What's the most scenic course in Ireland?

Atlantic1

I was down in Kerry two weeks ago and played golf with friends who're members of clubs down there. I played Killeen, Waterville, Dooks and Tralee and have played them many times before. The senery on some of the courses is amazing. Tralee is stunning but I think Dooks tops them all for the views from the course. It's a gorgeous spot.

What do you regard as the most scenic course in Ireland?

f22

Sillogue :-P

The 9th in Royal Co. Down would come close, the view when you reach the brow of the hill is breathtaking.

Atlantic1

f22 wrote: »

Sillogue :-P

The 9th in Royal Co. Down would come close, the view when you reach the brow of the hill is breathtaking.

I was thinking more of a scenic course than a particular hole but the 4th in The Old Head of Kinsale would be the most scenic hole I'd pick. World class!

SM746

Cruit Island. Breathtaking.

moycullen14

I'd agree with Dooks - it's lovely. Castlegregory has great views too.

The view from the middle of the 6th fairway in Lahinch over the green towards Liscannor - a marvellous setting for a great hole.

The 17th tee in Waterville is a real 'Look at me, ma, I'm on top of the world' spot.

Played Rosses Point once on a dreary day. After an hour or so, the mist lifted to reveal Ben Bulben in all its glory. Jaw-dropping.

We are blest to have so many great links courses in great locations in Ireland.

Claude Harmon

My favourite inland would be Concra Wood or Druids Glen.

I think all the links are great.

Atlantic1

moycullen14 wrote: »

I'd agree with Dooks - it's lovely. Castlegregory has great views too.

The view from the middle of the 6th fairway in Lahinch over the green towards Liscannor - a marvellous setting for a great hole.

The 17th tee in Waterville is a real 'Look at me, ma, I'm on top of the world' spot.

Played Rosses Point once on a dreary day. After an hour or so, the mist lifted to reveal Ben Bulben in all its glory. Jaw-dropping.

We are blest to have so many great links courses in great locations in Ireland.

Haven't played Castlegregory but heard it's lovely. I've never made it to Connaught for golf but it's all part of the long term plan......

LostPassword

Purely from a scenery point of view, my vote would go with Portsalon in Donegal - the cliffs and shoreline of Inishowen across the inlet provide a breathtaking backdrop to the whole course and are particularly in focus on the elevated second tee - one of the finest tee shots in Ireland for sure.

Webbs

I also think Connemara Isles would be up there as one of the more scenic course to play

thewobbler

Ardglass is wrapped by the sea and generally stunning, but the first five are impossibly scenic.

Westport would never get a vote in terms of the whole course, but when you turn towards the sea it is simply jawdropping.

I'd agree with an earlier post that Concra Wood takes some beating in terms of parkland scenery, but Lough Erne is right there with it; only the absence of holiday houses on Concra gives it the edge.

Nemesis

Woodenbridge but I'm biased

thegen

Nemesis wrote: »

Woodenbridge but I'm biased

Just beat me too it. The most stunning setting for a golf course in Ireland. Dooks is up there too.

ThunderCat

We have plenty of scenic courses the more I think about it.

My highlights would be the views from Howth GC, the walks between tees at Headfort New, up around the 12th green & 13th tee at Carne and of course the costal holes at Old Head of Kinsale. I think Ballyliffin has some terriffic views too. Someone already mentioned Ardglass which would get my vote too as would Royal County Down. There are so many. And so many ive yet to play.

jcpc16

Biased aswell and not exactly what was asked but the second green in rosses point is up there with the best. Panoramic view of mountains and sea and 4 counties (I think) on a clear day. Spectacular

Russman

Nemesis wrote: »

Woodenbridge but I'm biased

Yep, stunning setting

jackal

Clew bay near westport - a hillbilly course but the views over the bay are lovely and half the holes hug the shore so you have plenty of time to take in the scenery.

david

Adiaga 2

^^^^Nice clouds. But the course - meh!

