Doonbeg on a Fresh Morning

[Padraig Dooley]

It has been five years since I played it but I recall being disappointed with the course.

I'm not sure I can defend that impression.  I thought the course looked terrific before I got there.  When there, the course seemed like it had great design ideas in a terrific setting.  Nonetheless, I found the course to be awkward but not in a good way.  If others had that same reaction I would love to hear their explanations because I do not have one. 

Just to get an idea, was that before or after the touch-ups?

I know the course had been changed some.  I do not know how much.

Jason

My Father has played there every year since it opened and maintains it's get better every year.
Definitely at the beginning there was a lot of mixed reports about the course. I personally don't think too many would be disappointed anymore.
There is some awkwardness with crossing of fairways to get from a couple of greens to the next tees,
and they lost a lot of really good land with the snail issue, if that hadn't come up, I think it would have been better again.

[Padraig Dooley]

Padraig

Thanks for the pix.  Doonbeg is one of those courses I don't give much thought to because its so expensive.  Also, like Jeff says its close to Lahinch and already know that is a winner if I can only splash for one course.  The big criticism I have heard is that the course is just too difficult with a breeze about - not enough space to cope with the dreaded double 20 (20mph and 20 handicap).  What say you?

Ciao

Sean, currently Doonbeg have an offer running until the end of march for groups of 8,
246 euro gets you two nights accommodation, breakfast, an evening meal and two rounds of golf.
It's not expensive all the time!

As for difficulty, it's not overly narrow. It's widened since it opened and rough has been cut back.

Unless I am misreading their website you can book a party of four for two nights accommodations, two rounds of golf, breakfast and one dinner for 222 euros each through 30 April. This is an outstanding package!

Yes Michael, we had a similar package and it is outstanding value.

[Padraig Dooley]

Padraig - yes, thanks for sharing.

I have heard from several that the conditioning of the course has been really inconsistent.  Sometimes it can be great and sometimes it has had some disease problems.  It is tough to take the risk on the green fees not knowing if you are going to be playing off dirt and not able to putt.  It is quite a bit more expensive, normally, than the close ones - Lahinch, BB, Tralee, Waterville, Dooks, etc.   But the course pictures look fantastic.  I'm pretty sure it isn't any harder than RCD or Portrush. 

Shane, they had some problems with the greens early last year, lost some during the winter and are protecting them at the moment but they have the best fairways I've ever played here in the winter. As for difficulty Lahinch, RCD and Portrush would be harder.

[Jack_Marr]

I heard clubs like Doonbeg are open to offers when it comes to greenfees.

I have only looked at the course, and thought it looked wonderful. They opening hole fits the eye perfectly.

[Jack_Marr]

I played here a few weeks ago and got great weather. It's an out and in format, and there were no cross winds, which made it easier.

I'd heard some criticism of the course so after every hole I was expecting to come across a bad hole or a pretty average one as I made my way to the next tee, but it never happened. I'd say there are no bad holes on the course.

They've done work on the greens, I believe, but don't know what exactly they've done. Anyway, I was amazed how good the course was. And it's not a monster in terms of length, so it should be manageable in higher winds.

The biggest surprise is the holes on the flatter part of the property, where they were forced to leave the high dunes because of the snails. They had lots and lots of character. Personally, I'd prefer Lahinch, but I'd prefer Lahinch to most places, so it's not a criticism. A real top tier course, in my opinion.

By the way, there was an article in the Irish Times about how they well they have handled the snail conservation. The population has expanded significantly, and now there's more here than in any other site.

[Jim Tang]

Padraig -

Outstanding pics!  I played Doonbeg for the first time last July.  I was well aware of the beating that Doonbeg generally takes, but I couldn't find much wrong with the course.

Jack is right, it won't kill you with distance, with the back tees clocking in at 6,911 yards, and the next set at 6,361 yards.  I thought there was pretty good width on most of the holes, certainly wider than Royal County Down or Ballybunion.  The course was in fantastic shape when I saw it.  There are many risk/reward type holes, maybe 4 blind shots during the round.  You get some wonderful views of the sea, with many holes playing just above the beach, and the dunes are enormous.  The inland holes are also very good, in my opinion.

Some of the bunkering is rather rugged, especially the fairway bunkers, while other bunkers have sod wall faces and are oval in nature.  As noted, the 12th green has a bunker in the middle of it, which, I think is silly.

