Advice on playing St.Margarets

yeah_ok

hi

im lucky enoughto be playing st.margarets on saturday, ive never played there before.

anyone any tips for playing there?

thanks

copacetic

it's pretty much all right in front of you. the greens can be really good so trust them, assuming the weather hasn't caused issues. The rough is pretty light so you can afford to knock it into the rough on the safe side away from water/trees on a few holes.

Hit an iron off the first, you'll still only have an 9 iron or so into the green. 2-4 straighforward, watch OB on practise ground on 4. On the 5th play short right, very easy to bounce off left of green into the ditch. On the 6th that is the blind shot with a hard dogleg with water on the far side. Imo play a fair bit to the right, it's possible to run out of fairway if you are a long hitter.

7th hit a 3 wood and get down there a bit, plays a little longer than you expect over water to green. 8th is lovely par 5, play safely to left off the tee and play it as 3 shotter imo.

9-11 are straighforward. 12 is reachable, but take plenty of club, loads of room between water and green. 17th reachable too, but be careful not to go over green into ditch. 18 is a great finishing hole, you need to stay as close as you can to bunkers but stay out of them or you'll never reach the green. Go long left with your approach, again it is further than it looks and everything kicks right into the water.

I like it, hopefully you'll get the day for it too..

Hobart

Played it today in an absolute torrent. The course was in an ok way, but there was so much rain (both last night and today) that it simply could not drain away.

Copacetic, you obviously haven't played it in a while, as the 8th has completely changed. The shot now is far out to the right, as to land any way left the ball will gather down into the hazard. Still a par 5, but easily hittable in 2, index 9.

The rest of the course is the same (bar the second), the one disappointing aspect of the course was the greens. They were very hit and miss. For example, 1 was very hairy(slow) while the second, played like a typical links green (2 is a brand new par 3 btw), so play the greens as you see them, but they are very very hit and miss.

Overall, it's a good course, but a combination of the weather and the greens detracted a lot from what should have been a nice stroll.

copacetic

yep, haven't played it in well over a year, used to play it a fair bit before then. thanks for the up to date info!

uberwolf

I played it last week, and a year ago, and the second was the same hole

they did look like they were doing a little work down to the right as you tee off (just right of the 8th box as well)

the 8th certainly drains down to the hazard on the left. My mate nailed his tee shot, straight down the middle, and it was in the drink...

We played it terrible weather as well, but found the greens variable.

Hobart

uberwolf wrote: »

I played it last week, and a year ago, and the second was the same hole

they did look like they were doing a little work down to the right as you tee off (just right of the 8th box as well)

the 8th certainly drains down to the hazard on the left. My mate nailed his tee shot, straight down the middle, and it was in the drink...

We played it terrible weather as well, but found the greens variable.

The second hole was changed around the same time as the eighth hole. I don't know how long ago that was tbh, but the old second green can still be seen from the new one. When copacetic said that that he'd played it a year ago, I assumed that both holes had changed around that time, maybe they haven't...I dunno.

copacetic

Hobart wrote: »

The second hole was changed around the same time as the eighth hole. I don't know how long ago that was tbh, but the old second green can still be seen from the new one. When copacetic said that that he'd played it a year ago, I assumed that both holes had changed around that time, maybe they haven't...I dunno.

it could be longer, I mentioned well over a year, that could be two. who knows! the years all fade into one at this stage!

f22

Very annoying course, a great layout but it always in shabby condition in my opinion

uberwolf

f22 wrote: »

Very annoying course, a great layout but it always in shabby condition in my opinion

we had that reputation in mind standing on the first tee, and thought it was misplaced on first impressions.

I thought the greens weren't super, but I think they're doing a reasonable job of maintenance that it wouldn't put you off your round tbh. Given the cost cutting that's going on

Blunder

I thought it was in good nick back in March considering the weather we were having. Its a nice course, that could be super if set up right. As some of the lads have said the rough isnt too severe, It hasnt got too many trees that are going to bother you and aim well right on the 6th as you will end up in the water. The hill on the right hand side of the fairway will help most balls go down onto the fairway.

I thought the greens were pretty good given the time of year and I didnt think that it was in shabby condition TBH.

conno16

f22 wrote: »

Very annoying course, a great layout but it always in shabby condition in my opinion

yes indeed, very run down
and the clubhouse looks like something from the 1950s

BraveDonut

Totally agree with copacetic about the 6th. I cracked one off the tee, dead straight and thought it was in the middle of the fairway. Walked up to find it in the water....

