Strandhill GC

irish_man

One word... Outstanding! Played this week in the open week and somehow managed to get lucky with the weather with only a few light showers.

The up keep of the course at the moment is right up there and I would say, in all due respect in better nick than Murvagh which is a bold statement.

Ok not the longest in the world but when you want a nice enjoyable round, in a scenic setting with loads of fun shots to play I would definitely suggest playing there.

Starts with a bland enough par 5, then par 3 but it really cranks up a level on the par 4 4th, with the second shot being crucial, no prizes for being short with three horrible bunkers waiting. The tee shot on the 5th is elevated, giving a great view and the shot is the shed in the distance, if anyone has played there the fairway on the 5th will really stick in the memory being truly links with so many bumps and hallows. 7th is another cracking tee shot. The middle holes are a little mediocre.

The back nine are most certainly tougher, notable holes being 12, 13 with a blind tee shot into the smallest of gap to a tiny green, 15 again another good tee shot with the second shot important to get up on the green or you'll run right down. The 18th being the toughest on the course, long when the wind is against.

It's one of those courses that you remember every hole when walking off the course. Granted it would not be rated as good as close neighbour Rosses Point but a great course none the less and really worth playing. Green fees are a lot more reasonable than other links courses in the Sligo/donegal area.

Sligored

thanks irishman , glad you enjoyed the course.

FixdePitchmark

irish_man wrote: »

One word... Outstanding! Played this week in the open week and somehow managed to get lucky with the weather with only a few light showers.

The up keep of the course at the moment is right up there and I would say, in all due respect in better nick than Murvagh which is a bold statement.

Ok not the longest in the world but when you want a nice enjoyable round, in a scenic setting with loads of fun shots to play I would definitely suggest playing there.

Starts with a bland enough par 5, then par 3 but it really cranks up a level on the par 4 4th, with the second shot being crucial, no prizes for being short with three horrible bunkers waiting. The tee shot on the 5th is elevated, giving a great view and the shot is the shed in the distance, if anyone has played there the fairway on the 5th will really stick in the memory being truly links with so many bumps and hallows. 7th is another cracking tee shot. The middle holes are a little mediocre.

The back nine are most certainly tougher, notable holes being 12, 13 with a blind tee shot into the smallest of gap to a tiny green, 15 again another good tee shot with the second shot important to get up on the green or you'll run right down. The 18th being the toughest on the course, long when the wind is against.

It's one of those courses that you remember every hole when walking off the course. Granted it would not be rated as good as close neighbour Rosses Point but a great course none the less and really worth playing. Green fees are a lot more reasonable than other links courses in the Sligo/donegal area.

Had a strange experience up there, it was the 90's and they were playing night golf with a crazy glowing ball. -- My impression, but it was a young impression was that they were the forgotten ugly Corr sister of the yeats country,

Now, what I mean is, it was a class place, but you just happen to have Enniscrone and Rosses points as your sisters.


I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade

ThunderCat

Yea I agree, it's a really fun place to play and even though you might make a mess of a few of the holes, you wont be too dissapointed as the shots that are asked of you are...well, fun - regardless of the outcome. The tee shot on 5 and approach on 16 (i think) spring to mind as do many others. There are some holes there that you wont see anywhere else as other courses try to be more traditional and normal in their layout and routing. Some of the views are terrific and although the holes around the turn feel a bit confined and suffer in quality as a result, it doesnt really detract from the experience. Granted nearby Rosses Point is the better course but other "neighbours" such as Enniscrone and Murvagh are a fair bit away, so you could do far worse than spend a weekend in Sligo playing here and Rosses Point. You may even like Strandhill better. Highlights for me were 6,7 and 16.

Kevinmarkham

ThunderCat wrote: »

The tee shot on 5 and approach on 16 (i think) spring to mind as do many others.

Highlights for me were 6,7 and 16.

I suspect you're thinking of the steep uphill approach to 15 [photo], not 16. A beauty and a terror of a hole, but what sets Strandhill apart is the design that no 'designer' would associate himself with which makes them, in a word, unique. Some eccentric holes, but all of them absolute beauties. I'll add holes 4, 5, 13 and 14 to your list, Thundercat.

Photos here

The_Architect

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

...but what sets Strandhill apart is the design that no 'designer' would associate himself with which makes them, in a word, unique.

This sound interesting, Kevin. Do tell?

I think No.4 is a weak hole personally but I do love Strandhill. Some of the natural green undulations are amongst the best in Ireland. It's the tabletops that are less interesting.

Highlights for me: 5, 6, 8, 14, 16

Whyner

irish_man wrote: »

13 with a blind tee shot into the smallest of gap to a tiny green

Nicknamed "The Vagina"

Jimmy Two Times

Agree, lovely course.

Played Strandhill, Co. Sligo and Enniscrone in April for the grand total of €118 with the " Links Pass " or something.

Savage value but dunno if it's still available.

cackhanded

Jimmy Two Times wrote: »

Agree, lovely course.

Played Strandhill, Co. Sligo and Enniscrone in April for the grand total of €118 with the " Links Pass " or something.

Savage value but dunno if it's still available.

It is, heading up with a group of 16 to play those 3 (plus Castle Dargan) second week in September. Can't wait, especially after looking through Kevin's pics.

Kevinmarkham

Jimmy Two Times wrote: »

Agree, lovely course.

Played Strandhill, Co. Sligo and Enniscrone in April for the grand total of €118 with the " Links Pass " or something.

Savage value but dunno if it's still available.

It's still available - I have the flyer with me - it implies that it's available all year round (Monday - Friday)

Kevinmarkham

The_Architect wrote: »

This sound interesting, Kevin. Do tell?

Do you mean my comment about the unique design, or that the design is one that no 'designer' would associate himself with?

