Your Top 50 Irish Parklands - Vote Now

Kevinmarkham

After Golfing Weekly's intriguing efforts to get amateur golfers to rank Ireland's Top 50 Links, they have revised the format somewhat for the Top 50 Parklands.

There's a €350 Nikon Coolshot up for grabs, plus a fourball at your number 1 course.

Here's the link
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/top50irishparkland

Have fun over lunchtime!

mike12

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

After Golfing Weekly's intriguing efforts to get amateur golfers to rank Ireland's Top 50 Links, they have revised the format somewhat for the Top 50 Parklands.

There's a €350 Nikon Coolshot up for grabs, plus a fourball at your number 1 course.

Here's the link
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/top50irishparkland

Have fun over lunchtime!

Just tried to do it and ranked the top 40 that i had played but it needs you to fill in all 50 courses. Plus if u miss a course and try and add it in higher up the list it doesn't move everything down 1. It's a bit messy again.
Mike

Kevinmarkham

mike12 wrote: »

Just tried to do it and ranked the top 40 that i had played but it needs you to fill in all 50 courses. Plus if u miss a course and try and add it in higher up the list it doesn't move everything down 1. It's a bit messy again.
Mike

Thanks Mike - I've passed that on to the publication. Hopefully they'll sort it out.

Golfing Weekly

Hi Mike, that should all be sorted. You only need to submit at least 10 rankings for the vote to register and allow you to submit.
Regards
Peter

Dr_Colossus

Tough trying to rank 10 in order not to mind 50 but making a list.
FYI, I don't see Galway Bay on the list of options which I would classify as parkland more so than links but perhaps it is technically a links course.

Golfing Weekly

Its tough alright, I did a links & Seaside ranking in my last issue here http://digital.golfingweekly.ie/i/182058/69 and Galway Bay was included in that.
Cheers for the spot though.

Peter

thewobbler

Golfing Weekly - Lisburn isn't on the list?

John Divney

Is the Heritage not on the list?

Kevinmarkham

John Divney wrote: »

Is the Heritage not on the list?

Under 'The Heritage'

John Divney

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Under 'The Heritage'

Woops, cheers.

mike12

Golfing Weekly wrote: »

Hi Mike, that should all be sorted. You only need to submit at least 10 rankings for the vote to register and allow you to submit.
Regards
Peter

No Problem much better when u can just do the courses you have played. Not many bar Kevin over the 50. Or not a lot i would like to cast a vove for.

Mike

John Divney

Can we list our top 10's here for the craic?

Kevinmarkham

John Divney wrote: »

Can we list our top 10's here for the craic?

Go for it... assuming you can remember them. I posted mine up about five minutes ago and I've forgotten 2 of them already. Here are 8!

Adare
Druid's Glen
Lough Erne
Concra Wood
Headfort (New)
Killarney (Killeen)
K Club (Palmer)
Portumna

Miley Byrne

Adare
Mount Juliet
Druids Glen
Carton House Monty
Killarney Killeen
Lough Erne
K Club Palmer
Cork
Fota
The Heritage

John Divney

Lol, yeah the porder might be different.

Adare
Killeen Castle
Headfort New
Mount Juliett
Druids Glenn
Macreddin
Heritage
Concra Wood
Luttrellstown
Powerscourt West
Dun Laoighre

Best of the rest

Portumna
Castleknock
Druids Heath
Glasson
Carlow
Bunclody
Hermitage
Slieve Russell
Farnham
Mount Wolsesly

Not PLayed (Either Carton Houses, K clubs, Cork, Killarney Killen, Fota Island, Lough Erne

Tones69

Kevin how did you get on in Carlow recently?

Kevinmarkham

Tones69 wrote: »

Kevin how did you get on in Carlow recently?

In what way? Do you mean what do I think of it? Or its condition? Either way, it's a superb classic old track. I like that it has been meddled with not at all and you get to play an 'old' course that has been played that way for years.

Some photos are here

But check out this pic - one of my favourites

Tones69

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

In what way? Do you mean what do I think of it? Or its condition? Either way, it's a superb classic old track. I like that it has been meddled with not at all and you get to play an 'old' course that has been played that way for years.

Some photos are here

But check out this pic - one of my favourites

Yeah and how did u good on,its playing tough, im a member there. Lovely track, no walk in the park ha

Kevinmarkham

Tones69 wrote: »

Yeah and how did u good on,its playing tough, im a member there. Lovely track, no walk in the park ha

Wasn't playing it - just taking photos after talking to Donard. Played it a few times, but always in Scratch Cups which made it very tough.

shamco

Mount Juliet
Adare
K Club (Palmer)
Druids Glen
Concra Wood
Lough Erne
Palmerstown Stud
Killeen Castle
Luttrellstown
Tulfarris

PARlance

Only picked from courses that I've actually played.
The only change I'd make is to insert Powerscourt somewhere in mid divison...I forgot about it when doing the list, and I'm not sure if it was the East or West course that I played...

