Courses to play...Advice please!

Cecco70

My brother is coming to dublin for a week and he wants to play 3-4 rounds while he is here. He would like to play atleast one links course and has pretty much set his mind on Portmarnock Links. The other course he really wants to play is Druids Glen, my only concern is that we're not mid-low handicappers and these two courses may be too tough for us. Do you think its ok for higher handicappers to tackle these courses?

What other courses would you advise a higher handicapper here on holiday to play?
Thanks

thewobbler

Cecco70 wrote: »

My brother is coming to dublin for a week and he wants to play 3-4 rounds while he is here. He would like to play atleast one links course and has pretty much set his mind on Portmarnock Links. The other course he really wants to play is Druids Glen, my only concern is that we're not mid-low handicappers and these two courses may be too tough for us. Do you think its ok for higher handicappers to tackle these courses?

What other courses would you advise a higher handicapper here on holiday to play?
Thanks

You'll be fine in Druids Glen off the forward tees. There's only 3-4 holes from the front that might prove too challenging, and they're will spread out.

GreeBo

Try Killeen and you should be able to get out in Castleknock or Luttrelstown.

Golfgraffix

The links off the green tees is easy enough this time of year.

Lawless2k12

St Helens Bay is a bit linksy. Not 100% links but there are at least 8 good examples of links style holes there. I'd recommend the Gold Coast, Waterford Castle or Ballybunion as other choices. Mount Juliet too. Depends on your budget though... (Obviously my choices are not all links, just suggestions in general) Gold Coast and St Helens Bay hold up well in rough weather. Don't know about the others

Cecco70

Thank you all guys for the advice, so Druids Glen is on the list for sure and most likely The Links is as well. The courses Lawless2k12 mentioned look stunning but they are a bit too far for us, no prob for my brother but I still have to get a few hours of work done in between rounds.:(

Greebo, Castleknock seems impossible to get on the time sheet, is it really that busy? Luttrellstown could be a good option, quite near where I live.
What about Knightsbrook, looks quite nice.

Lawless2k12

Cecco70 wrote: »

The courses Lawless2k12 mentioned look stunning but they are a bit too far for us, no prob for my brother but I still have to get a few hours of work done in between rounds.:(

Ah dang it! I've only played on course above Tipp and Waterford and that was Abbeyleix. From what I remember it was a nice course as well and some very odd features like a seriously tricky 3 tiered green and another seriously tricky 2 tiered green (Depending on pin placement). Tight enough in places too. At least you know a couple course to look out for if you ever travel down South

Dr_Colossus

Cecco70 wrote: »

Greebo, Castleknock seems impossible to get on the time sheet, is it really that busy? Luttrellstown could be a good option, quite near where I live.
What about Knightsbrook, looks quite nice.

Luttrellstown has a far superior course layout to Castleknock in my opinion, Castleknock is fairly short but well maintained and thus popular with societies and green fees making it very busy. Only played Knightsbrook once, it's fairly long and open so quite generous of the tee but a fine course with some interesting holes.

What time of year is the holiday, if soon and during the winter I'd also strongly advise including The European which you should be able to get for €60 as part of their winter open days.
Another option and not too far travel wise would be Roganstown, it has a reasonable green fee and is usually in good condition and takes the rain well with plenty of drainage.

GreeBo

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Luttrellstown has a far superior course layout to Castleknock in my opinion, Castleknock is fairly short but well maintained and thus popular with societies and green fees making it very busy. Only played Knightsbrook once, it's fairly long and open so quite generous of the tee but a fine course with some interesting holes.

What time of year is the holiday, if soon and during the winter I'd also strongly advise including The European which you should be able to get for €60 as part of their winter open days.
Another option and not too far travel wise would be Roganstown, it has a reasonable green fee and is usually in good condition and takes the rain well with plenty of drainage.

Agreed.
Luttrelstown is more expensive though, or at least was.
we paid 40 each about 3 months ago for 15 people.

We had no problem getting out in Castleknock, but that was back before it got dark 2 hours after I get up

Cecco70

The cheapest I could find for a round in Luttrellstown is 25 euro for a fourball, 35 euro the highest.
My brother is coming over next week so I don't have that much time to plan but so far thanks to your help I've made up mind on three courses, Druids Glen, Portmarnock Links and Luttrellstown.

FixdePitchmark

Cecco70 wrote: »

The cheapest I could find for a round in Luttrellstown is 25 euro for a fourball, 35 euro the highest.
My brother is coming over next week so I don't have that much time to plan but so far thanks to your help I've made up mind on three courses, Druids Glen, Portmarnock Links and Luttrellstown.

That is a fine 3 days golf. I wish I had a brother like you. Can I be your brother for the 3 days above.

Cecco70

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

That is a fine 3 days golf. I wish I had a brother like you. Can I be your brother for the 3 days above.

:) I've never played any of these courses before and I'm quite nervous to be honest. The possibility of being paired up with two strangers that are stuck up their own arses terrifies me:eek:, and being greeted by the "starter" at the first tee is something I'm not used to either, assuming what I read is correct.

PARlance

Cecco70 wrote: »

:) I've never played any of these courses before and I'm quite nervous to be honest. The possibility of being paired up with two strangers that are stuck up their own arses terrifies me:eek:, and being greeted by the "starter" at the first tee is something I'm not used to either, assuming what I read is correct.

Don't worry about strangers, they'll only bite 50% of the time
Depending on day/time/date, it could easily be just the 2 of you. (Luttrelstown for sure I'd say).

Don't worry about starters either. Played the links there a couple of months back and it was my first experience of a starter. It does add a bit of pressure... But for everyone, not just yourself. A 6 handicap topped it 20 yards that day, a 7 handicapper hooked it massively. The remaining two of us hackers couldn't have placed it better on the fairway.

I follow the grip it and rip it approach to stress relief on the first.
Grip club. Fart. Practice swing. Try to rip again

FixdePitchmark

Cecco70 wrote: »

:) I've never played any of these courses before and I'm quite nervous to be honest. The possibility of being paired up with two strangers that are stuck up their own arses terrifies me:eek:, and being greeted by the "starter" at the first tee is something I'm not used to either, assuming what I read is correct.

Cecco - you are on the Northside - I'd actually tell you to watch your car and bring 2 cans of Bulmers for the beach side dunes. Lock your car and bring bad socks. Only joking - try Old Head and come back to us.

They are grand places now - the false grandioseness of the places you are going is long gone.