concra wood spectacular course

kingshankly

played concra wood today just outside castleblayney and all i can say is wow,without doubt the finest course i have played in this country,and also the opinion of my 3 playing partners.
first of all the place isnt finished as in drive way and paths and also the clubhouse is not competed(some size by the way feck all recession in monaghan)there are prefabs there at the moment.
first of all the scenery is breathtaking.
the course is surrounded by lough muchno which is in play in about 12 or 13 holes.the course is quite hilly and long so pack the sandwiches.
imo there is not a weak hole on the course with something different on every hole.
the greens are quite large in all different shapes and lightning fast definatly the best greens i ever putted on.
i cannot praise this course enough,i have no affiliation to this course in case some might think so.
the course opens on the 1st of april and greenfees will be €50 mon-sun and membership currently stands at 16000(which brilliant course or not i cant see them getting many takers)
if you get a chance to play it boys and girls you wont be disapointed

irishtoffee

Looks like a fab course.

PhilipMarlowe

How may golf balls did you lose?
Looks like a nice few approaches over or alongside water....
The 4th?
Almost never up that part of the country but that course alone will tempt me.

kingshankly

Licksy wrote: »

How may golf balls did you lose?
Looks like a nice few approaches over or alongside water....
The 4th?
Almost never up that part of the country but that course alone will tempt me.

only lost one licksy(damm fade).
holes 13 and 15 are unbelievable risk and reward holes the more water you go over the shorter the hole. kind of course you want to hit two balls on every hole one to be safe and then a risky one.played poorly today and am still excited about when Ill play it next and its only 20 minutes down the road:)

Par72

It looks amazing! I'll have to check it out sometime. Thanks for the info kingshankly.

dnjoyce

looks beautiful - especially the run of 4,5,6 and then again along the lake on 12,13,14,15,16 - 50 quid seems reasonable even if it is a bit out of the way.

ThunderCat

Nice one kingshankley - glad you enjoyed it. Sounds amazing by the way. Ill have to get up there and play it at some stage this summer. Wouldnt be too far away from you seeing as you live in dundalk either - no doubt you will go there again. I wonder how the lough erne course in fermanagh will compare against it.

waterville72

I played this course today and I have to say that I agree with Kingshankly. In my opinion its the best parkland course in the country and overtakes Juliet for me.Its in the class of a Loch Lomond for views.
The layout is superb. Every hole is interesting and there are 3 or 4 spectacular holes. The fairways are generous and the greens superb. The views are spectacular over Lough Muckno and the surrounding countryside. You can see for 15 miles in most directions.

The lake comes into play on a lot of holes with the fourth the most memorable and the signature hole Id say. I spoke to the project manager and he tells me its ten years in the making so far. This will be a future Irish Open venue I reckon.

Just a wonderful place to play golf..Spectacular!

dnjoyce

how are you guys getting to play it if it only opens on Aril 1st? (he asks jealously:rolleyes:)

waterville72

Its been open for members since July last year and I played it with a member today. There was an open week there last week(not advertised on the GUI website I might add) and I suppose Kingshankly played it then. Only four weeks to wait DN !!

uberwolf

where else could you play if you made a weekend of it?

kingshankly

Waterville is correct I played it last week in open week.I asked about playing again next week and was told no problem , give them a ring and i'm sure you will get out especially mid week.

kingshankly

uberwolf wrote: »

where else could you play if you made a weekend of it?

There are a few options available carrickmacross has two course Mannan castle and the nuremore which is less than 15 minutes south of blayney.
You could head east to Dundalk where you have a few course which the pick of are Dundalk and greenore ( in carlingford) all of which is less than 20-30 minutes away

thegen

Concra's website was running a comp for a fourball. Its been won by my mate, have to be extra nice to him now!!!!!

kingshankly

the ass licking will be worth it

thegen

Shanks,

I got the phone call and he was very gracious saying of course I'd be in his fourball as I had let him know about it!!!

Well he is a good scouser!!!!!

emilyj

This looks the business can't wait to play it.

kingshankly

thegen wrote: »

Shanks,

I got the phone call and he was very gracious saying of course I'd be in his fourball as I had let him know about it!!!

Well he is a good scouser!!!!!

its hard being a scouser at the moment:(

thegen

Shanks,

I agree, I am married to Pool supporter and have two kids Poll supporters. Try living with that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or worse I support QPR!!!!

JCDUB

Right kingshankly,

Get the finger out and put something in the arrange a game thread, NOW!!!

That place looks awesome, count me in immediately, I'll gladly travel up and pay the 50 yoyo's, am sure we'd get a definite fourball if not a few more.

You're off this week no??

What are we waiting for????????

Am all excirah now:D

kingshankly

JCDUB wrote: »

Right kingshankly,

Get the finger out and put something in the arrange a game thread, NOW!!!

