Top 10 courses in Cork

FixdePitchmark

Having a Beamish in Courthouse here.
Things dry enough.

Jaysus not sure if more pubs or traffic lights in Cork.

inthehole1

aster99 wrote: »

Blarney isn't as good as the courses mentioned above but it's very dry and in great condition if it's any good to you.

Have to agree about blarney
Played it while back and was very disappointed with it.very average course in my opinion

bailey99

curly from cork wrote: »

Cork is considered to be very dry as most of the course is built on limestone . However it's not in it's usual great condition at the moment . Greens have had a few problems and some have GUR markings on them .

Don't know what's after happening down there, but the greens there are in a very poor condition for the last 2 months. Members giving out and numerous societies also. I've played it recently and it was definitely the poorest condition I've seen the place ever.

Very disappointing to see the greens in that condition when you visit a big course like Cork. Fota by comparison is in fantastic condition.

FixdePitchmark

In the end, due to time and playing partners location, ended up playing Douglas.
Thanks for your tips above anyway - will use advice and this thread again - at some stage - I plan to play every course in or around Cork City over next year or so. Have a good few friends down that way.

Douglas is a fantastic course - with great history in design - Vardon and MacKenzie.

Got absolutely drenched - very impressed with the course - and that was on a poor day weather wise. Great holes like 5 and 8 and then a great run of holes from 12 to 17. Maybe front lacks character of back - also only 3 par 3s and - they are only ok holes.

Loved the natural bends in the holes - with slight change in height - and was hitting plenty of mid irons all day - the day that was in it played a part here.

Played well enough 2 over on back - with a few lip outs -

Started shocking as - lets just say, I wanted to see what the night could offer in Cork - and when the Beamish is that good - you got to go with the flow. 32 points in the end, at the golf.

I'd imagine in the summer, time and equipment may have passed out the course a little - is only 5791 M - but hard to judge today - example last hole is a drive and mid iron to a par 5. Many other holes you are just using a 3 wood and no problem.

But overall very surprised - course held up well enough and was solid to start - but greens got a bit flooded at end. No course could have held out today.

Will be back to Douglas - but many more course to play first down there - back in December .

Cork - a class place for a holiday - now a great place for golf too.

Will be back soon.

big_drive

Old thread I came across.

A few years later now, what would the top 10 be these days?

Some courses have seen changes in that time

slingerz

I’d still reckon it’s going to be

Fota

Old Head

Cork

Castlemartyr

Lee Valley

Muskerry

Douglas

Bandon

Mallow

Macroom

paulos53

Very interesting to read back on the thread and note how much has changed in 10-12 years.

Water Rock and Frankfield got a mention but unfortunately both are now closed. Charleville got into financial difficulty and had to sell off some land. I haven't played it since so I am unsure how many holes are gone.

There was a comment about my home club Castlemartyr being one of driest courses in the county. It is now one of the wettest winter courses.

Lots of bargain green fees were reported early in the thread. Most of them have doubled or tripled in price since then

Deporhostia

I'd personally go for:

1. Old Head (for overall experience although I would say Cork is without doubt a better golf course)

2. Cork

3. Fota

4. Castlemartyr

5. Muskerry

6. Lee Valley

7/8/9 Douglas/Macroom/Mallow

10 Clonakilty/Mahon/Cobh/Blarney/Kinsale/East Cork/Youghal

Haven't played Bandon/Fermoy/Mitchelstown/Raffeen Creek

I used to have a big sweet spot for Clonakilty (Lisselan), would have been maybe as high as 6th on my list, but I think the extra holes added on have really taken away a lot from it

IHateNewShoes

I think my 10 would be...

Fota

Old Head

Cork

Douglas

Castlemartyr

Lee Valley

Bandon

Bantry Bay

Muskerry

Mallow

big_drive

I wonder will we ever see a new course development in Cork

It's more likely I suppose if the courses in Cork all manage to remain open that will be the height of it

big_drive

Just looking at this old topic. Was wondering what has become of Waterrock? Is the course overgrown at this stage or what's the land used for or what long term plan is there?

alxmorgan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122652229#Comment_122652229

Such a pity it went. Was a great option for those of us in Cork a bit but not a member of anywhere

big_drive

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122652306#Comment_122652306

Ya I really enjoyed it any time I played there, was a total shame to lose it

opti76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122652229#Comment_122652229

https://youtu.be/soRwbMZ8UrY?si=IhbJjT8csvGfwyVX

video is from a year ago …

Quahog217

I never played it Waterrock. What's its back story? Was it privately owned or a members club? Mainly green fees? You would think if it was opened and invested a little there is a huge potential for business with the prices and availability in Cork at the moment.

Break80

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122660270#Comment_122660270

Such a shame. I played both and they were great tracks.

Water rock was mainly play and pay but they had a type of membership there in later years. Nice layout but a bit soggy in winter.

Harbour Point was privately owned with a membership. From what I remember, the owner had a huge falling out with the membership and just shut up shop.

big_drive

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122660270#Comment_122660270

Thanks for that, sad to see it in many ways.

I never played Harbour Point, looks like it had a very big clubhouse

opti76

think water rock was sold for housing as there are plans to build a new railway station there

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Cork_Met_Area_Transport_Stategy_web_Part_1_Part6.pdf

almostover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122652545#Comment_122652545

Agree, I work out in Carrigtwohill and a group of us used to often play there on Friday afternoons. Reasonable green fee, course was wet in the Winter but a fine Summer course. Front 9 was where you made your score, a bit underwhelming but the back 9 was very nice with some great holes. The par 3 12th was great, a 180-200yd carry over a lake. Final hole was a beast too, long uphill par 4. Water in play a lot on the back 9. Shame it's gone.

Noting my home course of Kanturk has yet to be mentioned in this thread! A lot of work going on at present to upgrade the course. Hopefully we start to push into the top 10 in the future.