Golf in Galway

TheRiddler

Hey guys,

I'm going down to Portumna for a week and I'm bringing the clubs with me. I'm gonna play Portumna GC but is there any other good courses nearby or driving ranges? They can't be too far because I don't know the area that well.

Thanks.

carrick76

Gort and Loughrea are decent courses nearby. Portuma probably the best though

stumpypeeps

Birr is about 25 mins from Portumna, its a very good course. Nenagh wouldn't be too far either, again its a good course.

BiffoGooner

Birr has a good driving range and a great shop too.

There's a lovely 9 hole course about 3 minutes from Portumna GC that I play regularly.Grand place if you're stuck.

Tom Ghostwood

Roscrea GC is in great shape. Played 9 holes on Saturday. Best greens! Half hour from Portumna & open day every wednesday.

Loughrea is in great shape too - also open day every Wednesday.

I heard Birr greens are awful at the moment. Great driving range & pro shop though.

Webbs

If you go a little further you could go for Galway Bay it has to be the best track in Connacht. With a bit of haggling am sure you could get a decent green fee price

Kevinmarkham

I'd definitely recommend Gort. Birr is something a bit different and tricky, with all those eskers to roll up and over. The new holes are supposed to be good and relieve the tightness that was there before.

Roscrea is nice, Loughrea has a great finish and Nenagh is pure country. Galway Bay would be the plush course in the area, but honestly, you might well find you want to play Portumna twice. I know I would.

Other possibilities are Athenry (a good, solid track), Cregmore Park and the tight, short, lethal, poor quality, but still entertaining Curra West

Kevin11

Played Cregmore on Saturday. Its in good shape (the course not my game!!).
Another you could think about in Ballinasloe. Close enough to Portumna.
15euro mid week
The difficult but excellent Hudson bay in Athlone is only about 40mins away.
You have plenty of choice OP

Swingguru

Webbs wrote: »

If you go a little further you could go for Galway Bay it has to be the best track in Connacht. With a bit of haggling am sure you could get a decent green fee price

Is that not a bit extreme? Rosses Point, Carne, Enniscrone.....?

Webbs

Swingguru wrote: »

Is that not a bit extreme? Rosses Point, Carne, Enniscrone.....?

Oops meant to put South Connacht. still i do think its up there with the best of them.

flugel

Webbs wrote: »

If you go a little further you could go for Galway Bay it has to be the best track in Connacht. With a bit of haggling am sure you could get a decent green fee price

+1 for galway bay. great layout. They really pi$$ing me off lately tho, advertised an open fortnight that didnt go ahead, and they have / had up on GUI open fridays, which aint going ahead, for now anyways. Such a waste of a good course with a great location so close to the city!

Killed

Mountbellew is much improved with the addition of 9 holes last year. About an hours drive from Portumna. Much more interesting than the likes of Cregmore and €20 green fee. Open comp every Friday €15. http://www.mountbellewgolfclub.com/

paddy132132

+1 gort lovely place .....

BraveDonut

Is Galway Bay the one out by Oranmore?
Playing there on Saturday.

Davd

Yep, Galway bay is out by Oranmore. Played it 4 weeks ago, in pretty good shape, fast and deceptive greens but the rough is very long and was down about 4 balls after it. Pretty challanging especially as its exposed to the elements and nearly always a good wind blowing...

BenEadir

I'm heading to Galway for two nights (June 27th and 28th) and looking for a good course to play on Monday the 27th with my pal. We're both >40 and +/-20 h'caps.

Galways bay seems to be the best option in terms of quality of course and location but Cregmore was also mentioned as being good value. I don't want to save €20 and end up playing a lower quality course or spending time getting there.

Can anyone with knowledge compare and contrast Galway Bay Vs Cregmore in terms of course quality and value for money? Neither of us have GUI handicaps so we need to just 'pay and play'. I've heard that Galway Bay doesn't allow that??

Cheers

BenEadir

Webbs

BenEadir wrote: »

I'm heading to Galway for two nights (June 27th and 28th) and looking for a good course to play on Monday the 27th with my pal. We're both >40 and +/-20 h'caps.

Galways bay seems to be the best option in terms of quality of course and location but Cregmore was also mentioned as being good value. I don't want to save €20 and end up playing a lower quality course or spending time getting there.

Can anyone with knowledge compare and contrast Galway Bay Vs Cregmore in terms of course quality and value for money? Neither of us have GUI handicaps so we need to just 'pay and play'. I've heard that Galway Bay doesn't allow that??