(only joking I love that course!!)

chalkie 501

Have to go for Tralee here.
Standing on the 3rd tee looking at the castle behind the green,with a 50ft drop to the ocean to your right.
Or the 14th tee which is the highest point on the course you can see awesome views in every direction.
Or the 7th tee,again perched high above Tralee bay
Magnificent course,awesome scenery...pure heaven

HugoBr

My local Tulfarris on a summers day can be great

big_drive

I'd go for Tralee as well

Atlantic1

chalkie 501 wrote: »

Have to go for Tralee here.
Standing on the 3rd tee looking at the castle behind the green,with a 50ft drop to the ocean to your right.
Or the 14th tee which is the highest point on the course you can see awesome views in every direction.
Or the 7th tee,again perched high above Tralee bay
Magnificent course,awesome scenery...pure heaven

Yes, the 3rd tee in Tralee is magic!





I can't find a photo that does justice to Dooks but this is the 4th on The Old Head of Kinsale, my favourite hole in the world.



This is a better photo of the 4th at The Old Head.

chalkie 501

Thanks for putting up that pic of the 3rd in Tralee Atlantic1,i was trying to find some earlier but couldnt find any that good.
I've never played the old head but that hole does look amazing(and a little scary!)

Benny Cake

The back 9 in Macreddin is beautiful... Hard to beat Concra Wood for scenery though!!

Atlantic1

chalkie 501 wrote: »

Thanks for putting up that pic of the 3rd in Tralee Atlantic1,i was trying to find some earlier but couldnt find any that good.
I've never played the old head but that hole does look amazing(and a little scary!)

You're welcome, Chalkie. It's a great hole alright.

And yes, the 4th on The Old Head is scary too.

Now, look at it from this angle and notice that there doesn't seem to be anything keeping the green up! Now that's scary! It's a spectacular photo.

golf nut

Mountain View in Kilkenny 13 stunning view.

chalkie 501

Atlantic1 wrote: »

You're welcome, Chalkie. It's a great hole alright.

And yes, the 4th on The Old Head is scary too.

Now, look at it from this angle and notice that there doesn't seem to be anything keeping the green up! Now that's scary! It's a spectacular photo.

Class photo,had to turn down a free round there a few months back, after seeing those pics im determined to play it as soon as possible.
dont know how save i'll feel on that hole knowing its built on top of a giant cave!!

byhookorbycrook

Dun an Oir in West Kerry.
http://www.dinglelinks.com/

jod1983

Portnoo in Donegal. Amazing views.

mr.mickels

The Old Head of Kinsale has a unique setting.
Ring of Kerry also enjoys superb views.

aster99

Old Head or Tralee for me.

ballyk

I'd give my vote to the Old Head also. Might not be the best course but for scenery it can't be beaten in my book.

Milkers

Tralee

FixdePitchmark

Atlantic1 wrote: »

Yes, the 3rd tee in Tralee is magic!





I can't find a photo that does justice to Dooks but this is the 4th on The Old Head of Kinsale, my favourite hole in the world.



This is a better photo of the 4th at The Old Head.

Lads I said I would never pay or play it , but some of the photos of old head up here are unreal.


So, how do I ask her to go to Kinsale for the weekend.

Lads is it worth it --- times have changed but did all on here pay that money would you pay it ?

Can it be justified ?
Is it worth it ?
Are they up their ? ? there. ?

Omacron

Tralee is very special had the pleasure of teeing off at dawn with the sun coming up on a perfect day... incredible scenery. However Concra wood takes it for me anyone who hasn't played it yet needs to play this course before the folks up there realize they can charge people 3 times the price. Its easily the best parkland in the country and the most beautiful course I've ever played.

