Looking for feedback on Open's In Dublin area

WaldenByThoreua

Hey Guys,

Im going to try and get out as much as I can in open singles in the Dublin area this sprring and early summer before I move home to Limerick. Hoping to really make a good run at it and get quite a few in.

I live beside Trinity College and am getting to know the courses in the area...Im a member of a club up here up here but it's a decent treck on dart then a walk!

Could you guys give me the lowdown on where you would play if you were me? I'd be happy to pay up to 20e per open and would like to get two or three a week.. I know gui.ie could tell me when their on but I want to know about SS's, specifically where the lower ones are (tryng to do damage to the H'cap),ease of getting tee times (would prefer less crowded), value for money, and of course recommendations!!

I live on the dart line so I was thinking Id go in a north-south line as per the dart...?

I understand St. Anne's is accesible by the 130 bus and was thinking Bray etc in the south? Clontarf GC? Elm Park is just behind Vincents and very close to me? What about Dublin City Golf Club? A bit out of the way but Ill trek if necessary! Leopardstown is accessible due to where my aunt lives but I'm not sure if they do opens....Old Conna?

Dont bash me Just looking for yere experiences and recc's!

Mister Sifter

You looking at playing mainly weekday or weekend? Bit tricky doing it by bus, but i'm sure you'll manage to get something.

St Annes had a good few opens on last year i think, particularly at the end of the year, although i think it was 25 a pop. Donabate have an open every monday, but not sure how close that is to a train station. I'm guessing around 10-15 minute walk.

Bit more of a trek perhaps, but Black Bush have an open every Wednesday (€15) and you could get to that by Bus Eireann.

ShriekingSheet

Yeah €20 is very low for a lot of courses... I'd say you might need to pay more like €25+ if you want to play regularly on decent courses.

Closer to the time, post something in the "arrange a game" thread. Maybe someone coming through town to the open would pick you up. Driving through the city centre at 9am on a Sunday morning is a breeze.

What are you off?

WaldenByThoreua

Mister Sifter wrote: »

You looking at playing mainly weekday or weekend? Bit tricky doing it by bus, but i'm sure you'll manage to get something.

St Annes had a good few opens on last year i think, particularly at the end of the year, although i think it was 25 a pop. Donabate have an open every monday, but not sure how close that is to a train station. I'm guessing around 10-15 minute walk.

Bit more of a trek perhaps, but Black Bush have an open every Wednesday (€15) and you could get to that by Bus Eireann.

Thanks Sifter,
Just had a look at the ole google maps and St Annes could be anice option due to relative proximity.....any info on SS's there or toughness etc?

Donabate could be ideal for a once fortnightly trek or so...its out past my own club so I know the Dart goes there!

Google maps is bringing up a place called Silloge Park Golf Course? Yay or nay?!

f22

limerickmunster wrote: »

Thanks Sifter,
Just had a look at the ole google maps and St Annes could be anice option due to relative proximity.....any info on SS's there or toughness etc?

Donabate could be ideal for a once fortnightly trek or so...its out past my own club so I know the Dart goes there!

Google maps is bringing up a place called Silloge Park Golf Course? Yay or nay?!

Sillogue is a bit of a dive to be honest.

Standard scratch will be dictated by conditions and scoring on the day, the easier the course/conditions the lower the scores so don't get caught up on that one.

Depending on what tees you're playing from, I wouldn't consider St Annes to be easy as it's always breezy as it's a links course.

Aso many courses have semi opens from Spring, Roganstown on a Tuesday, Forrest Little Wednesday, Balcarrick Thurdsday to name a few.

Mister Sifter

limerickmunster wrote: »

Google maps is bringing up a place called Silloge Park Golf Course? Yay or nay?!

It's ok for what is, but it's a pay and play place and as far as i know doesn't run any opens.

Elmgreen is another 'does what it says on the tin' kind of pay and play course and it runs an open every wednesday between April and September for €15 for non members (€4 for members).

A 39 bus would leave you about a 10-15 walk from it, but the SS may be the problem - it's typically 37-38 points for the weekday opens. Have to say though, don't get too caught up with the CSS being high/low as it is high/low for a reason - i.e. difficulty.

