golf holiday in Ireland?

allybhoy

Looking for a bit of advice please, me and a group of lads are looking to head off in May midweek somewhere in Ireland for a spot of golf, we are all novice golfers and have never played a course outside Leinster so we are looking to play 2-3 courses over 4 days or so, preferably links as none of us have played links courses either. We will be driving so doesn't matter if the courses are a little bit apart within reason, we have been briefly looking at Tralee and Westport but open to anywhere really, just looking for opinions on courses, prices etc and any deals on accommodation would be most appreciated

Cheers

thewobbler

allybhoy wrote: »

Looking for a bit of advice please, me and a group of lads are looking to head off in May midweek somewhere in Ireland for a spot of golf, we are all novice golfers and have never played a course outside Leinster so we are looking to play 2-3 courses over 4 days or so, preferably links as none of us have played links courses either. We will be driving so doesn't matter if the courses are a little bit apart within reason, we have been briefly looking at Tralee and Westport but open to anywhere really, just looking for opinions on courses, prices etc and any deals on accommodation would be most appreciated

Cheers

Rosapenna is immense and has great deals.

allybhoy

thewobbler wrote: »

Rosapenna is immense and has great deals.

Cheers looking now, looks magnificent, is there much to do in the local area in the evenings? Few pints, bit of grub etc

PARlance

I'm from Castlebar so I'll give you info on Westport.

Plenty of good accommodation down there, you should be able to pick up some good mid week offers (feel free to PM me if you see something that you want to check out.) v good nightlife there too.

In terms of courses, you have:

Westport GC (have yet to play but is ranked highly enough, not a links though)

Carne/Belmullet GC about 1hr 20mins drive away (again yet to play but cannot wait to do so, meant to be a hidden gem. Some rank it amongst the best links in Ireland)

Mulranny GC 20 mins away, a 9 hole links, quirky course but I love it there, could be an option just to play 9 on a "rest day". It's an ideal links for novices.

You have Ballinrobe 40mins away, a cracking parkland course or Castlebar 30mins away, nice course too but I'd go for BRobe.

If you're all new to golf then Carne might turn out to be a struggle to get around, part of the reason I haven't play it yet is that I want to be a bit more confident of surviving it

d2ww

thewobbler wrote: »

Rosapenna is immense and has great deals.

You could add in Portsalon for three great courses, at great prices compared to the southwest links.

kevgaa

Hi,

You could look at Sligo, You have 4 decent courses all close by.

Castle Dargan - a decent parkland course

Strandhill - a gentle introduction to links but great fun...

Rosses Point (County Sligo) or Enniscrone -Tough challenges for beginners but two great links courses.

Plenty to do and see in the area with good night life. You will get plenty of mid week deals on places to stay.

Kev.

thewobbler

allybhoy wrote: »

Cheers looking now, looks magnificent, is there much to do in the local area in the evenings? Few pints, bit of grub etc

Downings is a 5 min walk from the resort. It's a one horse town with a few pubs including a cracking pub called the Harbour Bar. Wouldn't think there's many options for eating but the grub at the hotel was good.

If you're into chasing fillies and clubbing there's maybe not enough for you, but as golf trips go it's my favourite place in Ireland so far. Park the car when you arrive, and you don't need it again til hometime.

allybhoy

ajcurry123 wrote: »

I'm from Castlebar so I'll give you info on Westport.

Plenty of good accommodation down there, you should be able to pick up some good mid week offers (feel free to PM me if you see something that you want to check out.) v good nightlife there too.

In terms of courses, you have:

Westport GC (have yet to play but is ranked highly enough, not a links though)

Carne/Belmullet GC about 1hr 20mins drive away (again yet to play but cannot wait to do so, meant to be a hidden gem. Some rank it amongst the best links in Ireland)

Mulranny GC 20 mins away, a 9 hole links, quirky course but I love it there, could be an option just to play 9 on a "rest day". It's an ideal links for novices.

You have Ballinrobe 40mins away, a cracking parkland course or Castlebar 30mins away, nice course too but I'd go for BRobe.

If you're all new to golf then Carne might turn out to be a struggle to get around, part of the reason I haven't play it yet is that I want to be a bit more confident of surviving it

Cheers for that, I've been to belmullet a few times fishing but I've never played the course, heard its lovely tho. We aren't terrible golfers, only playin 3yrs tho. Shooting off between 16-20

allybhoy

kevgaa wrote: »

Hi,

You could look at Sligo, You have 4 decent courses all close by.

Castle Dargan - a decent parkland course

Strandhill - a gentle introduction to links but great fun...

Rosses Point (County Sligo) or Enniscrone -Tough challenges for beginners but two great links courses.

Plenty to do and see in the area with good night life. You will get plenty of mid week deals on places to stay.

Kev.

Think this might be a winner, those all look like smashing courses, they have a Sligo links golf pass deal for 150 quid and it has all 3 links u have listed. Looks like a good price what do you reckon?

Ronney

Great Value to be had mid week,

As mentioned before play Carne/Enniscrone/Strandhill/Rosses Point/Murvagh stay in Ballina or Sligo good food/crack in each town.

Also due to blind shots etc. Links courses are ones you can really enjoy more the 2nd time round so dont rule out that.

