Portmarnock Links

Back9bandit

Playing in the Golf Digest competition in Portmarnock Links tomorrow. Anyone played there recently,what condition is it in?Looks fabulous on the website. Anything to be aware of, holes that play longer/shorter than the yardage etc.

f22

It's always in good condition, greens pretty quick for time of year.

It's all in front of you, don't play for sucker pins. Most greens are raised and well protected, you will miss greens so bring a short game.

Back9bandit

cheers F22, short game in pretty good shape, looking forward to it

FixdePitchmark

Back9bandit wrote: »

cheers F22, short game in pretty good shape, looking forward to it

Look up 3d course guide on website. Unless you have.

Back9bandit

I did, it looks fantastic, hope the weather holds up

Mizuno Man

The Links is in incredible condition for the time of year. They have put a lot of effort in over the last few weeks for tomorrow too so it should be tip top.

Greens are very quick and roll near perfectly.

One of the most underated courses in the country I think!!

Mizuno Man

Holes to be aware of:

1st 2nd and 3rd are a relatively easy start. Not too long and pretty much in front of you.

4th par 5. Long hole. Unlikely to get near it in two if the wind doesn't help you. But it is generous off the tee. Best lay up is to around 100-130 yards out to stay short of the fairway bunkers.

5th. Very long par 4. Loads of room left of the green. Flag hunt at your peril! Just find the green anywhere and hope to two putt.

6th. Shorter par 5. If you can avoid the fairway bunkers off the tee then the best second shot is left of the green to allow a pitch between the bunkers into the heart of the green. Next to impossible to hold the green on your second shot even if you can reach.

7th. Long par 4. A burn runs about 30 yards short of the green which is well protected left and right.

Into the teeth of the course now!

8th. Dogleg 90 degrees left. You will need to get to the dogleg to be able to see the green at all. The green is a demon! Large raised tier on the left half and it slopes sharply towards the back also.

9th. Par 3. No Bunkers. Miss the raised green and you'll do well to make par. Tough par 3 for what is just a large green with no hazards around it!

10th. Short par 4. Bunker left off the tee but lots of room right. Green is large enough on the left half but very shallow on the right. A bunker sits short right to swallow up anything short and you will almost never manage a par from there! A full shot in is needed to have enough spin to hold the green if you flag hunt.

11th Par 3. Well bunkered green. A very large and very (that's VERY!) deep bunker sits abeam the middle green on the right. Very tough up and down from there. Green slopes severely from left to right!

12th. Long par 4. Need a big drive to simplify the approach. Well protected green with very slopey back right corner.

13th. Par 5. Carry the right edge of the huge bunker left of the fairway and you will be in the perfect position to get up in two. This hole is soon to be extended by 80 yards or so and as a result a large bunker short right of the green has been removed making the approach a little easier.

14th. Short par 4. Iron off the tee if you like. Handy birdie chance!

Now, I think one of the best finishes in the country!

15th. Great fun dogleg right. Get close to the two fairway bunkers to have a view of the green. If you don't have a clear view be very conservative with your approach! Slopey green can be three putt nightmare.

16th. Brilliant hole. Carry the bunkers and the ball will feed back onto the middle or left half of the fairway. Well protected but large green. Good chance if you get your tee shot away safely.

17th. Super Long par 3. Green is bigger than it looks! Come up short or right and your chipping back up to the level of the green. Go long and probably lose your ball. Big, and very deep bunker short left. 4 is fine here!

18th. Great finishing hole. Two bunkers sit on the right edge of the fairway. Big bunker facing you on the left. You will not reach the green from any of them. More room on the right than it looks off the tee. Green is one of the biggest on the course. A right half flag is accesible enough but anything left is asking for trouble if you try to shoot straight at it!

Black and white poles in the fairway are 150M to the centre of the greens. All fairway sprinklers have front middle and back distances in Meters.

Just enjoy the course and the views. It's as tough as old boots if you're not swinging well but very fair at the same time. Lots of the longest rough is cut back now so you may find your ball but the lie will be unpredictable.

Let us know how you get on!

FixdePitchmark

Mizuno Man wrote: »

The Links is in incredible condition for the time of year. They have put a lot of effort in over the last few weeks for tomorrow too so it should be tip top.

Greens are very quick and roll near perfectly.

One of the most underated courses in the country I think!!

Great spot, but a few poor holes at the start of the round.

I've only played once , but if going well have a plan for 15 and 16. Card wreckers.

Some of the par 3s have big drops to the right, nightmare down there, 17 and one just before turn. So watch part of green with fall offs on a good few holes.

You may need a punch if afternoon.

FixdePitchmark

Mizuno Man wrote: »

Holes to be aware of:

1st 2nd and 3rd are a relatively easy start. Not too long and pretty much in front of you.

4th par 5. Long hole. Unlikely to get near it in two if the wind doesn't help you. But it is generous off the tee. Best lay up is to around 100-130 yards out to stay short of the fairway bunkers.

