The Links Thread

PARlance

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Asking for a friend.

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

Yes, you swine.

Ally McIntosh

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

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

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

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

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

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

Johnny_Fontane

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

Any good rate for The Island - GUI or Open ?

See some new holes on the layout.

Johnny_Fontane

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

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

jams100

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

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

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

Whiplash85

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

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

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

redzerdrog

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

ChippingSodbury

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

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

FixdePitchmark

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

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

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

jarrieta

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ?