i was up with Fix. 12 of us. We had played old Ballyliffen last year and we all felt the Glashedy is far superior. However the back 9 weaker than the front 9, and the old is probably on par with that.
but Ballyliffen was probably the runt of the litter as someone put it over a pint. I guess it didn’t help that it was the worst weather of the 3 days and my game is in the gutter at the moment. Portrush definitely the easiest of the 3 but we got it on a near summers day in the middle of October.
class trip.
€300 for the lot
Agree with everything said about Royal Portrush. I also played it on Day 1 which was probably the best of the weather. An amazing course in pristine condition. An absolute pleasure to play.
Portstewert on day 2 in 40km winds was just impossible. Beat us up badly but what a front 9 just incredible. Weakens badly to just meh in the back 9! The greatest opening tee shot iv seen though.
Ballyliffin just consistently strong from start to finish and probably more playable than portstewert. Best greens of the 3 courses too. Pity about by 6 3 putts though!
How much did you pay for Portrush if you don't mind me asking?
Super stuff, great to play them be sure now you can bench the other links courses you've played.
For me the back 9 of Portstewart was weak, the last two holes dull. Glashedy was excellent, the greens just absolute perfection and although you didn't play it, the old course on par. Portrush faultless.
Just back from Porstewart (The Strand) / Ballyliffin (Glashedy) / Royal Portrush (Dunluce ) .
What a 3 days - feels like years since I did a trip like that - and to be honest have never done one where they were all championship course including an Open course.
In October up North you are taking a chance - and wind speeds were high at times - but we had 3 amazing days of golf.
I had only played Porstewart once and was the only 1 I had played - but was even more impressed this time - what a golf course. It certainly is one of the most impressive openings and opening stretches I have played. I didn't play great - but I also think it is a remarkably difficult course (not a place to be wild as I was). Got great memories from following Rahm there and as a young man you could see he was a another level. It is a course that you need to respect off the tee - and I didn't sadly . Will definelty play again when up there - course knowledge is fairly important there.
Day 2 was Ballyliffin - and to start it has to be one of the most stunning setting for a course - completely wild , isolated, other worldly. The weather was predicted to be bad that day - so we kinda got off lightly - It was a 3 to 4 club wind at times - some rain. Perhaps it was the weather - but it is the hardest course I have ever played. You just can't be off the fairway at all. It is a course I want to play again - but it is very difficult to get to - and looking at the sea , I'd imagine the strong wind is more the norm than exception.
Day 3 Portrush - where do you start . To start off, you just have that Royal feel - that it has held the Open - a solidness and maturity to the land that you can sense and feel under foot. Then the Lowry win - the history . But forgot all that for a second , you have the actual course and views. I tend to be a man for the big dunes and tricked up courses - but when you play a course like Portrush you can see it does not need to be like that. There is the green - there is the landing zone - there is the dangerous bunker. The choice is up to you - it is a real thinking mans course. The crazy thing about Portrush is you feel you could actually play to your handicaps there, the other 2, I'm not so sure.
I will go back and play them again next summer - but the prices have got very expensive (outside the winter rates).
Over the last few days I watched the various stuff I missed post the Lowry win on you tube - it was so much more enjoyable when you had played the course - the guy is something special.
Second this- hidden gem
Actually thinking on it - if planning to do a non-links day and weren't worried about having it near the end, then Ballinrobe is an excellent course. Only an hour or so from Galway for your finishing spot
Did the job nicely. A few lads had to share rooms
Can you share the information on the house you rented. We are planning on taking a trip down that way to play those courses at some stage next year.
Thanks
If you’re doing that Belfast thing, Don’t do Galgorm. It’s a pig with lipstick, even if it’s designer lipstick. And much as I enjoy Malone, Lisburn and Royal Belfast, it wouldn’t be fair on lads travelling over from the States to plop in a parkland imho.
Like a previous poster, I couldn’t recommend Downings / Rosapenna enough. If you book all 3, and add in Portsalon (20 mins spin), you’ll get enough change from €300 to pay for a steak dinner. Which means you could splash out on Portrush, which won’t come cheap next year, no matter what you try.
if I was plotting a path for you.
