Portstewart

TrapperChamonix

Playing Portstewart (Strand) on Monday. Any Advice?

Kevinmarkham

Portstewart 17 from 18b by Kevinmarkham, on Flickr

After your comments on Co Louth, I'm guessing you know a thing or two about links golf. Portstewart is no different to Baltray from the point of view of discipline off the tee and the tricks of the trade around the greens. The par threes - 3 of the 4 - are postage stamp shots, the 6th being the best of the lot. The opening holes are big dunes, blind-ish shots are sheer thrill. The thrill peters out a bit towards the end (16 to 18 are more a limp for home than a charge), but there are lots of shapes to fairways. Hopefully the pic of the 17th green will have attached. If not, here's a link to the entire set

TrapperChamonix

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Portstewart 17 from 18b by Kevinmarkham, on Flickr

After your comments on Co Louth, I'm guessing you know a thing or two about links golf. Portstewart is no different to Baltray from the point of view of discipline off the tee and the tricks of the trade around the greens. The par threes - 3 of the 4 - are postage stamp shots, the 6th being the best of the lot. The opening holes are big dunes, blind-ish shots are sheer thrill. The thrill peters out a bit towards the end (16 to 18 are more a limp for home than a charge), but there are lots of shapes to fairways. Hopefully the pic of the 17th green will have attached. If not, here's a link to the entire set

Some very nice photos in the link Kevin. From the shadows and the clothes it looks like early spring or late autumn when you played.
Questions I was thinking about
Driver for distance or keep it on the fairway at all cost?
Someone told me that where there is a carry and for the par 3's, its always further than you think.
How bad is the rough, looks like its not too tight but looks can be deceiving

p.s. I now see form Flcikr it was April. Love the photo from the 5th tee. It could be framed and presented at the Captains Prize.

Kevinmarkham

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

Driver for distance or keep it on the fairway at all cost?
Someone told me that where there is a carry and for the par 3's, its always further than you think.
How bad is the rough, looks like its not too tight but looks can be deceiving

p.s. I now see form Flcikr it was April. Love the photo from the 5th tee. It could be framed and presented at the Captains Prize.

Check the length of the rough - I know Co Louth let it grow long at this time of year, so Portstewart may be the same. I don't recall too much trouble off the tee (re rough), but I often play a 3 iron for safety as it can run 240 yards on a links. There are enough subtle doglegs that make positioning a bit more important than length.

Re par threes - two are short, one medium and the 3rd hole is the long one. On the two short ones (6 and 15), you have to land on the surface. Haven't heard the 'further than it looks' comment before.

As for the photos - the one I was trying to attach to my post is the only one of the set that I've sold - but thanks for the compliment.

stockdam

Enjoy

TrapperChamonix

D, P and TC jump in the car at 8:30 am and drive the 3 hrs via Belfast to Portstewart. Proshop once again remind us that the greens have been cored and sanded that morning. I should point out that when I booked originally, they were very clear in telling me that this was happening. Ideally I would have chosen a different date but it was the only day that suited us. Personally it had no material impact on any of my putts, though D & P might differ in their opinion. Either way it did not impact our enjoyment.

1st Hole. Par 4. Score 6.Lost drive with a big slice into the Gorse. 4 with 2nd ball. Dramatic Opening Tee Shot with beautiful views along the coast to Donegal. Hole looks much more challenging from the tee than it actually is (as an index 11 would support) My 2nd drive down the left edge to open up green.

2nd Hole. Par 4. Score 6. Drive pulled dramatically to the left and lost in the Goorse. 4 with the 2nd ball. If you hit into the left hill the ball is dead and you are more likely to kill yourself than find the ball. Drive too far and you are on the path to the green. From the whites a 3 wood was absolutely fine.

3rd Hole. Par 3. Score 5. Lost drive over the back with a 5 wood into the gorse. Stupidly I read the 200 on the tee maker and clubbed for 200 Mtrs instead of 200 yrds. 4 iron for the 2nd ball and a 3.
At this point, we invite a solo player behind to join our 3 ball as there are 3 US fourballs ahead of us. K turns out to be a) a member, b) an extremely nice playing partner and c) a very useful addition to give us the correct advice on playing the holes.

4th Hole. Par5. Score7. A drive on the fairway, yippee. 2nd shot ok as well. 3rd shot is 100 yrds with a 9I. I thin it completely over the back and into (you guessed it) the gorse. Dropped a ball and finished with a 7.

5th Hole. Par 4. Score 7. With the wind behind I hit a great 3W that go’s and go’s. The approach is guarded by 2 large hills but as K says the green is 30 yrds long and I have a 7I, it should not be too much of a problem. Pull the 7I and it goes over the left hill, but we get up there we can’t find. 2nd ball is to the left of the green, a chip and 2 putts makes 7.

6th Hole. Par 3. Score 4. Green missed on the left.

7th Hole. Par 5. Score 5. Dogleg to the right with a big dip in front right of the green. K councils going left on the drive but I push it a little and end in the mound on the right. Hack out a further 30 yds and then a rescue to the back left of the green.

8th Hole. Par 4 Score 5. L shaped hole to the left. 5 W off the tee and 6 iron over the back of the green.

9th Hole. Par 4. Score 5. Avoid the big drop off the left of the fairway and the big trouble.

50 strokes on the front nine. But if I avoided loosing 5 balls I could have had a score to be proud of.

