Irish Open 2018 Ballyliffin

poteen

The 2018 Irish Open will take place at Ballyliffin Golf Club Glashedy links from 5-8 July.

poteen

Its a long old way up there and almost like another Northern Ireland event.

Beaulieu

Early bird tickets for 2018 on sale here €25 per day - much cheaper than the Stg£45 for Portstewart!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dubai-duty-free-irish-open-hosted-by-the-rory-foundation-2018-tickets-35973853765?aff=launchlinkjuly9th

nazzy

poteen wrote: »

Its a long old way up there and almost like another Northern Ireland event.

But it's not another Northern Ireland event. If it was in Kerry, would it be a long old way down there?

Terrific for the county and it's a stunning part of Donegal.

mike12

Guessing the cost of the great north links comp is going to go up played over the 2017&2018 Irish open courses and the 2019 open course.

Great to watch the Pro's play a course that we have played a few times.

martinkop

mike12 wrote: »

Guessing the cost of the great north links comp is going to go up played over the 2017&2018 Irish open courses and the 2019 open course.

Great to watch the Pro's play a course that we have played a few times.

Advertised at €230 for 2017, could they ramp it up for this year yet? Still good value considering the advertised green fees.(although they are probably yank fees, not GUI. Played Ballyliffin Old Course for €30 last October.)

Definitely want to play this this year, trying to pull a team together at the moment. Can you enter as just an individual without a team?

mike12

martinkop wrote: »

Advertised at €230 for 2017, could they ramp it up for this year yet? Still good value considering the advertised green fees.(although they are probably yank fees, not GUI. Played Ballyliffin for €30 last October.)

Definitely want to play this this year, trying to pull a team together at the moment. Can you enter as just an individual without a team?

The last 3 years it has gone 175,200,230 for this year.
Still decent value for 3 super courses. I would ring Ballyliffin so see if they have any single spots.
We booked a couple of months ago and it was fairly full at that time.

charlieIRL

Just had a look at their website, fantastic looking course.

Shudder at the amount of steps into one of the greenside bunkers!!!

slave1

Played both the courses back in 2015, found them very fair and was well impressed, not a long course, off the whites I had to stall after the front nine as I had it done in an hour (first out), the elevated par 3 with pond to the RHS probably stays in my mind the most, then again it's my PC background to this day

FixdePitchmark

It sounds too easy if that short ?

Can we do another sub 20 unde.

mike12

Course is 7200 off the back tees, they have loads of room to add extra yards to holes if they wanted.
All links courses need the wind to protect them they play short with the run in the ball.

martinkop

mike12 wrote: »

I would ring Ballyliffin so see if they have any single spots.
We booked a couple of months ago and it was fairly full at that time.

Fully booked now unfortunately Went on reserve list, may get in :cool:

NIMAN

Live only a few miles from there, and great news for the area.

Would call myself a casual golf watcher, I don't play, but I have my 4 day ticket booked already, a bargain at €80.

I'm hearing most of the accommodation around the area is booked up already.

Senna

They have an open every Friday for €30, not sure which course but well worth the fee.
Played the old course once and had the round of my life, so it's a favourite of mine, not too punishing and some great feature holes, thought the greens were very flat for a links.
Played the new course once, lashing rain and we got called in after 9, unplayable. New course looked like more of a challenge, championship tees were 50yards back from the whites on some holes. Bunkers everywhere, for those 9 holes I played, I think I was in 11 bunkers.

Theres is a hotel close by with a spa, so great to drop the wife off at before heading for 18

Mushy

Will definitely make a day or two of this one, wife from Donegal so make a holiday of it and finish of the WWW too. Great value tickets

Minderbinder

NIMAN wrote: »

I'm hearing most of the accommodation around the area is booked up already.

Hmmm I wonder if some of that accommodation might become available again late next June for a few pennies more.

Senna

Minderbinder wrote: »

Hmmm I wonder if some of that accommodation might become available again late next June for a few pennies more.