Bite the bullet on Day 1 and take the 3.5 hours straight to the North Coast. Play either Castlerock (great track, with society rates) or the Valley at Portrush. Stay the night in Portstewart (nicer village). Play Royal Portrush then head west for Downings for 3 nights. Be aware that this is a drinker’s village and you should probably not aspire for early tees. Play Portsalon on the 2nd day in Donegal, to ease the amount of driving thereafter. Finish up in St Patrick’s, which is now the main course.
if you’ve another night in you, head for Donegal town and play Murvagh, another fantastic track with good society rates.
7 quality links courses, mostly all at bargain prices. Only big drives are day 1 and the last day.
Curious on what Tralee were at when they didn’t initially refund the deposits, especially since they couldn’t provide the originally agreed price anyway.
Were they a pain? Good for people like me to know that to perhaps avoid them going forward. For the amount of money it costs to play there that mightn’t deserve it.
Lads I might start another thread . Thanks a million.
Yes. I'll have to do stuff like this. Lads are not loaded and we will probably have to drop serious money for 2 or 3 of the once in a lifetime ones. I'm willing to play lesser known ones to drop the average price .
As was mentioned. Likes of Rosapenna is still reasonable. Want to play sandy hills., great idea on St Patrick's, but may could still be not best condition.
If you give Co. Sligo a call then they'd likely do you a deal on the rack rates, especially in May before high season starts.
Just saw your non-links day, I'd go Royal Belfast or Malone, if you want hills on steroids go Clandeboyne (a mad place).
Don't play Galgorm, average at best, others above waaaay better
You know Dublin and there's the obvious choices but for fun I'd go anti-clockwise and leave out the headliners we all know about
Ardglass - poor mans Old Head
Portrush - Valley Course
Castlerock - also has a great 9 hole
Ferry
Greencastle - little known, decent track
Northwest - tight and super value for money
Avoid long trips and straight to....
Murvagh
Strandhill
Done!
Else you can go RCD, Portrush, Portstewart, Ballyliffins, Portsalon, Rosepannas, Co Sligo, Enniscrone......
Yeah, it was a great trip. 10 people for the trip, just a bunch of friends.
I initially booked the courses for this time last year. The initial list was Waterville, Tralee, Dooks and BB Old. Due to covid we postponed first to April (Masters weekend) and then again to September (Ryder Cup). Each of the courses initially took a GUI booking 140, 110, 80 and 110. But Tralee and Ballybunnion decided not to honour the initial agreement, Tralee initially wouldn't give the deposit back... eventually they did
Ended up paying 140 for Waterville, 80 for Cashen, 80 for Dooks and 50 for O'Mahoneys point. All in including accomodation which was a big house close to dooks which slept everyone comfortably the trip cost less than 500 euro per head.
Super happy with the variety of the courses btw. Each one unique that challenged and delighted us in a different way
Some trip willabur , was it a society or what .
How were rates ?
Played Waterville, Dooks and Ballybunnion Cashen at the weekend. Cashen I have played many times before but it was first time for Dooks and Waterville.
I loved dooks, really loved it. The scenery is unbelievable. The course conditioning was ace also. One or two odd holes, index 1 17th I think is a bit out of kilt with the rest of the course. The clubhouse is also a little odd. built in a hole that looks out into the car park. Feels like an achievement to put the building in a place that did not have an amazing view
Waterville, my god the club house and the practice facilities are incredible. Truly 5 star. The course is fantastic but I felt it is a bit of a let down. The conditioning of the fairways wasn't great. Felt like a parkland at times rather than a links. Felt a lot of par 4 holes really melt into each other. Strong start and a wonderful finish but it all felt like a bit of a let down in the middle. Style wise alot of it is like Portmarnock old but again, not to the same level. Very playable course, felt it was one of those that its hard to score really well but there are not too many disasters out there either
Yes . You have basically described my main plan. I'm in two minds if I'm going to skip RCD and just head to Portrush / Portstewart. This will give me more time in Donegal.
Im thinking of a break in Belfast on the way , history a few pints . Just a nice change from the Irish stuff they have done. Then up to the rope bridge and all the coast.
I've also doubts about Carne . Might end in enniscrone.
I'd rather a night in Galway City to finish than out in the back arse of Mayo.
