

Thanks again!

Mister Sifter

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Yeah fair enough.

I'd love to get in to the matchplay stage and give it a spin. I'll post up how I get on.

Thanks again!

No worries and good luck. If you think of any other questions just let me know. Look forward to hearing how you got on (50/50 prize money yeah!?!)

Wish i was playing!:(

JCDUB

Yis bastards!!
Am down to play, just had to ring them there to cancel and give somebody else a chance, had two wisdom teeth out yesterday and I look like Desperate Dan, not feelin great either so not gonna play.

All above advice is very good, keep it in play and it's a relatively easy course, take your time with putts though, there are some subtle breaks out there..

Best of luck

pistol_75

bring a crash helmet with you as well for balls from other fairways. holes very close together.

madds

JCDUB wrote: »

Yis bastards!!
...had two wisdom teeth out yesterday...

Jebus JCDUB, I had two out last January and I was laid up for about 3 days. I didn't want to think about golf for at least a week with all the painkillers I was taking.

Best of luck Sheet.

Da Golden Goose

Whip out the stinger 5 iron Sheet and you will get around that place no probs in 76 blows.

GolfingGod

Good advice, played there last week, used driver just once and shot 73. Don't believe the yardages is my main piece of advice

Da Golden Goose

I am thinking of getting one of those Binocular yardage finders as I am finding some courses are really far out. Any advice?

GolfingGod

One word, 'Specsavers'

Da Golden Goose

Thanks for Golfing God. What are you playing off? 36?:D

Da Golden Goose

Jesus with a front 9 like that I can understand why you binned the Big Dog

GolfingGod

4.4 and is the longest iron your able to hit a 5??? let me guess, it's on of those hybrid 5's as well

Da Golden Goose

Hybrids are for hackers. They should be made illegal as they make the game too easy. Average players look half decent out of the rough with those things. I suppose you have a collection of them?:pac:

GolfingGod

get a life

Da Golden Goose

Whos gonna win the PGA God?

GolfingGod

What are you smoking?:cool:

GolfingGod

DGG, are you playing in Clontarf or just looking to make friend on boards?

Da Golden Goose

??

Da Golden Goose

I don't actually play to be honest as completely useless at all sports. Wish I was you or Sheet. I bet a pile of cash on golf so I hang out here looking for tips of the experts. Haven't one a penny since joing this forum!

Da Golden Goose

Can't tyep eider

GolfingGod

Fair enough but I wouldn't ask him for any advice, he would just tell you to read a load of books and see a shrink!.
Word of advice, the will probably ban you from boards as some people take this a little bit too seriously and report people who are having a laugh

Da Golden Goose

Cool. Gotta go now. Heading out on the tear. I just lobbed e1k on Mikey Weir. Over and out.

Da Goose.

Mister Sifter

I'd say with all this rain on the northside that all the courses will be open tomorrow... as swimming pools!

f22

Yep, Lord Mayors postponed for two weeks, same timesheet applies

ShriekingSheet

Well annoyed.

I must say, fair play to Clontarf GC. They called everyone at 11.30pm on Saturday night to let them know. Most clubs would have just let the players ring up in the morning for themselves. Whoever's putting those kinda hours in to the organisation is a credit to the club.