Hooked - amateur's guide to golf courses in Ireland

Tipp-Boy

Hi All,

Just thought I'd bring your attention to a book I came across by Kevin Markham. I've seen Kevin trawl across the posts on this forum so I think its worth a plug. Quite simply Kevin took off in his camper van to play every golf course in Ireland. It took him 18months! The book lists all the courses alphabethically and scores them out of a 100 (using various benchmarks such as course design, value , location, greens, fairways etc). Anyway its a great read and I have had many a discussion/argument with friends over the ratings - well worth a read.

If your interested the official title is
"HOOKED - an amateur's guide to the golf courses of Ireland"
ISBN is 13:9781905172948

I know he has a webpage up and running so you can probably get it there.

Kevin - a question for you?
You say you have a handicap of 7 ---- what handicap did you start off at on your trip?

Mr. Larson

+1

Kudos to Kevin on a great idea and a great book. Bought it a few weeks back and it's alyway a good one to pick up off the coffee table and flick through when there's bugger all on the T.V.

Good question re: the handicap b.t.w. - would be interested to hear that too.

OilBeefHooked2

Yes fantastic achievement Kevin well done.
Bought the book a couple of weeks ago and find that it's a great reference point for courses I'd like to play as well as been fair and accurate about my home courses and courses I've already played.
Again well done Kevin.

Kevinmarkham

Jeez guys, you're making me blush.
Glad to hear you find the book entertaining. Let me know if there are any ratings you strongly agree or - more interestingly - disagree with.

Handicap. Started at 7 - and finished at 7. I touched 6 for a month after a good round in Athy, but I didn't play in that many competitions because it simply didn't work out that way.

I'll stick a post up here in the next week or so about a launch I'm planning at Greystones Golf Club. I have 20 free fourballs to give away at the launch - for Old Head, Adare, Tralee... and everyone's invited.

K

thegen

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Jeez guys, you're making me blush.
Glad to hear you find the book entertaining. Let me know if there are any ratings you strongly agree or - more interestingly - disagree with.

Handicap. Started at 7 - and finished at 7. I touched 6 for a month after a good round in Athy, but I didn't play in that many competitions because it simply didn't work out that way.

I'll stick a post up here in the next week or so about a launch I'm planning at Greystones Golf Club. I have 20 free fourballs to give away at the launch - for Old Head, Adare, Tralee... and everyone's invited.

K

Kevin,

You will have an awful lot of new friends on the night from Boards;)

mccutchie

Guys, where is the book available as its something I would be interested in purchasing. PM me if necessary.

Thanks

WithCheesePlease

mccutchie wrote: »

Guys, where is the book available as its something I would be interested in purchasing. PM me if necessary.

Thanks

me too...

Codofwar

Ill join you in adare, 15 mins from home, Maybe it might bring down some of the boardsies from around the dublin area. THere seems to be a lot of ye!

clg23

I got the book in Reads (Nassau St) €15.99. Its a great resource and id agree with most the reviews I have read, but I havent played all that many courses (ive played 23 so only 326 to go...)

Kevinmarkham

mccutchie wrote: »

Guys, where is the book available as its something I would be interested in purchasing. PM me if necessary.

Thanks

I saw it in Easons yesterday (Dundrum) or you can buy it from the www.collinspress.ie website. Some bookshops can take their time putting the book out on the shelves.

K
www.golfcoursesireland.blogspot.com

Blunder

I got it in Hughes and Hughes in Stephens Green SC.

Great book Kevin. Well Done!

stockdam

Is the book cheaper in Northern Ireland like everything else is?

thegen

I picked it up in Easons, as they say it is available in all good bookshops and a few bad ones as well no doubt;)

Great read, I was surprised at some of the ratings. But the review on Dublin Mountain is classic.


Congratulations Kevin on a job well done

mccutchie

Bought the book myself today. I like the reviews of some of the courses I have played and i must admit to agreeing with Kevins comments.

Well done Kevin, i'll be using this when planning golf trips.

Obni

Well done Kevin.
Nice bit of get-up-off-your-arse-and-do-it-ness.
Heading off to Eason's to grab a copy.

Kevinmarkham

[quote=thegen;[URL="javascript:void(0)"][/url]60046894]I picked it up in Easons, as they say it is available in all good bookshops and a few bad ones as well no doubt;)

Great read, I was surprised at some of the ratings. But the review on Dublin Mountain is classic.