Even if I love it. A bit depressing for your last night in Ireland 😆
Rosapenna in Donegal is superb. You have three courses there and it's good value. They do good stay and play packages, although they have got a bit more expensive than they used to be. The courses are quite different so you're getting on the variety. If you play St Patrick's, your American friends will probably be playing the cheapest Tom Doak design they'll ever see, in utterly astounding scenery.
If you want a pure, old school links, Dunfanaghy, just down the road, ticks the box.
Nairn and Portnoo is another classic, also in Donegal, but it's not cheap. Heading to Sligo and Mayo, you have Rosses Point, Enniscrone, Strandhill and Carne. The latter two are better value, although Carne is a trek. That being said, it is unlike anything I've ever played and the Dunes course is my favourite ever. Well worth the journey in my opinion.
All
i have friends coming over from US early May (mid life crisis road trip (for them i think)). We are going from Dublin (playing in Dublin), then north, then to Donegal then to Sligo.
Is there any links special then ? we want to play the big ones. At least Donegal is never daft . Want to bring them north / north west as they have been to West.
Trying to save them from daft rack rates.
Any ideas welcome. Pass , way to save money . And can they play in an Open ?
I'm playing all Links (except 1 day of a break to ease the experience)
Well done thewobler, a true case if you stick around The Links Thread or a Links course long enough , you can be cured of previous ills. 😄
Baltray is a great great course and very playable. It is also a remarkably peaceful place.
The big sand dune courses are a spectacular experience, a fun day out. But they are too difficult and lack playability. I now consider them holiday courses. As it was put well to me recently, a roller coaster or less favourably , a cracked up crazy Irish golf course.
As time has gone on , I've developed an appreciation for the subtle aspect of the likes of Rosses point , Baltray , Portmarnock and whilst hard to admit , after years of my own Internal class batle , Royal Dublin makes remarkable use of what is effectively a sand Bank.
I must hit Rosslare soon again.
But perhaps it is age too, the big west coast courses are hard work.
On the thread , fair play everyone. There has been great information, images, deals and fun here. I noticed lately the we hit 200 K views. There are many people out there that Links is special to.
The escape, the view , the sound of the sea and that thump of ball or club into sand.
As we face winter , our covid golfers and sun kissed summer players retreat to hibernate. It is a special time for Links lovers . It is cold , cutting at times . But when you get that crisp day , a clear sky , there is nothing like it.
I used to laugh at the idea of year round golf.
I guess with age , you learn .
It turns out the experts were right all along.
Reviisted Baltray today in a Golf Digest event, some 9 years since my only previous time playing it.
On that occasion if truth be told I was underwhelmed. My expectations of a top 10 course were maybe too high, but more than likely were mostly misguided. At that time of my life I was fascinated with steep and undulating links. I suppose I just didn’t understand!
In the same way that in recent years, I’ve come to appreciate classic parklands over modern “championship” parklands, what it’s a strategic links is about all kind of came together for me today.
The course is absolutely immense. The ever changing direction/routing, which always keep you thinking. The constant requirement for a clear sight of the pin to have any idea what to do on approaches. The string of options that are then opened up by a good tee shot. The need for brute power off the tee, and the challenge to find a low ball flight. That petrifying feeling when you know your ball is being sucked into a runoff.
But most of all, it’s challenging, rewarding and completely fair golf. So much so that I’m now thinking that those things which are absent - exposed sea views and giant dunes - might tend to get in the way of such playability.
Still wouldn’t be sure about the 17th hole (last par 3). But the rest of it is top drawer. It has punched past the Island and Rosses Point, into my top 3, just behind Portrush and St Patrick’s.
That's true. You can keep an eye out and pay most of them in Ireland for a reduced rate with opens or gui rates or the like. But if someone comes to Ireland to play golf, their choices are to play the top courses and pay full whack for them. Or to play the second / 3rd tier courses and pay 50 / 60 quid a pop.
The second option isn't bad. You'd be playing the likes of the courses on the boards society outings. But if I went to a foreign country, I'd probably stump up the €200 or whatever.
Value is relative, if you want to play courses you gotta cough up
It is...but worth every penny for the 3 days of golf we had.
Would i do it again? Probably not now that i have played those courses. But certainly for the likes of St Andrews/Turnberry/Carnoustie etc i would.
820 euro, that's a fair chunk of change.
Birkdale £250
Hoylake £220
Lytham £230
You don't mind me asking how much it cost for each round?
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