The Links Thread

FixdePitchmark · 05-08-2020 12:05am

Benicetomonty wrote: »

The 'discounted rates' have been forced. Which means they arent actually discounted at all; indeed, they will, in all likelihood, be the standard rates going forward, certainly through the autumn and probably the winter also, as our blue chip links clubs desperately attempt to claw back some of the many euros of revenue they have and will continue to lose during this pandemic. They will be reduced further, overtly or otherwise if the current prices fail to attract the intended numbers.

That they needed to be forced to drop their rates to allow the GUI community, competent, amateur golfers, access to their courses sticks in my craw. Most especially because certain clubs could have afforded to do it for decades and made zero effort to offer any incentive to locals. Portmarnock is the number 1 offender. Unlike Louth, Lahinch, RCD, The Island, Waterville etc, in my 20 years of playing amateur golf up to Senior Cup Level, I have never once seen them host a fully open competition or offer a sub 100e playing rate. That the new rates are, in my view, uninviting, is just my opinion but Id be very curious to find out how many golfers in Ireland have paid or would be willing to pay 100e or more for a round around Portmarnock or anywhere else in the country. My guess is, not many.

Your Aston Martin analogy is a poor one. The average gui club member doesnt contemplate buying them. Playing 18 holes on a field , no matter how manicured, is a much more modest aspiration.

Your posts on this stuff are brilliant. (I know I go too far

)

Fundamentally the people who protest about this are interested in maintaining the status quo.

We all know that Portmarnock and Royal Dublin are very dated and simply do not fit in with modern society.

Not sure they are a good fit for Baltray to be honest - Co Louth is a genuine middle class , upwardly mobile rural club. If you rang the pro any day of the week in Baltray he would sort you out. The other two - :rolleyes: you would be lucky to get past the heavy barrier without a tough look of disdain.

There should be honesty about this on an online forum - The two main offenders do not want anyone near them - and I'm a bit disappointed that they are out with the begging bowl after one tough season.

Is it not the ethos of Church of Ireland, Freemasons , secret societies, Royal Families - to be prudent, to consider the alternatives, to be frugal.

They would want to get their act together. Before it all falls apart.

Ally McIntosh · 05-08-2020 12:21am

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

You do know there is a global pandemic at present. (obviously)

All these course had a model based on charging whatever Americans wanted to pay.

The Irish know the Irish market more than places who had no interest in the Irish.

About 250 feels right - but that is my opinion. But I know the market fairly well.

They have placed themselves at the highest point possible.

And more than likely the members will fill those voids by paying significant levies.

If each of these clubs were trying to maximise revenue alone, then sure, they might have to feel around for the right price point to fill the gap. But I suspect each of them wants to keep some element of privilege for their members rather than race to the bottom and fill their timesheet with 20,000 rounds at 50 quid only to devalue their course for years to come.

There is a lot of bitterness about top clubs.

I don’t like the fact that green fees at all first and second tier clubs have increased exponentially over the last 30 years. I don’t like that it takes golf away from the everyman. But increases in Ireland have actually been less than in England or Scotland and we still have a number of excellent courses that can be sampled for €80 or less. Portmarnock or RCD are no different to Muirfield or Royal St George’s: Old, traditional clubs that are primarily for members and their guests and who supplement their income by offering limited rounds to visitors at premium rates. That is their product. It is a very different product to Old Head or St Andrews (to name two) which although poles apart, are based on visitor play.

Ally McIntosh · 05-08-2020 1:04am

No the bitterness is not justified.

And the €20 per year you pay to have “GUI status” has no relationship to whether clubs hold Opens or not.

One thing is for sure: The last couple of hundred posts in this thread seem to have done nothing to change anyone’s opinion. Positions are entrenched. We need a John Hume.

mike12 · 05-08-2020 7:09am

They would have been better off go for 2 big hits and host a couple of 4 person team events @100 per head.
Portmarnock would fill the place for the day rather than 2 balls here and there at 150.

Might have played the 3 for 350 if it had been some sort of competition

Raisins · 05-08-2020 8:29am

I don’t think portmarnock are worried that some golfers are angry they’re too expensive. Is that not a major part of the exercise in the first place? As a golf course Royal Dublin is having a laugh pretending it’s in the same company as the top links courses.

