Atlantic Coast Challenge 2013

Benicetomonty

Very early to be bringing this up perhaps, but have recently booked myself into this alongside my bro and my Dad and to say I'm looking forward to it would be an understatement! I'm sure this thread will require a bump in a few months time, but would be interested to hear the thoughts of anyone who's playing/has played in the event over the last couple of years. I haven't played any of the courses, so wondering which track people would rank the highest. Advice on accommodation also welcome, cheers!

liam12989

you are in for a treat. Everyone has there own favourite but they are all top class courses.These 3 courses are as good as any in the world in my mind.

opinionated3

Excuse my ignorance but what is the Atlantic coast challenge?

link_2007

opinionated3 wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance but what is the Atlantic coast challenge?

http://www.carnegolflinks.com/page01.html

opinionated3

Thanks for that. I clicked on the link and it says €120 for visitors. Is that just for carne links or is it for all three? Also is the challenge that you play all three course in three days? Thanks for any info

scubapro

opinionated3 wrote: »

Thanks for that. I clicked on the link and it says €120 for visitors. Is that just for carne links or is it for all three? Also is the challenge that you play all three course in three days? Thanks for any info

There was a thread on this last year I think and if I'm not mistaken Kevin Markham has a blog about it.

cornerboy

Thats interesting and good value. Anyone know if practice rounds are covered in that green fee.
Have played the Causeway Classic based in Portrush / Portstewart several times and 4 days of competition are supplemented by free practice rounds making it a full week for £200.

Kevinmarkham

opinionated3 wrote: »

Thanks for that. I clicked on the link and it says €120 for visitors. Is that just for carne links or is it for all three? Also is the challenge that you play all three course in three days? Thanks for any info

The €125 fee covers all three courses. You can choose which order to play the courses in but yes, you play three days in a row.

scubapro wrote: »

There was a thread on this last year I think and if I'm not mistaken Kevin Markham has a blog about it.

Thanks scubapro: I did a blog about the three days of competition (look at July 2012 listing on right hand side) as well as this blog about the various Challenges around the country.

cornerboy wrote: »

Thats interesting and good value. Anyone know if practice rounds are covered in that green fee.
Have played the Causeway Classic based in Portrush / Portstewart several times and 4 days of competition are supplemented by free practice rounds making it a full week for £200.

No, practice rounds aren't covered. Only the Causeway Challenge offers the free practice rounds on all courses, while the West Coast Challenge offers one free round. That said, most of the courses offer a preferential rate if you want to practice.

mike12

I'll be going for the 3rd year in a row this year 3 cracking courses and well worth the money, I'd say base yourself in Enniscrone as u will be half way between the other 2 courses.
Mike

tippman26

How do u book the round on enniscrone and rosses point or do u book all three days of the carne website?

FixdePitchmark

liam12989 wrote: »

you are in for a treat. Everyone has there own favourite but they are all top class courses.These 3 courses are as good as any in the world in my mind.

Lads what is a mixed team. It is on booking as a mixed team of 3 ?

mike12

tippman26 wrote: »

How do u book the round on enniscrone and rosses point or do u book all three days of the carne website?

U get the same time for the 3 days u have to decide which course u start on and the have a rota so everyone that plays Carne the first day will play Enniscrone the second.
Teams can be either male or female or mixed.
Mike

tippman26

so when u book ur time on the carne website that is the day and time u are playing carne and u play the others at the same time and they will tell u the day for each course?

FixdePitchmark

mike12 wrote: »

U get the same time for the 3 days u have to decide which course u start on and the have a rota so everyone that plays Carne the first day will play Enniscrone the second.
Teams can be either male or female or mixed.
Mike

Thanks Mike.
Might put this down as a bit of a goal next near.

Get GUI, get team.

When was entry closed last year - maybe nobody here knows that. Would need to get skates on.

Sounds class.

Is there any social aspect to it after ? Do people in other groups meet up ?

Kevinmarkham

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Is there any social aspect to it after ? Do people in other groups meet up ?

The Atlantic Coast Challenge doesn't have a specific social aspect, unlike the Dunmore East Classic, so unless you bunk in with some other teams in the clubhouse, which we've done over the previous two years, it's down to you and your mates.

