Portmarnock GC Pictures – A great Irish Links!

[Scott Macpherson]

Just had a privilege to play one of the great Irish golf courses... and I'd forgotten how good it is.

The 30mph cold winds, and rain did little to detract from this true golfing experience- indeed it may have added to it!

Located near Dublin, the course sits, like TOC, on a sandy peninsula. The holes twist and turn frequently, like Muirfield, making the golfer have to constantly adjust to the wind. The obstacles are many varied. Some things are obscured from the golfer – like the fairway on the 5th– but this adds to drama. The sand dunes often run across the fairways on angles making balls run off in varying directions.   The direct line is often bunkered with small pots.

To score well, golfers need to take on the hazards. Getting closer to the fairway bunkers, often puts the golfer in the best place to attack the green. The greens are varied in size and shape. Most are raised, with the surrounds mown short. When a green is missed the ball will often run down and away- sometimes into bunkers.

My favourite holes were the beguiling 8th, 10th, 14th and 18th. Four very good par 4's.

This is a wonderful old golf Club, with a great links. I hope these photos give those who can't make it there a feeling for this special course.

scott


4th Hole


5th Hole. (Semi-blind tee shot. Aim at two tall chimneys in background)


8th Green


10th Green


12th Green (Blue flag. The yellow flag is a green on the third set of nine holes)


14th Hole


The famous 15th Hole- often played with a strong left to right wind!!! (A beach walker will find my ball someday)


18th Hole and Clubhouse

[Ally Mcintosh]

I love Portmarnock,

I hear some people bemoan that it is just a slog and lacks definition (because of the lack of imposing dunes).

I just find it a course that is grand in scale in all aspects with good strategic decisions to be made on multiple occasions throughout the round...

Hawtree has done some work there lately, the 12th green being a complete redesign... A tough short par-3 that one, often just a wedge but no easier for it...

[Greg Krueger]

Scott, thank you for the great pictures. I played it in 2006 and just love the place!

[Mike McGuire]

Love the way they maintain the turf around the bunkers. They act like black holes for any balls rolling on the ground.


Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

[David_Tepper]

Scott M. -

Thanks for the great pics.

I played Portmarnock in 1984. It was the very first course I ever played in GB&I.

DT

[Scott Macpherson]

Mike-  the bunkers gobble, gobble, gobble up any stray ball. Alcatraz must have been easier to escape from!

But joking aside, the short mown grass around the greens really added an extra dimension to the test at P.G.C. Such a maintenance regime is common on links, but the effect on a golf ball when the greens are elevated is much greater. So, it has a greater impact here than on say TOC where most greens sit lower.

With the strong winds, I elected to putt a number of shots that missed the greens.

If the course routing had a minor short coming, it would only be that the early starters will usually have to play the 1st, 2nd or 3rd hole into the raising sun.

This was our view on the 3rd tee...

[John Mayhugh]

Scott,
Thanks for posting these pics.  Pormarnock is a wonderful place.  I've only gotten to play there once and don't have too many photos and the ones I do are poorly labeled.  The second one you posted of the long guy carrying on the fifth hole is awesome.

If you've got more, I would love to see them.

[Ash Towe]

Scott,
Thanks for the pictures.  It certainley looks like my kind of course.  How does Portmarnock compare to others you have played in Ireland?

[mike_malone]

 Ally,

  What was done to #12; I find it a more fun hole than #15.

[Sean Leary]

One of the finest places in golf, IMO...

[Scott Macpherson]

Scott,
Thanks for the pictures.  It certainley looks like my kind of course.  How does Portmarnock compare to others you have played in Ireland?

Ash;

Portmarnock is one of the GREAT courses in Ireland. Probably one of the Top 3. I would be interested to hear what others think?


Scott

[Jim Nugent]

I played there once in 1997.  Thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Does 15 play more downhill than the picture shows? 

[Ash Towe]

Hi Scott,
Thanks for the reply.
Just for the sake of interest, what are the other 2.

Thanks.

[Deucie Bies]

I played Portmarnock last summer and was not that impressed.  I remember very few holes which is a telling sign to me since I usually remember every hole that I play.  A lot of people have great things to say about it so maybe I need to play it again. 

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

It recieves my vote as one of the best 10 links courses anywhere..I love it, great mixture of holes and the par 3's are superb.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks for taking the time Scott, a lovely report.  I've yet to make it there, but with a friend moving to Malahide, I shouldn't have to wait too long.


Here's a phrase you don't see too often used to describe  golf hole. 

My favourite holes were the beguiling

Would you care to add more explanation?


The lay of the land reminds me of Baltray or Deal with the lack of huge Dunes but interesting movement within the holes.  More photo's would be aprpeciated, theyre very good.

Apart from that par 3, are you often aware of the water which I believe is on 3 sides? 

[KBanks]

Bernard Darwin rendered the definitive verdict on Portmarnock when he described it as "unquestionably" one of the world's great links.

A wonderful place for certain.

Ken

[Anthony Gray]

         Tom Huckaby....Does this guy look familliar?

                                                                                          Anthony

[David_Madison]

Scott:

Great photos of a classic. I only got to play there once, on a gray windy day about ten years ago, perfect conditions to fit the mood of the place. While I only remember a few of the holes, the overall impression I still have is one of challenging and interesting shots and holes through the entire round.

[SPDB]

Another one of the 4th - this time the green-end

[Doug Wright]

Here's one of #3 looking back from the green. This mid length par 4 gently slopes right to left with the estuary all along the golfer's right off the tee and a low dune line to the left. One of my favourite holes at Portmarnock GC.

[John Mayhugh]

I played Portmarnock last summer and was not that impressed.  I remember very few holes which is a telling sign to me since I usually remember every hole that I play.  A lot of people have great things to say about it so maybe I need to play it again. 

You need to play it again.  My big regret from a single trip to Ireland was playing only a single round there. This is an extremely solid golf course with lots of risk reward that isn't immediately apparent especially when the wind is up.  I don't think photos do the course justice as many of the features just aren't that well-defined.  Some nasty little bunkers, though.  And one of the most terrifying first tee shots I've ever had.  Do you have one of it, Scott? 

I think it's a course that would get better & better with repeated plays. 

[SPDB]

You'd be hard pressed to not like a place that has a green that looks like
this (#1)

[Mike McGuire]

Mike-  the bunkers gobble, gobble, gobble up any stray ball.

Scott

The bunkers gobble up stray balls But the course is no turkey

Got to play it last year with my brother in law. A nice taxi ride from downtown Dublin. As almost everywhere in Ireland - fantastic people running the club.

[Kenny Baer]

Looks like heaven to me; I can't wait to make a trip to Ireland!!!!