They’re as equally out of touch with their membership policies in these places. I’m glad in a way because it makes not playing them an easy decision.

For €365 you can play Tralee, Ballybunion Old, European, and Rosses Point.

blue note · 05-08-2020 8:43am

I imagine the €350 offer was a company coming to them with a proposal and they all said fine. The booking company probably get a small commission and the clubs get the bulk of the fees. Then it's a win win for them, if it gets a few extra people in he gates then great.

I am surprised at Portmarnock doing it though. I'd have thought an offer like that would have been beneath them.

And on reputation I wouldn't be bothering with royal Dublin. I wonder did they try to get the European or the island first.

Benicetomonty · 05-08-2020 9:25am

Ally McIntosh wrote: »

And more than likely the members will fill those voids by paying significant levies.

If each of these clubs were trying to maximise revenue alone, then sure, they might have to feel around for the right price point to fill the gap. But I suspect each of them wants to keep some element of privilege for their members rather than race to the bottom and fill their timesheet with 20,000 rounds at 50 quid only to devalue their course for years to come.

There is a lot of bitterness about top clubs.

I don’t like the fact that green fees at all first and second tier clubs have increased exponentially over the last 30 years. I don’t like that it takes golf away from the everyman. But increases in Ireland have actually been less than in England or Scotland and we still have a number of excellent courses that can be sampled for €80 or less. Portmarnock or RCD are no different to Muirfield or Royal St George’s: Old, traditional clubs that are primarily for members and their guests and who supplement their income by offering limited rounds to visitors at premium rates. That is their product. It is a very different product to Old Head or St Andrews (to name two) which although poles apart, are based on visitor play.

I dont buy the 'devaluation' arguement. Ballybunion has hosted opens every year to gui members at v reasonable rates (I played both courses for 50e in their 2013 scratch cup) and it is probably still the golf course that Americans want to play the most in the entire Republic. No devaluation there.

As Mike says, it doesnt have to be wall to wall but hosting an open event or two would do zero to hurt the image of a club and everything to enhance its reputation. The illusion of exclusivity can be manufactured if necessary, as R Dublin have done with the Lumsden event

Portmarnock will be in a particularly interesting situation going forwards as regards its appeal for tourists. It is likely the Amateur Championship may well be the last high profile championship they will host for the forseeable future owing to their membership policies and the Irish Open certainly wont be returning any time soon for the same reason. Whilst it is well established in the psyche of potential visitors as a must play venue, it doesnt have the aura or mystique that a Tralee or an Enniscrone does, and has, imo, been more dependent on tv coverage through the 80s and 90s than most Irish tracks, where it was broadcast in all its glory into the homes of foreigners who were subsequently able to cop that you could play arguably better courses in Ireland for far more reasonable rates than would have been required to set foot on an Open rota venue.

That marketing avenue has now dried up, and whilst they will continue to hold an attraction for deep pocketed visitors, it will be increasingly word of mouth that determines what courses the next generation of American golf tourist will be seeking to play, as more and more of their elders come home with their experiences of golf in Ireland. This will, I believe, result in a subtle shift away from the east coast. The golf is better and cheaper and the weather equally unreliable, so why wouldnt you go North, West or South?

All of which means our east coast links will need to make themselves more attractive to the domestic market. The reduced rates and golf passes are going to be here for the next year and probably well beyond. The other option is for members to start shelling out some substantial levies. I dont know what the Portmarnock sub is. But I do know what it is in Ballybunion because my uncle is a member. And what they take in in subs isnt enough to cover maintenence of 2 championship links, the clubhouse and the continuous upgrading and works they carry out on a yearly basis. Id wager the Portmarnock sub is equally insufficient to keep things there exactly as they are for very long. That means there is a reliance on tourism, foreign ideally, domestic if necessary. And I will predict, once again, that what they are offering currently as a GUI 'special' rate will not prove sufficiently attractive to a majority of Irish golfers.

Whiplash85 · 05-08-2020 10:10am

It is all about accessibility. Cork and Shannon airports are in very precarious positions now which could mean that we just have one main travel hub in Ireland. Getting to these courses on west coast can be a challenge in itself too on a good day.