You also tend to bump into familiar faces in the bars - especially in the smaller towns of Enniscrone and Belmullet.

FixdePitchmark

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

The Atlantic Coast Challenge doesn't have a specific social aspect, unlike the Dunmore East Classic, so unless you bunk in with some other teams in the clubhouse, which we've done over the previous two years, it's down to you and your mates.

You also tend to bump into familiar faces in the bars - especially in the smaller towns of Enniscrone and Belmullet.

Thanks,

Sounds very good. Enniscrone would be the job.

The idea is stuck in my head now.

mike12

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

The Atlantic Coast Challenge doesn't have a specific social aspect, unlike the Dunmore East Classic, so unless you bunk in with some other teams in the clubhouse, which we've done over the previous two years, it's down to you and your mates.

You also tend to bump into familiar faces in the bars - especially in the smaller towns of Enniscrone and Belmullet.

Too much time in the Bars is that why you are late for the tee time in Enniscrone:D.

Kevinmarkham

mike12 wrote: »

Too much time in the Bars is that why you are late for the tee time in Enniscrone:D.

Sadly yes, but blame my chauffeur (bed at 4am) and roads where you could never overtake.

Have you played in any of the other challenges around Ireland? Talk about a great selection.

mike12

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Sadly yes, but blame my chauffeur (bed at 4am) and roads where you could never overtake.

Have you played in any of the other challenges around Ireland? Talk about a great selection.

Did the Coasts of Down last year as well loved Ardglass. But would love to do the one up the north coast in October over Portrush, Portsalon and Ballyliffen i think it is.
Heading to St Andrews in April any suggestion for a 3rd course on the cheap side we are playing the old and New but want to play a 3rd but keep the cost down.
Mike

Kevinmarkham

mike12 wrote: »

Did the Coasts of Down last year as well loved Ardglass. But would love to do the one up the north coast in October over Portrush, Portsalon and Ballyliffen i think it is.
Heading to St Andrews in April any suggestion for a 3rd course on the cheap side we are playing the old and New but want to play a 3rd but keep the cost down.
Mike

The Great North Links you're thinking of, on 2-4 Oct 2013. You play the 'big' courses at each venue. Cost is Stg £175.

As for Scotland - can't help you. Never played that side of the country.

liam12989

This comp was set up a couple of years ago to give keen avid golfers 3 exceptional courses for a decent fee in a competitive competition but still abit of fun. It hasnt been as busy as some had forecasted but due to various things this has to be expected.

What i have seen work is 3 guys renting a house in enniscrone for the 4/5 days.. Come on a sunday evening play mon-wed and head home on a thurs. this means a whole week of work which may work for some and not others.

Others have brought the family for a week rented a house and played 3 days and had the rest to enjoy with the family.

the 2 smaller towns enniscrone + belmullet is possibly where the craic will be its holiday season so generally the pubs in these towns are full with golfers and the craic is mighty esp if decent weather.

PS. guys dont be expected to fly around these courses in 3 hours.

Expect 5 hours+ dont forget most havnt played these courses and if you look at scores in west at easter and any championship on these monsters the scoring is poor so allow the time and enjoy yourselfs your in for a real treat.

I myself am a member of enniscrone but due to work i cannot commit at the minute.

I love all these 3 courses and want these to get as much attention as possible as i believe its deserved.

enniscrone

What are the dates for 2013?

redhill

mike12 wrote: »

Did the Coasts of Down last year as well loved Ardglass. But would love to do the one up the north coast in October over Portrush, Portsalon and Ballyliffen i think it is.
Heading to St Andrews in April any suggestion for a 3rd course on the cheap side we are playing the old and New but want to play a 3rd but keep the cost down.
Mike

Think it's Portstewart rather than Portsalon

Kevinmarkham

enniscrone wrote: »

What are the dates for 2013?

1st - 3rd July 2013 (Mon-Wedn)

redhill wrote: »

Think it's Portstewart rather than Portsalon

Yep, good catch:
Ballyliffin (Glashedy)
Portstewart (Strand)
Royal Portrush (Dunluce)

Jimmy Two Times

mike12 wrote: »

Did the Coasts of Down last year as well loved Ardglass. But would love to do the one up the north coast in October over Portrush, Portsalon and Ballyliffen i think it is.
Heading to St Andrews in April any suggestion for a 3rd course on the cheap side we are playing the old and New but want to play a 3rd but keep the cost down.
Mike

Where you staying Mike ?