SHINKICKER

Played the course last friday and the friday before weather was bad the 1st time but i have to say i enjoyed it both rounds!! we got it for 17 euro off t times.ie great value considering they usually charge 35-50 euro most days. i thought the course was in good condition and the holes were very enjoyable especiall the par 3s and the last hole is deadly. I will be going back again!!!

yeah_ok

thanks very much for all the help. I played there a few days ago and really enjoyed it.

Luckily we had great weather on the day. The view from the 18th fairway towards the clubhouse is terrific

conno16

with some investment and a creative designer it could be one of dublins top courses again

it might even feature in the top 100 list as per golf digest :cool:

have any of ye played its close neighbour - roganstown.
it has yet to mature sufficiently IMO but potentially could become a great course

Mister Sifter

conno16 wrote: »

with some investment and a creative designer it could be one of dublins top courses again

Think the main criticism levelled at recently has been that it has been let go... i.e poorly maintained.

conno16 wrote: »

it might even feature in the top 100 list as per golf digest :cool:

It already is.

conno16 wrote: »

have any of ye played its close neighbour - roganstown.
it has yet to mature sufficiently IMO but potentially could become a great course

I disagree. It's an ok course, but isn't, and is unlikely to ever be, comparable with the top courses.

Flan45

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Think the main criticism levelled at recently has been that it has been let go... i.e poorly maintained.



It already is.



I disagree. It's an ok course, but isn't, and is unlikely to ever be, comparable with the top courses.

I don't often agree with Conno but I played Roganstown lately and thought it was a fine course.

conno16

Graeme1982 wrote: »

I disagree. It's an ok course, but isn't, and is unlikely to ever be, comparable with the top courses.

they need to furiously advertise the place

NorfolkEnchants

Anybody played St Margarets recently? Heading there on Sunday, looking forward to it, what kind of shape is the course in?

jimjo

conno16 wrote: »

have any of ye played its close neighbour - roganstown.
it has yet to mature sufficiently IMO but potentially could become a great course

Agree with that!!

FlutterinBantam

yeah_ok wrote: »

hi

im lucky enoughto be playing st.margarets on saturday, ive never played there before.

anyone any tips for playing there?

thanks

You are not lucky friend!!

bogmanfan

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

You are not lucky friend!!

Why? Is it in bad shape, or are you just not a fan? Playing there on Saturday, but if it's in rag order might cancel and go somewhere else.

ShriekingSheet

conno16 wrote: »

they need to furiously advertise the place

Yeah, I really didn't know the place existed tbh.

NorfolkEnchants

Does anybody want to reply to my question asking if the place is in decent nick these days, or is everyone just going to comment on the older posts?

jimjo

NorfolkEnchants wrote: »

Does anybody want to reply to my question asking if the place is in decent nick these days, or is everyone just going to comment on the older posts?

I had a mate out there two weeks ago and he thought the place was in good nick, he was even thinking of joining he was that impressed. While on the other hand I spoke to a guy who was out there at the back end of last year and he wasn’t impressed, he said there was grass growing in the bunkers, weeds on the tee boxes and the greens were bumpy. He may have been over critical and expecting far to much.

My general impression (although I haven’t played the course) is that it’s a good layout but not up to championship standards anymore, so if its of any help I go with my mates opinions that’s its in good nick. If you do play there, report back.

Now back to the older posts! :P

jackal

I have played there about 4 times over the past year, and have enjoyed it a lot. Its a great layout... the par 3's are all good, the finishing hole is brilliant, and there are one or two great par 4s in the middle.

Condition wise it is not quite as good as say a Luttrelstown or Castleknock, but better than say Grangecastle, Hollystown or Turvey.

As others have said, the course itself is a very strong design. Its quite long even off the visitor tees, there is enough water to keep things interesting, and its open enough to give high handicap players a bit of leeway to spray it around a bit.

jimjo

jackal wrote: »

Condition wise it is not quite as good as say a Luttrelstown or Castleknock, but better than say Grangecastle, Hollystown or Turvey

As I said I haven’t played St.Margarets but I’ve quite a good impression about the place and relate to it a little more after that comparison. I played Luttrelstown (probably the best parkland in Dublin), Castleknock (maybe not the best layout a few weak holes, but really well manicured and fantastic greens). Hollystown and Turvey are decent places to have a knock around but obviously not championship standard. Hope to play in one of the St.Margaret midweek opens before the summer.