DuckSlice · 05-08-2020 10:59am

At the end of this year I will have played 5 Links courses in Ireland.

Old Head - 130
Portrush - 150 (Open Comp)
Castlerock - 60 (GUI Rate)
Strandhill - 30 (Open Week)
Carne - 27 Holes. - 50

Total 420.

That to me is much better value than 350 for 3 courses.

Whether something is good value or not is down to the individual. For me its not good value especially with the travel involved in playing them for me. if it was 250 for the 3 then I would look into it, but the fact it has to be used within 6/7 weeks is a disaster.

mighty magpie · 05-08-2020 11:04am

Castlerock have several open days at £25 coming up.

DuckSlice · 05-08-2020 11:06am

mighty magpie wrote: »

Castlerock have several open days at £25 coming up.

Unfortunately I'm 4 hours away so playing it the day after we play Portrush. Might just double check if there is one on that day.

RoadRunner · 05-08-2020 11:17am

Whiplash85 wrote: »

It is all about accessibility. Cork and Shannon airports are in very precarious positions now which could mean that we just have one main travel hub in Ireland. Getting to these courses on west coast can be a challenge in itself too on a good day.

The wild atlantic way has been very successful. People want to go west. Tour companies go west. Click both short vids below. You only get 'the tingles' from one of them. Good marketing or something else?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONyxV38yp8I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWu2TmZSNHc

FixdePitchmark · 05-08-2020 11:21am

Probably talked to death.

To summarize for me.

Still too expensive relative to the current market.
Just hold an open rather than this convoluted offer.
It is going to take a bit more to improve relationship with GUI golfers.

Will be interesting to see how things progress over next few months as we enter the end of summer season.

I can go down today and play Royal Dublin for 115 - so why would you bother being tied into a 3 course deal , with a solid deadline. And I'd imagine the 115 will drop also.

At about 250 - you would have considered such a deal.

350 is serious wedge for most - at this time, in one go.

Sultan_of_Ping · 05-08-2020 11:39am

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Probably talked to death.

To summarize for me.

Still too expensive relative to the current market.
Just hold an open rather than this convoluted offer.
It is going to take a bit more to improve relationship with GUI golfers.

Will be interesting to see how things progress over next few months as we enter the end of summer season.

I can go down today and play Royal Dublin for 115 - so why would you bother being tied into a 3 course deal , with a solid deadline. And I'd imagine the 115 will drop also.

At about 250 - you would have considered such a deal.

350 is serious wedge for most - at this time, in one go.

Will be interesting to see into next year, if there are still restrictions in place, how their prices might go.

I'd imagine they are well resourced in terms of reserves etc but they'd also have a significant overhead to maintain the course quality so there may well be an economic imperative to get a bit more real on their pricing.

As an aside, I played The Island recently as a guest and the member I was playing with mentioned they are "canvassing for members" - who'd have thought it!! Joining fee is "only" €10k - which, when you compare it to some of the idiotic joining fees being sought in the prevvious boom, is an absolute steal......

.......I'll freely admit to doing some mental arithmetic on the way home and having a hypothetical discussion with herself on raiding the savings

:D:D

mike12 · 05-08-2020 11:45am

Sultan_of_Ping wrote: »

Will be interesting to see into next year, if there are still restrictions in place, how their prices might go.

I'd imagine they are well resourced in terms of reserves etc but they'd also have a significant overhead to maintain the course quality so there may well be an economic imperative to get a bit more real on their pricing.

As an aside, I played The Island recently as a guest and the member I was playing with mentioned they are "canvassing for members" - who'd have thought it!! Joining fee is "only" €10k - which, when you compare it to some of the idiotic joining fees being sought in the prevvious boom, is an absolute steal......

.......I'll freely admit to doing some mental arithmetic on the way home and having a hypothetical discussion with herself on raiding the savings :D:D

Do they allow you to spread that over a number of years?

frink · 05-08-2020 11:49am

mike12 wrote: »

Do they allow you to spread that over a number of years?