These are my selections, in order:

Druids Glen
Macreddin
Palmerstown Stud
Carton Monty
Carton O Meara
Luttrellstown
Castlematyr
The Heritage
Ballinrobe
Wicklow
Esker Hills
Lisheen Springs
Royal Tara
Castleknock
Castlebar
Tullfarris
Greystones (Just remembered you Kev )
Dunmurray

I've played more courses obviously but my criteria was that I'd only include courses that I'd make an effort to go back and play.
I don't think there are any big* omissions from my list, (no supposedly top quality courses that I didn't like)

I see Golfing Weekly is gone, but Kevin there seems to be a minor error in saying the the poll closes 4th Nov 2014 when you submit it.

mike12

Mount Juilet
Druids Glen
Lough Erne
Concra Wood
Headfort (New)
Ballinrobe
K Club (Palmer)
Macreddin
Monty

Dr_Colossus

Only voted for courses I've played but think I had the top 10 in order of:

Druid's Glen
Mount Juliet
Killeen Castle
Palmerstown Stud
Concra Wood
Macreddin
Headfort New
Luttrellstown Castle
Carlow
Slieve Russell

Big name courses I've yet to play include Adare and K-Club

John Divney

Macreddin getting love. It will surely be on the 100 list next year, same for Castleknock, how is that not a top 100 course?

I rate it not that far off Luttrllstown (obviously the grounds are more picturesque in Luttrellstown) in terms of quality, the Par 3's alone are exceptional.

slave1

I put Macreddin first, can't remember after that, something like Palmer, Glen, Headfort New, Palmerstown...

FixdePitchmark

I didn't expect Carlow to look like that at all - even looks a bit Monty like in parts - unusual to let that long grass grow in parts of a parkland.

A shocker I haven't played it - I've good friends in Carlow.

FixdePitchmark

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Go for it... assuming you can remember them. I posted mine up about five minutes ago and I've forgotten 2 of them already. Here are 8!

Adare
Druid's Glen
Lough Erne
Concra Wood
Headfort (New)
Killarney (Killeen)
K Club (Palmer)
Portumna

Kevin is Mount Juilet not in your top 10 :eek::eek::eek::eek:

I need to get out and play more Parklands if so.

The_Architect

Carlow is probably my favourite parkland.

I'd prefer to see more trees gone and the grasses playing more part in the definition.

Dr_Colossus

John Divney wrote: »

Macreddin getting love. It will surely be on the 100 list next year, same for Castleknock, how is that not a top 100 course?

I rate it not that far off Luttrllstown (obviously the grounds are more picturesque in Luttrellstown) in terms of quality, the Par 3's alone are exceptional.

Granted there are some nice par 3's and greens in Castleknock but as a course I'd rank it way behind Luttrellstown and well down the pecking order. It's short and congested and feels like it's forced into the available land rather than molded around it.
It's a nice course and usually in good condition but of the parklands I've played I wouldn't rank it in the top 25.

The_Architect

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Granted there are some nice par 3's and greens in Castleknock but as a course I'd rank it way behind Luttrellstown and well down the pecking order. It's short and congested and feels like it's forced into the available land rather than molded around it.
It's a nice course and usually in good condition but of the parklands I've played I wouldn't rank it in the top 25.

I agree with this.

Not keen on Macreddin either. Views and little else.

Kevinmarkham

The_Architect wrote: »

Carlow is probably my favourite parkland.

I'd prefer to see more trees gone and the grasses playing more part in the definition.

As a matter of interest, which trees are you referring to. I'm going through the course in my head and can't think which you mean. The 4th, 12th?

Shame you don't rank Macreddin more highly.

Kevinmarkham

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Kevin is Mount Juilet not in your top 10 :eek::eek::eek::eek:

I need to get out and play more Parklands if so.

Well, that's a tough one. Overall, I love the Mount Juliet experience and the surroundings and layout which give MJ its scale are exceptional... but I played the course three times in the last year and the more I play it the less enchanted I am by the design. There are superb holes, for sure, but a few lame ones as well which stop the flow.

ssbob

Of the courses I have played:

1. Adare without a shadow of a doubt is head and shoulders above anything else I have played.

1. Adare
2. Killarney Kileen
3. Mount Juliet
4. The Heritage
5. PGA National Palmerstown
6. Cork Golf Club
7. Dromoland
8. Dundrum
9. Lee Valley
10. Ballykisteen

Am hoping to add Fota in the next few weeks and if Harbour Point was still open I would have had that ahead of Ballykisteen.

FixdePitchmark

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Well, that's a tough one. Overall, I love the Mount Juliet experience and the surroundings and layout which give MJ its scale are exceptional... but I played the course three times in the last year and the more I play it the less enchanted I am by the design. There are superb holes, for sure, but a few lame ones as well which stop the flow.

