Have you played Skellig Bay

Kevinmarkham

Also over Christmas - with nothing better to do - found some old (2011) photographs of Skellig Bay that I hadn't put on Flickr. They're up there now if you want see the course.

Just interested to find out how many people have played the course and what you thought of it... also, if you haven't played it, what have you heard about it.

It arrived with a big fanfare but barely gets mentioned anymore. It hasn't made GDI's top 100 since 2012.

cairny

Friend who's a member in Waterville reckons its a better designed course than Waterville but says it's let down by being poorly maintained and wet underfoot.

Never played it though.

Bogieman

I played an open there in the summer and it was in very poor condition.
I heard there were plans to fix it up over the winter though.

paulos53

Similar comments to above.

I played it in August after playing Waterville earlier in the day so it had a lot to live up to. The ground was very soft and muddy but with some investment in drainage and upkeep it would have the potential to be a fine course.
I found the back 9 to be a great test with disaster waiting on a few holes if you weren't striking the ball well.

A birdie into a strong wind on the index 1 17th had me leaving the course with a smile on my face and might be influencing my memory of the place

Anatom

Considering how good the drainage is on the other side of the town (Waterville), it's amazing how soft SB is. Beautiful place but I'd prefer Waterville every time. If you're looking for another round close by then Dooks is the place to go.

As far as I know, Skellig Bay isn't getting the numbers either. Talking to someone down there over Christmas and they said it was quieter than Waterville (he's a member there so wouldn't have been saying to many good things about SB anyway...) and in bad enough condition - even taking weather into account lately.

Ollieboy

Played it two years ago and hated it. To be honest most of it was farmers fields turn into a golf course but it did have some nice holes. Don't know how it made the top 100 EVER! The views from the holes were great though.

It's one of the courses out of the 400 odd in Ireland that can disappear and won't be missed.

Ollieboy

Anatom wrote: »

Considering how good the drainage is on the other side of the town (Waterville), it's amazing how soft SB is. Beautiful place but I'd prefer Waterville every time. If you're looking for another round close by then Dooks is the place to go.

As far as I know, Skellig Bay isn't getting the numbers either. Talking to someone down there over Christmas and they said it was quieter than Waterville (he's a member there so wouldn't have been saying to many good things about SB anyway...) and in bad enough condition - even taking weather into account lately.

Dooks is a great course and totally under-rated. Really friendly members and good food in the club house.

Miley Byrne

I played it a couple of time a few years ago because the Bruen was held there. I thought it was a good, challenging course. Fairly long too. I got the impression though that it could get fairly wet in wintertime.

Comparing it to Waterville is unfair in my opinion as there are probably only a handful of courses on the island which would compare favourably with that course. Just because there are only a couple of miles between them doesn't/shouldn't make them comparable.

Kevinmarkham

denisoc16 wrote: »

I played it a couple of time a few years ago because the Bruen was held there. I thought it was a good, challenging course. Fairly long too. I got the impression though that it could get fairly wet in wintertime.

Comparing it to Waterville is unfair in my opinion as there are probably only a handful of courses on the island which would compare favourably with that course. Just because there are only a couple of miles between them doesn't/shouldn't make them comparable.

Agreed, the ground conditions are completely different. One's links, the other is hilltop/headland golf... and yes, these were fields as has been pointed out. Then again, so was Mount Juliet and almost every other parkland course. Gotta start somewhere.

I found it sufficiently different and interesting to make it a good golf experience, but it certainly seems to be a bit hand to mouth at the moment.

Ally McIntosh

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Agreed, the ground conditions are completely different. One's links, the other is hilltop/headland golf... and yes, these were fields as has been pointed out. Then again, so was Mount Juliet and almost every other parkland course. Gotta start somewhere.

I found it sufficiently different and interesting to make it a good golf experience, but it certainly seems to be a bit hand to mouth at the moment.

Kevin,

It dropped from the GDI Top-100 because of genuine problems with the maintenance; beyond the norm I'm led to believe. If that end of it is ever sorted out, then I hope it makes a significant re-entry because there's quite a bit of thought put in to the design and it is sufficiently different and varied to many other modern Irish inland courses.

doublecross

Played it last year during a spell of good weather, enjoyed it. The front and back 9 feel like different courses. Some great holes mixed with some very bland holes.

jackal

Played it a couple of years ago, and beyond the views and a few nice holes, I found a lot of it dull and as someone said above, like walking around a farmers field. Would not return.

recycled

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Also over Christmas - with nothing better to do - found some old (2011) photographs of Skellig Bay that I hadn't put on Flickr. They're up there now if you want see the course.

Just interested to find out how many people have played the course and what you thought of it... also, if you haven't played it, what have you heard about it.

It arrived with a big fanfare but barely gets mentioned anymore. It hasn't made GDI's top 100 since 2012.

