Quality 9 hole courses

d2ww

Was thinking recently that these tend to fly under the radar a bit compared to their 18 hole cousins. So I'd like to compile a list of quality 9 hole courses that you could play if time was tight, around the country.
The criterion is "if it was 18 holes, it would be in the top 100 courses"
Now this could be a very short list indeed, so Honorable Mentions should also get a look in I suppose.
The only two I can think of are:
Cruit Island and Ashford Castle, with Rush under HM.
So guys and girls, any other names that you can think of?

allybhoy

Blessington Lakes is a very well kept 9 hole course

ssbob

Lisselan in Clonakilty and Rafeen Creek in Ringaskiddy.

ThunderCat

Sutton

DEVOTION

Kilcoole

SM746

Each to their own but I absolutely hate Sutton which was mentioned above. Just not my type of course and the price they used to charge before they brought in their GUI rate was absolutely ridiculous. I have to agree with you when you say Cruit Island, an absolute gem and one of my personal favourite courses.

d2ww

Actually I haven't played any of the three I mentioned. I pinched them off the www.top100courses.co.uk site. Forgot about Sutton, should be in the HM list if the green fees are ok. Have to say that Kilcoole is fairly marginal, it's a bit too close to farmland golf especially when for an extra tenner there's so many better 18 holers nearby.

SM746

d2ww wrote: »

Actually I haven't played any of the three I mentioned. I pinched them off the www.top100courses.co.uk site. Forgot about Sutton, should be in the HM list if the green fees are ok. Have to say that Kilcoole is fairly marginal, it's a bit too close to farmland golf especially when for an extra tenner there's so many better 18 holers nearby.

Didn't notice you had Rush in your first post. Really want to play that place again as we played it about 11 months ago in without question the worst conditions I have played for the last 10 years. Had to quit after 9 holes and a disgraceful 8/9 points. Will pop back up there sometime before the year is out when I move back up. Really did not think it would make the top 100 courses but who am I to judge.

mr.mickels

ssbob wrote: »

Lisselan in Clonakilty and Rafeen Creek in Ringaskiddy.

I know a few guys who drive from Cork to Clonakilty to play in Lisselan regularly, they seem to love the place, lots of water apparently.

Going even more westerly, Skibbereen and Bantry both had very pleasant 9 hole course when I used to play regularly, I think they have both been developed to 18 about 10 years ago.

mike12

Ballyhaunis, Mayo, bit of a linksy feel to it and hilly.
Mike

murphdogg11

Lisselan is a very good test of golf & if you don't have your "A Game" you could lose loads of balls! Raffeen Creek is another nice 9 hole close to Cork city.

thegen

Only played two 9 hole course. Both have been in good condition and are worth a visit.

Blessington Lakes and Glencullen

Hunter21

Doneraile in Co Cork

downthemiddle

I have played quite a number of 9 hole courses. My own club is Blessington Lakes which I rate very highly. I have also played Ross, Dunloe, Otway, Gweedore, Cloughaneely, Ballinastoe, Listowel:mad:, Cruit, Tulfarris when 9, Baltinglass when 9, the now defunct Vartry, Djouce, Kilcoole,Castleblayney, Kanturk when 9, Stepaside, Sillogue when 9, Oldfield(Ballinascorney), Castlegregory, Borris, and Cill Dara.
Maybe a ranking of 9 hole courses would be an interesting idea.

PhilipMarlowe

I played a good bit in Borris, Co. Carlow when I was learning the game.
It's a 10 hole course - You play the cute little par 3 4th once (~110 yards, downhill) and for the 13th there's a separate hole of ~160 yards up hill. The other 8 greens are shared with separate tees.
It's a nice course, well worth a game.

I also played Cill Dara in the curragh - only played it for Interclub and wouldn't be making a return journey to it for pleasure but it's not the worst.

Benicetomonty

Castlegregory, Co. Kerry. Absolutely idyllic 9 hole links (from memory admittedly- I played it whilst on a 1 day sabbatical from the Gaeltacht many years ago!). But some brilliant holes, especially the first.

cackhanded

Spanish Point is a cheap & friendly 9 hole linksy (think they added 3 more a couple of years ago) for anyone travelling between Doonbeg & Lahinch. It's not long but can be very tricky when the wind blows hard.

Trampas

Towney Hall was bad.

Wasn't made about Cill Dara myself.

Glencullen has some lovely views over Dublin. Not a bad course. We use to play it alot after work on a Wednesday.

coddlesangers

Foxrock, easily one of the best 9 hole tracks. Has alternate tees for the back 9 which change some of the holes significantly. Heath type ground, so never boggy. A little short now given the changes in equipment, but built in 1893, and not showing its age that badly. Been protected with a lot of tree planting in the last 20 years, now pretty tight. Usually excellent greens, v. fast.

colmsix

rush gc and the pints of guinness after. good memories

downthemiddle

downthemiddle wrote: »

I have played quite a number of 9 hole courses. My own club is Blessington Lakes which I rate very highly. I have also played Ross, Dunloe, Otway, Gweedore, Cloughaneely, Ballinastoe, Listowel:mad:, Cruit, Tulfarris when 9, Baltinglass when 9, the now defunct Vartry, Djouce, Kilcoole,Castleblayney, Kanturk when 9, Stepaside, Sillogue when 9, Oldfield(Ballinascorney), Castlegregory, Borris, and Cill Dara.
Maybe a ranking of 9 hole courses would be an interesting idea.

