Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links

ThunderCat

I played this course at the weekend for the 2nd time so far this year and maybe my 5th time overall and I have to say this place is growing on me bigtime. What a terrific course. It's does not have spectacular dunes like some of the more dramtic links courses we have here in Ireland but it's a true, tough, gem of a course. I played it in very calm conditions at the weekend and it is still a tough track and it really is all about being on the fairway off the tee here. The rough wasn't that penal but I found that the angle you were coming in to the green from when in the rough meant you had to carry a couple of greenside bunkers that arn't in play from the middle of the fairway. It really is very well designed. And the subtle run-offs from some of the greens are sublime. Look back down at the 10th green from the 11th tee and you'll see what I mean.

Rant over - just a bit of praise for a course I greatly enjoyed. I suspect it would get more attention were it not for it's location next to it's famous neighbour.

AGC

ThunderCat wrote: »

The rough wasn't that penal but I found that the angle you were coming in to the green from when in the rough meant you had to carry a couple of greenside bunkers that arn't in play from the middle of the fairway.

Always find this one of the toughest parts about it. you can split the fairway and not have a hope of getting near a pin if it is close to a bunker.

Can honestly say I have never played it in bad condition unlike it's name sake!

WHIP IT!

+1

One of my favourite courses in the country. Also, you can get it for €30 on teetimes every now and then. Always worth it.

f22

Agree totally, just down the street from where I live. Great test of golf, especially from the championship stakes. For such a small green staff they work wonders.

Kevinmarkham

The word I agree with most is 'tough'. It's definitely under-appreciated and while it is nigh on impossible to get at the flags if you're in the rough - as Thundercat describes - it's the greens that broke my heart. Played it in summer in a DCU alumni outing and everyone was putting off the greens they were so fast and slippery. Not one easy shot, nor one easy hole.

Some photos of the course. It's also worth mentioning the great hotel that's part of the set up.

ThunderCat

f22 wrote: »

Great test of golf, especially from the championship stakes.

The whites were plenty long enough for me but id say its no walk in the park even from the reds!

Anyone spot their replica of "Hell" bunker (14th hole, Old Course St.Andrews) on the par5 13th. Havn't been in it...yet.

Fore Iron

My favourite course by far. There really is three different courses in one. Off the back tees it's a monster with lots of tough drives where you need to hit driver just to have a chance of getting up in two and long iron second shots. It takes time to learn that the holes that have a flag cut behind a bunker are designed to catch the foolish golfers who try to go straight for it! Play to the fat part of the green and take two putts - one if you're really lucky.

Off the whites, it's a gentler but still very tough course. You'll have the option of 3 wood or 3 iron off the tee on a few more holes though and shorter seconds to those tough pins.

Off the greens, the course is comparitively easy. All par threes are substantially shorter (the 3rd is just 165 yards versus 220 from the new Blue tees) and it makes for a totally different feel to the place. You could happily leave your driver in the bag all the way around.

Blue Tees 7,100 yards or so, Whites are 6,545 and Greens 6,150. All at par 71. Not many course will give you that much diference between three different tees.

Tis a great place!!

ThunderCat

Fore Iron wrote: »

Blue Tees 7,100 yards or so, Whites are 6,545 and Greens 6,150. All at par 71. Not many course will give you that much diference between three different tees.

Tis a great place!!

Thanks for the reply Fore Iron. I must double check the scorecard they gave me but im almost certain playing off the whites was down as 6200+ metres on the card making it 6800+ yards. I know the scorecard on their website has it as less than what im suggesting but perhaps they moved a few of the white tees around a bit. I'll check it out later anyway.

stockdam

It's a nice course and has some good holes where you need to work the ball. I played some good golf but still didn't score well; for instance I had a beezer drive on the last and then pushed a wedge that ended up in an almost impossible place behind a bunker. I'll be back for more.

Fore Iron

ThunderCat wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Fore Iron. I must double check the scorecard they gave me but im almost certain playing off the whites was down as 6200+ metres on the card making it 6800+ yards. I know the scorecard on their website has it as less than what im suggesting but perhaps they moved a few of the white tees around a bit. I'll check it out later anyway.

I think you're right actually. They have a few new Blue Tees over the last few years too. Firend of mine says it's actually now 6,700 meters from the back, making about 7,300 yards, so your whites at 6,800 sounds about right....

Golfgraffix

As a member of the club it is nice to hear the positive comments, up until I joined last year I had only played it a few times and thought it ok. My company did some work there last year and we had to survey the course it was only when i got into the sub metre contours that i realised how subtle the greens and run off areas are, very cleverly crafted.

The new tee box on 1 makes it much nicer driving hole, well elevated with a nice view of the course, also brings the nearer corner of the water into play just in front of the green.

There is a new green going in on the par 5 13th which will push the hole to 600 yards, had a look last week and it looks very nice.

Although it is known as being a flat links it is in fact quite undulating, i think this pic really shows this. Its a colou coded height map from our survey. http://www.golfgraffix.com/Portmarnock.jpg

BTW, there is a semi open every Wed and it is only $30 to play, if anyone is every interested I play most weeks at 9.30 and there is usually a spot or two in our group available.

J

stockdam

Yes it certainly has quite a lot of small hills. Overall it is "flat" but not around the greens. I think I got caught out on the 2nd hole. I hit a very good drive and only had a short iron into the green. I hit the shot quite well but got a bit of draw on the ball which then was exaggerated by the wind. The ball just missed the left hand side of the back of the green but hit a downslope. I ended up about 40 yards from the hole in the rough after what wasn't that bad a shot; next time I'll make sure that my misses are not on the downwind side of the green.

The_Architect

Golfgraffix wrote: »

As a member of the club it is nice to hear the positive comments, up until I joined last year I had only played it a few times and thought it ok. My company did some work there last year and we had to survey the course it was only when i got into the sub metre contours that i realised how subtle the greens and run off areas are, very cleverly crafted.

The new tee box on 1 makes it much nicer driving hole, well elevated with a nice view of the course, also brings the nearer corner of the water into play just in front of the green.

There is a new green going in on the par 5 13th which will push the hole to 600 yards, had a look last week and it looks very nice.

Although it is known as being a flat links it is in fact quite undulating, i think this pic really shows this. Its a colou coded height map from our survey. http://www.golfgraffix.com/Portmarnock.jpg

BTW, there is a semi open every Wed and it is only $30 to play, if anyone is every interested I play most weeks at 9.30 and there is usually a spot or two in our group available.

J

Hi J,
Who did the new 13th green?
It was a very flat course before construction. The main dune ridge was the only real elevation change. The second ridge was entirely man-made.
I like the course quite a lot. Some of the bunkering is a little safe in places and the raised greens become a bit monotonous but those small complaints aside, it is a very enjoyable round.
Favourite hole = 15th

Golfgraffix

The_Architect wrote: »

Hi J,
Who did the new 13th green?
Favourite hole = 15th

Not sure as was not envolved this time but I think it was all done in house.

Have to agree on 15, I am always surprised to see so many people hit driver, I do love a hole with plenty of options off the tee.

J

ThunderCat

Yea 15 is a great hole. Love the two fairway bunkers in the centre. The approach to 15 is a killer from the right of the bunkers because the slope at the front right of the green kicks everything to the back.
Think my favourite is 10, but there are many favourites on that course.