Headfort is a good trek for you (Kells), but would be well served by Bus Eireann. Their opens are usually held on Mondays and Saturdays (about one per month peak season) and cost 20 euro, but the SS for visitors i've seen go as low as 33 points. That by no means indicates that it's easier to get cut though, more that the place is realy bloody tough and you'll be doing very well to beat your handicap!!

billy3sheets

Howth http://www.howthgolfclub.ie/
Deerpark http://www.deerpark-hotel.ie/golf

Both within distance of a DART or bus from town.

Mister Sifter

billy3sheets wrote: »

Howth http://www.howthgolfclub.ie/
Deerpark http://www.deerpark-hotel.ie/golf

Both within distance of a DART or bus from town.

Handy for a practice round, but a bit thin on the ground for opens.

WaldenByThoreua

f22 wrote: »

Sillogue is a bit of a dive to be honest.

Standard scratch will be dictated by conditions and scoring on the day, the easier the course/conditions the lower the scores so don't get caught up on that one.

Depending on what tees you're playing from, I wouldn't consider St Annes to be easy as it's always breezy as it's a links course.

Hey F, I'm well aware that SS is dictated by what you've mentioned but in my area at home everyone knows where certain 'soft' courses are with regards to SS, where it hardly ever moves and is a shot or two lower than it should be...this may well not be the case in Dublin but I was just wondering..

Thanks for the St. Annes info..regardless it sounds like a nice course to check out anyway!

WaldenByThoreua

billy3sheets wrote: »

Howth http://www.howthgolfclub.ie/
Deerpark http://www.deerpark-hotel.ie/golf

Both within distance of a DART or bus from town.

Thanks...consulted Howths website...their open week last year didn't seem hectic on open singles!...Sure even if i got one or two out there Id be happy! Consensus is that its not the greatest course though?

f22

limerickmunster wrote: »

Hey F, I'm well aware that SS is dictated by what you've mentioned but in my area at home everyone knows where certain 'soft' courses are with regards to SS, where it hardly ever moves and is a shot or two lower than it should be...this may well not be the case in Dublin but I was just wondering..

Thanks for the St. Annes info..regardless it sounds like a nice course to check out anyway!

Not really to be honest, if it's easy for you it's easy for everyone else. SS is usually dictated by class 1 players so if it's easy for a high handicapper the low guys will rip it apart and CSS will be adjusted accordingly.

Your true handicap will be dictated by playing all courses in varying degrees of difficulty and conditions. Playing "soft" courses as you put it and having what you consider a low handicap doesn't really give a true reflection of anyones true playing ability.

WaldenByThoreua

Mister Sifter wrote: »

It's ok for what is, but it's a pay and play place and as far as i know doesn't run any opens.

Elmgreen is another 'does what it says on the tin' kind of pay and play course and it runs an open every wednesday between April and September for €15 for non members (€4 for members).

A 39 bus would leave you about a 10-15 walk from it, but the SS may be the problem - it's typically 37-38 points for the weekday opens. Have to say though, don't get too caught up with the CSS being high/low as it is high/low for a reason - i.e. difficulty.

Headfort is a good trek for you (Kells), but would be well served by Bus Eireann. Their opens are usually held on Mondays and Saturdays (about one per month peak season) and cost 20 euro, but the SS for visitors i've seen go as low as 33 points. That by no means indicates that it's easier to get cut though, more that the place is realy bloody tough and you'll be doing very well to beat your handicap!!

Good post and info....Elm Green is defo going on the list...I see that Elm Park do golf for students for 14e or the likes...that strikes me as good value for what I understand is a good course..very close to me as well...may become my local for casual and pracrice etc...

Ya I know all about Headfort!! Damn hard but nice!!

WaldenByThoreua

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Yeah €20 is very low for a lot of courses... I'd say you might need to pay more like €25+ if you want to play regularly on decent courses.

Closer to the time, post something in the "arrange a game" thread. Maybe someone coming through town to the open would pick you up. Driving through the city centre at 9am on a Sunday morning is a breeze.

What are you off?