A quick word of advice, links golf can be tricky especially if the weather plays up.

Pop out to Corbillis for one or two links practice rounds.
Few key shots to learn to make the Links experience somewhat bearably.

1. Find a "go to drive" Crucial to get the ball in play off the tee or you could be loosing a ball a hole (grip down, tee low and swing easy puch one low up there, it will run on the hard ground)

2. Master the Punch shot, forget the ego and try hit 3 clubs more than normal from 150y eg 5 iron instead of a usual 8. Keep it low, controlled and run it up.

3. Leave the 60 degree for bunkers only. Chip and run with 8 iron round the green. and where possible use the putter even from 20 yds

4. Leave the prov's at home, unless your regularly shooting in the Mid-low 80's expect to loose a fair few balls.

5. Invest in Proper wet gear!

kevgaa

You wont go wrong with the 3 links courses in Sligo. All very different but great Golf Courses. Strandhill and County Sligo only a few miles from Sligo Town. Enniscrone is about a 40 mins away.

The pass at 150 is OK and good value if your going peak season and weekends but maybe worth ringing the clubs to see what offers you can get esp if your going midweek and also look out for opens.

Sligo Town has plenty of good pubs and restaurants to keep you occupied.
Glasshouse Hotel right in the middle of town should get a good rate..

You will enjoy if you take that option.

Kev.

tayto lover

I'll second Rosapenna.
I go every year for 5 days golf.
The owner, Frank Casey, has now acquired the new course Carrigart which adjoins Sandy Hills and The Old Tom Morris courses.
Great golf, great food and great people.

brousuka

Why not look at heading south/west?! Lahinch, Doonbeg, Adare and Tralee? All can be got for a decent green fee in May especially if it's midweek!

allybhoy

Ronney wrote: »

Great Value to be had mid week,

As mentioned before play Carne/Enniscrone/Strandhill/Rosses Point/Murvagh stay in Ballina or Sligo good food/crack in each town.

Also due to blind shots etc. Links courses are ones you can really enjoy more the 2nd time round so dont rule out that.

A quick word of advice, links golf can be tricky especially if the weather plays up.

Pop out to Corbillis for one or two links practice rounds.
Few key shots to learn to make the Links experience somewhat bearably.

1. Find a "go to drive" Crucial to get the ball in play off the tee or you could be loosing a ball a hole (grip down, tee low and swing easy puch one low up there, it will run on the hard ground)

2. Master the Punch shot, forget the ego and try hit 3 clubs more than normal from 150y eg 5 iron instead of a usual 8. Keep it low, controlled and run it up.

3. Leave the 60 degree for bunkers only. Chip and run with 8 iron round the green. and where possible use the putter even from 20 yds

4. Leave the prov's at home, unless your regularly shooting in the Mid-low 80's expect to loose a fair few balls.

5. Invest in Proper wet gear!

Brilliant advice duly noted! We will be bringing tonnes of balls and wet gear, we are the type of lads who won't particularly care if we shoot 130, we'll just be happy to be away for a few days from the ball and chains and binlids.

We are looking at the end of May so must try and get a round in out in Corballis before then, Iv seen it on tee times for a decent price a lot

bailey99

Lahinch old course has open singles on a Thursday for 50 euro. I played Carne 2 years ago, travelled up there from Cork having taken up distance membership, rented a house and played 11 days out of 12 up there. Only got one day of rain and the rest glorious sunshine. One of the best courses I've ever played, course is amazing. Great pints and food in the clubhouse is fantastic. Good town too.

Base yourself in Sligo and do Enniscrone, Rosses Point, Castle Dargan and Strandhill. They all have open competitions so get out for 30 euros max in most of them. I would make the effort to get to Carne for the golf though. Amazing!

Ernest Oreo

Sligo / Mayo always seems to be suggested for this sort of stuff.

ALBT

Rosapenna is a super spot, the Sandy Hills links is absolutely stunning but brutal tough if the wind blows. As mentioned previously Downings is a bit of a one horse town but is lively enough at the weekends. If you are going to Rosapenna, Port Salon is well worth a visit. The second hole is one of the best tee shots in the country.
If I was heading back to the North West, I probably go for Ballyliffin ahead of Rosapenna, 2 stunning links and great craic everynight in the Ballyliffin Lodge.

FixdePitchmark

Sligo and Mayo are lovely and great craic.

Only thing, some of the courses being mentioned here, are some of the hardest in the country.

tayto lover

Another option is the North-East.

Ballymascanlon Hotel and Golf Resort outside (Just north) Dundalk is a cracking wee course and a great hotel to stay in. Only an hour from Dublin up the Motorway. Close to it are the lovely scenic courses of Greenore, Dundalk, Concra Wood and Warrenpoint.

Loads of courses in this area and relatively cheap.

FixdePitchmark

tayto lover wrote: »

Another option is the North-East.

Ballymascanlon Hotel and Golf Resort outside (Just north) Dundalk is a cracking wee course and a great hotel to stay in. Only an hour from Dublin up the Motorway. Close to it are the lovely scenic courses of Greenore, Dundalk, Concra Wood and Warrenpoint.

Loads of courses in this area and relatively cheap.

Staying in Carlingford - playing both Ballymascanlon and Greenore is a great weekend.