Atlantic Coast Challenge

BigChap1759

Lads,

I'm sure there are other threads on this but I'm looking for recent information so that's my excuse for starting a new one!

Just looking to heard from people who have played before or are playing this year:

I saw that the €130 price was only valid till end of 2016 - any idea what it would be to book now?

Are there likely to still be places available - how early do people book?

Where would people normally stay and what sort of dollars are you looking at for accommodation?

How are the logistics of travelling to each course etc?

How has it been as an experience - do lads meet up for a few pints of an evening?

Anything else interesting to add?

FixdePitchmark

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Lads,

I'm sure there are other threads on this but I'm looking for recent information so that's my excuse for starting a new one!

Just looking to heard from people who have played before or are playing this year:

I saw that the €130 price was only valid till end of 2016 - any idea what it would be to book now?

Are there likely to still be places available - how early do people book?

Where would people normally stay and what sort of dollars are you looking at for accommodation?

How are the logistics of travelling to each course etc?

How has it been as an experience - do lads meet up for a few pints of an evening?

Anything else interesting to add?

I'd say alxmogan would be a good man - macker went last year.

A while since I went (2014) - highly recommended - The bandits at it put me off the event - so you have to leave that at home to fully enjoy it.

I certainly would look at accommodation at this stage. I know it is midweek - but is still high season.

We stayed in Enniscrone - had a great time there - but only 3 pubs.
Te journey from Enniscrone to Carne is savage. But the nature of the event you are going to have a big journey at some point. Many different approaches suggested. I think if you could work a night in each location it would be good - but a fair bit of logistics of packing and unpacking packed cars.

But was a good crowd out having pints at night- I think it helped a world cup was on the year I was there - maybe wasn't as good last year ?

So there are many ways to do it - the later your tee time - the course can back up and warning that the pace of play can be chronic.

Staying in the one place is more comfortable - but the days are long. say you play at 1030 - get off course at 330 - food then you have feck all to do except go the pub

The earlier you go pub the harder the next day - and you are up travelling too.

Carne is just a nightmare to be honest to get to. Things would be easier if there was a decent town near it and start from there. But there isn't.

So would highly recommend it - but logistically difficult , you certainly wouldn't want to be afraid of long hard driving.

mike12

Can't play this year first one I missed.

FixdePitchmark

mike12 wrote: »

Can't play this year first one I missed.

you played it a good bit mike - did ye find the best way - maybe no such thing ?

JCDUB

I've been down the last two years and we're booked again for this year. We stay in Enniscrone, which is a great town for a few pints after the golf.
As said, the trip to carne is a nightmare and we've had vile weather there both times so it's my least favourite of he three.
Also as said, bandits, we noticed from one club in particular, are an issue. Forget about the team score for a start. We had ****ty weather and there were still teams coming in with no score lower than 38 out of four. Three days on the trot. Not possible with legitimate handicaps.
The travel to carne mainly is an issue, but I'd still highly recommend it.
Think they've extended the early bird price. I paid about two weeks ago and it was still 130.
So book and pay soon for a great few days of golf, eating and ðŸ‘ðŸ‘

BigChap1759

Cheers for the info - I wouldn't be entering with any thought of winning anything so the inevitable bandits wouldn't bother me at all. Would be purely for the craic and the chance to play three of the best courses in the country

Ronney

How do you book this?

Carne is the only site that mentions it, how do you select tee times for the other courses?

fearruanua

Ronney wrote: »

How do you book this?

Carne is the only site that mentions it, how do you select tee times for the other courses?

Lady in the office in carne organises the lot for ya.

097-82292

FixdePitchmark

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Cheers for the info - I wouldn't be entering with any thought of winning anything so the inevitable bandits wouldn't bother me at all. Would be purely for the craic and the chance to play three of the best courses in the country

I get having the craic and playing top courses.

I just will never get or accept entering a golf competition without there being a competition.

Sure if that was the case you can go and play them at your own pace and not when it is 5 hour rounds.

Yes, probably the value is a reasonable argument - but the loss of competition is a price I wouldn't pay.

But that is just me - I think everyone should give it a go if into links at some point.