Congratulations Kevin on a job well done[/quote]


Sooooo, which are the surprises? I know people are going to disagree with reviews/ratings - that's the nature of being subjective - and it's good to hear what other people have to say. I was following the thread on courses in Meath/Louth and noted how people felt about Bellewstown. It's a love/hate course and I don't tend to pull my punches - as you noted with Dublin Mountain!

K

thegen

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Sooooo, which are the surprises? I know people are going to disagree with reviews/ratings - that's the nature of being subjective - and it's good to hear what other people have to say. I was following the thread on courses in Meath/Louth and noted how people felt about Bellewstown. It's a love/hate course and I don't tend to pull my punches - as you noted with Dublin Mountain!

K

Was surprised to see you rated Edmondstown above Grange and Hermitage. Thought Castle would have a higher rating. I am going to get a bit of mileage out of all of them as you rated my home course higher, thank you.

Am I correct in saying the picture on the back cover of the book goes by them name "Garvaghy Road"

Kevinmarkham

[quote=thegen;[URL="javascript:void(0)"]60055557[/URL]]Was surprised to see you rated Edmondstown above Grange and Hermitage. Thought Castle would have a higher rating. I am going to get a bit of mileage out of all of them as you rated my home course higher, thank you.

Am I correct in saying the picture on the back cover of the book goes by them name "Garvaghy Road"[/quote]


A member of Stackstown are you!

Yep, that's Garvaghy Road alright. It looks amazing in the photo.

I guess the thing about the rating total is that it doesn't give the full picture. It's all about the weighting and how it adds up. The 'golf experience' is the important one - both Edmondstown and Grange get 15, Hermitage gets 16 and Castle 17. One course may have a higher total than another but that doesn't necessarily mean I prefer it.

thegen

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

A member of Stackstown are you!

Yep, that's Garvaghy Road alright. It looks amazing in the photo.

I guess the thing about the rating total is that it doesn't give the full picture. It's all about the weighting and how it adds up. The 'golf experience' is the important one - both Edmondstown and Grange get 15, Hermitage gets 16 and Castle 17. One course may have a higher total than another but that doesn't necessarily mean I prefer it.

Kevin,

Played your home course a couple of times. I played for a year or two with the La Touche Society, long story, I'm in Rathfarnham. My home club looks across onto Royal Dublin Mountain.

PhilipMarlowe

I bought it up yesterday and am very impressed with the bit I've read so far... like where you say Rathdowney is perfect for societies and club golfers. I have often advised (dublin) people on here to check it out as a place to get a membership that might be affordable but still a course that is within reach.
The ones I've read so far were pretty much within my thinking although you were generous with Glenmalure

Patrick_K

What were your feelings about Dublin Mountain Kevin ?
I played there recently, interesting to say the least .... :-)

Kevinmarkham

[quote=Licksy;[URL="javascript:void(0)"]60060893[/URL]]

The ones I've read so far were pretty much within my thinking although you were generous with Glenmalure [/quote]



Really? You thought I was being generous!:eek: It has a few interesting quirks and the views, but that's about it.

As for Dublin Mountain, Patrick K, let's just say I will never, ever get an invitation to play there again. If you played it and liked it, then there are 348 other courses you'll like a whole lot better.

K

conman

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Really? You thought I was being generous!:eek: It has a few interesting quirks and the views, but that's about it.

As for Dublin Mountain, Patrick K, let's just say I will never, ever get an invitation to play there again. If you played it and liked it, then there are 348 other courses you'll like a whole lot better.

K

ordered your book there a few days ago Kevin, lookin forward to the read..
i live near bray, so should be interesting to see your views on the huge amount of courses nearby.

david

Hi Kevin, it was great to have you down playing again (Macreddin). I haven't had a chance to pick up your book yet but I'm looking forward to it.

BTW I was thinking you were playing off the ladies tees when you said you hit a 7 onto the 7th upwind alright :-).

I'd really appreciate it if you could either e-mail or pm me both the Coollattin and Macreddin reviews.

Thanks,
D.