The hotels up there do a lot of weddings, assume the weddings are booked already for the Friday and Saturday. Think some brides won't be too happy

NIMAN

I think the hotels have said they will honour any weddings & rooms already booked. I suppose they have to, unless the couple agree to move it for a deal !

mighty magpie

yeah i know of a couple who had their deposit paid for a hotel up there. when family tried to book rooms a few weeks back they were told no availability due to an event which hadn't been announced yet. They cancelled but not sure if any refund was given.

backspin.

Just a warning to anyone thinking of going to the Irish open in Ballyliffin 2018. Apparently there are some dodgy ticket outlets selling overpriced tickets and saying that certain days are almost sold out.

If you are going log onto Ballyliffin golf clubs website and follow the link on their official website to buy the tickets.

I just got tickets for the Sat and Sun.

wardides

Any locals from around the area able to give a bit of insight into accommodation? Heading up for the weekend, and at this rate could be driving up and back each day, as can't seem to find anywhere to stay for a reasonable price. Have they announced any shuttle buses from larger towns around the area?

thewobbler

Airbnb Buncrana. It’s the nearest town of any size and is basically one giant big holiday house for the north of Ireland. I’d be surprised if it could ever sell out.

Ollieboy

This might not suit everyone, but there is a few good camping sites in this area.

Getting a hotel room will be impossible at this stage so I would recommend looking as far away as Derry area and Letterkenny downwards. Another option is camper vans.

B&Bs are very popular in the area but widen your search when looking for them.

If you ring Ballyliffen I’m sure John will sort you out with what’s available in the area locally, lots of pubs have rooms available in the area.

HighLine

Class promo video here

https://twitter.com/ballyliffin/status/969596299698950145

fearruanua

Looks like confirmation is on the way that Lahinch will host next years Irish Open

plumber77

fearruanua wrote: »

Looks like confirmation is on the way that Lahinch will host next years Irish Open

That would be class

fearruanua

plumber77 wrote: »

That would be class

If rory gets his way and the european tour have the irish open the week before the british open in portrush, it could be the best irish open field ever.

Tom.D.BJJ

fearruanua wrote: »

Looks like confirmation is on the way that Lahinch will host next years Irish Open

Fantastic

tayto lover

It's going to be very hard to get into the Open.
Very poor roads and it seems like there's only one road in if I remember correctly.
It will probably just be shuttle buses.

fearruanua

tayto lover wrote: »

It's going to be very hard to get into the Open.
Very poor roads and it seems like there's only one road in if I remember correctly.
It will probably just be shuttle buses.

that narrow bridge in ennistymon :eek::eek::eek:

slingerz

fearruanua wrote: »

that narrow bridge in ennistymon :eek::eek::eek:

That will be a challenge for sure!

Tom.D.BJJ

fearruanua wrote: »

that narrow bridge in ennistymon :eek::eek::eek:

They have to fix that. You could use the other road via Liscannor btw.

There definitely will be shuttle buses

fearruanua

Tom.D.BJJ wrote: »

They have to fix that. You could use the other road via Liscannor btw.

There definitely will be shuttle buses

Rent a house in lahinch for the weekend between a group of lads. That would be the right job. ;)

AGC

It’s comfirmed.

Great course and will be a terrific venue. Access won’t be an issue.

Mushy

Limerick Leader says it's first week of July, so not week before British Open. Unfortunate, still be great though

Miley Byrne

AGC wrote: »

It’s comfirmed.

Great course and will be a terrific venue. Access won’t be an issue.

Agree with the bolded bit and I'm delighted it's going to Lahinch. Why do you say access won't be an issue? It will be carnage for anyone travelling from outside of west Clare!!!!!

AGC

Miley Byrne wrote: »

Agree with the bolded bit and I'm delighted it's going to Lahinch. Why do you say access won't be an issue? It will be carnage for anyone travelling from outside of west Clare!!!!!

Every venue listed as possible venues had access issues bar Portmarnock Links which is not in the same quality of course as the others.

Player wise they have Shannon and can stay in various places.

Park and ride Will have to be used and the best thing they can do is ensure it’s enforced so only a very limited number can access the town by car.

