Accomodation for Irish Open - Portrush

apollo mc g

Hi guys,

First off if this is in the wrong section my apologies!

Have my tickets for the Irish Open but cannot find anywhere to stay Most places seem to be booked out or want you to stay for a minimum of 5 days...

If anyone knows of somewhere with availability or hears anything, please let me know!

Thanks a mill!

jtown

apollo mc g wrote: »

Hi guys,

First off if this is in the wrong section my apologies!

Have my tickets for the Irish Open but cannot find anywhere to stay Most places seem to be booked out or want you to stay for a minimum of 5 days...

If anyone knows of somewhere with availability or hears anything, please let me know!

Thanks a mill!

Min of 5 days... talk about bull!!!

thewobbler

It is, in fairness, peak season for accommodation up in that part of the world even without a major golf tournament taking place, and for the next few months the pound signs will be ringing in every letters' eyes. I'd think as a result the majority of visitors to the north will end up in Belfast for the nights they're there, which is no bad thing - it's a buzzing town these days.

If it's not beneath you, there are probably 1,000 caravans and mobile homes within a well-struck three wood of the course. Wouldn't normally be my preference, but if you'll be spending most of your time out an about rather than in, it would save a lot of hassle with transport.

macdonagh2007

Have you tried the Cromore Halt Inn in Portstewart...always stay with them when I play in the BlackBush Golf Tournament in June each year..phone no 048 70836888..ask to speak to Maureen or Carol.....The TravelLodge in Coleraine is another place for you.....There are plenty of good B/B'S ,House's to let and mobile homes in the area

charlieIRL

Alternative option for you.

We go to the North West 200 motorbike races every year and they run between Portrush, Portstewart and Colraine. We say in a rented house in Derry from the Friday to Sunday and it is only a 30 mile spin over in the morning. We normally have the house to ourselves for the weekend.

Make sure you stay on the bogside though!!

Kevinmarkham

I was looking to go myself but won't be able to do so now - but holiday homes, as suggested by CharlieIrl, was what I was after, and I was surprised how many of these still had availability... although that was on Saturday.

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/northern-ireland/

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/Northern-Ireland/r21236.htm

apollo mc g

Thanks a million for the responses - thewobbler I'm going to take a look in to the camping/mobile home option, someone mentioned that to me yesterday. charlieIRL I'd loveto rent a house or aparment but its only for two people and again most need you to stay more than 3/4 days but Kevinmarkham I'll check out the links .
macdonagh2007 I haven't tried those places yet so I shall do it right now!

charlieIRL

apollo mc g wrote: »

Thanks a million for the responses - thewobbler I'm going to take a look in to the camping/mobile home option, someone mentioned that to me yesterday. charlieIRL I'd loveto rent a house or aparment but its only for two people and again most need you to stay more than 3/4 days but Kevinmarkham I'll check out the links .
macdonagh2007 I haven't tried those places yet so I shall do it right now!

one of the houses we used to rent had no lower number limit and was only £25 a night each - kinda like a B&B only yself catering. You had full use of their kitchen / living room. Always spotless clean.

Smurf1971

As somebody said before, if you dont mind a drive in the morning, I'd stay in Derry and commute to the course. Better availability of accomodation and nightlife to be honest, compared to Portrush/Portstewart and Coleraine areas.

Theres a Travelodge, Tower Hotel, The City Hotel and Ramada Hotels that are all pretty reasonable to stay in.

jmorrisey

Looking at Moville as an option....anyone any thoughts??

sausagehead

Smurf1971 wrote: »

As somebody said before, if you dont mind a drive in the morning, I'd stay in Derry and commute to the course. Better availability of accomodation and nightlife to be honest, compared to Portrush/Portstewart and Coleraine areas.

Theres a Travelodge, Tower Hotel, The City Hotel and Ramada Hotels that are all pretty reasonable to stay in.

or even Limavady! not a bad wee town and half the distance of Derry!

sausagehead

jmorrisey wrote: »

Looking at Moville as an option....anyone any thoughts??

Yeah not a bad idea if they get this ferry going again, i'm sure they will too!

jmorrisey

sausagehead wrote: »

Yeah not a bad idea if they get this ferry going again, i'm sure they will too!

DOH!

Smurf1971

sausagehead wrote: »

or even Limavady! not a bad wee town and half the distance of Derry!