DU.LLAHAN

seen the review of the book in todays golfer and was impressed with the book just after ordering it i cant wait to sit down and give it a good read.I enjoyed the story about the guy who would take a shot and run to the ball and back again to keep fit. there are some characters out there. Kevin doing what you did is a great acheivement well done it was an impressive feat.

dnjoyce

picked up a copy today, great read so far. great job Kevin. seemd to like my home course as well (curragh) but unfortuantely the greens are letting it down at the moment with the 5 "new" greens needing to be completely re-seeded.

BrianD3

The book sounds really good, I'll try bookshops for it next week. I'd say one big advantage of the book over other sources of review is consistency seeing as all the reviews in "Hooked" are written by the same person.

Also, it sounds like you picked a good time to write the book, had it been written it ten or fifteen years ago there would now be lots of new courses missing from the book. But new course openings will be much less in the next few years so the book will remain relatively up to date

-Chris-

david wrote: »

I'd really appreciate it if you could either e-mail or pm me both the Coollattin and Macreddin reviews.

Thanks,
D.

http://golfcoursesireland.blogspot.com/2009/04/little-magic-at-macreddin.html might give you something to chew on!

Must buy this book too - seems like a fascinating project!!

stockdam

I think people are being hard on Dublin Mountain. It's not that bad a course and has some interesting holes. I don't know what the membership fees are but I'd guess they are relatively reasonable so the course provides a reasonable standard for those who can't afford the silly (yes silly) prices that other courses around Dublin charge.

Kevinmarkham

[quote=stockdam;[URL="javascript:void(0)"]60089094[/URL]]I think people are being hard on Dublin Mountain. It's not that bad a course and has some interesting holes. I don't know what the membership fees are but I'd guess they are relatively reasonable so the course provides a reasonable standard for those who can't afford the silly (yes silly) prices that other courses around Dublin charge.[/quote]


I don't disagree with you, Stockdam - not at all. Courses like Dublin Mountain serve a specific and important purpose, but I'm looking at it from the point of view of a visiting golfer. If you travel from Galway or Northern Ireland or further afield, you're not going to want to play Dublin Mountain for a great Irish golfing experience.

david wrote: »

I'd really appreciate it if you could either e-mail or pm me both the Coollattin and Macreddin reviews.
Thanks,
D.

Dave, I should be up your way soon enough and I'll drop in. Suffice to say, both courses get good reviews and I still say that Macreddin has the best 12th hole in the country.

BrianD3

Picked up my copy of "Hooked" today. Very good book, for the courses I'm familiar with I fully agree with the comments and ratings.

I was pleased to see that you gave glowing praise to Rathcore GC in Meath, that is one of my favourites.

Something I noticed is Donegal GC (Murvagh) gets a score of 94 yet doesn't appear in the list of top ten links courses while other links courses with the same or lower scores do. A mistake or am I misunderstanding the rating system?

Book is well worth buying anyway.

Kevinmarkham

[quote=BrianD3;[URL="javascript:void(0)"]60102395[/URL]]Picked up my copy of "Hooked" today. Very good book, for the courses I'm familiar with I fully agree with the comments and ratings.

I was pleased to see that you gave glowing praise to Rathcore GC in Meath, that is one of my favourites.

Something I noticed is Donegal GC (Murvagh) gets a score of 94 yet doesn't appear in the list of top ten links courses while other links courses with the same or lower scores do. A mistake or am I misunderstanding the rating system?

Book is well worth buying anyway.[/quote]

I wondered if someone would pick up on that. The same is true of the parkland courses. The Top Tens are my favourite courses and therefore, to some degree, ignore the ratings. There's a course in Lurgan, called Silverwood, and I almost included it in my top ten parklands (Rathcore was close too). If you went and played it you'd think I was mad (as many people already do for my praise of Scrabo) because it's poor quality. As for Murvagh, I loved the place and it's a great experience but there are others that pushed it out of the top ten.
K
http://golfcoursesireland.blogspot.com/

stockdam

Praise for Scrabo?

Play it several times and the initial gloss may wear off.

Ok so it's not a bad course but the mess of the cross-over holes (1st and 3rd) can be frustrating when the course is full as it becomes a bottleneck.

Then there's the unkind bounces that take a good drive and kick the ball sideways into a gorse bush (lost ball).

It's a nice course on a nice day but most locals wouldn't rate it in the top 20 courses up here.

madds

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

I saw it in Easons yesterday (Dundrum) or you can buy it from the www.collinspress.ie website. Some bookshops can take their time putting the book out on the shelves.

