Why not the pitch and-putts in Ireland ? Or other ideas on the way to Lahinch?

[mike_malone]

 I'm having a blast developing a trip to Ireland for late Sept.

   Lahinch is the 19th, Ballybunion 20th, Cashen 21st. Then I want to go up to Rosses Point, Enniscrone, and Carne with Strandhill and Nairn/Portnoo as other possibilities.


 Instead of trying to do Lahinch in the afternoon of arrival day, I was thinking of the pitch and-putts in Lahinch and Doolin. I was in the area for Christmas a few years ago and strolled  on them with one of my daughters.

  I would think this would be a fun intro to Irish golf for first timers.

   Any thoughts?

[Tony_Muldoon]

MAyday I'll be at Lahinch at Easter and my brother has said he won't talk to me if don't play the Pitch n' Putt.

So I figure play it and don't admit it - best of both worlds.

There was a thread last autumn on P&P's and it gave a link to an association and website.

I was going to ask on here if anyone has played Spanish Point?  Mr Doak didn't like it but has it changed at all?

And as this theme is Ireland has anyone ever played St Anne's in Co Dublin.  It shares Bull Island with Royal Dublin and was redone by Eddie Hackett in the 1980's? Any views?

[dsilk]

i recall a thread that discussed "short" courses- many involving clubs/ pubs in close proximity..
does anyone have a keyword or topic to search the archives with??

[jeffwarne]

Tony,
I played Spanish Point.
After flying all night and then playing 18 at Doonbeg (the entire back nine in a wind driven downpour sans raingear),we pulled up to the empty Spanish Point clubhouse for a looksee,to dry out, and perhaps a pint or three.

After multiple pints we announced we were going out to play, much to the astonishment of the proprieter who wandered to the doorway to watch us tee off in the absolute downpour.
Amazingly we all hit our best drives of the day.

It's simple,old fashioned golf with a few memorable holes.Which means they must be quite good as I was having trouble remembering my name.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks Jeff it has possibly the worst web site ever.

http://www.spanishpointgolf.com/

Tom Doak doesn't mention it but I believe it's only 9 holes. Yet the website says 25 euro's a round and 20 for nine holes- at the managment's discretion only.  You can't tell from the website how many holes there are.  Anyway it being Ireland I think I should be able to get 9 holes in of a morning pretty sharpish and then off to breakfast.  I'll give it a go.

[jeffwarne]

9 holes

[Scott Whitley]

I've played both Spanish Point and St. Anne's.  Both are unpretentious (Spanish Point in the extreme) and a lot of fun.  St. Anne's is rather flat but has a few memorable links holes and a very friendly and welcoming membership.  They've upgraded it recently -- changed some green complexes and whatnot, but did not alter the routing.  Spanish Bay is an old-fashioned, short nine-holer through some rambunctious dunes.  

Neither will win any awards for their web site, that is for sure.

[mike_malone]

How about Kilrush?

[Bill Gayne]

There's a pitch and putt next to the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point.

Spanish Point Golf Club is worth a play if in the area once.

Kilrush is a solid parkland golf course.

Kilkee Golf Club is a cliff top golf course about 15 minutes south of Doonbeg on the coast road. Incredible views on three of the holes. The rest of the course is fairly rudimentary. Kilkee is delightful town and very picturesque.

http://www.kilkeegolfclub.ie/

[Padraig Dooley]

There's a pitch and putt course just outside Lahinch on the way to Liscannor.

When I was up in Lahinch a group of between 8 and 12 used to go out there at lunch time and play. It was great fun. The more the merrier.

[Scott Whitley]

I think Spanish Point would be the best option (to the original query).  Kilkee has three or four good holes but almost all the rest is extremely plain with no links characteristics.  

[mike_malone]

I can't believe I said putt-putts, sorry! I meant pitch and putts , of course. I think we may try Spanish Point and Connemara Isles if possible for nine holers What of Achill Island?

[Matthew Hunt]

I was 3 under after 7 in the 9-Hole P&P in Newcastle (This would have been joint as the unofficial course record) but I chocked and finished 2 over

I havn't played on it since, but might play on Saterday.