Good shout.

Theres a Radisson in Limavady that has a decent enough course attached to it as well.

sausagehead

jmorrisey wrote: »

DOH!

Why DOH!
The ferry would cut down your journey distance and time, instead of driving all the way around Lough Foyle,
once over at Magilligan, most of the journey to Portrush would be less busy. than driving from Derry to Portrush IMO

You asked for peoples thoughts and come back with that crap ...GFY

jmorrisey

sausagehead wrote: »

Why DOH!
The ferry would cut down your journey distance and time, instead of driving all the way around Lough Foyle,
once over at Magilligan, most of the journey to Portrush would be less busy. than driving from Derry to Portrush IMO

You asked for peoples thoughts and come back with that crap ...GFY

woh! whats with all the hate, I said doh cos i realised id been a bit stupid and hadnt thought things through properly. The ferry is closed and no reopening date set yet. I was a bit mad at myself and forgot to thank you for your reply, so thanks for that, but seriously you went a bit over the top!

jmorrisey

Anyhows back on topic, been lookin at the holiday home rental stuff and the prices are doubling or tripling over normal rates but may still represent fair value if you could get a group of four or more together and go for four or five days.

Portrush Area lookin at £1000 ish minimum for a week for house (saucy but of you got 5 or 6 people might start to look cheaper and plus you could walk to the golf etc)
Prices get cheaper the further away you go but still lookin at minimum £650-£700 if you want somewhere within 10-20 mins drive of Portrush.

sausagehead

oops, i seem to have got that wrong ....sorry jmorrisey
i did go over the top, don't GFY ..lol


That ferry is bound to operating this summer,
i'd be amazed if it wasn't as its a well used service, i think they just close it down over the winter months!

Smurf1971

sausagehead wrote: »

That ferry is bound to operating this summer,
i'd be amazed if it wasn't as its a well used service, i think they just close it down over the winter months!

http://www.loughfoyleferry.com/main.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-15147597

If you go to these links, it will explain more about the current predictament of the ferry service.

stockdam

If you don't mind driving then Ballymoney is about 20 miles away and there should be places there. Ballymena is about 30 miles away and therefore takes about 45 minutes or less.

Even Belfast is not that far - 60 miles - about an hour and a half drive max.

Have you tried Castlerock, Bushmills or Ballycastle as all are fairly close. All three are quiet though.

Fore Left

Stay in Donegal, Stranorlar / Ballybofey area of East Donegal, it has have 3 decent hotels at reasonable prices and is approx 80 min drive to the course (quicker than stated on google maps) through Strabane and Derry. Prices in Euro etc so less expensive given how strong sterling is getting.

I wouldn't recommend staying on the Belfast side of Portrush as the vast majority of traffic will be on this route, it is single carrigeway with very few bypasses.

Letterkenny is a similar distance or you could stay in Inishowen and get the Grenncastle and Magilligan Ferry which would have you at Royal Portrush in a similar time from say Buncrana.

The Antrim Coast is extremly busy in June / July without a huge golf tournamnent such as the IRish Open so anywhere within 30 radius could well be booked out already before golf fans seek accomodation.

East Donegal is 2.5 hours from Dublin airport, 1 hour from Sligo...it's a perfect base for people attending Irish Open.

stockdam

Fore Left wrote: »

Stay in Donegal, Stranorlar / Ballybofey area of East Donegal, it has have 3 decent hotels at reasonable prices and is approx 80 min drive to the course (quicker than stated on google maps) through Strabane and Derry. Prices in Euro etc so less expensive given how strong sterling is getting.

I wouldn't recommend staying on the Belfast side of Portrush as the vast majority of traffic will be on this route, it is single carrigeway with very few bypasses.

Prices in NI are less than the ROI (hotels, food, beer etc.). The road from Belfast to Ballymena is dual-carriageway/motorway and then turns into single carriage later. However it is no worse than the road from Limavady to Coleraine. Yes the majority of the traffic will be on the Belfast side but it's not that bad nor slow until you get close to Portrush. The traffic into Portrush and into Portstewart is always slow in summer.