Cool, I've only played about 70 to 80 of them , so not in a great spot to say. I see what you mean by experience - and perhaps, because , I have only played a few at that level - great setting, lovely hotel and stayed in it. So that can add to the whole experience. You get to see all the golf stuff on walls , the history etc.

From my head, perhaps - before the turn say 5 to 9 , then 12, 14, 15, 16. Could be called the weaker holes.

But for a once off at my standard - very very good.

What, I'm getting at - is, I need to get out more so.

Oilbeefhooked!

Very Surprised Dundrum House isnt on the list,as it would def be in my top 5 best parklands.

Kevinmarkham

Oilbeefhooked! wrote: »

Very Surprised Dundrum House isnt on the list,as it would def be in my top 5 best parklands.

Dundrum is also known as Co Tipperary (which is what it is on the list)

Oilbeefhooked!

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Dundrum is also known as Co Tipperary (which is what it is on the list)

thanks never knew that - Great track .

inthehole1

1. adare
2. killarney(kileen)
3. k club(palmer)
4 .dromoland
5. portumna
6.killarney(mahoneys)
7.dundrum
8. heritage
9.shannon
10.carton(monty)

Rikand

While doing this, i have realised i havent played that many courses

Adare
carton house(o'meara)
Palmerstown
tullamore
k club - palmer
Athenry
Athlone
Portarlington
Mahonys Point - Killarney
Esker Hills

The_Architect

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

As a matter of interest, which trees are you referring to. I'm going through the course in my head and can't think which you mean. The 4th, 12th?

Shame you don't rank Macreddin more highly.

Well most Irish parklands could do with some tree clearing but it is a shame at Carlow because its nature demands the open, sandy, wispy grass look more than most. As does its history. And it is a cracking course at heart.

I don't really like Macreddin - I think the site was a bad one for golf and so the designers had a hard job from the start. Not too keen on some of the detail either. I think the views cloud peoples judgement a little to be honest.

Reganovski

Found it easy to pick my top 5. Next 5 could really be in any order.

I also think it helps if you play well when playing a course, you take away better memories naturally.
Adare, for example, is ranked low for me because I've never played well there.

PARlance

Forgot Cork from my list... Partly to do with what you're saying Reg.. Memories of the round itself were bad but I really like the course

blue note

1. Tramore
2. Smurfit Course
3. Tullamore
4. New Forest
5. Castleknock
6. Esker Hills
7. Woodenbridge
8. Waterford Castle
9. Faithlegg
10. Grange

Clearly I haven't played enough courses to have a proper list! I've played another dozen or so I'm sure, I wonder if a couple of the above would make a top 50, so not much point in mentioning them.

bigtimecharlie

Courses I have played, must get out of Cork a bit more.

1. Mount Juilet
2. Adare
3. Fota
4. CastleMartyr
5. Cork
6. Slieve Russell
7. Muskerry
8. Monkstown
9. Blarney
10. Douglas.

sydneybound

I'm surprised the Slieve Russell isn't being mentioned here more. A gem of a course.

FixdePitchmark

1) Mount Juilet
2) The Heritage
3) Headfort New
4) Palmerstown Stud
5) Tullamore
6) Glasson
7) Macreddin
8) Wicklow
9) Esker Hills
10) Carton (Monty)
11) Mount Wolseley

Played about 70 to 80 - I guess others in 10 to 20 could be in top 10.

kiers47

1. Adare
2. Mount Juliet
3. The Heritage
4. Mount Wolseley
5. Dromoland
6. Castlemartyr
7. Lee Valley
8. Dundrum
9. Palmerstown Stud
10. Castletroy

Havent played to many courses but this would be my list of the courses i have played.

thewobbler

1. Headfort New
2. Druids Glen
3. Malone
4. Lough Erne
5. Concra Wood
6. Clandeboye Dufferin
7. Macreddin
8. Lisburn
9. Rathsallagh
10. Carton Montgomerie

As with a few other people, the first 5 tripped off the tongue. The next 5 could easily be displaced as I get around a few more.

Dtoffee

here goes ...
1. Heritage
2. Headfort New
3. Druids Glen
4. Powerscourt old
5. Macreddin
6. Mount Juliet
7. Headfort Old
8. Adare
9. Glasson
10. Coolattin

I wanna play them all again now :-)

Fescue

A difficult one but from those I have played the ten best are (in no particular order) The Heritage, Montgomerie Course, Palmerstown Stud, Druids Glen, Portumna, Macreddin, Dunmurry Springs, Druids Heath, Esker Hills and Tulfarris.

I think my list highlights the lack of parkland courses I have played over the years. Must do better.

Dr_Colossus

Surprised with the amount of votes Carton House (Monty course) is getting. All it has is excessively deep fairway bunkers on an otherwise bland layout where all the holes seem to blend into one another. Even the last hole where water is visible, it never really comes into play.