Is Ardglass the Best Kept Secret in Ireland

[Bill_McBride]

I enjoyed a round at Ardglass last September the day after the Walker Cup.  We were two couples and it was fun.  I thought there were maybe half a dozen really good holes, mostly along the ocean, a few good ones inland, and some pretty doggy ones in the back and forth area in the center of the course.

The clubhouse was pretty much closed on the Monday we were there but it is definitely a castle!

[Tom_Doak]

If it is, it's a secret because the people in Northern Ireland are lying.  I've thought about going to see it a couple of times, only to be discouraged from doing so by different people (members and caddies) at Royal County Down.

[Rory Connaughton]

Played Ardglass last week.  I thought the stretch of 1-13 was very enjoyable with holes 11 and 12 standing out.  On their own, most of the holes are very benign with the wind providing the only real defense.  It is hard to beat the scenic quality of the course and at 34 pounds the price is right.  Certainly not a course to build a trip around but it makes for an entertaining afternoon if you are in or around Newcastle.

[Sam Maryland]

If it is, it's a secret because the people in Northern Ireland are lying.  I've thought about going to see it a couple of times, only to be discouraged from doing so by different people (members and caddies) at Royal County Down.

first off, I've done a ton of caddying in my day...

...but the last thing I'm going to do is rely on the opinion of a caddy on something like this.  and I can also probably construct a case that RCD member's are less than arm's length when giving an opinion on Ardglass.

while we were there we played:

RCD (twice)
Royal Portrush (Dunluce twice, Valley once)
Castlerock
Rosapenna (both)
Portstewart
Ardglass

not a bad lineup...

...we all thought Ardglass was delightful and would definitely go back again in order to see the whole course.

SM

[Doug Wright]

Ardglass was our 10th round in 6 days and damned if we didn't get rained out on the 6th hole (actually it was lightning, just rain we'd have kept on)...we were very disappointed not to be able to see the rest of the course - what we did see we thought was fantastic and we really enjoyed it.

Sam, we played Ardglass two weeks ago as the morning round before RCD. You got the very best of Ardglass before you were lightninged out. Those first 5 holes are excellent. After that, 11-13 are quite good holes but that's about it. A lot of flat back and forth par 4s with uninteresting greens and greensites. I do like the atmosphere at Ardglass, a small town club that is laid back. And it was one of the few "affordable" rounds we played over there. I'll post a few photos later.

[Anthony Gray]

  Idid not get to play because of lower back trouble, but I think I remember cannons on the first tee. Is that correct?

[Bill_McBride]

  Idid not get to play because of lower back trouble, but I think I remember cannons on the first tee. Is that correct?

Pace of play issue?

[Bryan Izatt]

No cannons that I recall, but I was only there once.  But then I don't recall any pace of play issues either.

[Matthew Hunt]

Tom, thats strange because most caddies/members I know would say its one of the best in the area.

[jeffwarne]

Ardglass is a wondeful course.
It has multiple good holes and a few great ones-and a couple that are a bit dull.
the scenery is spectacular and it's a charming place-not trampled by busloads of visitors.

The first hole is one of the best starting holes in golf.
I'd put it above #1 at Machrahanish