There will be no issues once organised and communicated properly which the European Tour seem decent at.

Mantis Toboggan

AGC wrote: »

Every venue listed as possible venues had access issues bar Portmarnock Links which is not in the same quality of course as the others.

But you just said access won't be an issue?

AGC

Tyson Fury wrote: »

But you just said access won't be an issue?

And? Organised properly it won’t be an issue

martinkop

2018-06-20 10_19_55-Ballyliffin GC (@Ballyliffin) _ Twitter.jpg Site map released. Looking forward to this!!!

A bit wary of all parking on site, hope its managed well to maintain a good flow.

wardides

Have they announced any "getting to the course" information yet? Staying in Letterkenny so want to see what coaches/buses are available for the Saturday. Will drive the Sunday.

martinkop

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018056/news/newsid=349890.html?utm_medium=SFMC_email&utm_content=Travel&utm_campaign=Ticketing+Journey+2+-+Irish+Open+-+21+June+2018&utm_source=EmailCampaign&utm_term=

Johnny_Fontane

would love to see a few pics of the course. I hear that they are watering fairways, would nearly prefer to see the fairways very dry and toasty.

CalamariFritti

So I'm off that week and looked into it and dear god I fear this may be a non event in terms of on-site spectators. I certainly won't be going. Something mad like Tiger appearing would be the only thing to get me up there. Its a bloody hour and half from Donegal town in the absolute middle of nowhere. They might as well have it on the Faeroer Islands. Who the fk thought that was a good idea?

thewobbler

Ah sure we could just rename it the Dublin Open and play it on the M50 instead of on a golf course.

CalamariFritti

Just somewhere with reasonable access and some kind of infrastructure around it would do. Why put in the most remote spot possible? They must have tons of sponsor money to burn. They sure can't expect much money from the gates. I would have thought that being commercially viable is a factor too in these things...

wardides

thewobbler wrote: »

Ah sure we could just rename it the Dublin Open and play it on the M50 instead of on a golf course.

The usual extreme boards reaction. Can always rely on it.

I think what he's trying to say is why not have it somewhere a bit more accessible. I'll be traveling up, but would will be a nightmare to get to.

Eoinyh

CalamariFritti wrote: »

So I'm off that week and looked into it and dear god I fear this may be a non event in terms of on-site spectators. I certainly won't be going. Something mad like Tiger appearing would be the only thing to get me up there. Its a bloody hour and half from Donegal town in the absolute middle of nowhere. They might as well have it on the Faeroer Islands. Who the fk thought that was a good idea?

Derry is only down the road, letterkenny half an hour,the northern golf fans support the Irish open events better than the southern crowd, when it's up their way,they won't think it's too far, this place is spectacular. Holding it there is fantastic for the people of the area. You couldnt bye the sort of advertising it will get from this. What course would you like it to be on?

Benicetomonty

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Just somewhere with reasonable access and some kind of infrastructure around it would do. Why put in the most remote spot possible? They must have tons of sponsor money to burn. They sure can't expect much money from the gates. I would have thought that being commercially viable is a factor too in these things...

Portrush isnt that far away and the 2012 Irish Open sold out. 1 or 2 more hotels and roads are maybe a bit better in Portrush owing to Bushmills and The Giants Causeway but I still reckon itl be a successful staging.

AGC

Eoinyh wrote: »

letterkenny half an hour

In a rocket?

thewobbler

wardides wrote: »

thewobbler wrote: »

Ah sure we could just rename it the Dublin Open and play it on the M50 instead of on a golf course.

The usual extreme boards reaction. Can always rely on it.

I think what he's trying to say is why not have it somewhere a bit more accessible. I'll be traveling up, but would will be a nightmare to get to.

Yes but who gets to draw a line on what constitutes inaccessible?

Look, Ballyliffin is a tough bugger of a journey from pretty much anywhere. But it’s the Irish Open I.e. for the whole of Ireland, and if there’s one county in Ireland that deserves to host it, it is the golf society heaven that is Donegal.