Craigielaw is a decent enough Links Course quire close to Musselborough,just outside Edinburgh so you could make it your first or last course, depending on your accomodation arrangements. Been a while since we were there but it was reasonable.Edinburgh is about an hour and a quarter from St Andrews.

What are they charging for the Eden and The Jubilee ?

Never played the Eden, but the Jubilee is grand, similar to the New.

It's a fantastic experience to tee it up on the first on the Old Course and to walk up the 18th with the town behind the green.

Enjoy !

mike12

Jimmy Two Times wrote: »

Where you staying Mike ?

Craigielaw is a decent enough Links Course quire close to Musselborough,just outside Edinburgh so you could make it your first or last course, depending on your accomodation arrangements. Been a while since we were there but it was reasonable.Edinburgh is about an hour and a quarter from St Andrews.

What are they charging for the Eden and The Jubilee ?

Never played the Eden, but the Jubilee is grand, similar to the New.

It's a fantastic experience to tee it up on the first on the Old Course and to walk up the 18th with the town behind the green.

Enjoy !

One of the guys has played the Jubilee so he doesn't fancy playing it again and the Eden does not get great reviews. We still havent decided if we are flying or ferry so if we ger the freey then the extra course will be on the west coast, If we fly then Lundin looks like it is the no.1 choice.
Mike

The_Architect

mike12 wrote: »

One of the guys has played the Jubilee so he doesn't fancy playing it again and the Eden does not get great reviews. We still havent decided if we are flying or ferry so if we ger the freey then the extra course will be on the west coast, If we fly then Lundin looks like it is the no.1 choice.
Mike

Eden is a great wee course. Not long but plenty going on. Personally I'd play there or head 10 minutes down the coast to Crail Balcomie which offers similar. Or play Kingsbarns if your wallet is up to it.

mike12

Hi,
Played Laytown/Bettystown at the weekend and saw a poster for a 3 course event in Seapoint laytown and another course in September. Anyone seen the poster?
Mike

mike12

Many people end up signing up for this?
Really looking forward to it with the change of format for the team event with the 2 from 3 to score.
Mike

Benicetomonty

mike12 wrote: »

Many people end up signing up for this?
Really looking forward to it with the change of format for the team event with the 2 from 3 to score.
Mike

Was actually thinking of bumping this thread today, you beat me to it!

Cannot wait for the first week of July, even if I ain't naive enough to think we'll get weather like we have done recently.

Have everything arranged except accommodation in Sligo, where the recommended hotel was booked out when last I checked. Any suggestions?

mike12

I stay at home in mayo and travel to the courses so don't know about the hotels in Sligo.
Mike

Kevinmarkham

mike12 wrote: »

Many people end up signing up for this?
Really looking forward to it with the change of format for the team event with the 2 from 3 to score.
Mike

We're teeing off at 12.50, Monday at Rosses Point. I'm going to hang around for the 'afters' bash in the Diamond Coast Hotel (who are this year's sponsors) afterwards and then head back for another round at Carne on Thursday.

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Have everything arranged except accommodation in Sligo, where the recommended hotel was booked out when last I checked. Any suggestions?

You're fairly spoilt for choice. What night are you there? We're heading to Belmullet straight after the round at Rosses Point and staying at the Talbot Hotel in Belmullet for two nights - rather than change hotels. I stayed at the Sligo Park Hotel a few years back, which was grand, but there are plenty of others like the Clarion, Best Western and Southern - and those are just the big brand names.

mike12

I'm playing the opposite way, Carne, Enniscrone and then Sligo. 12.30 tee off. Do you have 3 this year Kevin? and good to go for a later tee time so there should be no problems with the starter.
Was going to try and play the Saturday and Sunday before but they are 3 tough courses that have left me wrecked mentally(Enniscrone) and Physically after the 3 days the last 2 years. Depending on the weather I hope they are not as harsh with the tees they use in Enniscrone this year.
The last 2 years we have had someone in the 3 ball not break 20 points on the first Day so the team event with 3 from 3 to score was a bit irrelevant. With 2 to score a bit of luck and all the scratches might not be too damaging.
Mike

Benicetomonty

Sligo, Carne, Enniscrone for me, 12 12pm tee off. Am staying in the Diamond Coast in Enniscrone tuesday and wednesday night, and a b and b, the drum chaoi or somesuch, in Belmullet on monday. Sligo probably has the most options for accomodation out of the 3 so am sure Il get fixed up handy enough!