10th Hole. Par 4. Score 6. I tell myself to keep left off the tee but avoid the bunkers, but I push and slice it so far right that Kevin says he doesn’t know what’s out there. Another lost ball and another par with the 2nd ball. Ggggggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

11thHole. Par4. Score 5. Straight forward hole that plays as you see it. I’m just short in 2

12th Hole. Par 3. Score 4. Play it as you see it. I pulled it left and did not get up and down.

13th Hole. Par 5. Score 4 . Cross bunkers 30 yrds in front of the green but with a great drive and wind behind, I hit a 6 iron on the back of the green in 2.

14th Hole.Par 5. Score 5. No memory (or notes) of this hole.

15th Hole. Par 3 Score 4. Another missed green another 4 .

16th Hole Par 4. Score 4. K says aim right edge of the fairway, as anything left kicks left. Mine is down the left but is far enough that it kicks forward. On in 2 and 2 putts.

17th Hole. Par 4. Score 5. Feels like a par. A bit of a marmite hole but I love it, D & P do not. High elevated green makes it hard to find and even harder to hold the green. K has a regulation 4 so it’s possible.

18th Hole. Par 4 Score 3. Carried the bunkers on the left but did not clear the rough. Use a 3R to land in front to the green a roll to 3 feet. Sank the putt for a finishing Bridie. Never a bad thing especially as the overlooking balcony is full.

Incredibly mixed feelings coming off the course. I had a gross 90 or net 74 (16h/c). Out in 50 back in 40. 6 lost balls in the 1st 10 holes and on 6 of those holes had pars with the 2nd ball. 2 over for the last 8, shows there is golfer in me somewhere. It could have been a really .good score


Afterwards K took us into the members lounge to enjoy the spectacular view of the surf rolling in along the coast. Certainly the day was much the better for him joining our 3 ball.


Back in the car and home by 9pm. Not a bad way to spend a Monday



My view of the course: I will definitely come back and play next summer as it is very much a course you need to play a few times in order to understand it. Having K join us for the round added immensely both in terms of both his personality and his local knowledge. But from my own point of view I think there are a number of holes in the front nine that are more difficult in your head than on the course (1, 2 and even 5). The setting is so dramatic it kinda intimidates you 1st time round, so playing them again would be a great advantage. Undoubtedly the front 9 gets all the attention as it is in such a dramatic setting, but I equally enjoyed the back nine and 15th through 18th are a good closing stretch with a mix of challenge and opportunities. There are very few blind shots which is always a big bonus. There are only distance markers for 150yds to the front of the green so we were very glad that K had an electronic yardage device. As many greens are elevated and heavily bunkered in front, getting up to the hole is vital.

Some greens (maybe 1/3) had been cored and sanded, so I’d love to be back and see them at their best. We played off the Whites which are not that long and in hindsight maybe we should have played the Blues. In general the presentation of the course and the clubhouse is immaculate and the staff and members are extremely welcoming.
I'd definitely recommend a visit.

Finally if you didn’t know, the British Amateur is coming to Ireland for the 1st time since RCD 1970. It will be played over both Portrush and Portstewart. So in preparation, Portstewart has been making a number of changes to the course. As far as I could see this has been the introduction of several new tee boxes to lengthen the course. So as good as it is now, its just about to get better.

stockdam

Glad you enjoyed it. Both it and Castlerock are well worth playing and if you can also play Portrush (Dunluce) then there isn't many finer a group of three nearby courses.

TrapperChamonix

Stockdam, I'd never heard of Castlerock but our local member spoke highly of it.
Certainly 3 days on the North Antrim coast and a couple over in Ballyliffen / Rosapenna wouldn't be the worst way to spend a week.

I think there is an open competition with Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock and 1 other course which might make it more affordable.

Kevinmarkham

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

Stockdam, I'd never heard of Castlerock but our local member spoke highly of it.
Certainly 3 days on the North Antrim coast and a couple over in Ballyliffen / Rosapenna wouldn't be the worst way to spend a week.

I think there is an open competition with Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock and 1 other course which might make it more affordable.

The 4th is Ballycastle. Causeway Coast Amateur Golf Tournament. Entries have just opened for next year.

I wrote this blog in 2011 on the various amateur 'challenges' but the links should still be active. A couple of other events have been introduced as well.

mike12

Playing, Portstewart, Portrush and Ballyliffin in the North coast links challenge at the start of Oct hope the weather is good really looking forward to it.

mike

Johnny_Fontane

played it two years ago.....got great weather and the courses were exceptional. fork out the extra £20 each for a caddy for portrush. He wont carry your bags, but he will give you so much more information about where to hit it.

stockdam

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

Stockdam, I'd never heard of Castlerock but our local member spoke highly of it.

Castlerock is a hidden gem as not many people play it. It's not in the same league as Portrush but it does have some good links type holes.

One quirky course that is not often played is Portstewart Old course (between Portstewart and Portrush). The first two and the last two holes are on the coast side of the road and they are really "old style". The other holes are very different and are pretty forgettable.........but the 4 I mentioned are fun holes (it's hard to explain and I think it's just a personal opinion).

Ballycastle is quite good though it's a fair drive from Portrush. Bushfoot is closer but is a short 9 hole course. On the way up, Gracehill has one of the hardest opening holes.......it's a very short par 4 but the green is protected by dragons.

cornerboy

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

The 4th is Ballycastle. Causeway Coast Amateur Golf Tournament. Entries have just opened for next year.

I wrote this blog in 2011 on the various amateur 'challenges' but the links should still be active. A couple of other events have been introduced as well.

The Causeway Coast is a great tournament, well run and very social. Note Portstewart is replaced by Ballyliffin for next 2 yrs and you play the Valley course (Rathmore) in Portrush not the Dunluce.