The walk from the 17th green to the 18th tee, is odd.  You must walk down a path, cross over the 1st fairway, perhaps 80 yards in front of the 1st green, and then on to the 18th tee box.  If you're not careful, you could get beaned from play on the 1st.  It's probably about a 100 yard walk.  However, the 18th tee box sit just above the beach, at the base of the dunes, with the ocean to your right, the entire length of the hole.  The 18th is a great finishing hole.

I played Lahinch the day before, and liked Lahinch better.  But, that isn't a slight against Doonbeg, since Lahinch is one of the best courses I've ever had the privledge of playing.  I would say Doonbeg is a notch below Lahinch.  Doonbeg is expensive, but well worth a look if in the area.  I had a ton of fun there, and it was one of the best days of my 10 day trip.

[Matt_Ward]

Padraig:

Thanks for the pics and info.

I played Doonbeg not long after it opened and liked the course a good bit.

The par-3 14th is one of the best short holes I have ever played -- Just a thrill when the wind is howling and the pin is flush back. Takes a real solid shot to get there.

Curious to know why the hole was not open when you played it recently.

When people browbeat Doonbeg because it's not as good as Lahinch (which I agree) -- they need to realize how high Lahinch is in the overall assessment of courses worldwide. Doonbeg gets hammered because of the Norman connection because the "hold your noses up in the air crowd" here have never really given Norman has rightful due with a few of his layouts.

Padraig, you mentioned Dunluce / Portrush and RCD being tougher -- might it be because they keep the fairway widths very narrow with punishing haylike grass just off the edges. To Doonbeg's credit the overall width adds to the strategic elements when playing there in my mind.

[Jack_Marr]

The 14th is closed during the winter because of the traffic around the teeing area, I was told. Looks a quirky hole.

There's a great short hole there too, which reminded me of one in Lahinch, albeit a lot shorter. I think it's the fifth, with the green out by the sea.

[Terry Lavin]

Looks like highly addictive links golf porn...

[Padraig Dooley]

Padraig:

Thanks for the pics and info.

I played Doonbeg not long after it opened and liked the course a good bit.

The par-3 14th is one of the best short holes I have ever played -- Just a thrill when the wind is howling and the pin is flush back. Takes a real solid shot to get there.

Curious to know why the hole was not open when you played it recently.

When people browbeat Doonbeg because it's not as good as Lahinch (which I agree) -- they need to realize how high Lahinch is in the overall assessment of courses worldwide. Doonbeg gets hammered because of the Norman connection because the "hold your noses up in the air crowd" here have never really given Norman has rightful due with a few of his layouts.

Padraig, you mentioned Dunluce / Portrush and RCD being tougher -- might it be because they keep the fairway widths very narrow with punishing haylike grass just off the edges. To Doonbeg's credit the overall width adds to the strategic elements when playing there in my mind.

Matt, yes one of the reasons Portrush and RCD are tougher is because of the hay and narrowness of the fairways, also the par 3's are tougher e.g. 6 and 14 in Portrush are as difficult as any par 3 and the 4th at RCD is no pushover and if you compare them to the longest par 3s 8,16 at Doonbeg they are much more difficult.

[Brian Phillips]

The par-3 14th is one of the best short holes I have ever played -- Just a thrill when the wind is howling and the pin is flush back. Takes a real solid shot to get there.

When people browbeat Doonbeg because it's not as good as Lahinch (which I agree) -- they need to realize how high Lahinch is in the overall assessment of courses worldwide. Doonbeg gets hammered because of the Norman connection because the "hold your noses up in the air crowd" here have never really given Norman has rightful due with a few of his layouts.

Matt,

For what it is worth I think you are absolutely SPOT ON with your assessment of the 14th and of the course.  It is in my top 5 of courses I enjoy playing in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

I enjoy the width and I enjoy the humour in the design.

Cheers,

Brian

[Thomas McQuillan]

I was tossing up if a drive to the west coast was worth the effort when I do my Ireland/Northern Ireland trip.

The answer appears to be yes!

It,s at least a 6 hour drive from the north and thats without traffic.

[Brian Phillips]

I was tossing up if a drive to the west coast was worth the effort when I do my Ireland/Northern Ireland trip.

The answer appears to be yes!

It,s at least a 6 hour drive from the north and thats without traffic.

It is that to get in the area of Lahinch and the like anyway. Scott, it is worth the trip.  The missus will like the area as well if she enjoys walking.

[Ash Towe]

A question for the guys who have played in that part of Ireland.  If Lahinch is the best course in the area and Ballybunion is a given, is Doonbeg the next best? Or is my area too big?

[Matt_Ward]

Ash:

To be totally honest -- minus the 2nd hole at Bally - I don't think much of the course until you get ready to play one's approach at the 6th. Plenty of people simply give the early holes at Bally too much of a pass in my mind.

