Which course to play?

Bruno26

Which course would you choose to play a round on?

Palmerstown
Ballesteros course (The Heritage)
Killeen Castle
Carton house (either course).

Dr_Colossus

Personally I'd go with Killeen Castle although it's over a year since I played it.

I played Palmerstown last Sep and wasn't impressed with the conditioning, fairways were in bits with divots especially on approach shots to the par 5s and the course was sopping wet with bunkers out of play even though the weather hadn't been exceedingly wet. It seems every time I play it my estimation of the course reduces.

The Heritage has a great course layout and again it's over a year since I played it but back then it wasn't in the best of condition either with bunkers especially poorly maintained.

Never played the O'Meara course so can't comment there but think the Montgomerie course in Carton is very over rated. There's no real memorable hole apart from maybe the last and when walking off the course and reflecting back each hole seems to just blend into one long stretch of bunkers.

Another consideration is Headfort New, great and thrilling layout and copes with the weather a lot better than Palmerstown. That said last time I played it towards the end of the season last year there was a lot of loose and long grass clippings in the rough on a number of holes which made errant balls a nightmare to find.

John Divney

Caution, opinion below.

Killeen Castle
Monty
O'Meara = Palmerstown


Killeen Castle, the best course, but very difficult, you need to be long off the tee, and have a high ball flight on the irons as the green complex are extremely tough.

Carton House O'Meara and Palmerstown are both American style courses with some great features, but imo the Monty is the better golf course, keeps you engaged without any flash, just good designed holes and bunkering, inland links type course. The Monty keeps your focus all the way round.

Killeen Castle, Palmerstown House and The O'Meara are some of the nicest grounds to play Golf on in Ireland, spread through Demense land, you would regret playing none of these courses, although I would say there are three of the most stunning holes in golf in Ireland on the O'Meara, on the back nine, but they don't overall bring the course up to the others, though that is subjective.

Woops, Ballesteros course is good but not as good as those three imo. But I've only played it once so this could be on a different day a different review.

Bruno26

Thanks very much for detailed response. Appreciate it.

Russman

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Personally I'd go with Killeen Castle although it's over a year since I played it.

I played Palmerstown last Sep and wasn't impressed with the conditioning, fairways were in bits with divots especially on approach shots to the par 5s and the course was sopping wet with bunkers out of play even though the weather hadn't been exceedingly wet. It seems every time I play it my estimation of the course reduces.

The Heritage has a great course layout and again it's over a year since I played it but back then it wasn't in the best of condition either with bunkers especially poorly maintained.

Never played the O'Meara course so can't comment there but think the Montgomerie course in Carton is very over rated. There's no real memorable hole apart from maybe the last and when walking off the course and reflecting back each hole seems to just blend into one long stretch of bunkers.

Another consideration is Headfort New, great and thrilling layout and copes with the weather a lot better than Palmerstown. That said last time I played it towards the end of the season last year there was a lot of loose and long grass clippings in the rough on a number of holes which made errant balls a nightmare to find.

Agreed, Headfort New is better IMO than the ones mentioned. Might not be as pristine or conditioned but hard to beat as a test.

Of the 4 the Op asked about I'd go:
1) Killeen Castle
2) Palmerstown
3) Heritage
4) Carton

That's without knowing the condition of any of them. If one was soggy and another dry I'd happily go with the dry one, they're all super with not much between them. You won't be disappointed.

levitronix

am heading to killeen castle today, how you think it will be in the rain ?

John Divney

levitronix wrote: »

am heading to killeen castle today, how you think it will be in the rain ?

Fine on the fairways and light rough, bit softer the further away from the fairway, I played it in rain one day a few weeks back and it was great.

Dr_Colossus

levitronix wrote: »

am heading to killeen castle today, how you think it will be in the rain ?

Greenfees, what kind of price did you get it for? At least the crazy gales have died down.
Note they have an open singles competition on Sun 26th April from the Black tees for €45. Would like to try that at some stage from a masochistic view point as it looks at absolute beast and I think the longest course in Ireland at 7,677 yards.

SevesThreeIron

Killeen Castle
The Heritage
Palmerstown
Carton Monty
(I'd put the O'Meara third if you're playing there)

Funnily enough, they've all held major championships bar the PGA. For me, Killeen Castle is a good distance above the others as a golfing experience. That's a personal choice though, I just love the place and live close by which makes it even worse. Heritage is a great spot too. Always remember sitting behind the par-5 8th green at the Seve trophy one year watching Justin Rose plonk his second shot a few feet from the pin. A long, high carry over water. Some great holes there, particularly 9 and 18 and the quarry hole, 11th.

I don't really like the Monty but I play there whenever I think I'm playing well to show up what parts of my game are still weak. I find that course a beast with no hiding places for any club.

Price wise, the Heritage is probably the best value. Carton is generally double it at 60 or so and, IMO, is over priced but they always seem to be busy.

Palmerstown is a fine course too. Your list is like presenting ferrero rocher at the ambassador's residence - you're really spoiling us.

Seve OB

I love them all, and I'm trying to put them in order or preference..... but I can't!

Interesting point to note, Palmerstown is the only one not on the Boards GS list this year, but we played there last year so got to move things around

billy3sheets

I'd line up with Russman's order

1) Killeen Castle
2) Palmerstown
3) Heritage
4) Carton

Played Killeen Castle twice last year on beautiful days. I think it's my favourite course. Was well maintained but it's quiet. Awesome bunkers.
Palmerstown has great hole layout and great greens. Good water around holes.
Heritage is a fine course too.
Carton - been a while since I played it.

bustercherry

Monty if you want to play big boy or girl golf. Love Killeen Castle too but my I don't find it as much a test. Wouldn't bother with the other 2 to be honest as Palmerstown is always a swamp and the heritage condition is average at best.

levitronix

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Greenfees, what kind of price did you get it for? At least the crazy gales have died down.
Note they have an open singles competition on Sun 26th April from the Black tees for €45. Would like to try that at some stage from a masochistic view point as it looks at absolute beast and I think the longest course in Ireland at 7,677 yards.

played the whites and it was long with no run ! the blacks are a joke ! The par 3 would be all 3 woods crazy stuff

John Divney

levitronix wrote: »

played the whites and it was long with no run ! the blacks are a joke ! The par 3 would be all 3 woods crazy stuff

Only one real long one 245 yards iirc, but it's downhill, so you can run it on.