Golf Club Visitors

artvandelay48

Hi All,
I have Canadian relatives coming over in July for our wedding and they are keen to play on some Irish golf courses. How difficult is it to get in to some clubs? Ideally, they would like to play some of the more famous Irish clubs, Portmarnock, K Club, Ballybunion (cost permitting of course). How difficult is it to get a tee time as a visitor in these clubs?
Also, could anyone recommend decent, value-for-money courses in the Dublin and west Waterford/east cork areas for visting players?
Thanks in advance,
Art

dnjoyce

If you pay the going rate then I'd imagine it will be very easy to get times on those courses assuming you ring a good bit in advance. Money talks at those places and due to their international appeal they are (in my opinion) ridiculously overpriced. European club is a better, (slightly) cheaper alternative to portmarnock and druids glen is a better course (again imho) than the k club, but of course the ryder cup wasn't held in druids glen :-)
Cork Golf club and Foto Island are crackers but not sure they would be close enough to your wedding destination.

scubakid

Nothing wrong with Cobh's new course either

IITYWYBMAD

Have a look at www.teetimes.ie

1967

In west Waterford you can play the three Dungarvan courses,Dungarvan,West Waterford & Gold Coast they do a special offer called the Dungarvan triangle where you play the three courses for €69 excellent value for three fine courses just go onto www.dungarvangolfclub.com and follow the link for the deal.

supermac

1967 wrote: »

In west Waterford you can play the three Dungarvan courses,Dungarvan,West Waterford & Gold Coast they do a special offer called the Dungarvan triangle where you play the three courses for €69 excellent value for three fine courses just go onto www.dungarvangolfclub.com and follow the link for the deal.

my thoughts exactly, you couldn,t find better value.

killbillvol2

There's also a pass for Waterford Castle, Faithlegg and Mount Juliet for €123 which I think is excellent value.

Another option would be open days. Should be plenty of choice in July.

Kevinmarkham

Art, as has been said already, you'll have no trouble getting them onto the big courses this year - prices have come down a big chunk and the tourists aren't coming.

Is the plan for them to arrive in Dublin and drive to West Waterford for the wedding? The comments made by dnjoyce about The European and Druid's Glen are spot on (Druid's Glen didn't host the Ryder Cup, but did host the Irish Open for 3 years), and both are in Co. Wicklow, so very convenient. Others I'd recommend are West Waterford and Gold Coast - both already mentioned - and also Courtown and Rosslare (both in Wexford), Waterford Castle (you have to catch a small ferry across to the island), Tramore and Castlemartyr - but there are loads of other courses in between, including Woodenbridge, Carlow and Mount Juliet. The list is endless, it all depends on what they want to play and how far they want to go.

K

artvandelay48

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Is the plan for them to arrive in Dublin and drive to West Waterford for the wedding?

K

Kev and others, thanks for the great suggestions.

They would be flying in to dublin so the plan would be to play near dublin and then anywhere on the way to west waterford. I was thinking of putting together a list of marquee places (realising that they would cost big bucks) and a list of more affordable courses that would be decent and maybe something different to the parkland courses they are used to playing back home.

niallo32

I'd recommend the Dungarvan Golf triangle too - excellent value for three good courses.

artvandelay48

niallo32 wrote: »

I'd recommend the Dungarvan Golf triangle too - excellent value for three good courses.

yeah, the Dungarvan Triangle and the Mount Juliet/FaithLegg/Waterford Castle trifectas look to be great options and great value...

PhilipMarlowe

Carlow would be different enough in that it's inland but I wouldn't describe it as parkland. It's more than decent, won't cost a lot and is only 5 minutes off the (dublin to waterford) motorway. As an alternative suggestion, maybe play a links in Dublin first.... Carlow on the way down, then send them west to The Old Head in Kinsale?
That said, you won't go wrong with the earlier suggestions either.

vedwards

artvandelay48 wrote: »

yeah, the Dungarvan Triangle and the Mount Juliet/FaithLegg/Waterford Castle trifectas look to be great options and great value...

TRIFECTAS: A bet which is won by correctly selecting in the correct order the first three finishers in a race . But nice word; just had to look it up :Dartvandelay48

spacecoyote

I'd say check out the Kevin Markham book, it should provide you with all the info you need!

[no need for thanks for the plug ]

boardlog

The dungarvan triangle is a good option, several great value courses in waterford, if they are into coastal courses tramore just up the road has its new holes open, Dunmore east is well worth a visit if your in the area great scenery and golf

mike12

Hi,
I think if i was coming from Canada I would want to play links courses not parkland if they want to play a lot of courses i'd go
Portmarnock Links the hotel for about €40 now
Maybe County Louth(Baltray) hosted last years Irish Open
Seapoint both a bit north of Dublin
The Island
European Club
More Expensive
Portmarnock old Links
Royal Dublin
http://www.top100golfcourses.co.uk/htmlsite/country4.asp?id=4
They are doing good deals at both Carton house and Druids Glen if they want to play Parkland courses stay overnight and play both courses.
Mike