Cheers

BenEadir

As you mentioned Galway Bay is a really great links like track, so if the wind is blowing at all make sure you have a few balls with you! The views from the course are stunning and is always in immaculate condition
Cregmore is a completely different course being a flat parkland course, its in great nick at the moment, course is looking good and is a decent challenge (only one broke 70nett on the inter/junior cup weekend I believe).
If your off around 20hcp then I think Cregmore would be your better bet and also a much warmer welcome.

BENDYBINN

Webbs wrote: »

As you mentioned Galway Bay is a really great links like track, so if the wind is blowing at all make sure you have a few balls with you! The views from the course are stunning and is always in immaculate condition
Cregmore is a completely different course being a flat parkland course, its in great nick at the moment, course is looking good and is a decent challenge (only one broke 70nett on the inter/junior cup weekend I believe).
If your off around 20hcp then I think Cregmore would be your better bet and also a much warmer welcome.

No comparison played galway bay on saturday. possibly one of the top three courses in ireland Got out for 35euro no gui handicap required
Great value

Webbs

BENDYBINN wrote: »

No comparison played galway bay on saturday. possibly one of the top three courses in ireland Got out for 35euro no gui handicap required
Great value

For that money agree is fantastic value, as I have said elsewhere I too think Galway Bay is one of Irelands best courses

thelongfellow

Galway Bay is a really excellent course-still there is no way it's in the top 3 in Ireland. The regular fees at €65 are far too steep. You'd be able to play Cregmore for €20 but Cregmore hasn't had the money pumped into it that Galway Bay has. It still has a lot to offer and is one of the top courses in the West. Galway Bay has been messing people around alot lately claiming they are having open days and then cancelling them at the last minute...

If your up early you could always consider heading out to Connemara. It's about an hour and a half from Galway but what a course.

Mayoegian

Oughterard is a great golf course-beautiful scenery and everything. Athenry is also good. There are so many golf courses on the outskirts of the city-you'll be spoilt with choice!;)

Corvin

I have moved to Galway. Do they offer golf lessons for beginners at the golf club here? Or some teacher who could be recommanded? I mean I do not want to buy all the equipment at the moment. First I want to find out if I really like it but I am very interested.

death1234567

Corvin wrote: »

I have moved to Galway. Do they offer golf lessons for beginners at the golf club here? Or some teacher who could be recommanded? I mean I do not want to buy all the equipment at the moment. First I want to find out if I really like it but I am very interested.

There's a good golf instrutor in Oranmore but I'm not sure if he can provide you with clubs. Mullaney or something like that is his name

carrick76

Tom Mullarney, used to be in oranmore, he is in salthill now across from devon Park.

Had lesson the other week, he is very good, very much into the mechanics which i like. He sorted out my grip which i thought was good but minor change has made huge difference. He is 70euro an hour so not cheap. Not sure who would be best for a beginner.

Also played Galway bay in Oranmore yesterday, its in fine condition but it is an incredible test. very enjoyable but cregmore might be better for high handicappers. Depends if you dont mind losing a few balls and running up some big numbers.

Doc Daneeka

Cregmore is a pretty basic golf course. Reasonably well kept but not very many memorable holes. Impossible to lose a golf ball there though so that's a plus.

Doc Daneeka

@Corvin Call into Golf Style and ask about a lesson there. There's a pro works there and gives lessons, can't remember his name but found him quite good on a lesson recently.

Webbs

Doc Daneeka wrote: »

Cregmore is a pretty basic golf course. Reasonably well kept but not very many memorable holes. Impossible to lose a golf ball there though so that's a plus.

You obviously havent played in last few weeks as is now in great nick and the rough is getting back to where it was intended after been cut down over the winter and no growth for months. Is a real test off the back tees as scratch cups showed.

Doc Daneeka

Webbs wrote: »

You obviously havent played in last few weeks as is now in great nick and the rough is getting back to where it was intended after been cut down over the winter and no growth for months. Is a real test off the back tees as scratch cups showed.

Played it about 4/5 weeks ago. Will play again soon and post a revised review if warranted. Regardless of condition, it is hard for it to justify claims of being a championship course.

Mr. Rager

Mayoegian wrote: »

Oughterard is a great golf course-beautiful scenery and everything. Athenry is also good. There are so many golf courses on the outskirts of the city-you'll be spoilt with choice!;)

Ya oughterard is a great course and is very cheap for a green fee, about e20/25 i think. Only about 25 minutes from galway city.