Kevinmarkham

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I just will never get or accept entering a golf competition without there being a competition.

It's a difficult thing to fix, Fix! Unless you set it up like the Causeway Coast Challenge or West Coast Challenge - where your team is split up every day - you're never going to sort out the problem. The GDI events are a case in point. When you have good/valuable prizes up for grabs you'll always get bandits playing/cheating. How do you possibly monitor them?

Personally, I think the organisers of every event like this (including charity events etc.) should be obligated to send in details/scores of the top 5 teams to the GUI, so that our governing union can monitor golfer names and scores and make assessments.

BigChap1759

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I get having the craic and playing top courses.

I just will never get or accept entering a golf competition without there being a competition.

Sure if that was the case you can go and play them at your own pace and not when it is 5 hour rounds.

Yes, probably the value is a reasonable argument - but the loss of competition is a price I wouldn't pay.

But that is just me - I think everyone should give it a go if into links at some point.

I'd agree with your point if this was the case every week but I think it's pretty easy to let it go for one week in the year on stunning courses I've never played

mike12

Only wants do it is play Carne first and go down the night before.
Ballia is close to enniscrone so OK for a base if you need a few more bars.

Ban golfers from nenagh would almost fix the bandits or make it a GUI singles comp each day.
I think any sort of a comp you should have to log in and register your score.

Only missing this year as I have the family holiday falling the same week.

alxmorgan

I leave home in Tipp around 5am on the Monday for Carne.
I usually stay in the town where I am playing the next day.
So Enniscrone Monday and Sligo Tuesday.

Carne is the toughest drive so good to get it out of the way first.

Courses are fantastic - although Carne I find the toughest (crap weather last 2 years didn't help)

Well worth the trip. Enniscrone probably the best base if you fancy a few drinks although it is usually not too busy either way.

As Fix said we benefited from it being a World Cup year and a few matches being on.

B&Bs are the cheaper option but keep if prepared to spend a bit more then Diamond Coast in Enniscrone houses a lot of the golfers.

Well worth the trip anyway. This will be my 4th year and can't wait as usual.

Macker1

Really enjoyed the experience last year and will definitely head up again. May even try this year if places are still available. We stayed in Ballina last year and got Carne out of the way the first morning. Challenging conditions was an understatement but great company on great courses made it three days to remember. The scoops each night whilst talking bull**** also helped.

Ronney

New one up in Rosapenna and Portsalon

http://www.mulroylinks.com/

When you take accommodation etc into account not the worst value

BigChap1759

Ronney wrote: »

New one up in Rosapenna and Portsalon

http://www.mulroylinks.com/

When you take accommodation etc into account not the worst value

€470 per person not the best value either by a long chalk considering it's mid-week. I just don't see them getting many people signing up for this - I could be wrong though.

Dr Devious

Slightly off topic, I see the Golf Digest events totally obliterated this year, probably only a 1/3 of the usual number of events this year and no event at Royal Co Down at all. Can't say I'm shocked as I played in a couple of them(RCD been one ) and they're just a money making racket for Golf Digest, pure and simple.

Senna

Ronney wrote: »

New one up in Rosapenna and Portsalon

http://www.mulroylinks.com/

When you take accommodation etc into account not the worst value

That one is just the Rossapena hotel looking to fill bedrooms on a quiet week I'm October.

http://www.donegallinksclassic.net
This is a far better one, €125 per player, includes Ballyliffin which is a great course(s).
Most people base themsleves around Letterkenny and accommodation can be reasonable.

morrga

Dr Devious wrote: »

Slightly off topic, I see the Golf Digest events totally obliterated this year, probably only a 1/3 of the usual number of events this year and no event at Royal Co Down at all. Can't say I'm shocked as I played in a couple of them(RCD been one ) and they're just a money making racket for Golf Digest, pure and simple.

They are adding another 12 courses in the next week or two.

charlieIRL

woywover wrote: »

I wonder are the $$$$$$ boys putting in a few teams this year again?? 😇

Posts like this are not welcome here.

Macker1

Looking forward to playing again this year. Hopefully weather will be a bit kinder second time round.