Course Rankings by Slope Rating

Luckycharm wrote: »

Interesting how 9 of the top 10 highest sloped courses are parkland courses, I think Ceann Seibheal is links?

Ya it is links.

Lee Valley is the one that baffles me a bit. Greens are slick and it pays to be below the hole but...

cjfitz wrote: »

Ya it is links.

Lee Valley is the one that baffles me a bit. Greens are slick and it pays to be below the hole but...

It’s very long off the back tees which is what the slope given there is for

copacetic wrote: »

It’s much more realistic to rank by course rating rather than slope. Slope is just about length off tee really, rating is that and other elements of the course. Eg The island is slope 132 off the blues, which sounds easy enough compared to the above course. When most people will know that it is not. Course rating of 75 for par 72 gives you a better idea, although still probably underestimates its difficulty compared to Palmerston house or head fort new for example.

You asked to rank by course rating, well here you go...

Seve OB wrote: »

Close.
It really should be ranked by difference between course ranking and par.
Eg. Heritage course ranking is 76.7 but par is 74. So plays 2.7 shots harder than par.
Palmerston ranking is 76.4 but par is only 72 so plays 4.4 shots harder than par.
I think I’d stick in a made up column called difficulty and rank by that. Of course you don’t need to as you can just stick in a formula to run behind but it would be good to see at a glance, especially when you get to the - ones in red at the end

Like this?

TCM wrote: »

I would think that Castleknock would be higher as its long tough course.

i find its long and forgiving so usually have my better rounds there

manster wrote: »

That's good. An unofficial ranking of our most "difficult" courses.

I say unofficial though, because while tough, Portmarnock and Luttrelstown probably shouldn't top the list. But the european is there high up there. We're probably missing a load of courses still, I'd expect to see carne way up that list too.

As an aside, Moyvalley sticks in my head as a very easy course from a past boards outing, forgiving off the tee and the type of rough where balls can be found and not our 11th most difficult course in the country? Though we may have been playing off yellow tees.

Guys , just bumping an old thread - unreal piece of work by Manster

I'm just doing a bit of research on this myself at the moment.

This is trying to solve a question with maths - the way these questions should be answered , but the issue we probably have is the data for the likes of course rating could be wrong or dated - I know a course reviews is done every x number of years. But course change , rough changes - I do think that courses have been made way easier over the years - with cut , cut back.

Anyway - any body any comments on the toughest courses in Ireland - also considering the various changes has anyone any comments on the following course in particular

Druids Heath - it used to be one of the hardest courses in Ireland - how have the changes worked, is it much easier ?

Macreddin - when I played it (about 10 years ago) - found it unbelievably hard - how is it these days

The Island - doesn't really feature in above - do people not think it is hard - or the maths doesn't add up for it ]

And what are your top 3 toughest courses you have played in North and South.

I love Portstewart and it is hard ..but actually isn't as hard as some of the ones we are mentioning..yes front 9 is..but there is a fairness to it and the back 9 is on easier side ..in the pure context of the really tough courses ..(imo)

It’s mad how we perceive things. I wouldn’t have said enniscrone is tough at all but I know that is because the day I played I had one of my best rounds ever and shot -2 for the back 9. (10hcap and first time even close to par for 9 holes)

Where as when I played Portstewart it was in gale. I hit a driver to the first Par 3 and didn’t reach it !

Here's the data from 1100+ courses in RoI if anyone fancies doing some data analytics.

I’ve seen red tees rated for men in a lot of places. Seems to a norm now for any new re-rating.

I wonder if the new tees are bringing more hazards into play ?

I think you should move to the red tees after 70/75. You just can't play regulation golf anymore. I think I'd prefer to mostly reach in two and make pars and birdies rather than have more shots but trying to make bogey all the time.

golf ireland are currently re rating all courses. they have done all ladies and mens tees except back tees so that may be why ratings seem a little odd.

my club is the same

Headfort New went from 133/73.6 to 132/73.5 last year.