I was considering joining The Island last year and they offered me a Temporary Membership. You pay €1,000 each year on top of annual sub for up to 5 years. After this 5 years you have the option then to join as a full member and pay the difference to the €10,000.

I am not sure if you then have to pay the full difference in one go or not. It is a decent option if you considering it.

Sultan_of_Ping · 05-08-2020 11:52am

mike12 wrote: »

Do they allow you to spread that over a number of years?

Not sure - but I hope not, otherwise it might be just too tempting to resist

I'm also not sure how "connected" you need to be to club - I got the impression they were putting it out there by word of mouth to see what interest there was.

Annual sub is about €1600 - which is more than I'm paying now but for a course like that, I thought it was great value.

Ally McIntosh · 05-08-2020 11:55am

Benicetomonty wrote: »

I dont buy the 'devaluation' arguement. Ballybunion has hosted opens every year to gui members at v reasonable rates (I played both courses for 50e in their 2013 scratch cup) and it is probably still the golf course that Americans want to play the most in the entire Republic. No devaluation there.

As Mike says, it doesnt have to be wall to wall but hosting an open event or two would do zero to hurt the image of a club and everything to enhance its reputation. The illusion of exclusivity can be manufactured if necessary, as R Dublin have done with the Lumsden event

Portmarnock will be in a particularly interesting situation going forwards as regards its appeal for tourists. It is likely the Amateur Championship may well be the last high profile championship they will host for the forseeable future owing to their membership policies and the Irish Open certainly wont be returning any time soon for the same reason. Whilst it is well established in the psyche of potential visitors as a must play venue, it doesnt have the aura or mystique that a Tralee or an Enniscrone does, and has, imo, been more dependent on tv coverage through the 80s and 90s than most Irish tracks, where it was broadcast in all its glory into the homes of foreigners who were subsequently able to cop that you could play arguably better courses in Ireland for far more reasonable rates than would have been required to set foot on an Open rota venue.

That marketing avenue has now dried up, and whilst they will continue to hold an attraction for deep pocketed visitors, it will be increasingly word of mouth that determines what courses the next generation of American golf tourist will be seeking to play, as more and more of their elders come home with their experiences of golf in Ireland. This will, I believe, result in a subtle shift away from the east coast. The golf is better and cheaper and the weather equally unreliable, so why wouldnt you go North, West or South?

All of which means our east coast links will need to make themselves more attractive to the domestic market. The reduced rates and golf passes are going to be here for the next year and probably well beyond. The other option is for members to start shelling out some substantial levies. I dont know what the Portmarnock sub is. But I do know what it is in Ballybunion because my uncle is a member. And what they take in in subs isnt enough to cover maintenence of 2 championship links, the clubhouse and the continuous upgrading and works they carry out on a yearly basis. Id wager the Portmarnock sub is equally insufficient to keep things there exactly as they are for very long. That means there is a reliance on tourism, foreign ideally, domestic if necessary. And I will predict, once again, that what they are offering currently as a GUI 'special' rate will not prove sufficiently attractive to a majority of Irish golfers.

You make some good points but I think miss the mark with others.

Ballybunion - through Herbert Warren Wind and then Tom Watson - marketed themselves brilliantly for the American travelling golfer 30 or 40 years ago. They are setup primarily for visitors. This setup is to the detriment of members and it is virtually impossible to get a summer tee-time at short notice. The few Opens they hold allow some Irish visitors the chance to play it (if they are quick enough to book). The fact they do this may enhance their reputation amongst posters on here but has no effect on their wider reputation, their bank balance or their future marketing potential.

For arguments sake, let’s say Portmarnock go another twenty years without holding a major tournament. Its reputation will then sit on its history and its world ranking as much as anything else. Its ranking will depend on whether the next generation of raters take their time to understand the course or whether they will succumb to the social media quick hit of dramatic photographs of dunes and blowout bunkers.

The south-west is (or was) saturated. The east will remain appealing because of Dublin and accessibility. The north-west is clearly the untapped market for foreign golf tourism.

None of the above has anything to do with whether a course holds Opens for GUI members. Opens don’t help with revenue for these clubs.