Hey sheet,
Im off four..have been since I was 14 unfortunately!!..

That's a good idea...If that happens I'd prob reciprocate the gesture by getting the person out in my golf club in Dublin, which is pretty nice...

WaldenByThoreua

f22 wrote: »

Not really to be honest, if it's easy for you it's easy for everyone else. SS is usually dictated by class 1 players so if it's easy for a high handicapper the low guys will rip it apart and CSS will be adjusted accordingly.

Your true handicap will be dictated by playing all courses in varying degrees of difficulty and conditions. Playing "soft" courses as you put it and having what you consider a low handicap doesn't really give a true reflection of anyones true playing ability.

I understand that fully. It's a fact that at home theres 1-2 golf courses where SS is 35pts 70% percent of the time and 36 the rest. A lot of my friends go out there and regularly tear it up...SS never moves...I can provide results courtesy of their site if you want...I dont play there for a number of reasons, inlcuding that I usually work on their open day in the summer. The thing is, I've found that a lot of my friends, once they acquired their new lower H'cap, took to it with renewed confidence and a self of entitlement to the H'Cap and subsequently lowered it again. Golf is mental. Confidence grows with success.

A fair few people I knew took it upon themselves to partake in such open singles with massive regularity, shot some decent scores, got cut, and never looked back.....retained the H'caps back at my club then with ease....Of course some of them were practising quite hard but others certainly were not.

WaldenByThoreua

Opens seem to be a little more expensive up here...to be expected I suppose!

WaldenByThoreua

f22 wrote: »

Sillogue is a bit of a dive to be honest.

Standard scratch will be dictated by conditions and scoring on the day, the easier the course/conditions the lower the scores so don't get caught up on that one.

Depending on what tees you're playing from, I wouldn't consider St Annes to be easy as it's always breezy as it's a links course.

Aso many courses have semi opens from Spring, Roganstown on a Tuesday, Forrest Little Wednesday, Balcarrick Thurdsday to name a few.

Cheers F,

FL looks quite nice and its not that far away!

Osgoodisgood

limerickmunster wrote: »

Thanks Sifter,
Donabate could be ideal for a once fortnightly trek or so...its out past my own club so I know the Dart goes there!

It's a good 20 minute walk from the train station. The upside is someone will probably give you lift. The downside is when you get there its still Donabate GC!

f22

limerickmunster wrote: »

Cheers F,

FL looks quite nice and its not that far away!

My home course, you're supposed to play with a member but if you show up you'll never be turned away.

WaldenByThoreua

Osgoodisgood wrote: »

It's a good 20 minute walk from the train station. The upside is someone will probably give you lift. The downside is when you get there its still Donabate GC!

Poor mans links?

PhilipMarlowe

limerickmunster wrote: »

Hey sheet,
Im off four..have been since I was 14 unfortunately!!..

That's a good idea...If that happens I'd prob reciprocate the gesture by getting the person out in my golf club in Dublin, which is pretty nice...

I'd nearly drive up from Kilkenny to give you a lift so as to avail of your offer

Osgoodisgood

limerickmunster wrote: »

Poor mans links?

No it's a parkland. I actually regret writing my earlier post, it was a little harsh. That said, Donabate is a fairly short and featureless course with a super clubhouse. It's ok, it does some great deals but is not somewhere I'd go out of my way to play again.

WaldenByThoreua

Licksy wrote: »

I'd nearly drive up from Kilkenny to give you a lift so as to avail of your offer

You've been trawling Licksy:D!

WaldenByThoreua

Osgoodisgood wrote: »

No it's a parkland. I actually regret writing my earlier post, it was a little harsh. That said, Donabate is a fairly short and featureless course with a super clubhouse. It's ok, it does some great deals but is not somewhere I'd go out of my way to play again.

I see. Think I was confusing it with Corballis from the advertisement that used to be on TV for the two of them! Corballis is the links right? Any good? Cant beat Links golf...

Osgoodisgood

limerickmunster wrote: »

I see. Think I was confusing it with Corballis from the advertisement that used to be on TV for the two of them! Corballis is the links right? Any good? Cant beat Links golf...

It is a links but I haven't played it.