Tin_Cup

Would have to say Concra Wood aswell. Love the place

simonp1

8th Hole

BUACHAILL

I think we are all guilty of running down our courses. Spoke to a guy last week from the uk and he made a very valid point. we take our courses for granted, we have so many breath taking courses in Ireland we run down excellent courses just because they dont have something magical.

we are spoiled rotten, for me old head, tralee, lahinch, concra wood, macreddin, mount juliet, k club, heritage, druids glen, royal county down, european club and god knows how many more are all in there own way breath taking !!

we are very lucky in this country.

slightly off topic but thought worth a mention !!

Hunter21

The 12th at the Old head and the 18th from the Championship tees. One of the best sights in life! Also the 4th and the 14th view from the green.

Here is the 4th


Here is the 12th, fairway is top right, daunting tee shot! :eek:


Here is the view from the 14th green, ideal weather


Here is a few pics of the 18th championship tee, cut right back into the rocks under the lighthouse

Picture of the walk up so you get an idea


Playing over this

monaghanman10

concra wood is my home course.pleasure to play.played carne recently and it was stunning.got portmarnock tomorrow whichh really looking forward to.old head is one id absolutely love to play though

Johnny_Fontane

Old head for sure.....when you walk out to the second tee after a very tame first hole, its spectacular.

17th tee in portmarnock links is a nice view. Concra is pretty special too....

Anatom

I too love Dooks (the views, not the course) and Waterville (still my favourite course in Ireland, I play it at least once a year if I can) and, funnily enough, Adare Manor - I know there's little mountain view, and absolutely no sea views, but as a parkland course, there's little to beat it.

Otherwise, Ballyconneely is right up there, as is Cruit Island.

Its a very subjective issue and as someone said above we're blessed on this island to have some incredible scenery around us.

ThunderCat

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads I said I would never pay or play it , but some of the photos of old head up here are unreal.


So, how do I ask her to go to Kinsale for the weekend.

Lads is it worth it --- times have changed but did all on here pay that money would you pay it ?

Can it be justified ?
Is it worth it ?
Are they up their ? ? there. ?

Yea i'd say it is worth it. Lets face it, it's a hefty green fee but its a once off and it's not like you are going to be playing it every week. It's worth the money alone just for the coastal holes as you will not have ever seen anything like them before. It would remind you of playing golf on top of the cliffs of moher. With regards convincing the other half, the time I played there, the two fellas I got paired with brought their wives along so she will get to see the great views too. Failing that, Kinsale is world renound for its restaraunts and I think there is a Spa at Old Head aswell. As I said, it's worth it, but only once. If I had the money right now, id opt for one of the links heavyweights instead but thats just me.

Miley Byrne

I posted some of these on another thread a few months back. The scenery there is breathtaking, especially if you get as good a day as I had.

4th hole teeshot


18th tee with 17th hole in background


View of 17th hole Par 5 from 18th Tee

Hunter21

Mate of mine works at the Old Head, he told me to make sure if any of my mates play there that they study the weather forecast very well otherwise when they get there and play a few holes bad weather which usually brings heavy fog will cancel your round. No refunds!

nompere

I remember going "Wow" the first time I turned in through the gates at Glasson.

kingcharles82

the back 9 in cairn in belmullet, beautiful scenery!!

sector

Atlantic1 wrote: »

Haven't played Castlegregory but heard it's lovely. I've never made it to Connaught for golf but it's all part of the long term plan......

Played Castlegregory yesterday, very nice, greens were slow but great fun with the wind & has a driveable par 4 which is more fun

jayodwyer

Da 6th in Lough erne, views over lough are amazing.

Omacron

jayodwyer wrote: »

Da 6th in Lough erne, views over lough are amazing.

Yeah but you have to kill yourself to get there. I liked Lough Erne but its overpriced and the transition from the 5th green to the 6th tee is bit of joke. The words mountain goat come to mind.

kev_s88

the views from Portmarnock Links course are pretty amazing. but as views go, ive never played on better than Deer Park in Howth, or Howth golf club. despite the shiteness of Deer Park, you get such an amazing view of the whole of Dublin from the course. it really is breathtaking