48 extra hours in shannon ireland

[Mark Studer]

I will be meeting up with the other 7 in my group to tour the northwest of Ireland 48 hours after my flight gets in to Shannon. I have played Lahinch  and Ballybunion old four times each.  Should I head to Waterville for 48 hours? I have not been to the southwest yet.Any other suggestions?  Thanks for your ideas.   -Mark

[mike_malone]

 I would play Ballybunion again before going to Waterville. Maybe you could head up to the NW. and play some others not on your list.

[mike_malone]

 Mark,
     My personal preference is to play the best courses multiple times. So, I would also consider playing a round at one or two of the best places on your list before your group.

[Jack_Marr]

There are lots and lots of options. You could amble around the Castle course in Lahinch, play Adare Manor... or you could start making your way up toward the northwest. If you chose this option, you could play Connemara (Ballyconnely)- it's also in a fantastically beautiful part of the country.

Also worthwhile and probably not on your list is Strandhill golf club in Sligo.

[Mark Studer]

Mike- I agree to playing the best courses multiple times...that is why 4x ballybunion and 4x lahinch.  We are playing RCD 2x at the end of the trip.  It makes sense to not travel the 3-4 hours each way to the southwest...hit all the courses in that area on another visit.  Ballybunion is as good as I have seen and enjoyed.  Maybe just enjoy it again? Is Connemara worth the extra time there?  -Mark

[Mark Studer]

Jack- thanks for the reply.  Rosses PT . is on the list, not Strandhills in Co. Sligo.  The castle course idea intrigues me.  What makes it fun?  thanks, Mark

[mike_malone]

 Mark,
    It might help to tell us your plans, since RCD is in NE.

[Jack_Marr]

Mark - the Castle course isn't brilliant, but it won't be packed and you can play around at your leisure.

Connemara has one really good nine. There is a new nine there too that I haven't played, but it is supposed to be good.

I'd try to fit in Enniscrone if it is not on your list already. It is possibly the best links in the country. It is about one hour from Rosses Point.

Strandhill is very near Rosses. Really quirky and fun, I think so anyway.

[Geoffrey Childs]

Mark

The Northwest of Ireland is probably the most beautiful area I have ever played golf.

Highly Recommended if not already on your list

Enniscrone
Donnegal
Carne
Connemara *improved since I was there in 2000
Portsalon *improved since I was there
Ballyliffin
Rosapana *improved since I was there

All have great merit on their own and worthy of a day's time.

[Don Dinkmeyer]

I just played Waterville 2 weeks ago. Its okay but did not wow me.

Modified to say - particularly because of the distance, jet lag, etc - W'ville is not a great 48 hr choice. If you've not had the pleasure of driving over there, yet, that would seal the deal. (Also, if you dont have a car rez yet, suggest you nail that down quickly. Rentals at SNN are super-easy with the lots a 1 minute walk from the counters.)

Strong recommendation for Carne and Enniscrone, sorta in the same area north of Shannon. Although if i had 48 hrs i would probably camp out at Ballybunion - i can't get enough of that course.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I would think with the limited time you have before they get there you would try for something within 4 to 5 hours drive of the airport which is not already on your trip agenda. The roads and driving times in Ireland are notoriously bad (narrow) and slow. I like the Connemara isf you can get there within that time and you are young enough that jet lag is not an issue. Otherwise Doonbeg, Lhinch or Ballybunion old for me. I did like Traylee a lot. I would not waste the time to go to Waterville except the drive around Kerry is stunningly beautiful and the drive around Dingle is none to shabby either. You alomst have the big sur in California feeling with a road only big enough for a Suburban to drive on. The golf, while good, is not the reason to go there.

[Jason Topp]

You will enjoy any of the destinations listed by others.  Based on my one trip to the Southwest, I would consider your highest priority and choose based on that.  Towards the end of the trip, we were pretty beat up by the wind, so you may want to consider an easier course.

For an easier course in a fantastic location with a relatively low price consider Dooks (35 miles from Shannon).  6000 yards, pretty easy course but interesting holes.

For the setting, I would consider Old Head. (100 miles) The golf course is a bit of a disappointment but it is a spactacular place.  We finished our trip with 36 holes there on the final day of our trip and it was a memorable last day.  Perhaps others can confirm or deny, but I recall hearing that the wind there is generally lighter than in other locations.

For the drive and challenge - Waterville.  Waterville is a 135 mile drive from the Shannon airport, and for us it was the windiest course, but has some very memorable holes on the back 9 and was by far the toughest test we faced.

For a fun experience - Tralee. (85 miles) The back nine is outstanding and the front better than average.

We played Dromoland Castle and I was pretty disappointed (although the castle was cool).  I also did not like Doonbeg (38 miles) based on one round, but would try it again.

I would double the drive time you would expect for the mileage in the States.

[Jason Topp]

This is a useful link for driving distances:

http://www.traleegolfclub.com/newgolf/indexmwhite.htm

Click on the location link and there is a chart with distances between most major locations in Southwest Ireland

[Bill Gayne]

I went to Waterville one time and I left feeling ambivalent about the course. I hear/read others expressing similar feelings. There's only two possible reasons that I can come up with: 1. People play the course coming or going from Ballybunion and it doesn't equal Ballybunion. Therefore it's held to extreme standards and unfairly denigrated. 2. It's simply a hard long golf course.

Am I missing some weakness in the golf course? The setting is beautiful, all of the holes are solid, the club and clubhouse is low key and very laid back, built over very good links land, well maintained, and the walk and pace of play is reasonable. The only negative I can say about the golf course is the pond on the par three but if that's the only fault it's nitpicking.

Any other thoughts?

[Tim_Weiman]

Mark,

Go to Dooks - all 6,000 yards of it - for the antithesis of modern championship golf. Try to catch up with Rose, a lovely woman who serves as club secretary who grew up on the golf course.

Experience the famous 13th......or whatever the hole is now numbered......a 150 yards par 3 you can hit the middle of the green and still three or four putt....if they've managed to cut the greens recently.

Stick around for a nice meal......and last but not least, gaze across Dingle Bay at Inch......the greatest undeveloped site in golf......about which I once told Mike Keiser:

"even if there is a 99% chance.....no a 100% chance.....it will never get permitted....you've got to spend a day on site just to fantasize what it could be".

[Mark Studer]

Thanks so much for the quick replies.  The scheduled trip is Connemara, Carne, Enniscrone, Rosses Pt.(Co.Sligo), Ballyliffin(Glashedy Links),Royal Portrush,RCD 2x.  The driving table is a great resource. I am leaning toward Dooks and Ballybunion Old during my extra time .   I will let you know how it goes. Please feel free to add any comments or suggestions. Thanks, Mark