Doonbeg Golf Club....WOW!

O.P.H

Played a round there yesterday with two friends. The weather was perfect, we played good golf and finished on the 18th with the sun setting on the horizon. We have never played links golf before but from what I've seen on tv I have never seen such a spectacular gold course ever. Has anyone here played it and if so what did you think.

Kevinmarkham

Yep, it's an amazing course alright, especially when Norman wasn't allowed to touch the most impressive dunes of all (to protect a rare snail). He had a lot of fun and got very creative with several holes, although I know not everyone likes the 'bunker in the green' hole. Did you leave yourself any 40 yard putts?

Good to hear you had such a good day for it - it's a rare thing. How much did it cost you?

K
www.golfcoursesireland.blogspot.com

O.P.H

Our tea time was 4:15 so the green fees were 80 euro, I'd gladly pay that again. I suppose the best thing about the weather was that the wind wasent too bad, that would make the course impossible. The bunker in the green is brilliant. I didnt even know it was there. I hit a perfect shot to the green and walking up to it, I was like "where the feck is mt ball", only when you get to the green do you notice the bunker. 14th hole is unreal. The little lob wedge par 3, the wind is rediculous on that hole. Defo goin back there soon.

jimboddb

Played it last summer & thought it was a super track as well. I think its a thinking mans golf course, playing irons off the tee etc. Under rated course imo

conno16

jimboddb wrote: »

Played it last summer & thought it was a super track as well. I think its a thinking mans golf course, playing irons off the tee etc. Under rated course imo

an apt description jimbob
dont think its under-rated though, it has got the recognition it deserves - remember, it is only 5/6 years old
well done greg norman too

Flan45

I've played it a few times at this stage. I was always disappointed with the greens in the early part of the year but played it over Easter and was amazed at how much better they are now.

Tough course when the wind is up but very enjoyable.

Niblick

My favourite course in the country. It could be 100 years old. Love the old timey 9 out and 9 back, the unmanicured natural look of the links , the little tributes to Lahinch, surfers crossing to the beach, stunning looking first hole etc, etc So much to love about this place.

Only downside is I can't afford to play it more often.

kermitpwee

Nice course but its totally overrated. There are better out there like Baltray and Carne golf club. The apartments and clubhouse are amazing though.

Myksyk

What does 'totally overrated' mean? Typically it's described as one of the best courses in the country meaning it falls somewhere within the top 25 or so out of the approximately 350 clubs out there. I would say that it is in or around that range. Of course there are better courses (as I say we could probably come up with 20 or more) but I'm not sure how this translates as 'totally overrated'. It's a top club and track by most reasonable standards.

conno16

kermitpwee wrote: »

Nice course but its totally overrated. There are better out there like Baltray and Carne golf club. The apartments and clubhouse are amazing though.

provided more context kermit or retract the comment
this is a discussion forum

Myksyk

conno16 wrote: »

provided more context kermit or retract the comment
this is a discussion forum

I preferred Kermit's comment! :rolleyes:

kermitpwee

conno16 wrote: »

provided more context kermit or retract the comment
this is a discussion forum

Are you mad or something? What you on about lad?

kermitpwee

Myksyk wrote: »

What does 'totally overrated' mean? Typically it's described as one of the best courses in the country meaning it falls somewhere within the top 25 or so out of the approximately 350 clubs out there. I would say that it is in or around that range. Of course there are better courses (as I say we could probably come up with 20 or more) but I'm not sure how this translates as 'totally overrated'. It's a top club and track by most reasonable standards.

Ya its in the top 25 courses in ireland. I used 'overrated' as it was in Golf Magazines top 100 golf courses in the world which was crazy.

Niblick

kermitpwee wrote: »

There are better out there like Baltray.

I grew up playing Baltray but it dosen't come close to Doonbeg in my own humble opinion. Don't like some of the changes. Too manicured. Parts of it look like flat parkland now. (Don't want to upset the pros with an uneven lie.) Never liked the rerouting. The present 4th was a lovely gentle opening hole. And the following par 3 and par 5 gave a nice variation to the start of the round. Even now I still feel like I'm starting my round in the middle of the course by hitting sideways onto the old 7th fairway. I love Baltray but for scenery and pure links adventure give me Doonbeg and Carne any day.

Plus the bather's path is overgrown now. Not many swimmers (or surfers) in the Irish sea.

amybabes

im not a golfer, but my bf and i spend alot of time in the kilkee area durig the summer so have been lucky enought to visit this magbificant course several times. all i can say is WOW, the facilities are out of this world....and according to the bf and his dad, the course isnt too bad either!;)

charlieIRL

due to play there in a few weeks, looking forward to it even more now!!

scrubber72

I played Doonbeg a couple of years ago maybe 3 at the most in late spring and to be honest I wouldnt rate it as high as some others. Firstly I played it with 3 mates (one of whom had a voucher) and we paid 100 euro. It wasnt until we arrived on the first tee that the starter told us that 8 greens were closed due to a disease on them (fair enough but thought we should of been told before paying). The fact that the public have right of way across the course is fine but when you have to wait 15 mins for a line of surfers who obvisiously know this and take the p*ss is quiet annoying. The hole with the bunker in the green imo is just silly as for the short par 3 it looks spectacular but is quiet a silly hole since the surface was like trying to land a ball on tarmac. Back to the fact that so many greens were closed really took away from the enjoyment of the round. Yardage was all over the place as temp greens were put in place and you just couldnt possibly guess the distance to the flag. Bunkers were class tbh and the structure and layout is truly mouth opening. Didnt think to much of the 18th but boy what an opening hole. The clubhouse and dressing rooms are unreal and the showers are without the best thing on the day. I found the staff ok not overly friendly but better than some smaller clubs. In a nutshell yes I would return but only if I knew it was in good nick but not to pay something ridculious for the pleasure of play 12 greens. For me you just cant beat Carne for scenery and value.

Flan45

Scrubber,

I wouldn't blame you for feeling like that re. the temporary greens. The least they could have done is advised you when you were booking. I've played it quite a bit over the last few years and the greens have improved no end so if you get the opportunity again don't let your last experience stop you.

conno16

300 quid for 2 rounds and 1 night acc/dinner

cornerboy

Would prefer some of the older links, Lahinch Ballybunion for instance.

kmgolf

Played Doonbeg and Lahinch last year. Doonbeg is a decent track, didnt blow me away. Played Lahinch the day after and if your in the area and only have time to play 1 go for Lahinch, one of the best tracks have played in a long time.

G1032

O.P.H wrote: »

Played a round there yesterday with two friends. The weather was perfect, we played good golf and finished on the 18th with the sun setting on the horizon. We have never played links golf before but from what I've seen on tv I have never seen such a spectacular gold course ever. Has anyone here played it and if so what did you think.

Played it a good few years ago. wasn't too impressed - the fairways were about 3 foot wide at the time and it was playing very unfair. I've heard they've widened them since but wouldn't be in a hurry back down.

If you want another links to play I suggest you play Belmullet. Best links and one of the best courses I've ever played.

G1032

scrubber72 wrote: »

The hole with the bunker in the green imo is just silly

+1.This has to be the most stupid hole I've ever played. What are they trying to achieve here? In fact the more I think about that course the less I want to go back

Trampas

any good green fee only rates going around?