The Links Thread

There's obviously no right and wrong in relation to your opinion of a course. But you're definitely wrong in relation to narin and portnoo!

I haven't played all that many top courses, but this is definitely my favourite of those I've played. Such fun to play.

I just didn't experience it that way. I didn't find it silly at all - I loved that par 3 over the water, followed by a driveable par 4 massively downhill and then a par 4 over a hill. Was it a short par 3 after that too? And I played terribly, so it wasn't a case of me loving the course because I played great.

It was very windy too and sand wasn't an issue for us. To me it was just interesting shots required all the way around. While at the same time you could lash a driver down some holes.

I joke about you being wrong obviously. We played Portsalon the next day which I think is generally regarded as a better course, but for me there was no comparison. It's interesting to hear how different people experience different courses. I wonder why? Is it to do with their own game, how they felt on the day, the views, the weather, the course they're used to, the tees they played off, how they played? There's probably loads of factors at play.

If I had played Portsalon first I think I'd have walked off thinking it was one of the best courses I've ever played. But instead I walked off it underwhelmed because of Narin the day before. And I played really well in Portsalon. Low 30 point round, but in a huge wind. From my current handicap with the new system I think it would have been 37 or so.

There were two groups of us those days and I was in the second group each time. The first day we had rapturous applause and cheering on the 18th green from the first group. I expected the same the second, but the lads were watching us like it was the Open and they didn't want to put us off. It turned out one of the lads had bladed a wedge through the 19th and hit the clubhouse 😂

€65 now. Played it back in late April. Absolutely incredible place

I havent played there in a couple of years or maybe more, which is shocking considering i live less than an hour away from it!!

Are they doing food in the clubhouse midweek?

Yes, the owner of Belleek Castle is now running the bar and restaurant so it's open every day

I was just looking at the Map there to see whats next door and zoomed out a little. Its ridiculous the amount of good courses in close proximity to each other.

Royal Dublin/Portmarnock/Portmarnock Links/The Island/St Annes/Corballis.

Only played it the once, with a member also. Its in my top 3. Its definitly an easier links and very easy to get a score going i found. I was +7 for my round and could have been much better.

I thought the greens were fantastic and some of the best I've ever played on. The 14th i would love another crack at as i pulled my tee shot and made a balls of it.

I think its fairly reasonable for a green fee too.

Not sure what’s classified as a blind shot, is the approach on the 3rd not a blind shot, hitting your second to the green (if long enough) or laying up for your third……

The 10th is blind if down the left or short, if down the right fairway or middle it’s grand.

St Patricks on Saturday and Old Tom on Sunday. And a feed of pints inbetween. Can't wait!

I don't know the cost. My friend booked it and I'm guessing will ask me for money at some point. Everyone else is staying there, so I'd say it's probably around the 65e per round.

I'm just staying one night, so am across the bay.

Played too, greens are nice and fast and the rough has also been changed since last year, you need to be straight. Not a good day at the office. As a matter of interest, which holes did you find bizarre?

Played the three courses at Rosapenna recently. There's something fundamentally not right with St. Patricks at the moment in that the fairways are very patchy and scuffy. The greens aren't great either. The 5th and 14th greens seemed to have been recently relaid. Grass growth seems to be poor everywhere. I hope they find a solution soon because it's a fantastic course. Played it last September and it was in better condition then.

I would very much doubt that they're booked out every day. Not on the evidence of when we were there either last week or last year. Only 5-6 groups seemed to be on any of the courses at any time.