Doonbeg suffers because of what people think about Norman. The course is much more player-friendly - especially with howling wind. Play RCD and Dunluce / Portrush in such a wind and the overly narrow elements is a recipe for re-loading time after tiime.

[Ash Towe]

Matt,
Good to hear from you.
It's interesting about Norman, in Australia his courses are certainley held in higher esteem.  I think this is due to the influence of Bob Harrison, though I believe they have recently parted company.

[George Pazin]

Here's a slew o threads from the good ole days:

Played Doonbeg on Saturday

Doonbeg?- Don't Bother!!!!

Doonbeg

Doonbeg

Doonbeg and neighbours

Most of the pix are gone, but some thoughts remain.

[Bill Gayne]

A question for the guys who have played in that part of Ireland.  If Lahinch is the best course in the area and Ballybunion is a given, is Doonbeg the next best? Or is my area too big?

Ash,

The area is not too big. You could easily stay in one of the coastal west Clare towns such as Spanish Point, Doonbeg, or Kilkee and travel between the three courses. To get to Ballybunion you would have to take a ferry across the Shannon River. It makes the drive kind of fun.

I'm a big fan all three courses and the people of West Clare are the friendliest that I have ever met.

[Ash Towe]

Bill,

Thanks for the reply and comment.

[Jim Tang]

Ash -

I stayed in Lahinch for 3 days, and Doonbeg and Ballybunion were very easy to reach by car, Doonbeg, especially. From Lahinch, it's a straight shot, down the coast, maybe 45 minutes by car.  Lahinch is one cool little town.

Scott -

I did the drive from Portrush to Lahinch in one shot, after having played 18 at Portrush that morning.  As mentioned, the drive is about 6 hrs.  It was a grind, with the last hour or so having the most difficult driving.  If I did it again, I would try to find something to play between the two courses and break the journey up over two days.

By the way, I had a GPS navi in my rental car and it was the best money I spent on the trip.  If driving a lot, you've got to have one.

[Sven Nilsen]

Two ways to look at this course:

1.  If it were not down the road from two world class venues, how would it be regarded?

Perhaps Terry's comment of it looking like links golf porn sums up the answer to this question the best, with a caveat that Doonbeg is a variation on links golf.  Its a tremendously fun golf course in a world class setting that had a few roadblocks to overcome in its development.  Those roadblocks caused the final design to be different from what the developers and architect first imagined when they saw the property, namely a course that does not play entirely through the dunes, but has a mix of dunes holes and farm/flatland holes.  The dual nature of the course may seem disjunctive to a first time player, but I would suspect most would enjoy the mix of holes and the varying strategies required, whether in the dunes or not.

While the par threes may not equal the world class demands of the 6th and 14th at Portrush or the 4th at RCD, they are not pushovers by any means.  The 14th is as hard a short one-shotter as can be found, and the 12th is a greatly under appreciated hole.  The only par three I found to be lacking was the 9th, which seemed bland in comparison to the rest.

The fours and fives present a great mix of holes, some with elevation changes, most with great green complexes and all with a good degree of difficulty when the wind is howling.  One of the aspects of Doonbeg I enjoyed the most was its variety, you never seem to be playing the same type of holes for more than a two hole stretch at any time.  The routing contributes to this feeling by weaving its way to and from the ocean and in and out of the dunes at differing points.  So in one sense, perhaps the snails and grey dunes helped create a course that offers a variety not seen in its brethren.

I think a comparison between Doonbeg and Sebonack can be made in light of the accolades given to each of their neighbors and how the two newer courses have risen in the shadows of legends.

2.  Is it hurt by its proximity to Lahinch and Ballybunion?

Yes and no.  Yes - it will never win a beauty pageant against the other two.  No - why wouldn't you add in Doonbeg to a west coast swing, especially when a 36 hole day of Lahinch and Doonbeg can be followed with 36 at BB.  Or, if you have the time, play 36 at each and make three days of it.

Two additional thoughts:

1.  If Doonbeg were down the road from the European Club, which would get played first?  
2.  In response to an earlier comment, the fifth hole does play as a mini version of the sixth at Lahinch, and each bringing the player back to the ocean in a dramatic fashion, although the hole at Lahinch is by far the stronger of the two.

[Matt_Ward]

Sven:

Excellent point -- place Doonbeg on the east coast with The European Club or away from the fanfare that Lahinch and Bally get and the overall feelings would likely change.

I still believe the name "Norman" doesn't help matters with the pure links crowd.