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Top 10 courses in Cork

  • 09-09-2025 10:26AM
    #1
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭


    1. Cork

    2. Fota

    3. Douglas

    4. Lee Valley 

    5. Monkstown 

    6. Castlemartyr 

    7. Muskerry 

    8. Mallow 

    9. Bandon 

    10. Fermoy

    Wonder what people's opinion are on the top 10 courses in Cork . Obviously opinions differ on these things. I didn't consider Old Head, only Golf Ireland affiliated clubs. Fermoy & Bantry probably the 2 I struggled with leaving out.

    Would love to hear others opinions



«1

Comments

  • #2
    leesidegolfer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25 ✭leesidegolfer


    I'd go something like

    1. Cork

    2. Fota

    3. Castlemartyr

    4. Monkstown

    5. Douglas

    6. Muskerry

    7. Lee Valley

    8. Kinsale

    9. Bandon

    10. Mallow

    For the last few spots there's nothing between the likes of Mallow, Fermoy, Cobh, Macroom, Blarney, Bantry, Kanturk. Some offer great value in relation to their membership fees.



  • #3
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,519 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    I'd put Fota first, I just think the finish in Cork is poor whereas Fota has the conditioning and variety throughout, Fota has the X factor a little more than Cork, tight between those two though

    My stuff on Adverts, mostly Tesla Pre Highland Model 3

    Public Profile active ads for slave1



  • #4
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭big_drive


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123799068#Comment_123799068

    Think they are easily the 2 best in Cork. Overall for a big county the quality is poor. Kerry for example despite being smaller has Tralee, Ballybunion, Killarney, Waterville, Dooks, Ceann Sibeal.



  • #5
    FixdePitchmark
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 22,598 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark


    I know Cork people can't ever accept a criticism of their republic - but for a county that is stunning (admittedly) and has such a great history in sport. Every other county in munster might have better golf. You might just have an edge on Limerick - but is close.



  • #6
    MayoSalmon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭MayoSalmon


    Surely Old Head is number 1?!



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  • #7
    bobster453
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,125 ✭✭✭bobster453


    Whats wrong with Cobh?



  • #8
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭big_drive


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123801341#Comment_123801341

    Not much, it's a bit hilly and open. But it's come on a lot and improved



  • #9
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭big_drive


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123800777#Comment_123800777

    Not for me. Even if including old Head id still rate Cork as better



  • #10
    Break80
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 402 ✭✭Break80


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123800758#Comment_123800758

    Agree 100% . Nearest links courses would be East coast or Kerry for example, but you have lots of local courses that would never make favourite top 10's. Good, honest member run courses which would be a community hub as well.

    I love that kind of vibe and try play them when I can.



  • #11
    FixdePitchmark
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 22,598 ✭✭✭✭FixdePitchmark


    Old Head should 100 % be on list



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  • #12
    CalamariFritti
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,557 ✭✭✭CalamariFritti


    Old Head should be on the list, too. IMO its a stunning course in the best condition I've ever seen any course, but I can see how it would not be 'cos it's not really attainable to play there as a regular Joe.

    €475 green fee, 2026 is €500, €100 caddy mandatory? No open comps ever. I mean who does that?

    I got in back to back during covid years for €130 no caddy. Even at that it would be a once in a year thing for me.

    Like Adare and a few others it's once off corporate freebies or such for most people if ever. I know people to be millionaires who'd say they wouldnt pay that. I defny wouldnt. It's a tourists, mostly yanks thing.

    Post edited by CalamariFritti on


  • #13
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭big_drive


    That's exactly the reason I didn't include Old Head in my list. Obviously it's a great course but it's not accessible to the average golfer. I'll bet most people living below in kinsale have ever even got an opportunity to play there



  • #14
    Miley Byrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,515 ✭✭✭Miley Byrne


    If you were rating the top 10 in Limerick would you exclude Adare for the same reason? Or Portmarnock in Dublin?



  • #15
    CalamariFritti
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,557 ✭✭✭CalamariFritti


    I suppose you can only rate the courses you've played.



  • #16
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭big_drive


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123802508#Comment_123802508

    Portmarnock is affiliated to golf Ireland and has 1,300 members. So id include that.

    Adare is affiliated too with 140 members



  • #17
    Dbu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,102 ✭✭✭Dbu


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058423995/top-10-courses-in-cork

    Played Monkstown a few weeks ago, was in very poor nick, greens ok, but everywhere else was poor

    there was preferred lies for the PGA event…in August



  • #18
    MayoSalmon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭MayoSalmon


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123802402#Comment_123802402

    You rated Cork better which it's obviously just not



  • #19
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭big_drive


    Deleted



  • #20
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭big_drive


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123803824#Comment_123803824

    To me it is



  • #21
    leesidegolfer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25 ✭leesidegolfer


    I'd say Old Head is the best in terms of a one off golfing experience, the views , etc. But in terms of a club to play week in week out Cork is miles ahead.



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  • #22
    MayoSalmon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭MayoSalmon


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123805763#Comment_123805763

    And if you could play Old Head week in and week out it would be miles ahead…bizarre arguments in here.

    Original OP is basically dismissing the course off the top 10 list because they can't play it.



  • #23
    AlanWatts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 76 ✭✭AlanWatts


    Bandon is better than muskerry or monkstown imo. In fact monkstown wud be towards bottom of my list. Too many bad holes and not enough memorable ones. 3 4 5, 10, 12 all poor imo.



  • #24
    prawnsambo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,406 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123806048#Comment_123806048

    It's their ball, they can play it however they like. In the OP he states that he only considered GI affiliated clubs.



  • #25
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭big_drive


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123806107#Comment_123806107

    Ya I always liked Bandon, haven't played it for a few years.



  • #26
    a post punk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 538 ✭✭✭a post punk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058423995/top-10-courses-in-cork

    If Fermoy makes that list,where is Mitchelstown?Castlemartyr is not being kept atall, the last few times i,ve played have put me right off it.The old head has to be number 1 and definetly Cork number 2,it does not look tough but the approach is where it shows its teeth.I played it last Saturday in real wind and was a joy to play…… just an enjoyable course.Fota would be third but its also going the silly price range now.

    @FixdePitchmark is right for a big sporting county we struggle with alot of quality golf courses.



  • #27
    big_drive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭big_drive


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123807119#Comment_123807119

    I'd have Fermoy ahead of mitchelstown, it's in brilliant condition in past couple of years. Haven't played castlemartyr with a while but feedback has been poor too from lads I know who've been there.



  • #28
    a post punk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 538 ✭✭✭a post punk


    It’s all subjective of course , Fermoy is always well kept it’s just not a course I’d like to play week in week out with hills. I do enjoy playing it during the summer though and they run a great midweek summer series comp with great prizes.



  • #29
    a post punk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 538 ✭✭✭a post punk


    Nothing atall ( I’m good friends with the head greenskeeper) 😂



  • #30
    a post punk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 538 ✭✭✭a post punk


    The only 1 on the list I haven’t played so must pencil it in.



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  • #31
    slingerz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,309 ✭✭✭slingerz


    1. Fota
    2. Cork
    3. Douglas
    4. Lee Valley
    5. Bandon
    6. Castlemartyr
    7. Monkstown
    8. Mallow
    9. Macroom
    10. Muskerry

    could throw a blanket over 3 to 10 imo. Now if you did a ranking based on notions it would be a different list



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