List here, it's no. 55, not a bad debut
I'm on the Golf Weekly Discord where it got less than positive reviews by those who played.
The media seem to be raving however, anyway it's now in big company
One of the main complaints I'd read is that there's nowhere to tell where greens terminate & fairways begin, a bit Chambers Bay in my head.
Does look nice mind you
That is a feature that I really like about the place. It is also the "look" that Doak was going for here so to be complaining about it is basically complaining about one of the design features that makes it unique and so special🤷
I played it in September. The course it still bedding in but it is fantastic and is the best course I have played in Ireland.
I cant understand complaining about the green complexes. They are the most spectacular think about it on certain holes
The pictures above are stunning. I'm looking forward to playing it. Sandy Hills was out of this world good when I played last year. With this new course added to the mix, Rosapena has to now be the finest golf hub in the country!
Ssshhhhhhh don't tell everybody 😉
Small bit more golf pornography
Doesn't appear to be much greenside bunkering, more like the Core/Crenshaw blowouts like Sand Hills.
Well that's my appetite whipped
^ NSFW warning please 🙄
For me it went straight into my top 10 in Ireland, I’d put it ahead of RCD. It is not tricked up in anyway, straight forward golf, for the most part it is all in front of you. Wasn’t a big fan of 14 but loved the drivable last hole.
Needs another season to bed in but a cracking addition to our top links courses
Looking forward to this one, I’ve played the other two twice but I’ll be back for a few days to play all 3 again
I’d agree with you on 14. Probably more because Doak hyped the hole up on Instagram than anything else per se.
but it lacks a little definition off the tee imho.
The World Top-100 list has landed it as No.6 in Ireland and I think that’s about right for now.
(I’ll probably land it at No.7 in my vote when I sit for The Irish Golfer rankings but that’s as much as me having a belief that Baltray is massively underrated).
I can only see it improving in people’s perceptions over the coming 5-10 years (mine included) so a slow growth up all rankings should follow.
Ally
How many courses in Ireland do you have ranked higher than RCD?
10
I know you might think I’m mad but golf is subjective. I love the location, the condition but It’s not the style of golf I like. The holes that are laid out I front of you I like, but I find it just too frustrating to play and the last two holes are incredibly weak for a top course.
J
would agree, and I’ve not made it to Kerry yet for golf.
I’d definitely have Royal Portrush, St Patrick’s, the Island, Co Louth and Sandy Hills ahead of RCD. Probably Co Sligo too though I’d need another outing to be sure. Plus I’d prefer to play another dozen courses ahead of it.
A troubling with golf rankings. Read from nos. 100-21 and almost every course is “one or two holes short of top 20”. RCD always seems to be judged on a different criteria. It’s a rare golf course in that it becomes less fun as you become more familiar with it.
“It becomes less fun the more you become familiar with it”…
This aspect is one thing that I think is a failure in golf course rankings, particularly ones like the World Top-100 which has 107 well travelled and knowledgeable panelist’s who - let’s face it - tend to fly in, fly out and play most of the courses under consideration only once or twice.
Some courses - like Portmarnock - tend to get a raw deal. They have subtleties and get better with repeat plays. One time visitors don’t see that.
Others wow on first play but actually reveal all their tricks in one go. Do the golf holes actually throw up a variety of challenges on repeat plays?
But this is the first time I’ve ever seen RCD thrown in to that second category. Why do you think that is? I would think you’d learn how to play the blind shots the more you play. And there are some pretty great hole strategies.
Ally I guess some of it is due to my own personal journey in what I appreciate in terms of golf course design. As I’ve gotten older I’ve moved to a stance whereby the concept of striking a golf ball cleanly most of the time is tough enough even without any targets; and therefore golf courses should be set up to reward good shots rather than decimate you for the bad ones.
For example, while I wouldn’t go so far as to say hated, I did not enjoy the European Club on my first visit last year. 10 years ago I would have revelled and smiled through a beautiful course that fills my card with scratches. Not so much now.
——
RCD on first play was immense. The conditioning, the challenge, the oddities. I spent the entire round looking up, over around corners to see what was next. It was thrilling.
The second and third time, even though I knew what was coming, was similar.
I’ve been there 6-7 times now and would no longer go out of my way to play. The blind shots don’t bother me a tap (apart from the incredibly unfair 9th) , as they generally provide ample landing areas. But after the 7th hole I just find the place to be almost relentlessly gruelling - apart from 12 and 13 - and brutally punishing. Too much gorse. Too much emphasis on power off the tee. I used to describe hole 15 as the cruel and spiteful uncle you had to put up with as you enjoyed visiting your aunt so much. Now I’m just not that keen on my aunt either!
Good post. I will need to get myself back up to RCD. I haven’t played it enough and it’s been a while.
Another Kevin Markham beauty
Matt Ginella is a fan too
Playing it in May - maybe I should drop Old Tom Morris - and play it twice ?
Never played Tom Morris.
I really enjoyed Tom Morris when I played last year. If possible I would play both. If I had to skip one of the 3 it would be Sandy Hills. I know lots of people rave about it but I have never been able to get going on it despite playing it 3 times