5th. Very long par 4. Loads of room left of the green. Flag hunt at your peril! Just find the green anywhere and hope to two putt.

6th. Shorter par 5. If you can avoid the fairway bunkers off the tee then the best second shot is left of the green to allow a pitch between the bunkers into the heart of the green. Next to impossible to hold the green on your second shot even if you can reach.

7th. Long par 4. A burn runs about 30 yards short of the green which is well protected left and right.

Into the teeth of the course now!

8th. Dogleg 90 degrees left. You will need to get to the dogleg to be able to see the green at all. The green is a demon! Large raised tier on the left half and it slopes sharply towards the back also.

9th. Par 3. No Bunkers. Miss the raised green and you'll do well to make par. Tough par 3 for what is just a large green with no hazards around it!

10th. Short par 4. Bunker left off the tee but lots of room right. Green is large enough on the left half but very shallow on the right. A bunker sits short right to swallow up anything short and you will almost never manage a par from there! A full shot in is needed to have enough spin to hold the green if you flag hunt.

11th Par 3. Well bunkered green. A very large and very (that's VERY!) deep bunker sits abeam the middle green on the right. Very tough up and down from there. Green slopes severely from left to right!

12th. Long par 4. Need a big drive to simplify the approach. Well protected green with very slopey back right corner.

13th. Par 5. Carry the right edge of the huge bunker left of the fairway and you will be in the perfect position to get up in two. This hole is soon to be extended by 80 yards or so and as a result a large bunker short right of the green has been removed making the approach a little easier.

14th. Short par 4. Iron off the tee if you like. Handy birdie chance!

Now, I think one of the best finishes in the country!

15th. Great fun dogleg right. Get close to the two fairway bunkers to have a view of the green. If you don't have a clear view be very conservative with your approach! Slopey green can be three putt nightmare.

16th. Brilliant hole. Carry the bunkers and the ball will feed back onto the middle or left half of the fairway. Well protected but large green. Good chance if you get your tee shot away safely.

17th. Super Long par 3. Green is bigger than it looks! Come up short or right and your chipping back up to the level of the green. Go long and probably lose your ball. Big, and very deep bunker short left. 4 is fine here!

18th. Great finishing hole. Two bunkers sit on the right edge of the fairway. Big bunker facing you on the left. You will not reach the green from any of them. More room on the right than it looks off the tee. Green is one of the biggest on the course. A right half flag is accesible enough but anything left is asking for trouble if you try to shoot straight at it!

Black and white poles in the fairway are 150M to the centre of the greens. All fairway sprinklers have front middle and back distances in Meters.

Just enjoy the course and the views. It's as tough as old boots if you're not swinging well but very fair at the same time. Lots of the longest rough is cut back now so you may find your ball but the lie will be unpredictable.

Let us know how you get on!

well there you go.

If it was only 1500 a year it would be the place to be.

Golfgraffix

I am lucky enough to play it twice a week most weeks

Some recent changes to the index have been very good

New bunker went in on 12 last week an with the new green on 13 not yet ready anything long or front right will be a free drop so don't be afraid to go for it in 2

Watch out for the sucker pin on the front right of ten, if it's there middle of the green is the spot, par on this pin is a good result.

As mentioned 8 green is tricky, try nit to be past the pin.

Watch out for 14, it can really sneak up on you.

I am a big believer that driver on 15 is a no no, all the trouble is long, I normally hit 2 rescue to the 150 pole and 8 iron in

Forgot this was on, does anyone know if there are any spaces left?

J

Dublin Spur

Lots of bunkers

Golfgraffix

Dublin Spur wrote: »

Lots of bunkers

96

Back9bandit

that is some review, will let ye know how i get on tomorrow night

WHIP IT!

Just a great golf course, challenging but playable for players of most levels.

Good luck and let us know how you do...

WacoKid

great course and always in great condition. tough but does gets easier the more you learn where to hit it.

if they reduced membership from €2500 to €1500 there would be a queue down the street.

the lawman

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Look up 3d course guide on website. Unless you have.

Can't find that on that site FDP just the usual 2D guide with photos alongside it. is there a flyover 3D guide there somewhere that I'm missing?

FixdePitchmark

http://www.portmarnock.com/golf-hotels-in-dublin.html


Go to golf , and 1st on left 3d tour, very good.

The website was a big idea, but not being looked after now (Imo) , not great for selecting stuff. But yes it is there.

the lawman

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

http://www.portmarnock.com/golf-hotels-in-dublin.html


Go to golf , and 1st on left 3d tour, very good.

The website was a big idea, but not being looked after now (Imo) , not great for selecting stuff. But yes it is there.

Cheers for that I can see what's happening here. I thought this thread was about this place:

http://www.portmarnockgolfclub.ie/

and you're chatting about the hotel links course....carry on.

FixdePitchmark

the lawman wrote: »

Cheers for that I can see what's happening here. I thought this thread was about this place:

http://www.portmarnockgolfclub.ie/

and you're chatting about the hotel links course....carry on.