Went looking for the book in Eason's on Manor Mills Maynooth yesterday but couldn't find any copies. Will order from the web.

PhilipMarlowe

Richard Finch won the 2008 Irish Open by the way, not Ross Fisher (in the adare review)

conman

just recieved my copy in the post

Kevinmarkham

[quote=Licksy;[URL="javascript:void(0)"][/url][URL="javascript:void(0)"]60110844[/URL]]Richard Finch won the 2008 Irish Open by the way, not Ross Fisher (in the adare review) [/quote]

Well there's a monumental cock-up. Thanks Licksy. I double-checked it too! Still, I guess Ross Fisher will be delighted to hear he won it.

conman

have to agree kevin with what you said about Cavan Golf club,
the 13,14,15 are alien to the course and not any fun playing...
thing is, the 3 holes that existed before that were great.. :-/

the old 8th was a par 3 downhill (the old raised green is tucked in the corner beside the 7th green), the old 13th used to go from beside the 1st tee box but in the opposite direction straight over the hill and through the driving range area, and the 14th was from the bottom of the hill (near where an average driver would land their ball on the new 14th... it pointed in the same direction as the new 14th) but the green was down near where that little pond has been built into dogleg the 15th.. they were lovely holes, gone a fair few years now, but some of my favs.

Kevinmarkham

[quote=stockdam;[URL="javascript:void(0)"]60107067[/URL]]Praise for Scrabo?

Play it several times and the initial gloss may wear off.

Ok so it's not a bad course but the mess of the cross-over holes (1st and 3rd) can be frustrating when the course is full as it becomes a bottleneck.

Then there's the unkind bounces that take a good drive and kick the ball sideways into a gorse bush (lost ball).

It's a nice course on a nice day but most locals wouldn't rate it in the top 20 courses up here.[/quote]


Stockdam, you have no idea the grief I've been given about Scrabo. It's violent and cramped (the 1st and 3rd cross-over is the easy one) and unfair and the gorse seems to be extra sharp, but I still think it's amazing. And its location is dynamite. I'm sure you're right about the initial gloss wearing off, but I've played it twice and still want another lash at it.

conman

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Stockdam, you have no idea the grief I've been given about Scrabo. It's violent and cramped (the 1st and 3rd cross-over is the easy one) and unfair and the gorse seems to be extra sharp, but I still think it's amazing. And its location is dynamite. I'm sure you're right about the initial gloss wearing off, but I've played it twice and still want another lash at it.

its your view Kevin, and theres no need to doubt it..
there can be no exact top 10 anyway, its what enjoyment we amateurs can take home from a trek around a nicely designed field trying to play a great game.

my top 10 is no better and not the same as anyone elses either.

Kevinmarkham

[quote=conman;[URL="javascript:void(0)"]60117558[/URL]]its your view Kevin, and theres no need to doubt it..
there can be no exact top 10 anyway, its what enjoyment we amateurs can take home from a trek around a nicely designed field trying to play a great game.

my top 10 is no better and not the same as anyone elses either.[/quote]


Yea, top 10s are always amusing. There are usually 4 or 5 that everyone lists and then it's a right pick 'n' mix. It usually depends on how well you play - score 46 points and you'll love any course. I tried to side-step that and choose courses that delivered excitement and fun.

As for Cavan, I noticed the green down by 8. Shame to hear they messed it about, but that's what courses do to ensure 'progress'. Alot of the time I disagree with things that I hear have been changed, but what can you do!

conman

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Yea, top 10s are always amusing. There are usually 4 or 5 that everyone lists and then it's a right pick 'n' mix. It usually depends on how well you play - score 46 points and you'll love any course. I tried to side-step that and choose courses that delivered excitement and fun.

As for Cavan, I noticed the green down by 8. Shame to hear they messed it about, but that's what courses do to ensure 'progress'. Alot of the time I disagree with things that I hear have been changed, but what can you do!

yea its a shame, tho im down in wicklow a lot these days, played Greystones a few weeks ago, was a nice little trek, i think it was the 17th that i had to hit over water to the green right behind it.. lovely little dangerous approach..