That place looks awesome, count me in immediately, I'll gladly travel up and pay the 50 yoyo's, am sure we'd get a definite fourball if not a few more.

You're off this week no??

What are we waiting for????????

Am all excirah now:D

no problem arranging something, this weeks weather is not too favourable could sort something out for next week or the week after

irishtoffee

kingshankly wrote: »

its hard being a scouser at the moment:(

No it's not

emilyj

thegen wrote: »

Shanks,

I agree, I am married to Pool supporter and have two kids Poll supporters. Try living with that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or worse I support QPR!!!!

So no one in your family has any interest in football

copacetic

emilyj wrote: »

So no one in your family has any interest in football

:eek: thats a risky comment, if I could find an excuse for a ban you'd be out of here!!:D

JCDUB

copacetic wrote: »

:eek: thats a risky comment, if I could find an excuse for a ban you'd be out of here!!:D

Ssssssssshhhhhh, as you know we only have a grand total of two female regular posters on here, don't frighten them away!!!

(Assuming emilyj is female:D)

JCDUB

kingshankly wrote: »

no problem arranging something, this weeks weather is not too favourable could sort something out for next week or the week after

Sounds good to me king, I'd defo be up for it alright.

mgktnmnppg

will host BIG EVENTS this course is class play it

Kevinmarkham

Great to see such positive feedback about this course. It's a stunner. I played it late last year in wind and rain, and loved every minute of it. It's a welcoming course with plenty of room to play - and even if your golf's rubbish the views will more than make up for it.

Kingshankly is now known to the people at the club. I spoke to their Marketing person, Karen, who said that a golfer had turned up on Kingshankly's recommendation. So, I suggest you turn up, Kingshankly, with proof of ID for some star treatment.

And the green fees are excellent value.

http://www.concrawood.ie/

ThunderCat

Welcome to boards Kevin. Looking forward to reading that book of yours. Its some achievement to have played every course in Ireland. Looking forward to playing concra woods myself, it sounds amazing. At the moment though headfort new is still my favourite.

thegen

Emily I'm hurt us QPR fans have had a lot to endure. My two brothers were dropped on their heads at birth and support Mn U. But we all have our crosses to bear. Golf is more fun these days, soccer is overrated.

emilyj

Maybe I was a bit harsh, I suppose QPR aren't that bad

thegen

No they are that bad, the owners need to start spending the lolly. I looked at your irons , they are nice. i really liked the blade. Lovely shape.

kingshankly

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Great to see such positive feedback about this course. It's a stunner. I played it late last year in wind and rain, and loved every minute of it. It's a welcoming course with plenty of room to play - and even if your golf's rubbish the views will more than make up for it.

Kingshankly is now known to the people at the club. I spoke to their Marketing person, Karen, who said that a golfer had turned up on Kingshankly's recommendation. So, I suggest you turn up, Kingshankly, with proof of ID for some star treatment.

And the green fees are excellent value.

http://www.concrawood.ie/

Welcome to the boards read an article about you and your book in today golfer (i thought i had an easy job)and I am looking forward to the release.
When will it hit the shelves?
Concra is indeed some track

ehutchroi

have to agree with shankly,
best course in ireland and great value at 50 quid,
if you get a chance to play this place, DO,
it is in a different league to anything else around,
thers an event coming up soon and a team of 4 is €300 and includes dinner, contact them and sign up if you can!
it is an amazing place

Kevinmarkham

Ta very much for the welcome, ThunderCat and Kingshankly. I'm just sorry I didn't find this board before. I shall be on here regularly from now on. The book is out early April, so let me know which courses you're members of and I'll let you know whether you'll like my review...

The thing I like about this forum is that people don't pull punches and when you're giving recommendations to people you might as well be honest. If you believe some of the hype on golf club websites you're going to be very disappointed when you turn up. Recommendations from fellow, amateur golfers is the only way to go.

ThunderCat

Well i joined Corballis there last week but ive a sneaky feeling what the book will say about it because ive already read your entry for it in your blog!
By the way, there are 4 new holes there now that will be open for play on the 27th of this month (i think). You can see them here:
http://corballislinks.com/index.php?page=course-photo-s

Id say they would have added to your round had you played them.
Before that i was a member in Balbriggan for a year and i liked that course too but i must say i prefer links golf. In that regard Royal County Down is by far and away the best course i have played. Ill be interested to hear your views on that place.

clg23

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Ta very much for the welcome, ThunderCat and Kingshankly. I'm just sorry I didn't find this board before. I shall be on here regularly from now on. The book is out early April, so let me know which courses you're members of and I'll let you know whether you'll like my review...