All of these pages continue to be about people being mildly annoyed that there seems no avenue for them to play a course at a figure less than €100. Because of this, they seem to be wishing harm on clubs who don’t bend to their will, in some cases hoping they fail. Maybe they will fail. And then they can rejoice that the establishment has been brought to its knees, more than likely harming the overall Irish golf market in the process. (Incidentally, these good deals for visitors are being demanded as members - if media reports are true - are being asked to pay €5k levies)

Aside from that, I do like the idea of great clubs offering something back to the community. But if it were up to me, I’d be offering Open days to charities and those living locally before I’d be offering GUI Opens.

PARlance · 05-08-2020 12:56pm

Great thread even though things have been repeated. I've certainly adjusted some views from it.

The amazing thing is that Portmarnock's policy on women members has barely got a mention on here, yet there's a lot of talk about opens, openness, inclusion etc.

Predominantly male golfer's on a golf forum wanting things from their point of view, annoyed with a golf club doing things from its point of view. The two don't align in general, in this case. Maybe we needed a few more boys named Sue.

Pay the €150 if you've a real itch. Wait for a further reduction if you think it's coming, or just get over it Sue. Let's not fool ourselves with any claims of seeking openness/opens or wanting to be one happy GUI family etc.

If Enniscrone could get an entrance fee and 2k a year sub from its members... and have a queue of Yanks Mon-Fri, I wouldn't be able to get an open there next week for €35. Clubs are open for money, not for any higher cause.

I got the opportunity to play Portmarnock before and jumped at it. I was left a bit.... flat, by it compared to other top end links. Maybe the finer details of the course were lost on me. I also had no qualms about the finer details of its membership policy when teeing it up either.

We're extremely lucky on this island that only a couple of courses seem out of reach to the general golfing community.

FixdePitchmark · 05-08-2020 1:04pm

Asking for a friend.

It is ok to like blow out bunkers and the big dramatic dunes ?

PARlance · 05-08-2020 1:06pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Asking for a friend.

It is ok to like blow out bunkers and the big dramatic dunes ?

Yes, you swine.

Ally McIntosh · 05-08-2020 1:28pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Asking for a friend.

It is ok to like blow out bunkers and the big dramatic dunes ?

Absolutely. My point being that with the advent of social media, golf has become more about visuals. Great courses are first and foremost about great golf holes and routings. Good views / visuals are just an added bonus.

One other note: Earlier in this thread, someone shrewdly said that you couldn’t compare us to the ultra-private, expensive American market because Irish golf is supposed to be accessible whereas American golf is built on elitism.

True, but the old-money clubs in Ireland were never Everyman clubs. They were always built by and for the professional classes. If you want a better target, then the new-money clubs that base themselves on the private American model are the ones that are doing more damage to the Everyman.

carq · 05-08-2020 1:38pm

RE : the above

Any sign of a Drop for Adare Manor ?
Indeed has anyone here played it since it has reopened?

EDIT - seems not - 470 EU when mandatory caddie fee is included.
395 EU in the low season.

Tip not incleded.

FixdePitchmark · 05-08-2020 2:08pm

Ally McIntosh wrote: »

Absolutely. My point being that with the advent of social media, golf has become more about visuals. Great courses are first and foremost about great golf holes and routings. Good views / visuals are just an added bonus.

One other note: Earlier in this thread, someone shrewdly said that you couldn’t compare us to the ultra-private, expensive American market because Irish golf is supposed to be accessible whereas American golf is built on elitism.

True, but the old-money clubs in Ireland were never Everyman clubs. They were always built by and for the professional classes. If you want a better target, then the new-money clubs that base themselves on the private American model are the ones that are doing more damage to the Everyman.

On the course design front.

I've a serious weakness for the visuals. But I do think that these contribute to a great golf hole.

They enable an elevated tee shot - one of my favorite shots in golf.
Also when done well , you can create very interesting doglegs and variations in height on the hole. Run from 11 in Enniscrone - is probably my favorite run in golf.

I know it seems to be a love hate course - but I love RCD.

I accept this is rather unusual - but I also like a blind hole, there is an element of imagination and visualization required that I love in a golf shot. I'm not the most technical of golfers - more visual.

