k Club Smurfit Course

Dero123

Has anyone played this recently, down there in a few weeks time but have heard a couple of bad reviews of it recently over the condition of some of the fairways and green?

ib_sanf

Have not played it recently but I'm a member of a club that plays out of there every week and I Have not heard any complaints about course condition etc in the weekly bullitons I recieve.

My guess is that it would be fine. It can get a bit soft when it receives a lot of rain over a period. That hasn't been the case recently however.

shane 007

I played it a few months ago on a Groupon deal. First 9 was in good nick but the greens on the back 9 were terrible. Looked like birds digging huge holes in the greens but unrepaired. Now I mean about 30-40 holes on each green. Also generally maintenance looked like it has lacked a bit.

Overall, a very enjoyable experience that I would gladly repeat.

Webbs

Played it last week and had no complaints. The condition of the greens were excellent and no complaints from our 4 ball about the tee boxes and fairways. Had had a fair bit of rain in previous 24hrs I think and only minor quibble was the bunkers were very hard in places.

Kevinmarkham

I don't like the place - 6 good holes at the end are not enough... and definitely not for the green fees they charge.
Played it in March and put up a blog about it.

ib_sanf

For the rack rates - I would agree, there is better value around.
I think it's rack rate weighs heavily in your rating - and so it should, given the choices out there, even within short distance of the course.

I've played there a few times and never paid near that amount however.
If you look on Golfnow right now it's available for 54 Euro thru the weekend. For that, it's not bad.

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

I don't like the place - 6 good holes at the end are not enough... and definitely not for the green fees they charge.
Played it in March and put up about it.

Kevinmarkham

ib_sanf wrote: »

For the rack rates - I would agree, there is better value around.
I think it's rack rate weighs heavily in your rating - and so it should, given the choices out there, even within short distance of the course.

I've played there a few times and never paid near that amount however.
If you look on Golfnow right now it's available for 54 Euro thru the weekend. For that, it's not bad.

Honestly... wouldn't pay 30 euro. I'd go to Naas GC instead.
Turn it back into a field.

Trampas

Playing there later today on a freebie.

God dam wife picked the wrong envelope as other was Palmer course.

No name on envelope just look of the draw

thewobbler

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Honestly... wouldn't pay 30 euro. I'd go to Naas GC instead.
Turn it back into a field.

The Smurfit debate is interesting. Kevin is right in that the closing six are let down significantly by the openness/blandness of the first 12.

But it is one hell of a stretch of holes, and when you accompany the best of the rest, there's a very decent nine holes in there.

Which, for my money, makes it a stronger course than the O'Meara (4-5 top quality holes tempered by 4-5 nothing holes - though I need to revisit for the new layout), which never seems subject to the same apathy in golfing circles. Both are resort second courses with high rack rates, so they're a good comparison.

I'm not claiming anything like greatness for Smurfit; but is it more a case of lopsided routing than any other major problems?

---

Just as another comparison. Lough Erne has one of the most stunning settings you could imagine, and is impeccably maintained. But you would struggle to suggest it has any more than six great holes (5, 7, 8, 9, 16 - with a debate around 10 and 17), and has its fair share of duds (3, 12, 13, 15, and in my opinion 18). Yet every year it rises up the rankings, and is now feted on a par with Druid's Glen, Mount Juliet and Palmer in the chasing pack behind Adare.

Conditioning and scenery can only have positive impacts on a golfing experience. But is everyone going a little OTT with the Lough Erne experience?

Sean_pop

Trampas wrote: »

Playing there later today on a freebie.

God dam wife picked the wrong envelope as other was Palmer course.

No name on envelope just look of the draw

Thats a real shame. The Palmer is a far better course than the Smurfit!!!.

Sean_pop

Dero123 wrote: »

Has anyone played this recently, down there in a few weeks time but have heard a couple of bad reviews of it recently over the condition of some of the fairways and green?

