Anyone played Concra Woods recently?

Lad GAGA

Thinking of heading up there for a game in a couple of weeks and was wondering has anyone played there recently and what did they think of it. Most, if not all, previous posters seemed to have very positive views on it and it looks spectacular from its website.

elbows666

I haven't played it but anyone I know who has said it was fantastic

carnsoreboxer

Played there last Sunday week, 4th time!

If you remember it was an absolutely stunning day and as usual the course was in superb condition with the sun shining. I have also played in poor weather and it is still a superb course.

Clubhouse is open, however only soup and sandwiches on offer.

No strokesaver but DMD's are allowed and an advantage. The flyover on website is worth looking at.

Enjoy hope to get up again before winter comes

Smyth

Was at it last week. Great condition.

Make sure you're hitting the ball long and straight though. Can't enjoy it otherwise.

I suppose that depends on what level you're playing at.

gawoo1012

Lad GAGA wrote: »

Thinking of heading up there for a game in a couple of weeks and was wondering has anyone played there recently and what did they think of it. Most, if not all, previous posters seemed to have very positive views on it and it looks spectacular from its website.

Hey, I'm a member of Concra Wood and I would be naturally biased in stating that it is one of the best parkland courses around. I have played with several visitors recently in Open Comps and I tend to feed off their reaction which has always been genuinely positive. The course is in great nick at the moment.

There should be stroksavers as I have one from last year but if not here is a general guide:
1.) Keep your drive left of the bunker. There is more room left than you think off the tee. Hit a rescue or mid iron down to the flat near the green which leaves a simple chip on.
2.) Aim just left of the fairway bunker on the right. 2nd shot is all carry to a raised green. 2nd shots into the green tend to gather back left.
3.) Drive and wedge
4.) If you connect well with your drive, you can take it over the corner and the ball will feed out into the fairway. Aim your 2nd shot towards the fairway bunker on the right. Ball will feed down and leave a wedge into the green...Don't go left with your 2nd shot (even left half of the fairway)
5.) Needs a straight drive. 2nd shot will feed in from the right
6.) Par 3...hit the green
7.) Generous landing area for drive. 2nd shot is generally 1 more club than you think
8.) Aim for the tree on the left and again take plenty of club for 2nd
9.) PAr 3...stay out of the bunkers. 3 tiered green
10.) Don't take driver...4-5 iron to the edge of the hill and mid iron in
11.) Most drives end up on the right semi. Keep right and take plenty of club for your second as anything on the front edge will feed into the bunker. 2 tiered green
12.) Par 3...stay right
13.) Aim to the right of the bunker. Rescue club over the water and short iron in.
14.) Par 3....ball does feed in from the left side of the green which takes the water and bunker out of play
15.) Don't be too ambitious with your tee shot. The bunker on the right is a 250 yd carry. Mid iron and chip on.
16.) Toughest hole IMO....there is more room on the left off the tee than you think. 2nd shot needs to be accurate but favour the left as right is trouble. Also take plenty of club for your second
17.) Drive must be on the right half of the fairway as anything left feeds into thickish rough. Green slops from left to right
18.) Straight drive required. 2nd shot into 2 tiered green. There is a full club difference between front and back of green

Enjoy

1916

^^^^ Good review to a good course, just hope they have tarmac'd the roadway in

Perhaps you could copy your post entry to the "Course Review" sticky

darraghjm

Played in the open on tuesday the 17th of August, thought it was a super course, some great holes on it, and thats a good little guide to the course given above. we bought a strokesaver, so they do have them. Have a look at the overhead viewer on the website, but be warned it doesn't show you how hilly the course is. Every hole is up or down a hill or sometimes both, but some great holes, just be prepared for some walking.

Only thing I would say about the course on the day was it was very sandy, nearly every fairway was covered in sand, they must be getting the course ready for the winter.

They seem to still be working on the entrance as it just looks like a building site when your coming off the mainroad.

gawoo1012

darraghjm wrote: »

Played in the open on tuesday the 17th of August, thought it was a super course, some great holes on it, and thats a good little guide to the course given above. we bought a strokesaver, so they do have them. Have a look at the overhead viewer on the website, but be warned it doesn't show you how hilly the course is. Every hole is up or down a hill or sometimes both, but some great holes, just be prepared for some walking.

Only thing I would say about the course on the day was it was very sandy, nearly every fairway was covered in sand, they must be getting the course ready for the winter.

They seem to still be working on the entrance as it just looks like a building site when your coming off the mainroad.

Glad you enjoyed it Darragh. The sanding is necessary as they want to get the course in the best shape possible as we are hsoting a leg of the Irish PGA tour. There are over 100 pros due to play. I played last Saturday and the sand has been well and truly washed in. Hopefully the roadway will be done soon...there has been more than one false dawn around this issue!!

Lad GAGA

Thanks for the info folks, especially the hole by hole analysis/advice from gawoo1012, it confirms all I've previously read about the course. I'm going up in a couple of weeks so really looking forward to it now, I'll report back afterwards.
Thanks again.

Lad GAGA

Just back from playing Concra earlier today. A fantastic course, greens, fairways in great condition. Every hole is different, plenty of water in play on most holes, fairways are pretty generous, so if your hitting the ball straight you should be ok. Played very well which always helps, pretty long course, took 4 of us the guts of 5 hours to complete, so should sleep well tonight!! Would definitely recommend anyone to visit and will be back but probably not until next year. They still have work to do to complete and the road in doesn't look like being started/finished anytime soon but as a pure golfing experience it was one of the best courses I have played.

nottooxabi

I've only heard good reports... the website has a nice hole by hole fly over