Will hopefully see ye down there at some point. If the weather is any way decent, Iv a few outfits in mind that should stand out, so will be easily recognisable :-D

Benicetomonty

Well, the event is almost upon us! Weather seems to be up in the air; tomorrow to be decent but then today was supposed to be good too and having spent the last couple of hours watching the golf at co. Sligo gc, I can tell you it was nippy, squally and damn windy out there. My 1st look at Rosses and has whetted the appetite nicely. Belmullet Tuesday, forecast is unkind but hoping for the best. Will have to do the damage tomorrow!

FixdePitchmark

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Well, the event is almost upon us! Weather seems to be up in the air; tomorrow to be decent but then today was supposed to be good too and having spent the last couple of hours watching the golf at co. Sligo gc, I can tell you it was nippy, squally and damn windy out there. My 1st look at Rosses and has whetted the appetite nicely. Belmullet Tuesday, forecast is unkind but hoping for the best. Will have to do the damage tomorrow!

Enjoy Ben, you dont need the big stick the way you hit that 3 wood

liam12989

hows this going? how are ye finding the courses?

Hope weather is decent:D

Benicetomonty

liam12989 wrote: »

hows this going? how are ye finding the courses?

Hope weather is decent:D

Weather awful today. We were in Carne, great, great course but the wind and rain put a bit of a dampener on proceedings! It did relent a little for the last 7 holes so made it slightly less of a slog! We had 72 points today, level 2s with 2 to score per hole. Quite happy with that but no doubt itl be eclipsed by someone. Thankfully, winning wasnt the reason we signed up!

Great day yesterday in Sligo weatherwise. Golf not the best, but will remember my birdie 3 on the index 1 17th for some time. Fine track but Carne is exceptional, the better of the 2 courses imo. Looking forward to enniscrone tomorrow, hoping the weather is a little kinder!

mike12

Started in carne weather was decent love the course, we had 77 on the day think 88 won. Greens were fast but u could find your ballin the rough. Enniscrone was tough in the rain 34 points on the front but a super back nine of 45 for 79 was good. 81 was the best score in enniscrone on day 1 and 84 in rosses point. Results are online.
Mike

Kevinmarkham

Benicetomonty wrote: »

will remember my birdie 3 on the index 1 17th for some time.

That's some feat. A remarkably tough hole.

mike12 wrote: »

Started in carne weather was decent love the course, we had 77 on the day think 88 won. Greens were fast but u could find your ballin the rough. Enniscrone was tough in the rain 34 points on the front but a super back nine of 45 for 79 was good. 81 was the best score in enniscrone on day 1 and 84 in rosses point. Results are online.
Mike

Can't say we've been delivering much on the points front, but not too bothered - just out to enjoy three amazing courses. It's hard work enjoying Carne in the rain we had yesterday, but we managed. Bedrooms looked like a bombsite afterwards - with wet gear/shoes/clubs/stuff scattered about. Drove over to Enniscrone this morning with the windows open - the wet shoes would have overwhelmed me otherwise.

Have blogged about the first two days - some pics too.

liam12989

link to all results:

http://www.carnegolflinks.com/page01_36_1752479034.pdf

mike12

Hi,
Weather for day 3 in Co. Sligo was super for the front 9 and so was out score with a 48 points for the 9 holes as we turned for home the wind picked up and we struggled home in 35 points. Left the course thinking we had left a great score out there but got a call on Thursday saying we had the best score of the day in Co. Sligo. We finished 7th overall and we were delighted with our team scoring over the week where we basically had 1 person scratch every hole. 34 points in Co. Sligo was our highest individual score.
We thought at the start of the week if we managed over 72 a day we would be playing well and an 80 average would win the comp easy we were a long was out in our guess.
It is a super event and 1 i will be going back too next year. For €120 if you book early it is super value.
Kevin must have had a lot of quick players infront of him, we were over 5 hours evey day 5.20 was the quickest round, the 12.30 tee time may have something to do with that but there had to have been a really slow group out early on. Think Kevin may have been on the quite rota.