When I started out playing all the links I could - I didn't think I would like some of the flatter courses - but as the years went by they grew on me. The bunker placement , the way greens can have run offs , making the hole.

Interesting placed drains you see around some of the Irish courses are also another feature (a bit like the one you see on the 1st in St Andrews) - they can make a hole.

People do not rate Royal Dublin , but when I played it a few times - I really liked the way the wind alters the course, the traditional in and out layout, the soft channels on the east side of the course, the raised greens , the risk reward par 5s. It grew on me. A course you could score well on one day - and have a nightmare the next. I seen the very same thing , with some of the best players in Europe at the Irish Amateur there.

I must play Lahinch and Ballybunion again soon - they are probably near my top in the country.

The sad thing about most of these places - you need to play them nearer to 5 times , before you know what you are doing. Then you still see something new.

DuckSlice · 05-08-2020 2:31pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

The sad thing about most of these places - you need to play them nearer to 5 times , before you know what you are doing. Then you still see something new.

Agree with this, played Strandhill last week for the first time and would love to have another go at it as I know I would enjoy it more the second time.

But to play Lahinch 5 times would cost you a hell of a lot :eek:
I've walked around it at the Irish open last year so at least I have some idea of the course. Would love to play it but I don't think I will get to anytime soon

willabur · 05-08-2020 2:56pm

Small edit but the open fee for enniscrone is 45 euro, not 35

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

Johnny_Fontane · 06-08-2020 11:39am

We're looking for a fourth to join us (lad dropped out) in Carne for their Wild Atlantic Dunes Challenge.

Its €100 for three days of golf, 220 with a hotel (for two nights).
http://www.carnegolflinks.com/wild-atlantic-dunes-challenge/

Takes place 24-26 August.

Drop me a pm if interested.

FixdePitchmark · 06-08-2020 12:34pm

Any good rate for The Island - GUI or Open ?

See some new holes on the layout.

Johnny_Fontane · 06-08-2020 12:56pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Any good rate for The Island - GUI or Open ?

See some new holes on the layout.

They have opened it up to GUI members at €130. No open comps, there is a member /guest tourney on Wednesdays (to 3pm) and on some bank holidays.

No appetite for an open comp from the committees at the moment, which is very disappointing.

Whiplash85 · 06-08-2020 1:03pm

Open Week in Ballyliffin next week. €40 to play old and €80 for Glasheedy. Anyone ever play them?

jams100 · 06-08-2020 1:23pm

Whiplash85 wrote: »

Open Week in Ballyliffin next week. €40 to play old and €80 for Glasheedy. Anyone ever play them?

Played Glasheedy before irish open a few years ago, personally I think there are better courses out there but others seem to like it. I'd rather play baltray, portmarnock links etc.
Heard good things about rosapenna too which is up that area

Miley Byrne · 06-08-2020 1:41pm

Whiplash85 wrote: »

Open Week in Ballyliffin next week. €40 to play old and €80 for Glasheedy. Anyone ever play them?

Are you sure it's €80 for Glashedy?

mighty magpie · 06-08-2020 4:39pm

Yeah, usually same price for both courses for a comp. Maybe he's playing glashedy in normal play, no comp.

Whiplash85 · 06-08-2020 6:19pm

Miley Byrne wrote: »

Are you sure it's €80 for Glashedy?

Yeah the Glashedy one is not an open day but later on in the week it is hence the higher price I was quoted.

carq · 07-08-2020 3:00pm

Whiplash85 wrote: »

Open Week in Ballyliffin next week. €40 to play old and €80 for Glasheedy. Anyone ever play them?

Played the old recently.
fair test and not too penal - plenty of opportunity to find the ball when it ends up in the rough.
Lovely spot

mighty magpie · 07-08-2020 9:39pm

Great day out at Rosses Point. Weather perfect, golf not so much.

redzerdrog · 08-08-2020 12:16am

Friday the 21st Seapoint have a open off the back stakes, there is worse ways to part with 30quid imo

ChippingSodbury · 10-08-2020 11:27am

mighty magpie wrote: »

Great day out at Rosses Point. Weather perfect, golf not so much.

