The Links Thread

Played Royal Dublin today to finish all the links on the full east coast of Ireland.

Was a long time coming, playing it, considering it is in Dublin. Played from the yellow course - that is forward, but full course in play for the first time this week. Typically Paddy's day is when local links winter rules come to an end.

Was a lovely day for links golf , well maybe, the wind was too strong on way home - but will cover that later.

It is interesting the varying opinion you get about the course and club. Along the lines of , too posh, too flat, too windy, average course. Then you have others saying classic links, very tough, a great test of golf, fantastic history

I had gone to the Irish Amateur on it and the more I walked it the more I began to think I would like the course. It is too flat to make the top ranks of courses. But it has that lovely feel of a true rolling links course - if you like your links.

Seen incredibly good golf there and just horrible conditions during The Irish Amateur. It is a course that the top players can go out and have one in the low 60s one day - then in the 80s the next. It is all in the wind, the weather, the tee time.

You don't come across it too often these days , but it is a traditional out and back course - you play away from the club house all the way to the turn and then work your way back to the clubhouse.

With the wind behind me on the front and playing from the yellows - it was way too easy. You are talking 8 irons and 7 irons into par 5s The rough is cut back and I was 1 over par (with a lost ball). I really like the par 3s a real test with mid to low irons. You are punching into the wind typically.

Then you turn and it is torture - today was high wind speed into your face all the way home and a combination of poor play and bad choices I was 9 over home. Very disappointing - but that is links golf for you.

So I really enjoyed the experience , a great test of golf, if not a little imbalanced.

The greens are great fun (if not at their best at present) - true and feel mature , even if I think they are fairly new considering the club is over 125 years old.

Would I like to play it every week - I don't think so , just too hard, is a quick round and clever lay out. But - would just break your heart that wind all the time. I'm not even sure I'd enjoy it from tees further back in them conditions.

Would I like to be a member , in a life I wont have. No - far too old school for me and from a time and culture of the past. It is friendly and everyone was 100 % , but it is just too , who are you.

I can see why elite players love and hate it.

As a ranking on the east I would place it low enough down my listing - behind. The Island, The European Club, Portmarnock, Baltray and Portmarnock Links.

But - it is a course that is a true test of ball striking on the way home, tore me apart and would love to give it another go in slightly easier conditions from the whites in summer. The blues we will leave to the future of the game.

For the trophy cabinets and golf history alone it is worth the trip.

Mental out on the links today lads.

The summer roll is there, the fairways are browning up.

Pure wind and run - but hit one 351 yards today :eek::), then hit the driver only 180 into it. Was mental stuff. At one point used a 6 iron for 120 yards.

Came across 3 yanks - they said it was "awesome man" . I told them I play a good bit in wind, but that was just mental.

Some eagle putts down wind - double bogey into it,

Get the sun cream, the shorts and the shades.