It was a win-win situation certainly for everyone.
However...the club probably NEEDED us much more than we needed to play. As i said...to host 1 or even 2 competitions a year on unattractive days of th week i don't think is too much of an ask.
Absolutely, they did what was necessary and we took full advantage, so there should be no bitterness from either side.
Well the reduced rates supported the club, hard to separate the two, it was win win for both sides
They dont need you so wont offer a rate to entice you in.
both benefitted with local rates.
Were we actually supporting the clubs or taking advantage of the reduced rates while we could? I’d be inclined to say the latter. If the fees hadn’t reduced the same guys wouldn’t be supporting the clubs as they like to believe they did.
There is definitely a bit of a sour taste in manys mouth about how we supported these big clubs during covid.
I can only speak for Royal Portrush...but i played it 4 times in 2020 and 2021 as they were offering a very good Open Competition for £148.00
Now that the Americans are back there is not one single Open Competition for local golfers to play at a reduced rate.
Would it really be that big of a deal to have 1 or even 2 opens a year. Put them on a Monday or whatever even if you so please.
Have to say it was us that kept the likes of this course open during the Pandemic years, slots should be reserved for local availability, stinks a bit.
I also doubt every single slot is booked, I'd say more a case of block booked for Travel agencies and the like
Yea they really dont want to entertain the Irish Golfers. It took them a long time to put together a rate for Golf Ireland during covid.
It is a hefty price considering you can play RCD or Portrush for not much more, i would like to play it at some point though, so wiill have to take the hit eventually. :)
Agree - I enjoyed Doonbeg as much as Lahinch
I contacted Lahinch earlier this year and was told that they have no availability for 2022 and that 2023 is filling up quickly also.
Maybe if you are in the are pop in on the morning and see can they squeeze you out. Or go drinking in the area and see can you get chatting to a member to bring you out as a guest :D
I think Lahinch is closed to visitors from August 3rd-20th. All 2022 visitor slots were gone from early Spring too, I think because of covid reschedules and so on but have also heard that a lot of the 2023 slots are booked already. Great course but I personally don't think its worth the green fee they charge and with no GUI rate and their preference for American visitors it does put me off the place a bit. Haven't been there in years though to be fair.
I think the South of Ireland championship is on 1st week of August so that might explainable of tee times.
as with all south west links courses they have all covid cancellations from previous years all crammed into this yr so timesheets are generally full most days
I am going to be in Lahinch in early August and was hoping to get a round in. I have been told the timesheets are completely booked. Does anyone have any knowledge around this?
I was shocked at how quiet it was. Hardly a sinner out on it. I was a bit worried because we'd one lad with us who comes on our trips who's not a golfer. We gave him handicap of 54 and he had 9 points the first day. He's not slow, but if the course is congested it's awkward because he could hit it anywhere or nowhere and if you've had to wait to hit you might have an audience. I don't actually think he realises people care which is good, but I'd be self conscious on his behalf.
But with the publicity it's been getting I expected it to be booked solid. There will come a time when Donegal is thronged with golf tourists. We should enjoy it while we can.
Agree with this.. Sandy Hills is the toughest of the three.
As for it being so quiet, I'm still surprised at this. Rosapenna has been getting more and more coverage (Tom Coyne, world rankings, etc.) and at some point I'd expect the trickle of Yanks to become a deluge. But surprised that not more Irish are playing there. Having said that, I've played a fair bit of evening golf since April this year on courses around the Dublin area and can't believe how quiet the courses are. You'd think after Covid that lads would be mad to get out and play but it seems not.
Yea i would be inclined to agree, i did manage to complete the round in Sandy Hills with one Ball though. :D altough only scored 27pts i think :(
Sandy Hills is by far the toughest of the 3. You want to be on your game to score anything half decent. Fairways are much tighter than the other 2 and if your ball goes near the rough be prepared to never see it again!
Wow that all! Haven’t been up in 2 years and never played Patrick’s. I thought the Patrick’s course would have been booked up all summer from the reviews since it opened.
That 10th green is something else. i think there is 3 elevation changes on it? and if the pin is tucked back left you need a serious 2nd shot to get close.
