K Club

In_tuition

Playing the Palmer Ryder Cup Course in a golf classic next week and was hoping for some helpful insights into plotting my around (to a victory hopefully)

Do's & Dont's from anyone who has played the course would be appreciated.

Kevinmarkham

The good thing about the Palmer course (pics) is the variety of the holes. Fairways are generous and the rough isn't too long. There are plenty of distance markers on the sprinkler heads (so unless you're concerned about distance off the tee or what's around the greens, you don't need a Strokesaver). There are three holes where you may not want to hit a driver (11, 13, 17), but other than that it's a great driving course.

Lots of water and four excellent par fives that promise some tough decisions for your second shots. Personally, what stands out are the very tough approaches - usually affected by water (14 if memory serves).

You'll have a cracking time if it's not too boggy

In_tuition

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

The good thing about the Palmer course (pics) is the variety of the holes. Fairways are generous and the rough isn't too long. There are plenty of distance markers on the sprinkler heads (so unless you're concerned about distance off the tee or what's around the greens, you don't need a Strokesaver). There are three holes where you may not want to hit a driver (11, 13, 17), but other than that it's a great driving course.

Lots of water and four excellent par fives that promise some tough decisions for your second shots. Personally, what stands out are the very tough approaches - usually affected by water (14 if memory serves).

You'll have a cracking time if it's not too boggy

Just what I needed Kevin. Excellent advice (hopefully!).

Thanks for taking the time to post and linking the photos. Appreciate it.

Miley Byrne

I played there last monday and the fairways were like carpets. But the bunkers were very shabby. The hadn't been raked and were rock hard. It wasn't much of a problem in the fairway ones but around the greens it was almost impossible to hit out of them. Try to avoid them would be my advice! The greens were good but looked quicker than they actually were.

In_tuition

denisoc16 wrote: »

I played there last monday and the fairways were like carpets. But the bunkers were very shabby. The hadn't been raked and were rock hard. It wasn't much of a problem in the fairway ones but around the greens it was almost impossible to hit out of them. Try to avoid them would be my advice! The greens were good but looked quicker than they actually were.

Cheers for the heads up mate. Appreciate the reply.

In_tuition

denisoc16 wrote: »

I played there last monday and the fairways were like carpets. But the bunkers were very shabby. The hadn't been raked and were rock hard. It wasn't much of a problem in the fairway ones but around the greens it was almost impossible to hit out of them. Try to avoid them would be my advice! The greens were good but looked quicker than they actually were.

The greenside bunkers are a disgrace.

Very disappointed also with the locker rooms.

The greens ran fairly average like you said. Found myself with a lot of gently breaking right putts which gave me great confidence on the greens. Holed some beautiful 20ft putts which included back-to-back birdies on 17 & 18 Also made a nice par on index 2 16th par 5. Had 15 foot putt for birdie also there. Nice way to finish and had me in a daze for the rest of the night.

As Kevin mentioned above it's a delightful driving course. Extremely tricky in places, fierce wind into the face on the 7th with narrow fairway. That was the toughest test of the day.

I would not pay the asking price though for a green fee for a one off round at the course. Thankfully my day was free of charge. It's not a course I would get really excited about although for many year's it's been one place high on my list to challenge.

Miley Byrne

Ya, I had been looking forward to playing it for a long while. Now, while I enjoyed it alright, I thought that it would have been much more impressive. And I admit that it is hard to judge a golf course having played it only once but I would rate Adare over it. I have played Adare 6 or 7 times, fair enough, but if I had a choice in the morning I would pick Adare.




The bunkers obviously hadn't improved since I played there a couple of weeks ago so? That's a pity because they were very poor and made it impossible to get up & down out of them.

In_tuition

denisoc16 wrote: »

The bunkers obviously hadn't improved since I played there a couple of weeks ago so? That's a pity because they were very poor and made it impossible to get up & down out of them.

I took your previous post on board before teeing up yesterday and expressed it to my playing partners also. I ended up in just one bunker on the 12th. As you say impossible to get up and down.

So yes they have not improved over that space of time. I'd be fuming if I paid €175 to play the course and witness bunkers like those.

Very poor is actually an understatement. They are totally sh*t.

heavyballs

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

The good thing about the Palmer course (pics) is the variety of the holes. Fairways are generous and the rough isn't too long. There are plenty of distance markers on the sprinkler heads (so unless you're concerned about distance off the tee or what's around the greens, you don't need a Strokesaver). There are three holes where you may not want to hit a driver (11, 13, 17), but other than that it's a great driving course.

Lots of water and four excellent par fives that promise some tough decisions for your second shots. Personally, what stands out are the very tough approaches - usually affected by water (14 if memory serves).

You'll have a cracking time if it's not too boggy

i'm just going from memory here Kevin but did write in your book that there were a couple of ordinary holes in the k club
i'm not having a go at all i just loved it,every hole made you think ,very enjoyable,better than Mount Juliet imo,not as good as Adare

hit a drive and a 6i into 12 feet on the index 1 into a very strong wind,that was my highlight,needles to say i missed the put
like the rest i agree the gs bunkers are a joke .

Tin_Cup

Anyone played the Palmer recently?? Assume it's pretty wet in places. Playing in the morn in an open four ball?

Tones69

Tin_Cup wrote: »

Anyone played the Palmer recently?? Assume it's pretty wet in places. Playing in the morn in an open four ball?

Played 2 weeks ago, was plugging in fairways off drives, nuff said!

redhill

The bunkers have being a disgrace for over 2 years now, I actually took photos of some of the worst my 4ball had to suffer and sent a letter to them, went unanswered.... They were like utter concrete, and I played in spring and summer. The money isn't being spent on the course any more, they've had the RC & European open etc and the course is living on its old reputation. Lough Erne is miles better than it all round as a golf experience at this moment in time