Played it a few years back before the hole numers redesign during the summer season and it was in great condition. Played this year in late summer and I found a number of wet patches.
The new redesign ( different starting holes Front is now back 9 )is good, in that you get to warm up the driver on the front holes as the last 11 holes can be testing. The scenary is great with the Ocean in front & the mountain as the backdrop.
Diverting the stream from the mountains away from the course would be a great help i'd imaging given its high mountainous terrain.
If your in that neck of the woods its very good value & enjoyable.
Dooks is nearby but I have't played there so I cannot comment.

tax_tutor1

I have played the course a number of times and agree it has good views on certain holes, has good variation in the holes , some tough par 3's and certainly has good potential but it needs investment into the course.

GreeBo

tax_tutor1, please do not spread unsubstantiated rumours about clubs on this forum.

uberwolf

played it on a lovely day a couple of summers ago. It's different, with some interesting holes and stunning views, but my memories would be of the plainer holes, the poor maintenance and I would drive past it on my way to somewhere else as things stand.

Norfolk Enchants_

I've played it a number of times (incl October most recently) and the location is spectacular and the design is top notch, unfortunately the condition of the course lets it down, in particular the greens, it would not take much to knock it back into shape though, but again for clubs in less densely populated areas they are always going to struggle financially without a strong members base and/or a financial backer, when the main source of income is derieved from tourist/green fees.

In the case of Skellig Bay, the owner also owns two hotels, one across the road and the other in the town, when times were tough things got scaled back, but it's been rumoured locally that the hotels and course are in the later stages of been sold, which is great news if true.

IMO it would be a great loss as the course compliments Waterville links superbly well and makes the town and area a great destination for golf and fishing.
Also comparsions with Waterville links are a nonsense as they are two distinctly different courses, one been a links and the other heathland/headland and not comparing like with like.

onlyfinewine

GreeBo wrote: »

tax_tutor1, please do not spread unsubstantiated rumours about clubs on this forum.

What rumour is allegedly being spread by tax tutor 1? There is no evidence in the post. Unless it is an opinion that the course needs investment. With which I would agree as the greens had deteriorated to a visibly great extent from my last visit there. I still think that there are many hugely positive aspects to the course but the recession appears to have affected course maintenance budgets.

uberwolf

onlyfinewine wrote: »

What rumour is allegedly being spread by tax tutor 1? There is no evidence in the post. Unless it is an opinion that the course needs investment. With which I would agree as the greens had deteriorated to a visibly great extent from my last visit there. I still think that there are many hugely positive aspects to the course but the recession appears to have affected course maintenance budgets.

there is no evidence in the post because, as noted in the post you're referring to

evidence of moderator action wrote:

Last edited by GreeBo; 07-01-2015 at 19:23. Reason: Way too much speculation and rumour

onlyfinewine

uberwolf wrote: »

there is no evidence in the post because, as noted in the post you're referring to

Thanks for clarification "uberwolf" my phone (windows) did not show the editing being done by the moderator so it looked a bit excessive.

Ras trent

Played it in November a few years back , its a lovely course but it was like a wet sponge that day , great views and a few tricky holes . Must return and play in better weather , the staff were very nice and the town is a great spot for a session afterwards

recycled

This would be a mighty spot for a session- I mean golf session. Play the day we arrive- have a bite to eat. Real test the next day. great craic and good value.

Ras trent wrote: »

Played it in November a few years back , its a lovely course but it was like a wet sponge that day , great views and a few tricky holes . Must return and play in better weather , the staff were very nice and the town is a great spot for a session afterwards

wonga77

Skellig Bay has finally been sold to an American investor. Talks of it being redeveloped into a private links course. It would be a pity if it was closed off to locals because it got a lot of people to take up the game (as playing in Waterville golf links is beyond alot of people financially)
Either way with the proposed redevelopment it should be interesting, the course is open as normal these days, until the end of season I guess

Kevinmarkham

wonga77 wrote: »

Skellig Bay has finally been sold to an American investor. Talks of it being redeveloped into a private links course. It would be a pity if it was closed off to locals because it got a lot of people to take up the game (as playing in Waterville golf links is beyond alot of people financially)
Either way with the proposed redevelopment it should be interesting, the course is open as normal these days, until the end of season I guess

Any link to official details, Wonga? Turning it private will be very interesting - who would it be private for? I don't see Americans signing up as it's not a links course... unless they try to do an 'Old Head of Kinsale' on it.

wonga77

Thats exactly what they are supposed to be doing, changing it to a links course modelled on the old head style.
No official details yet, but all the staff were informed last week of the sale etc.
I know the wville links has alot of overseas members, maybe they are hoping for something similar?
They are still running a monthly membership, €50 which is good value if you have time to knock out a few rounds, I played there last week, greens could do with a bit of work but the course is in excellent condition. I assume it will be left run as normal till the end of the season when the changes will start to be made