The Links Thread

willabur wrote: »

I played both courses back to back last year, brilliant experience. Enniscrone I played an open which I nearly won, have a voucher which I need to go back and use with them. Carne is just next level, its almost like a meditation retreat. Pure golf, no bs, the kilmore 9 is everything I ever want a golf course to be

You've summed Carne up very well there in fairness.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPlG-_ztiLG/?utm_medium=copy_link

https://www.brsgolf.com/theisland/opens_home.php

(Open comp in Island GC 11th of June, €95 with a burger)

gypsy79 wrote: »

I much rather Enniscrone....my number 1 course. Perfect level of top level course, beauty and fun holes

Horse for courses

don't get me wrong, I loved enniscrone. An amazing course

willabur wrote: »

ah balls I was waiting for this open, plan was to take a day off, go play the island (something I haven't done even though I am a member next door) and sure enough they put on the same day as the first round of the Pierce Purcell

oh well

First round of purcell on a Friday? That must be awkward for some is it?

Don't recall it being mentioned, but the 3rd course at Rosapenna is opening on 26th. €75 GI rate, and €195 for all 3 courses

almostover wrote: »

Playing Ballybunion Old course tomorrow, Cashen Friday and tralee Saturday. Cannot wait now, like a child on Xmas eve. Haven't played any of them before. Any advice for a 1st timer around those tracks? I play off 9 but going in with low expectations and playing with three high handicappers.

Great few days. I’ve just come off the Cashen course myself!

In terms of lines, I think BallyB old and Tralee are quite clear from the tee.

I’m off 12 and would play off the whites, drives would go about 230/240 on good days. On BallyB Old you will have a dilemma on hole 16 par 5, to cut the corner by going over the dune or not. Depends on your driving and wind I suppose.

For Tralee make sure you play from (or at least look at) the back tee on hole 3 par 3. Makes a big difference.

Cashen is often not so straightforward.
Hole 7 don’t go too left:OOB. Right is a big chasm but slightly preferable.
Hole 8: if you’re playing off the whites, a 200 yard shot you can hit straight with a bit of draw. If you’re hitting 230/240 you need to turn it more or aim well left as long as you can carry 210ish. If you’re a long hitter then aim left and blast it! Basically the fairway turns sharply left and the descends really quickly, so you could get well down the hill with the right shot.
Hole 13: the fairway is further left than it appears. You will run out of room if you hit what you think is a straight shot.
Hole 14 fairway is again a bit left of what you can see.
Hole 15 is a bit of a silly hole. Par 5. If I played it again, I’d hit my most consistently straight club off the tee, then lay up into the widest part of fairway you can see, then hit a 3rd shot 100 yards.
Hole 18s fairway really squeezes in after 230 yards, I was very lucky my amazing drive ended up in the fairway.

Cashen is a bit physically tiring. The other 2 are much more manageable.

Take a camera. All 3 will give you some great views.

Mushy wrote: »

Don't recall it being mentioned, but the 3rd course at Rosapenna is opening on 26th. €75 GI rate, and €195 for all 3 courses

It is the most spectacular piece of golfing terrain I have ever walked.

Frisbee wrote: »

Where'd you see that? Can't see anything on their website or social media.

https://www.brsgolf.com/portmarnock/opens_day.php

Deporhostia wrote: »

Great few days. I’ve just come off the Cashen course myself!

In terms of lines, I think BallyB old and Tralee are quite clear from the tee.

I’m off 12 and would play off the whites, drives would go about 230/240 on good days. On BallyB Old you will have a dilemma on hole 16 par 5, to cut the corner by going over the dune or not. Depends on your driving and wind I suppose.

For Tralee make sure you play from (or at least look at) the back tee on hole 3 par 3. Makes a big difference.

Cashen is often not so straightforward.
Hole 7 don’t go too left:OOB. Right is a big chasm but slightly preferable.
Hole 8: if you’re playing off the whites, a 200 yard shot you can hit straight with a bit of draw. If you’re hitting 230/240 you need to turn it more or aim well left as long as you can carry 210ish. If you’re a long hitter then aim left and blast it! Basically the fairway turns sharply left and the descends really quickly, so you could get well down the hill with the right shot.
Hole 13: the fairway is further left than it appears. You will run out of room if you hit what you think is a straight shot.
Hole 14 fairway is again a bit left of what you can see.
Hole 15 is a bit of a silly hole. Par 5. If I played it again, I’d hit my most consistently straight club off the tee, then lay up into the widest part of fairway you can see, then hit a 3rd shot 100 yards.
Hole 18s fairway really squeezes in after 230 yards, I was very lucky my amazing drive ended up in the fairway.

Cashen is a bit physically tiring. The other 2 are much more manageable.

Take a camera. All 3 will give you some great views.