How much is it setting you back to play there???

charlieIRL

I've only played it a few times it vastly varying conditions - first time was in really fine weather and the fairways & greens were like pool tables, one time it was during the wet wind & rain we had early January, balls plugging on fairways etc but the weather had been very wet so it wasn't any fault of the course - it simply should not have been open. Last time I was there it was playing tough with hard fairways and fast greens.
If you take the name away its just another golf course, some tricky holes & some easy ones but one thing I did notice is that the condition of the place has deteriorated each time I've played there. Players not replacing divots / pitch marks was a big thing, cut grass on fairways etc. It lets the place down bigtime.

Webbs

ib_sanf wrote: »

For the rack rates - I would agree, there is better value around.
I think it's rack rate weighs heavily in your rating - and so it should, given the choices out there, even within short distance of the course.

I've played there a few times and never paid near that amount however.
If you look on Golfnow right now it's available for 54 Euro thru the weekend. For that, it's not bad.

Agree worth nothing like the prices quoted, we got out for a fourball friday competition for 150euro and as was sponsored by Srixon got a sleeve of balls as well. Think there's a few similar deals through the summer there.
For that money I thought was an Ok price but wouldnt pay any more than that

Trampas

Feedback from yesterday was

Fairways in great condition, plenty of roll and nicely cut.

Rough was low and very fair and easy enough to find your ball

Bunkers. Need sand. Like hitting concrete sometimes.

Greens. Putts rolled very well but very slow but not hairy. If up hill putt you really had to hit it

Course was empty. Was out at 5.10 and arrived at 4.30 and was told go ahead when you want as your last one out. Rang up to book told 3.50 or 5.10. Must be members time from 4-5

GreeBo

thewobbler wrote: »

The Smurfit debate is interesting. Kevin is right in that the closing six are let down significantly by the openness/blandness of the first 12.

But it is one hell of a stretch of holes, and when you accompany the best of the rest, there's a very decent nine holes in there.

Which, for my money, makes it a stronger course than the O'Meara (4-5 top quality holes tempered by 4-5 nothing holes - though I need to revisit for the new layout), which never seems subject to the same apathy in golfing circles. Both are resort second courses with high rack rates, so they're a good comparison.

I'm not claiming anything like greatness for Smurfit; but is it more a case of lopsided routing than any other major problems?

---

Just as another comparison. Lough Erne has one of the most stunning settings you could imagine, and is impeccably maintained. But you would struggle to suggest it has any more than six great holes (5, 7, 8, 9, 16 - with a debate around 10 and 17), and has its fair share of duds (3, 12, 13, 15, and in my opinion 18). Yet every year it rises up the rankings, and is now feted on a par with Druid's Glen, Mount Juliet and Palmer in the chasing pack behind Adare.

Conditioning and scenery can only have positive impacts on a golfing experience. But is everyone going a little OTT with the Lough Erne experience?

I liked both courses I have to say.
I think you will always be swayed by nice scenery and well maintained courses. Unless its crazy undulating, lots of doglegs or hitting over water constantly then there really isnt that much to separate courses.

I much prefer Macreddin to ConcraWood for example, I found concrawood to be in poor condition and not interesting to look at. Macreddin wasnt in fantastic condition (played in nov) but the views and layout made it enjoyable for me (I was also 2 over gross after 12 )

I liked Smurfit, the closing holes are beautiful on a sunny day, Im not mad about the artificial quarry/river thing but overall enjoyed it and didnt really find any of the holes boring.

thewobbler

I know what you mean about Concra. Like Lough Erne, I was absolutely blown away by it the first time I played. But repeat visits have lessened my taste for both courses. Concra has a few very odd holes (10, 13, 15) and some pretty awful holes (7, 9, 18) that balance off the superb holes (3, 4, 5, 8, 16, 17). On first visit, I was too busy looking at Muckno to notice the imbalance. It's a wonderful distraction!

Gumbo

Played it in late May. I'm a newcomer with 23 handicap* and I found the course soggy if that makes sense? Played St. Margaret's lasted week, thought that was a far nicer course to play.

*so in other words! my advice may be worth feck all