Mike

Kevinmarkham

mike12 wrote: »

Kevin must have had a lot of quick players infront of him, we were over 5 hours evey day 5.20 was the quickest round, the 12.30 tee time may have something to do with that but there had to have been a really slow group out early on. Think Kevin may have been on the quite rota.

Ours was a busy day: it was something like 35 teams starting at Rosses Point on Day 1 (our rota), 15 at Carne and 32 at Enniscrone. Rosses Point was the fastest, Carne the slowest (rain-induced), but Carne was 5 hours max for us. I heard one of the teams took 6 hours at Carne on the day we played it, so somewhere behind us there was a slow group for sure.

I played Carne again yesterday (we even had sunshine!) and Mary (Manager) told me they're already taking bookings for next year. Boards should try and put in a team or two!

mike12

Think they had 80 teams this year and the aim is to get to 120. I guess that there was a group out early in front of us that were struggling and there was no one to move them on. The 2 to score makes it a much better format one of our team doesn't play a lot of golf but he chiped in with a good few scores which made him feel much better this year.
All it is missing is a few spotters around the courses to speed it up a bit or at least a marshal.
Glad to hear you got on ok with the started in Enniscrone this year he was a very nice chap.
Mike

charlieIRL

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Boards should try and put in a team or two!

good idea Kevin, would be up for this next year.

Benicetomonty

Great few days had all in all, so would echo everything Kevin has said. I'd love to go back next year, certainly won't rule it out. A shame about the weather on Tuesday in Carne but it was still the best course out of the three for me, absolutely spectacular.

A vid each from the three days:

Day 1: A rescue club down the left side of a par 4 in Sligo. Can't for the life of me remember what hole!

Day 2: Had to wait until the 18th to risk taking the camera out at Carne such was the weather. Tee shot off the par 5; a little right but was in decent shape.

Day 3: A 7 iron to a foot off 11 at Enniscrone. Only decent shot caught on camera all week!

PARlance

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Cheers for the vids BNTM, did you nearly hit a car in this one??? Seems to sound like there's a car skidding at 8 seconds

Benicetomonty

ajcurry123 wrote: »

Cheers for the vids BNTM, did you nearly hit a car in this one??? Seems to sound like there's a car skidding at 8 seconds

I actually think that was my camera man exhaling! Clearly he'd had enough of me thinking I was Tiger at Hoylake hitting rescues/irons off the tee

Bogieman

Great event, except for the weather on day 2.
2 of our 3 ball survived all 54 holes with the same golf ball so the courses were very playable.
Will be back next year.

sydneybound

Didn't play in this event but played all three very shortly after.

Personally I found County Sligo better than both enniscrone & carne. The greens were in great nick while there was not a sod out of place on any of the fairways. It felt like a proper championship feel to the place.

Here's my order on the three

1) Sligo
2) Enniscrone
3) Carne

I had high expectations for Carne but sadly they didn't live up to them. Very often I found some of my better shots got punished, especially approach shots, which I thought was a little unfair. The back 9 is undoubtly the best 9, however I felt that you are always looking for that favourable hop either on the fairways or before greens. The new 9 does look amazing, one brilliant par 3 and par 5 from the little I saw.

In Sligo the rough was extremely bad but good shots got rewarded and the greens were spot on. I loved Enniscrone too, goes a little flat from holes 6 to 9/10ish but comes alive again. Found the greens not as good when compared to Sligo but really enjoyed the challenge. In fairness Sligo is the biggest of the three so might have an advantage over the other two from a financial point of view.

If I ever go back over to that neck of the woods again I'll go for Sligo, Enniscrone & Strandhill which is a great fun course to play. On another note when you hit he rough on either Sligo or Enniscrone you might as well wave goodbye to your ball as there's little chance of finding it, so come well stocked! Regardless on my views Sligo & Mayo are great golfing destinations.

eagle eye

Personally I think Carne is one of the best courses in the country. I understand your annoyance but you have to hit the right place in Carne or things don't work out. Just hitting a ball that you think is good is not enough there.