How could I forget Hazel Grove !

JD Dublin

Why not make a definitive list of 9 holes?

For the record heres a few I have played -

Killiney, Dublin - mature, parkland. The last 2 holes are trick. 8/17 is a long par 4 down a massive hill. The last hole ( 9/18 ) has a benign-looking bunker but you wont see it until you are in it or on top of it. Friendly clubhouse, great grub. Expensive green fees for a 9 hole, and can be hard to get out as a visitor.

Sutton, Dublin - nice links course, the bar was a bit dismal the day I played ( nobody around on a Friday evening in late summer ), spectacular backdrop ( kite surfers surfing off the beach right beside the course ), some very tight holes, if you dont hit the fairway on most holes you're bunched. In fact youve probably lost the ball in the rough.

Glengariff, Co Cork - parklands course, mainly plain enough, I played it on a summers day, I thought it would have sea views but it didn't.

Glencullen, Co Dublin - mostly plain holes, long enough from memory, there is one tricky hole, short and uphill, with a lake halfway up the hill. Good though distant views of Dublin Bay. Water comes into play on one of the later holes, but it's not as intrusive. Johhny Foxes nearby for a pint afterwards ( back in the days when you could have a pint and drive home ).

shadydivott

downthemiddle wrote: »

How could I forget Hazel Grove !

royal hazel grove........worst course i have ever played

thewobbler

Mulranny near Westport was a very enjoyable 9 holer when I visited a couple of years ago.

Helen's Bay near Belfast looks quality but I have yet to venture to it.

indifferent golfer

I am surprised nobody mentioned Carrickmines, which is a surprisingly wonderful 9 hole excursion with great views.

JD Dublin

indifferent golfer wrote: »

I am surprised nobody mentioned Carrickmines, which is a surprisingly wonderful 9 hole excursion with great views.

Agreed, Carrickmines has great views, the course itself is 'as God left it', and the club prides itself on serving no hot food ( except once a year for the Captains Prize when they have to bring in outside caterers ).

Great 9 hole outside Westport called Clew Bay. The owners decided to have a golf course on a few acrea of land, so far so good. But this is bounded on 2 sides by the sea, at a fair height, looking back over Clew Bay. The golf is ordinary enough fare but the views are great.

conno16

I dont play golf for the views.

heavyballs

conno16 wrote: »

I dont play golf for the views.

It ads to the whole experience,another waste of time post by,Conno

whizbang

9 hole attached to CarlowGC is a cracking course also. no sneaking in next door!

Dtoffee

indifferent golfer wrote: »

I am surprised nobody mentioned Carrickmines, which is a surprisingly wonderful 9 hole excursion with great views.

Agree with you and JD, I would add that its playable all year round as it has natural drainage.

Foxrock is amazing, you will play it and walk off thinking 'I can tear this place apart next time' BUT you never do !!!!! and that's the secret to a good course in my opinion ....... golf should be a challenge but not to the point where the course is so long or difficult that you are left totally defeated after you finish.

The old Bray was a good nine hole and is still being used as a public pay n play course, it had many senior members who only wanted to play nine holes daily and were very happy ....... I know a few who never bothered with the move to the 'new' bray and its climbs.

whizbang

Old Bray is severely cut by sewer/drainage works im afraid.
Only temporary i believe, till next summer.

curly from cork

Just a quick plug Raffeen Creek. ( 9 hole ) Ringaskiddy Co Cork. No joining fee as in from last week . Open for membership. Annual sub approx € 480 .

The_Architect

heavyballs wrote: »

It ads to the whole experience,another waste of time post by,Conno

Conno is spot on in my opinion.

I don't play golf for the views either.

mike12

AchillClogher ValleyCruit IslandCushendallGweedoreHelen's BayManorMulrannyOtwayRaffeen CreekRushBuncranaConnemara islesSpanish PointBerehavenBushfootCarrickminesCastlegregory
List of all the 9 hole links courses, pasted a bit funny.
Mike

macdonagh2007

Virginia in Co. Cavan is a beautiful 9 hole course on the shores of Lough Ramor.
Will certainly improve your short game and you have learn to hit the ball straight! Trees Trees

link_2007

Playing Blessington Lakes this weekend. Looking forward to it.

scubapro

link_2007 wrote: »

Playing Blessington Lakes this weekend. Looking forward to it.

TIP: Most greens break towards the lake. Enjoy

JD Dublin

Agreed Conno the views are not what golf is all about. You have to say that a lot of the 9-holes around the country are not half as challenging as their longer 18-hole cousins.

neckedit

The_Architect wrote: »

Conno is spot on in my opinion.

I don't play golf for the views either.

I don't think any one plays golf for the views, but aren't they an added bonus. you have no choice but to see them. I'd rather a course with nice views than not.

Morrisseeee

Lismore has a 9 hole golf course, quite popular, and a nice track, it's a pity they hadn't room to build an 18 hole course.

Webbs

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Lismore has a 9 hole golf course, quite popular, and a nice track, it's a pity they hadn't room to build an 18 hole course.

Some great holes on that track especially holes 7 and 8

AEDIC

Webbs wrote: »

Some great holes on that track especially holes 7 and 8

I like the first too strangely enough...a really nice start.