If the former, then Strandhill as I'm sure you know, was laid out by the members without being encumbered by classic design principles. Which makes for one quirky and thrilling golf course.

If the latter, I don't think there are many golf architects who would be brave enough to 'push the envelope' to produce some of the intriguing things that Strandhill has created: holes 4, 5, 13 and 15 spring to mind, not to mention the mountainous finishing hole.

CaptainPendulum

I love Strandhill. I usually get to play it 2 or 3 times a year when up in Sligo and usually the day after playing Rosses Point. Unique holes all over the place. My favourite hole is the 6th. A dogleg right and as you walk up to your ball the ocean starts appearing over the hill...glorious scenery. If I remember correctly the opening hole used to be the index 1 par 4, but they've made it into short par 5 now...preferred it as a par 4. Broke 80 for the first time there too in calm conditions, so it holds a special place in my heart!

The_Architect

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

If the latter, I don't think there are many golf architects who would be brave enough to 'push the envelope' to produce some of the intriguing things that Strandhill has created: holes 4, 5, 13 and 15 spring to mind, not to mention the mountainous finishing hole.

One man's brave is another man's poor design.

Taking them one by one:

4 is a forced hole with a poor shelf green and a tee that has been taken back from the previous green in order to create an artificial short par-4. Safety hazard and extended walk is the result. Would be much better as a par-3 with green redone.

5 is a great hole and as natural as they come. There was nothing done with this hole so an architect would need no bravery to "create" it. It's a question of whether they would have routed it over that land in the first place or whether they would have been tempted to actually alter and soften the fairway mounding. Many would have done too much on this hole so from that point of view, I agree with you here.

13 is poor design with a green that is too small and creates maintenance, access and playability issues. I agree that almost all architects would not have created it. However, I'm quite fond of it and it does work as something quirky and different. I'll give you this one too.

15 I see no reason why a designer wouldn't have created the exact same hole. They just would have created a more interesting green too. So I'm not giving you this one.

18 most architects would have tried to route it without the tee shot facing the maintenance sheds.

All in all, I think you have made a point which would hold up partially. However, I'd contend that most of these quirks were not "pushing the envelope" and more lack of experience in design.

ThunderCat

The_Architect wrote: »

4 is a forced hole with a poor shelf green and a tee that has been taken back from the previous green in order to create an artificial short par-4. Safety hazard and extended walk is the result. Would be much better as a par-3 with green redone.

Yea I agree with you there, the bunkering just short of the green is too uniform to look natural - all the same size, shape, and all in a row. Suppose it serves a purpose as you need to reach the high ground of the 5th tee but thats an interesting idea to go with a par 3 there instead. Im no expert but personally speaking, if it was to be a par 3, id like to see the tee box pushed as close to the course boundry on the left as possible and the green moved to the right a touch so that you are left with an uphill, diagonal par 3. The wind coming off the top of the dune behind the green would cause havock with the tee shot being hit across the wind and id leave the right hand side of the green bunkerless so that anything hit right of the green runs off further right and further down the slope leaving a second shot to a green where the pin may not be visable. The left hand side of the green would contain bunkers and fescue and would be the "safe" shot but id have the green sloping away from there so if you were to bail out and play your second shot from that side you would be faced with a very fast downhill pitch possibly over a bunker depending on how far left you go.

dnjoyce

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

It's still available - I have the flyer with me - it implies that it's available all year round (Monday - Friday)

Yep, still available and they are accomodating to weekend golf as well. Heading over in two weeks to play all three on a Sat/Sun combo. Can't wait.

scubapro

Staying in Sligo tommorrow with the better half, I have booked a round for 11.30am , does anyone care for a round.

Sligored

scubapro wrote: »

Staying in Sligo tommorrow with the better half, I have booked a round for 11.30am , does anyone care for a round.

was out there this morning watching a soccer match , playing golf tomorrow - hope you enjoyed the game - at least you got decent weather.

scubapro

Sligored wrote: »

was out there this morning watching a soccer match , playing golf tomorrow - hope you enjoyed the game - at least you got decent weather.

One word AWESOME.
Got out with two members in the end, both really nice guys. It was my first time playing a real links, such an exhilarating experience, I was lucky the weather was savage, blue skies and sunshine, 3,4 ,13,15 holes were stand out holes for me.
you guys are so lucky your own bit of paradise by the sea with membership at nearly half the price of most clubs in Dublin. Will definately be back, well worth the drive up from Dublin.

dnjoyce

scubapro wrote: »

One word AWESOME.
Got out with two members in the end, both really nice guys. It was my first time playing a real links, such an exhilarating experience, I was lucky the weather was savage, blue skies and sunshine, 3,4 ,13,15 holes were stand out holes for me.
you guys are so lucky your own bit of paradise by the sea with membership at nearly half the price of most clubs in Dublin. Will definately be back, well worth the drive up from Dublin.

I agree, it's a lovely course - Funny you should pick out 3 and 4 as highlights - I think they are the two weakest holes in the place I love the run from 5 thru 7 - brilliant. Get the Sligo links pass next time you are going and play Enniscrone and Rosses Point along with Strandhill. You'll struggle to find a better deal around.

k_d

hoping to get out here tomorrow if anyone is around. i dont have a tee time booked yet.

Sligored

k_d wrote: »

hoping to get out here tomorrow if anyone is around. i dont have a tee time booked yet.

k d
i hope you enjoy - would love to join you but ran out of days off at work- its a beautiful(but cold) morning and should be an enjoyable round.You wont need to book a tee time but tell the pro shop that the i said to give you "with a members" rate. I have pm ed you my mobile number if you have any hassle ring me. Hope you see this in time.
Dont play much during the week so i hope its not temp greens. Greens and course in general in great shape last sunday morning.