The thing I like about this forum is that people don't pull punches and when you're giving recommendations to people you might as well be honest. If you believe some of the hype on golf club websites you're going to be very disappointed when you turn up. Recommendations from fellow, amateur golfers is the only way to go.

like the blog kev, looking forward to picking up the book when it comes out..

faughsgolf

Concra Wood is indeed an excellent course. Castleblayney Faughs have the honour of hosting the first Golf Classic there on Friday 17th of April.
More details can be found at www.castleblayneyfaughs.com . All welcome....

Brockagh

Was looking at Kevin's pictures and thought this looked very interesting. Has anyone played it?

Benny Cake

I played it recently and was blown away, one of the best ive ever played; up there with mount juliet imo......

redzerdrog

looking at the website there is a view of every hole and it looks amazing

PhilipMarlowe

Threads merged...

george best 11

Played this course today. Was soooo glad to be able to get out as I was meant to play it last week but it was closed due to heavy rain.
In one word . . . EPIC!
Played it with my mate who teaches at the Darren Clarke school of golf and we decided to go off the black sticks - some trek! lol. shattered.
Every hole as it's own individual challenge. Doesnt matter if you spank one up the hay diddle diddle . . . u may have a slightly awkward lie, up hill shot/ downhill shot, wind behind or against . . . not to mention the course is in metres so get you thinking caps on . . . a true test of your golf game.
I will most definatley be back. Best course ive played . . . heard its better than Lough ERne as well!! worth every penny and 90 minute drive to get there from where I live.
Stunning views, friendly people.
My fav holes would be 1,3,4,10,13,15,16.

I nailed my drive on the 15th off the black markers(competition ones) . . carried about 245 yards, had an slight downward lie, made a crackin strike . . . . . .bingo . . WATER ON THE RIGHT! LOL . . . Didnt compensate enough and aim lift! oops . . . . still the drive alone was worth it

ENJOY FOLKS!!

golfbgud

Bumped into a Kerryman in the local Woodies store on Sat and he was raving about this course......must have a look around soon......

Tin_Cup

Defo worth the trip. Fantastic course!

chud1234

anyone know how much are green fees there now

Kevinmarkham

chud1234 wrote: »

anyone know how much are green fees there now

Got this through by email today:


. Mondays to Thursdays €30 per person standard rate.
. Friday to Sunday €35 per person standard rate.

Valid from 1st November 2012 to 31st March 2013.

Open Competition from 1st October 2012 - 31st March 2013

Open Singles Competition every Tuesday €30 per person continuing throughout the winter months.

Open Seniors (Over 50s) Competition every Wednesday €25 per person or €35 per person sharing a buggy continuing throughout the winter months.

To book contact us by email at info@concrawood.ie , call us on +35342 9749485 or visit us online at www.concrawood.ie

chud1234

thanks kevin, from the pictures ive seen of the course ill have to play there.

Dr_Colossus

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Got this through by email today:


. Mondays to Thursdays €30 per person standard rate.
. Friday to Sunday €35 per person standard rate.

Valid from 1st November 2012 to 31st March 2013.

Open Competition from 1st October 2012 - 31st March 2013

Open Singles Competition every Tuesday €30 per person continuing throughout the winter months.

Open Seniors (Over 50s) Competition every Wednesday €25 per person or €35 per person sharing a buggy continuing throughout the winter months.

To book contact us by email at info@concrawood.ie , call us on +35342 9749485 or visit us online at www.concrawood.ie

A great course and amazing scenery, played it once this year in April during an open day and will certainly return. Disappointed with the open day price of €30 above, they could have left it at €25 and comparable with the senior opens to give some value over standard green fees. During the winter months I doubt the open competitions will be qualifying with placing and generally the prize(s) on offer are negligible in open days around the country.

searay

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Got this through by email today:


. Mondays to Thursdays €30 per person standard rate.
. Friday to Sunday €35 per person standard rate.

Valid from 1st November 2012 to 31st March 2013.

Open Competition from 1st October 2012 - 31st March 2013

Open Singles Competition every Tuesday €30 per person continuing throughout the winter months.

Open Seniors (Over 50s) Competition every Wednesday €25 per person or €35 per person sharing a buggy continuing throughout the winter months.

To book contact us by email at info@concrawood.ie , call us on +35342 9749485 or visit us online at www.concrawood.ie

A great course and amazing scenery, played it once this year in April during an open day and will certainly return. Disappointed with the open day price of €30 above, they could have left it at €25 and comparable with the senior opens to give some value over standard green fees. During the winter months I doubt the open competitions will be qualifying with placing and generally the prize(s) on offer are negligible in open days around the country.

Played the course a month ago and really liked it. The scenery is great and it's a challenge. It's a course you'd need to play a few times to figure out the lines to take off tees and plot your way round. Very hilly and a tough walk. Consider taking a buggy.