It is a cheeky name.

Should be called NAMA Portmarnock Links, no doubt then.

Mizuno Man

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

It is a cheeky name.

Should be called NAMA Portmarnock Links, no doubt then.

I do feel they should think about changing their name. Whenever people hear about Portmarnock Links, Old Portmarnock, or just Portmarnock, they invariably think of the same place - the 100+ year old Portmarnock Golf Club.

The hotel is built around the original Jameson house with the Jameson graveyard running alongside the first hole. So why not call it the Jameson Golf Links Portmarnock or something like that to differentiate it?

I think the course is mature enough and of a high enough quality now to be able to stand out on it's own.

The whole NAMA thing is a shame really. Time will tell what effect it has. Another responsible and profit making business wrapped up in NAMA simply because it was owned by an irresponsible and risk taking group.

Undoubtedly will affect the number of applications for membership no matter what the price I would say....

Wish I was out there today. Looks like a perfect day for it. Dry, just a little breeze and a pleasant enough temperature too. Apparently it was fully booked for the Digest thing today and a very healthy waiting list on standby too!

Redzah

Mizuno Man wrote: »

I do feel they should think about changing their name. Whenever people hear about Portmarnock Links, Old Portmarnock, or just Portmarnock, they invariably think of the same place - the 100+ year old Portmarnock Golf Club.

The hotel is built around the original Jameson house with the Jameson graveyard running alongside the first hole. So why not call it the Jameson Golf Links Portmarnock or something like that to differentiate it?

I think the course is mature enough and of a high enough quality now to be able to stand out on it's own.

The whole NAMA thing is a shame really. Time will tell what effect it has. Another responsible and profit making business wrapped up in NAMA simply because it was owned by an irresponsible and risk taking group.

Undoubtedly will affect the number of applications for membership no matter what the price I would say....

The Jameson links make me and probably as lot of others think more of a fine whiskey rather than a golf course, although merging these two would be a lot of fun. Especially when u talk about how mature and of a high quality it is

Its a lovely golf course. I only played it once and had the expectations of it being secondary to the main portmarnack but was pleasently surprised. I think they have their pricing for membership way off though.

The_Architect

They are primarily a resort course.

They want to keep memberships to a small number. €2,500 isn't that bad considering the quality of the golf course and that chosen business model.

Mizuno Man

Redzah wrote: »

The Jameson links make me and probably as lot of others think more of a fine whiskey rather than a golf course, although merging these two would be a lot of fun. Especially when u talk about how mature and of a high quality it is

Its a lovely golf course. I only played it once and had the expectations of it being secondary to the main portmarnack but was pleasently surprised. I think they have their pricing for membership way off though.

It is the Whiskey Jamesons that lived there originally. Could be a great idea for marketing. A little shot waiting for you every three tees to warm you up during the winter months or all prizes only paid in whiskey rather than shop credit, etc, etc.

Redzah

The_Architect wrote: »

They are primarily a resort course.

They want to keep memberships to a small number. €2,500 isn't that bad considering the quality of the golf course and that chosen business model.

I do think that €2,500 is v expensive for what u get which is a very decent links course but nothing spectacular. If their business model works for them and generates a similiar revenue than if they pursued membership at a lower rate of €1,500 then i can't argue with that i suppose but IMO €2,500 is way off when compared to what else is out there.

FixdePitchmark

Lads, starting in January I'll be joining here - anybody any update on the place, the course, the cost, the long term outloook. Would join now , and I guess pay a pro rata fee till January - going for 5 day. best links near me.

Thanks for any help ?

Golfgraffix

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Lads, starting in January I'll be joining here - anybody any update on the place, the course, the cost, the long term outloook. Would join now , and I guess pay a pro rata fee till January - going for 5 day. best links near me.

Thanks for any help ?

You will love it. Course is in great shape at the mo, rough is as deep as I have ever seen it, playing really tough. Changes to 13 and 14 are bedding in nicely

Still a small membership of 90 or so, Sunday comps usually have about 30 players, Wednesday comps are guests also so tend to be bigger with about 50 ish

Club atmosphere is beginning to grow, good core group of regulars, a good run in Barton Cup helped this year.

If you want to play before Jan send me a pm there is usually a spot on our wed time slot

J

thewobbler

Played the Links last weekend and loved it. Really thought it a top class track, and not as punitive as I'd been led to believe - though the green tees and the shorter winter rough probably hold influence in that opinion.

I'd mark hole 16 as one of the best I've played, an absolutely scintillating driving experience.

The 8th isn't as odd as some people make out, i found it a pleasant change to the rhythm, and 90 degree turns wouldn't normally be my kind of hole.

Even though I bought a strokesaver and the starter warned me advance, I still didn't see the stream in front of the 7th green until my ball ended up in it. Course management issues!

It's not RCD, but it's a great layout. Getting 40 yards of bounce on a drive at this time of year made it well worth the spin.

Oh and watching one of your mates get a hole in one (on the 3rd) kind of makes a day more memorable again.