[Ally Mcintosh]

I can't believe I said putt-putts, sorry! I meant pitch and putts , of course. I think we may try Spanish Point and Connemara Isles if possible for nine holers What of Achill Island?

mayday... stay clear of achill island for golf but do play mulranny links just past newport before you get to achill sound

[Ally Mcintosh]

And as this theme is Ireland has anyone ever played St Anne's in Co Dublin.  It shares Bull Island with Royal Dublin and was redone by Eddie Hackett in the 1980's? Any views?

tony, st annes is not bad at all... it is on a very tight stretch of land though making it a very tight course... the run of 11 to 16 are up and down as well meaning safety can be an issue... the 8th and 18th are cracking par 4's and the 17th is a wonderful one shotter... all in all, a second tier links but one not to be sniffed at

[Brad Tufts]

Ironically enough, in my one trip to Ireland, I played Mulranny Links.  We had stopped at a gas station high above the course on the way from Connemara to Westport, and we saw the livestock-covered course down by the bay.

My brother and I played, paying by honor box and signing the guest book in the deserted trailer/clubhouse.  After several pints before, and a long nap in the car, I shot a 2-under 33,  even with a bogey at #8.  The greens are surrounded by barbed wire (with a latched gate for entry) to keep the cows and sheep off.  They create some interesting short-game strategies:  Do I chip under or pitch over, or try to go in between?

As for great holes, there aren't really any that specifically stand out.  The ground is gently rolling with a few dunesy landforms.  A very nice Irish local golf experience in a beautiful spot.  I have heard there used to be 18 holes on this common land at one point, but much of that land seems to have been consumed by marsh and animals.  

I actually bought a nice old postcard on ebay of the Mulranny Links!

[mike_malone]

 Ally,

   Thanks for this idea. We play County Sligo on the last "playing" day at 8:45. I think this could work on our way to Galway City for the last night. I was also alerted to Connemara Isles as a possibility.


   How about this trip I put together without a travel agent.

    Day 1 Lahinch--p/p before dinner.
    Day 2 Lahinch-- Spanish Point on the way to Ballybunion
    Day 3 Ballybunion at 10:30--Should we try for Tralee after?
    Day 4 Cashen followed by long drive.
    Day 5 Enniscrone-36
    Day 6 Carne 36
    Day 7 County Sligo in the morning, with a 9 holer on the
                  way to Galway City.
    Day 8--Leave.

       The dates are Sept.18 Day 1 and Sept. 25 Day 8.


    I am open to ideas of where to stay for the three nights in the NW. I am thinking of Enniscrone or Ballina.


    BTW    I need to get to 8 golfers for this trip and I have four firm now. Let me know if interested.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Ally,

   Thanks for this idea. We play County Sligo on the last "playing" day at 8:45. I think this could work on our way to Galway City for the last night. I was also alerted to Connemara Isles as a possibility.


   How about this trip I put together without a travel agent.

    Day 1 Lahinch--p/p before dinner.
    Day 2 Lahinch-- Spanish Point on the way to Ballybunion
    Day 3 Ballybunion at 10:30--Should we try for Tralee after?
    Day 4 Cashen followed by long drive.
    Day 5 Enniscrone-36
    Day 6 Carne 36
    Day 7 County Sligo in the morning, with a 9 holer on the
                  way to Galway City.
    Day 8--Leave.

       The dates are Sept.18 Day 1 and Sept. 25 Day 8.


    I am open to ideas of where to stay for the three nights in the NW. I am thinking of Enniscrone or Ballina.


    BTW    I need to get to 8 golfers for this trip and I have four firm now. Let me know if interested.

thanks for the offer mayday but i wouldn't be able to commit so it'll have to be a "no" for now...

...if you're adamant about staying in the same place in the NW for three nights, then i'd go for enniscrone, mainly because it's in the middle (carne to the west, co.sligo to the east) but also because it's a lovely village atmosphere rather than the bigger towns of sligo or ballina... however, you'll have a fair bit of travelling to the courses so 36 in a day is quite ambitious for the carne day...