I would agree with you in that if i was to go back to Rosapenna i think St Pats would be the main reason and would probably play it more than once. combined with Sandy hills, although Old Tom does have a bit of charm about it and the fact its a Old Tom Morris course.
I played old tom Morris and St pats over the weekend. Old tom was lovely, felt like a very traditional links. Wind was fairly brutal that day, but i was actually going pretty well considering. I had 24 points after 12. Then I had 3 points on the last 6 holes. A couple of 3 putt 1 pointers, an unlucky lost ball from a drive, 2 very deserving lost balls from drives. But I'd love to play it again.
St pats though the next day - I would hands down say it is the best course I've ever played. It's spectacular. I know there's bedding in to be done, but I wouldn't think it a bad thing if they kept some of the rough and ready look about it. While I'd love to try the other rosapenna course and say I'd love to play tom Morris again, I'd be very tempted to play St pats more than once when I return.
The wind was tough again, but not as bad. I played well on the front 9 and turned with 17 points. Then the tiredness caught up with me - tough week on work, preparing for a holiday, long drive up, a long 18 the day before and pints that night. Around 10 my body just gave up. I actually nailed that drive and just caught the very end of the bunker. But then caught it thin out of it and lost the ball. Did okay with the drop, but three putted on a tough green - scratch. Followed by 4 more scratches! I looked like I just took up the game for a couple of holes. I parred the par threes on the back and almost finished well on 18 - 3 wood just rolled back off the green. A foot further would probably have left me an eagle putt, a yard definitely. Instead I ended up 3 putt bogeying from 10 feet.
But I would just disagree completely with the previous poster who didn't love it. It'll get better. But for me it'll get better from a starting point of being the best course I've ever played.
Yea they were far from busy when we were there. The course wasnt perfect i would agree but its still a fantastic course. The condition is only going to get better as more people play it, i thought the fairways could have done with some rolling as they seemed to be quite soft in places.
I would very much doubt that they're booked out every day. Not on the evidence of when we were there either last week or last year. Only 5-6 groups seemed to be on any of the courses at any time.
I would hazard a guess they’re booked solid everyday, wear and tear and the grass doesn’t get a chance.
Played the three courses at Rosapenna recently. There's something fundamentally not right with St. Patricks at the moment in that the fairways are very patchy and scuffy. The greens aren't great either. The 5th and 14th greens seemed to have been recently relaid. Grass growth seems to be poor everywhere. I hope they find a solution soon because it's a fantastic course. Played it last September and it was in better condition then.
The last is extremely quirky (and the tee box is proper hard hat territory).
Big dog leg left (around 14) is a conventional enough hole in retrospect but is strange to the eye.
The second hole and (maybe) the 5th are proper upside down saucers. Left myself just 60 yards into the latter but with no idea what was over the back I couldn’t help pulling it short.
I enjoyed the course. It’s missing a few ingredients but it’s a lot of fun.
Played too, greens are nice and fast and the rough has also been changed since last year, you need to be straight. Not a good day at the office. As a matter of interest, which holes did you find bizarre?
Played today. Very enjoyable (well, up until I shanked my way to a ding on 18).
Lots of changes since I was last there 6-7 years ago. Bunkering is much more prominent. New and quality tee boxes in places.
It’s proper links golf, with an interesting mix of bizarre and traditional holes. Would be a tough challenge when the wind blows.
I don't know the cost. My friend booked it and I'm guessing will ask me for money at some point. Everyone else is staying there, so I'd say it's probably around the 65e per round.
I'm just staying one night, so am across the bay.
Class, played the two of them a few weeks ago. St Patrick's is very very good, there was temporary greens on 5 and 14 so hopefully they are gone for you. Its a tough test but also very fair, fairways are quite wide most of the time. Old Tom is good also but not in the same league.
What was the damage for the 2 courses? we done the 3 for 195. Dont expect much food offerings in the clubhouse, there was just a few sandwiches when we played, and its just bars and crisps/drinks at St Patricks.
St Patricks on Saturday and Old Tom on Sunday. And a feed of pints inbetween. Can't wait!