I'd rather stay in Belfast that Donegal if the travel time was the same.

redhill

Fore Left wrote: »

Stay in Donegal, Stranorlar / Ballybofey area of East Donegal, it has have 3 decent hotels at reasonable prices and is approx 80 min drive to the course (quicker than stated on google maps) through Strabane and Derry. Prices in Euro etc so less expensive given how strong sterling is getting.

I wouldn't recommend staying on the Belfast side of Portrush as the vast majority of traffic will be on this route, it is single carrigeway with very few bypasses.

Letterkenny is a similar distance or you could stay in Inishowen and get the Grenncastle and Magilligan Ferry which would have you at Royal Portrush in a similar time from say Buncrana.

The Antrim Coast is extremly busy in June / July without a huge golf tournamnent such as the IRish Open so anywhere within 30 radius could well be booked out already before golf fans seek accomodation.

East Donegal is 2.5 hours from Dublin airport, 1 hour from Sligo...it's a perfect base for people attending Irish Open.

no offence mate but thats one of the most ludicrous posts i've read on these threads, i've a summer house in Portstewart and i can make it from Belfast in an hour tops. The area is popular in summer ok, but even at the the busiest holiday times(12/13th July etc) it only puts 5 mins onto journey times.As has been pointed out there is motorway or dual carriageway for just under 70% of the journey, conversly the road from Donegal/Derry is one of the worst, busy as, no motorway etc

jmorrisey

So assuming any of us get to stay within a days camel trek of the place and bring our golf clubs on said camel, which of these would any one recommend for a game.....Portstewart, Ballyliffin, Castlerock? Or are there any hidden gems nearby that are worth a gander?

stockdam

jmorrisey wrote: »

So assuming any of us get to stay within a days camel trek of the place and bring our golf clubs on said camel, which of these would any one recommend for a game.....Portstewart, Ballyliffin, Castlerock? Or are there any hidden gems nearby that are worth a gander?

I haven't played many courses in Donegal but in the Portrush area.......

Royal Portrush - one of the top courses in Ireland - expensive
Valley Course - right beside Royal Portrush - excellent course
Portstewart Strand - great course
Portstewart Old Course (on the road towards Portrush) - some quirky holes - cheap and cheerful; don't expect too much
Castlerock - excellent course
Bushfoot - 9 hole - cheap and cheerful
Ballycastle (20 minutes away) - fairly decent
Gracehill (20 minutes away) - fairly decent

LostPassword

jmorrisey wrote: »

So assuming any of us get to stay within a days camel trek of the place and bring our golf clubs on said camel, which of these would any one recommend for a game.....Portstewart, Ballyliffin, Castlerock? Or are there any hidden gems nearby that are worth a gander?

All top courses, but for my money, Portstewart strand is the stand out - the front 9 is as good as anywhere in the world.

LostPassword

stockdam wrote: »

I haven't played many courses in Donegal but in the Portrush area.......

Royal Portrush - one of the top courses in Ireland - expensive
Valley Course - right beside Royal Portrush - excellent course
Portstewart Strand - great course
Portstewart Old Course (on the road towards Portrush) - some quirky holes - cheap and cheerful; don't expect too much
Castlerock - excellent course
Bushfoot - 9 hole - cheap and cheerful
Ballycastle (20 minutes away) - fairly decent
Gracehill (20 minutes away) - fairly decent

There is also the portstewart river course which is decent enough if not too flash.

redhill

stockdam wrote: »

I haven't played many courses in Donegal but in the Portrush area.......

Royal Portrush - one of the top courses in Ireland - expensive
Valley Course - right beside Royal Portrush - excellent course
Portstewart Strand - great course
Portstewart Old Course (on the road towards Portrush) - some quirky holes - cheap and cheerful; don't expect too much
Castlerock - excellent course
Bushfoot - 9 hole - cheap and cheerful
Ballycastle (20 minutes away) - fairly decent
Gracehill (20 minutes away) - fairly decent

That pretty much sums it up very well, like Lost Password above i think Portstewart is the pick of the bunch, even better than Portrush, it just doesn't have the Royal prefix, but some of the holes, views etc are the best on this island. Of all the courses(links) i have played on a regular(ish) basis, only Turnberry can match it...