Delgany tomorrow hopefully

stockdam

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Stockdam, you have no idea the grief I've been given about Scrabo. It's violent and cramped (the 1st and 3rd cross-over is the easy one) and unfair and the gorse seems to be extra sharp, but I still think it's amazing. And its location is dynamite. I'm sure you're right about the initial gloss wearing off, but I've played it twice and still want another lash at it.

Up here Scrabo doesn't get a good name but it's by no means a bad course. I think the "problem" is that it can be almost unplayable in a very strong wind though as any shot that doesn't find the fairway is lost.

But on a nice sunny day it is wonderful (Cairndhu has also great views from the 2nd tee box).

But if it's one of your favourites then that's a view that you should keep. I have had some tremendous rounds there and also some horror stories.

Patrick_K

Picked up the book in Waterstones at lunchtime.
Looks like a great read at first glance but I now can't get the bleedin' off the lad I share an office with, he thinks it's great !
Well done.

Kevinmarkham

Patrick_K wrote: »

Looks like a great read at first glance but I now can't get the bleedin' off the lad I share an office with

That's disgraceful! Tell him to damn well go and buy his own:D

Kimbot

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

I'll stick a post up here in the next week or so about a launch I'm planning at Greystones Golf Club. I have 20 free fourballs to give away at the launch - for Old Head, Adare, Tralee... and everyone's invited.

K

Any update on the launch mate?

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

I don't disagree with you, Stockdam - not at all. Courses like Dublin Mountain serve a specific and important purpose, but I'm looking at it from the point of view of a visiting golfer. If you travel from Galway or Northern Ireland or further afield, you're not going to want to play Dublin Mountain for a great Irish golfing experience.

I have to agree with Dublin Mountains, if your travelling from far a field its a let down. I went up there last year and was really disapointed with the course.

Kevinmarkham

jonny24ie wrote: »

Any update on the launch mate?

Funnily enough, I had a conversation with someone today about it and we've narrowed it down to June 2nd or 3rd. I'd rather it was sooner, but it's never easy getting everybody together. I'll stick up a post as soon as it's confirmed.

Got the Ballybunion Free Fourball yesterday! Hope to get Mount Juliet's next week.

K

PhilipMarlowe

I see your favourite hole on my home course (Gowran Park) is the 15th and it's mine too. Not overly long, straight, fairly flat, no bunkers and index 3!
You say the hardest hole is the 4th and it usually lives up to it's index 2 but the 12th off the blue stakes gives people nightmares... 590 yards dogleg, OOB close on the left and water on the right for the tee shot... usually into the wind...
I am playing a medal tomorrow and already am wondering what's in store

scrubber72

hi kevin, got your book during the week and let me join the rest of the boardies and say congrats it a great read as well as a excellent reference book. Just a couple of questions? Have you been infulenced by the reception you recieved at some club to cause a lower points reward? I am a member of Ballinrobe and was delighted to see you score it so high but how could you give it 9 more points than Galway? I think personally Galway is much better course but I never manage to play well there. Thanks again
John

Kimbot

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Funnily enough, I had a conversation with someone today about it and we've narrowed it down to June 2nd or 3rd. I'd rather it was sooner, but it's never easy getting everybody together. I'll stick up a post as soon as it's confirmed.

Got the Ballybunion Free Fourball yesterday! Hope to get Mount Juliet's next week.

K

Keep me updated mate, if I don't get the book by then I will pop up for the launch.

Kevinmarkham

[quote=scrubber72;[URL="javascript:void(0)"]60164843[/URL]]hi kevin, got your book during the week and let me join the rest of the boardies and say congrats it a great read as well as a excellent reference book. Just a couple of questions? Have you been infulenced by the reception you recieved at some club to cause a lower points reward? I am a member of Ballinrobe and was delighted to see you score it so high but how could you give it 9 more points than Galway? I think personally Galway is much better course but I never manage to play well there. Thanks again
John[/quote]

Hey John,
First, the answer to whether I am influenced by the reception I receive is 'no' - as Knighstbrook will testify (great reception, not mad about the course!) and I received an excellent reception at Galway. I liked the course, it's just Ballinrobe has more character.

Second, the points difference is not saying that Ballinrobe is 9 points 'better' than Galway. That's the total difference across all eight criteria. So, while Ballinrobe is almost half the price and gets a much higher Value for Money score, Galway gets a better Location score. Ballinrobe, in my opinion, is a better Golf Experience by just 2 points.
Hope that helps
K