Jim Stynes wrote: » Why is it such a great offer? It’s still 100 quid a man!
thewobbler wrote: » It’s 40% of its usual green fee. How much % off would you to describe something as a great offer ?
Jim Stynes wrote: » Getting onto Portrush with a member for £20 is a great deal. Paying £100 for a golf course and thinking it’s a great deal because it’s usually £400 tells it’s own story about some of these places. It’s better value than normal but hardly a great deal.
FixdePitchmark wrote: » So, back form Donegal – it has been a long time ambition of mine to play golf in North Donegal – from late teens I would look at the photos of the courses , completely perplexed by the beauty and what seemed like, madness to build a course on the land so rippled and so remote. I’m not particularly a golf historian and maybe someone can explain why these courses were built at all. There seems to be a link to seaside towns and a time of train journeys and a bygone age. How sad all them railways are gone, the journey must have been fairly epic. It was almost part of the challenge. Landscape like that , is enjoyed more at a slow pace – for that, we have golf. Now with cars and modern roads and confused gps, maybe it is all a bit too easy. Covid has all these courses opening back up to the Irish only, the strange times we are in. But I do know from reading here – that Donegal and Sligo / Mayo , remained the true hidden and reasonable priced great golf of Ireland. The strange thing about the links courses in Donegal – some are fairly modern as Links courses go ? I simply love Donegal, the people, the place, the sort of outsider feel to the place. There is an honesty, a lack of pretension, a mystery and a darkness. I’ve a fairly substantial chip on my shoulder about some Irish golf – but what I loved about Donegal was that you feel, the people actually want you there. There are certain places in Ireland in (pre covid) summer, that lack any authentic Irish feel to them. You feel like you are in an American 5 star resort, almost a bit of cap tipping and tip searching. All a bit fake. Anyway – back to golf, we played Portsallon, Rosapenna (Sandy Hills) and Ballyliffin (old). Very different courses and feel to the 3 places, but I suppose, the common element, is that rugged and erratic, stunning Donegal backdrop . One moment you are looking at a perfectly clear cliff then it is covered in clouds or rain and a change in light and mood. Portsallon is a wonderful little course. Hardly a hole the same – and the beach is stunning – the way it is used on the 2nd , is incredible. We were playing into a tough wind on the front 9. But for once the golf was a bit irrelevant (probably as mostly terrible), you were trying to work out the course and the views. It is certainly a course you need to play a few times. The course changes a little on the back nine as you head into a mountain face and this changes the feel of the course. But it still makes for very interesting golf holes and great elevated views. One slightly strange feature is the tunnel at 1 and 18 – and that is the first time I seen anything like that. Day 2 we hit Rosapenna (sandy hills) – what a place. From the second you drive in, it feels special. Then the course. What an incredible golf course. I typically use Enniscrone as my reference (gold standard) in Irish golf. But within 5 or 6 holes you are thinking, how could you have so many great holes in a sequence. It becomes a game of, is there a bad hole on this course at all? finding one is almost a harder game than the course. It is a tough walk and incredibly punishing – probably is too hard. But what a course. I will return some day. Almost had a hole in 1 – and had a great front 9. Some of only decent golf I played. Day 3 we hit Ballyliffin The Old Links. I’ll admit I would prefer to be playing Glashedy – These journeys are big and you do not get in the areas too often, so I do like to play the championship courses. I know there are fantastic secondary courses. But it is a big enough challenge in this life to fit all the big ones in. Never mind the others. We were very lucky to play at all, as the rest of the country was a complete wash out. Another lovely course, but it is up against it when it is the 3rd course on such a run. So another big part of the list ticked off. I’ll need to review where I am, not much to go Links wise. But there probably is more than I think. I need to dream up another trip – or like this occasion, I need someone else to dream it up for me. It is kind of hard to plan anything at present, but as has been said on this thread. Get the course in now when we can. Yesterday towards the end, rain came in off the mountains. It is rare you see rain like that before it hits you , I hit a perfect drive and a 2 putt bird . For a few holes, there was no covid, or doubt or anxiety or fear. It is the little things in life you miss. Golf at least remains a stunning distraction
FixdePitchmark wrote: » I suppose something aligned to the current market. This % is only a function of what wealthy Americans will pay for the "prestige" to play Portmarnock. I have never accepted that price in relation to the local market. Being a member of the GUI gives you access at a significantly reduced rate to what ? 98 % of the course in Ireland. So a great offer is something aligned or less than the GUI rate in the European club or Baltray or The Island. So at €150 considering the relative quality of the course - it is still too expensive. €100 is more like it - but as explained , a bit of a pain in the arse putting together a 4 ball for an aligned market price.
Kiith wrote: » 27 holes in Carne tomorrow! Can't wait
mighty magpie wrote: » booking system is ****. why let some1 else fill out details if space is already locked! have tried multiple times here.
Benicetomonty wrote: » Indicative of the contempt PGC has for mere mortals. I mean, they had one job...
thewobbler wrote: » It’s not them. It’s any system in which payment and full names, including GUI, are required. Man goes in to book, has an oh **** moment, starts phoning his mates to make sure they’ll also pony up the wedge. Man goes in to book, has an oh **** moment and starts phoning his mates to find out if they can get their hands on a GUI name and number. Man goes in to book and sees afternoon tees are gone. So he has an oh **** moment and starts the process for a morning tee time, then starts phoning his mates. If he doesn’t close his browser, that tee time is locked for 10-15 mins. It has to be locked that long as that‘s how long it takes to fill out these forms. There is no easy way around this. 5-10 tyre kickers and 5-10 half serious men can kill the system.
ShivasIrons wrote: » Can you please explain why paying €25 or so to the GUI should give you significant discounts at any club?
RoadRunner wrote: » BRS v poor for me. Got it in the end
Benicetomonty wrote: » Decent thing to do would be to put a 3rd day on and hold slots for anybody who sent them an email within 15 minutes of their notice. We'll wait and see.
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://w8.vanillicon.com/v2/80b304893105fef6f377cb0aa3b99c16.svg)