Thanks doing this in July can't wait!!

Ballybunion later this afternoon, weather looking good, a few refreshments arranged for after, happy man.

PARlance wrote: »

Ballybunion later this afternoon, weather looking good, a few refreshments arranged for after, happy man.

Absolute bliss! I'm lucky enough to get to play Tralee and Ballybunion on a regular basis and Tralee always edged it for me but I think Ballybunion has overtaken it now.

Enniscrone next Friday!

dk1982 wrote: »

Lads quick one here for those who've played Carne. We're playing the 27 holes tomorrow. I rang to see which order were playing them in and was told the Wild Atlantic Dunes course first followed by the Hackett back 9. I thought through that the Wild Atlantic Dunes Course was the Hackett back 9 (as the first 9) followed by the new Kilmore 9. Have I that wrong and what order are the 27 normally played?

The Wild Atlantic Dunes course is as follows:

First seven holes are the old Hackett 10-16th (or the current Hackett 1-7)
Followed by the Kilmore 9 playing it from the 5th-4th
Then finishing with the old 17-18th (or the current Hackett 8-9)

Deporhostia wrote: »

I don’t think there’s a normal way of playing 27. I think people normally play 18 WAD or 18 New Hackett (there are overlapping holes there).

What they said will be fine, 18 WAD then the remaining 9 holes (which is the current back 9 of the hackett, but used to be the front 9 of the hackett).

Possibly your final 9 have slightly less dramatic dunes, but they are equally as good holes as the rest of the property.

If you follow the signs you won’t go wrong. I think the only confusion I had was teeing off in front of the clubhouse, there are 3 fairways in front of you. Left one is hole 1 WAD, middle one is hole 13 WAD, right one will be your 19th hole, it’s the first of your final 9 holes.

The biggest issue when i last played was if you play the hackett course or the WAD course, the 17th hole on the WAD is the same as the hackett so it was causing a backlog. But at that time you could play the hackett 18 or the WAD so that was the issue. there was 3 groups waiting to tee off on the same hole, 2 of the groups playing the WAD and 1 playing the hackett.

Have a spare spot for that open in Portrush on 21st June if anyone wishes to take the spot. Downside is having to play with me so I hope nobody would be hoping for a prize

CorkBoyInDub wrote: »

Playing Portmarnock Golf Links in a few weeks time. Anyone ever played it before? Tips and comments much appreciated!

lovely course, as good a finish as you will have anywhere.

Wouldn't have much in the way of tips, it can get fairly breezy out there so be ready to adapt to that. First hole is a beaut

mighty magpie wrote: »

Just played Portmarnock. What a course, manicured to perfection. Red then Blue 9s which i believe is championship course.

Missed too many greens from good spots. Putted well for the most part but greens were so quick that a few late 3 putts were inevitable.

The 10th green is unbelievably challenging from front and both sides.

I’ve never played a course which was manicured anywhere near as good as portmarnock. It’s like the be out with a scissors to trim the edges to perfection

redhill wrote: »

County Louth Open Week times now available, 75 euros a round, plenty of availability as some have open for nearly a week, takes place early July

Theyve had a few open wks over the years as well as the Junior Scratch cup (which used to be 36 holes) and 75e is by far as steep as Ive ever seen it. I find it amazing that in the midst of the pandemic recovery operation, east coast links courses seem to have raised their fees instead of dropping them. Portmarnock Links have a summer swing series of events and are charging 75e for those too. Last year, an open there wouldve been 60e at most.

The likes of Portmarnock Old and The Island seem not to be bothered that their opens are set at prices that inevitably wont and havent seen the respective timesheets book out; they must be able to afford it.I wonder will P Links and Baltray be more upset at when they find their own events dont sell out either.

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Theyve had a few open wks over the years as well as the Junior Scratch cup (which used to be 36 holes) and 75e is by far as steep as Ive ever seen it. I find it amazing that in the midst of the pandemic recovery operation, east coast links courses seem to have raised their fees instead of dropping them. Portmarnock Links have a summer swing series of events and are charging 75e for those too. Last year, an open there wouldve been 60e at most.

The likes of Portmarnock Old and The Island seem not to be bothered that their opens are set at prices that inevitably wont and havent seen the respective timesheets book out; they must be able to afford it.I wonder will P Links and Baltray be more upset at when they find their own events dont sell out either.

Played Baltray last week and it's in unbelievable nick. They have the greenkeeper from Lytham St Anne's now, his philosophy when he arrived was we don't have the views, so let's make it the best conditioned course in the country. If you can't handle snooker table greens don't bother, crazy golf at times for a mortal. 75 isnt cheap I agree, but it deters hackers and cowboys, and preserves its premium status. Not sure if they will fill it, but for a course that's empty on any Saturday I've played, I don't think they care.