Senna

The University of Ulster in Coleraine and the Catering College in Portrush used to rent out their dorm rooms during the summer months while the students were off. It might be worth looking into, when i was there 10 years ago there were over 100 dorm rooms in Portrush and 500 more in Coleraine.
http://www.accommodation.ulster.ac.uk/casuallet.html

carr6775

redhill wrote: »

no offence mate but thats one of the most ludicrous posts i've read on these threads, i've a summer house in Portstewart and i can make it from Belfast in an hour tops. The area is popular in summer ok, but even at the the busiest holiday times(12/13th July etc) it only puts 5 mins onto journey times.As has been pointed out there is motorway or dual carriageway for just under 70% of the journey, conversly the road from Donegal/Derry is one of the worst, busy as, no motorway etc

So just to be clear, you can do a 60 mile journey, on roads which have a 60/70 mph speed limit, in one hour "tops". That's fantastic, but either you have a Harrier jump jet or a defective watch.....

:rolleyes:

jmorrisey

stockdam wrote: »

I haven't played many courses in Donegal but in the Portrush area.......

Royal Portrush - one of the top courses in Ireland - expensive
Valley Course - right beside Royal Portrush - excellent course
Portstewart Strand - great course
Portstewart Old Course (on the road towards Portrush) - some quirky holes - cheap and cheerful; don't expect too much
Castlerock - excellent course
Bushfoot - 9 hole - cheap and cheerful
Ballycastle (20 minutes away) - fairly decent
Gracehill (20 minutes away) - fairly decent

cheers for that list. Plenty to think about there. Cant wait!

redhill

carr6775 wrote: »

So just to be clear, you can do a 60 mile journey, on roads which have a 60/70 mph speed limit, in one hour "tops". That's fantastic, but either you have a Harrier jump jet or a defective watch.....

:rolleyes:

Yes, it is clear, crystal clear, from my house in Belfast near Fortwilliam golf club its between 55-56 miles to t'other pad in Aghermore Cresent in Portstewart, i won't give you the door number as its a small cul de sac and i don't want half the forum arriving at the end of June,
The first 36-37 miles are motorway/dual carriageway and driving at a conservtive 70mph( i have been known to cruise at 75 and touch 80 in my younger days)this will take 31 mins , the other 18-19 miles (travelled all on A roads) is comfortably done in 29 mins or less, there are a number of other pockets of dual carriageways in the 18-19 mile stretch as well.
As stated i regularly do this journey, if its totally quiet, nite time etc. i have done it in 50 mins putting the foot down. To put it bluntly my wife, who is a conservative driver can do this journey in 60 mins.

I'm a bit long in the tooth now, to be on this forum trying to start an argument but if people are going to write total crap like that post i made my original comments to then thats another matter.....:D

carr6775

Excellent!

More detail than needed but good for you!



I can understand why you would choose to do the journey at night time - not as much fun at 5.30pm!

Gophur

University of Ulster, Coleraine, are offering single en-suite rooms for £54 per night, minimum of 2 nights, for the Irish Open.

veetwin

redhill wrote: »

Yes, it is clear, crystal clear, from my house in Belfast near Fortwilliam golf club its between 55-56 miles to t'other pad in Aghermore Cresent in Portstewart, i won't give you the door number as its a small cul de sac and i don't want half the forum arriving at the end of June,
The first 36-37 miles are motorway/dual carriageway and driving at a conservtive 70mph( i have been known to cruise at 75 and touch 80 in my younger days)this will take 31 mins , the other 18-19 miles (travelled all on A roads) is comfortably done in 29 mins or less, there are a number of other pockets of dual carriageways in the 18-19 mile stretch as well.
As stated i regularly do this journey, if its totally quiet, nite time etc. i have done it in 50 mins putting the foot down. To put it bluntly my wife, who is a conservative driver can do this journey in 60 mins.

I'm a bit long in the tooth now, to be on this forum trying to start an argument but if people are going to write total crap like that post i made my original comments to then thats another matter.....:D

I'm sorry mate but I drive from Belfast to the north Antrim Coast pretty regularly. As far as I'm concerned it cannot be done in an hour. I drive pretty fast and best I could do it would be 1 hour 15 minutes with no traffic.

Google directions gives it at 1 hour 21 minutes which would be close enough. Add in regular summer traffic and Irish Open traffic during the tournament and I'd be allowing 2 hours at least from Belfast City centre to the course.

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

limos

theres a hotel right beside belfast airport called ballyrobin lodge, looks good and has great reviews might be worth checking out.