3 wood??? The 10th is a lovely inviting tee shot that's begging to be smacked way down there (or onto the 11th fairway if a little over exuberant!!!)

redhill · 10-08-2020 1:23pm

Does Baltray have a GUI rate at all?
they’ve a few opens coming up but on days I can’t make it

FixdePitchmark · 10-08-2020 1:37pm

redhill wrote: »

Does Baltray have a GUI rate at all?
they’ve a few opens coming up but on days I can’t make it

Thanks . Didn't know they were doing opens.

Raisins · 10-08-2020 3:09pm

redhill wrote: »

Does Baltray have a GUI rate at all?
they’ve a few opens coming up but on days I can’t make it

€100 is the GUI rate.

mjsc1970 · 11-08-2020 3:48pm

Open Singles Friday 21st
Seapoint, Co. Louth.
The very very back tees........

jarrieta · 11-08-2020 3:52pm

mjsc1970 wrote: »

Open Singles Friday 21st
Seapoint, Co. Louth.
The very very back tees........

Yeah, still thinking about whether to go or not, as I am not a big hitter... But might be worth the craic... Anyone thinking of going? (PS: I don't work on Fridays, so it is a good opportunity for me)

mjsc1970 · 11-08-2020 3:58pm

jarrieta wrote: »

Yeah, still thinking about whether to go or not, as I am not a big hitter... But might be worth the craic... Anyone thinking of going? (PS: I don't work on Fridays, so it is a good opportunity for me)

Thinking about it, yes

mighty magpie · 11-08-2020 6:41pm

ChippingSodbury wrote: »

3 wood??? The 10th is a lovely inviting tee shot that's begging to be smacked way down there (or onto the 11th fairway if a little over exuberant!!!)

was with the wind and was fighting a hook with driver.

50degree got me home. Huge green and my watch was miles off, is that a recent change?

My 23 handicap partner birdied 10 and parred 11 for 8 points!

ChippingSodbury · 12-08-2020 1:36pm

mighty magpie wrote: »

was with the wind and was fighting a hook with driver.

50degree got me home. Huge green and my watch was miles off, is that a recent change?

My 23 handicap partner birdied 10 and parred 11 for 8 points!

7 shots for those two holes is pretty good, no matter what your handicap is.

10th green was extended a couple of years ago. It's now approx 60 yds from front to back (about 2/3 of current green is new: front 1/3 is the original).

willabur · 12-08-2020 1:51pm

Having a proper bucket list week of golf

Portmarnock last week
Enniscrone for an open tomorrow
Then my #1 on the bucket list Carne on Friday. I'll be on my own but the weather looks like it'll be perfect. Has anyone played carne recently? With the new layout is it a pain in the ass to find your way from green to the next tee?

frink · 12-08-2020 1:54pm

willabur wrote: »

Having a proper bucket list week of golf

Portmarnock last week
Enniscrone for an open tomorrow
Then my #1 on the bucket list Carne on Friday. I'll be on my own but the weather looks like it'll be perfect. Has anyone played carne recently? With the new layout is it a pain in the ass to find your way from green to the next tee?

This is the same list as me for this year. Played Portmarnock few weeks ago and going to Enniscrone and Carne in September.
I watched No Laying Up at Carne and it looks incredible. Let me know how you get on

DuckSlice · 12-08-2020 2:24pm

willabur wrote: »

Having a proper bucket list week of golf

Portmarnock last week
Enniscrone for an open tomorrow
Then my #1 on the bucket list Carne on Friday. I'll be on my own but the weather looks like it'll be perfect. Has anyone played carne recently? With the new layout is it a pain in the ass to find your way from green to the next tee?

Played it a couple of weeks ago. Its easy enough to find your way around. If its busy you can get caught up on the change over between the nines. Which course are you playing?

Old 18 have the far better greens than the Kilmore 9, but Kilmore 9 are nice holes IMO.

Enniscrone a great course, enjoy

FixdePitchmark · 12-08-2020 2:31pm

Anyone want to write a recent review of Portmarnock - played it about 4 years ago.

Great traditional layout - with some great holes and green complexes - but doesn't stick out in my mind versus say Enniscrone or The Island.

Even Baltray gets me more excited ?

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