So I was at Carton House

thewobbler

And I really wasn't sure to expect. Two courses that are always highly ranked, but as I've often found in the past few years, being a big name seems to get you a pass on the more stringent examinations of a course's worth.

Day 1 was the Monty, and I was very impressed. The bunkers make it a cruel golf course, but not cruel in a tricked up way. Everything is in front of you, and if you pick the right shots you won't be punished. I took three to get out a bunker twice, and another twice I knocked it out of one and into another. My key learning from the weekend is that I'm an unfathomably poor bunker player! It's a course of few memorable holes, as an absence of water and an absence of elevation changes means that holes aren't framed. Yet every hole is interesting, and continually keeps you thinking. I wouldn't put it in Ireland's elite parklands; Druid's Glen, Headfort, Concra and Erne are all a bit ahead, just from those i've played. But it's a very fine track, if not for anyone who doesn't enjoy a challenge.

O'Meara wasn't quite as impressive. Part of this was down to conditioning; I can excuse sand on greens, but uneven and uncut tee boxes are a bug bear. There is an attention to detail on The Monty that isn't, for whatever reason, carried through here.

In some ways it reminded me of the Smurfit at K Club; essentially it's a good track, a fair test, and ideal for society golf. But like Smurfit, until the water kicks in during the back 9, it's just too open. It needs more trees, more bunkers or more water to help frame the holes. Too often the doglegs just don't punish you enough for the wrong tee shot.

Plus, I was glad I took a buggy. Apart from my raging hangover, there were enough walks to tees that made me wonder about the design.

So a nice course without being spectacular, with the exception of 15 and 16 which are superb, water-framed holes.

The overall Carton experience though is excellent. The second course is stronger than that at Druids, Erne or Headfort, and it's probably not far off the best overnight-all-in-the-one-spot venue in the country.

L.O.F.T

The Montgomery course held the European Amateur Golf Championship's last week hence why it was in far superior shape to the O'Meara. The experience of staying is worth the trip. The outlay to have two courses in top shape must be enormous.

WHIP IT!

I must say, I always have a little giggle to myself when I hear people say O'Meara is "too short" or "too easy"... I love to ask people what they scored there after they say that... it's rare they say "44 points" or something similiar... People mistake the fact it's forgiving off the tee for "easiness"... it's all about your score lads, and O'Meara's raised greens protect it just fine if you ask me.

bustercherry

I suspect the reason the o'meara was not as polished as the monty, is due to new holes and improvements to the existing holes (on top of monty being set up for the European Amateur) planned. I played it a few months back and it was in great shape, it maybe it's a strategic decision while the work is carried out.

From what I read, they want to host the Irish open on it next year instead of the Monty and that's why all the changes are being done.

Golfgraffix

I must say that I much prefer The O'Meara, although much more subtle in design than the Monty it still has some very strategic holes. Should the Irish Open be held on the O'Meara next year it will be very interesting to see how they set it up, I think they could really add some teeth to it, let the native areas grow tall and add an inch to the primary rough would take a number of shots off straight away .

Not sure how public the new plans are so cant say much but they will make a huge difference to the course if they get the green light.

One thing I can say about Carton is that anytime I have played there the service has been top notch.

J

bustercherry

Golfgraffix wrote: »

I must say that I much prefer The O'Meara, although much more subtle in design than the Monty it still has some very strategic holes. Should the Irish Open be held on the O'Meara next year it will be very interesting to see how they set it up, I think they could really add some teeth to it, let the native areas grow tall and add an inch to the primary rough would take a number of shots off straight away .

Not sure how public the new plans are so cant say much but they will make a huge difference to the course if they get the green light.

One thing I can say about Carton is that anytime I have played there the service has been top notch.

J

Must be public enough as it was one of the staff telling me and it's was published about applying to have the Irish open in a few papers.

PRAF

I've played both as its on the rota for my society at work. I have to say that I much prefer the Monty. It's much tougher, a bit of a brute (especially off the whites, and by the looks of it even more so off the blues which thankfully I haven't played). Overall I really enjoy the course. It forces you to hit good shots. Because it is quite open, and so severe, bad shots are really punished on most of the holes. There are some good risk / reward holes as well. It is mostly in very good condition, the greens were perfect last time I played it.

I slightly disagree with the "not cruel in a tricked up way" comment. There are some parts of the course that are unfair IMO. 3 yards from the fairway is potentially a lost ball on a lot of the holes. I found that some of the bunkers were short of sand, not in any way similar to the practice bunker. Also, some of the pin positions were very penal for the average golfer and one or two were actually cut on slopes.

By comparison, the O'Meara is much easier and a lot less interesting IMO.

Neither course is visually stunning and there are not that mant really memorably holes. However, the overall Carton experience is very good and the facilities are the best in Ireland IMO

Johnny_Fontane

how was the monty set up recently? I played it in April and the rough was cut right back meaning that you could cut doglegs all over the place, you didnt need to play the holes the way it was designed.

For example on the second, you could easily miss right, see your ball from the tee and pitch on from there.....

have they grown the rough back?

I absolutely love the monty, I think its an immense track, but we were very disappointed in April. We are due to go back (thanks to mr.howley) this month so would be interested to see where the rough is at.

Golfgraffix

bustercherry wrote: »

Must be public enough as it was one of the staff telling me and it's was published about applying to have the Irish open in a few papers.

Sorry I meant the specific changes to the O'Meara, not the fact that they have the open.

J

PRAF

Johnny_Fontane wrote: »

how was the monty set up recently? I played it in April and the rough was cut right back meaning that you could cut doglegs all over the place, you didnt need to play the holes the way it was designed.

For example on the second, you could easily miss right, see your ball from the tee and pitch on from there.....

have they grown the rough back?

I absolutely love the monty, I think its an immense track, but we were very disappointed in April. We are due to go back (thanks to mr.howley) this month so would be interested to see where the rough is at.

One of my group tried to cut the corner ont he 2nd. Seems to land in the semi rough and was fairly confident he'd find the ball. Ended up not finding it and so scratched the hole.

The rough is very penal. 50-50 chance of finding the ball to start with. Even if you find it, you're probably looking at pitching it back onto the fairway at best.

I played it on the Weds after the European Am had finished the week before. As such, it was probably setup very tough.

How in the name of god did someone shoot a 62 there off the blues

DonalN

What's the green fee if you're staying at the hotel?

1916

Image looking up the 'new' 1st. Par 4, I think, current 1st will change to a Par 3, current 4th & 18th will be dropped, 18th will run up side of river using the current 18th tees, around where 2 large trees are in front of the house

PARlance

Was watching the European Am last night on Sky, course looked great.

I love watching golf on TV, on a course that I've previously played... You can really appreciate the brilliance that you are witnessing.
Watching those guys last night, I don't know how I didn't break par, so easy

GreeBo

played Monty yesterday, was of the greens so it was a lot easier, we all lost a few balls in the hay though.
greens were a little slow but running very true.
fairway bunkers were very tough on high handicaps, short siding yourself on the greenside bunkers was penal.
was playing into a gale a lot on the front nine which was very tough.