News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.

Pages: [1]   Go Down

Jonathan Cummings

  • Total Karma: -4
Kilrush & Kilkee
« on: April 01, 2009, 06:54:32 AM »
Anybody played these two courses near Doonbeg?  Are they worth a look if in the area??

Thanks,
JC
Logged

Ally Mcintosh

  • Total Karma: 7
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2009, 07:01:13 AM »
Haven't played either of these two... Kilrush is a parkland course I believe... Not sure how well it is thought of... Kilkee is a clifftop course right next to the Atlantic... Again, not sure how well it is thought of...

Perhaps they are what this website might call third tier courses (out of perhaps four tiers)... But perhaps I am wrong.
Logged

Sean Walsh

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2009, 08:49:49 AM »
In 2003 i was backpacking around ireland with my clubs i managed to make it as far as kilkee on the way to doonbeg and booked into the hostel (most of my budget went on the golf).  I think I was the only person in the hostel that night and got talking to the female owner.  She saw the clubs and told me her husband was the president of the local club and I would be able to go out and play there for free the next day. 

I then went to have tea at the nearby pub.  1 pint turned into 10 and ended up shutin with the bar man, a high ranking policeman from texas and another local.  Needless to say i was in no state the next day to play golf so I missed the chance to play the course.   

Kilkee is a great little town especially at the time of year i was there right at the end of the summer/early autumn season.  The course is on the imposing cliffs north of town (or so i was told).

Logged

Jonathan Cummings

  • Total Karma: -4
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2009, 10:49:39 AM »
No one on the DG has played these?  Tom D - what do your connections say?  I'm intrigued by Kilkee and will likely play it in June.

JC
« Last Edit: April 01, 2009, 05:28:42 PM by Jonathan Cummings »
Logged

mike_malone

  • Total Karma: -2
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2009, 10:55:10 AM »
 Tom Coyne started his walk around Ireland with Kilkee.
Logged
AKA Mayday

Dan Herrmann

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2009, 04:37:38 PM »
Sean,
You've gotta do an "In my opinion" that discusses your Ireland trekking trip with a golf bag on your back.  This sounds like a great story waiting to be told!

Here's a picture of Kilkee:
Logged

Greg Krueger

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2009, 05:34:10 PM »
I played Kilkee in 2005. It's a fun course with some incredible views. The day I played it we had sustained 35 mph winds with some rain mixed in every now and then. The architecture is pretty basic, flat greens (although some had some pitch, mostly back to front) and very basic bunkering. I had a heck of a round shooting 76 in those conditions! While not a great course architectural wise, it was a fantastic day and I would recommend it if in the area or if you are concerned about $$.
Logged

paul westland

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2009, 06:25:42 PM »
Jonathan.  Kilkee opens with 5 or 6 holes that play out onto a rugged, exposed thumb of clifftop; these are the oldest routed holes on the course. Thrilling experience in the full force winds.  The turf is decidedly not sandy links, but is nonetheless tolerably springy!  What follows these openers is a letdown, but I would still revisit, given the great value and stunning views.  My scorecard from 2000 references the back nine as Eddie Hackett designed; he did not have much to work with.  Mr Richard Phinney may have some insight.
Kilkeeans did praise Kilrush, though I never saw it... 
Logged

Bill Gayne

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2009, 06:38:41 PM »
I've played Kilkee and as described there are three or four cliff top holes which are only remarkable for the views. The holes away from the cliff top were fairly rudimentary with a low maintenance budget. It's enjoyable. If you're looking for an inexpensive round it's an option. I think I would go to Spanish Point before Kilkee.

Kilrush is a parkland course. I've never pllayed the course but know a couple of members and they speak highly of the course. Based on their comments, I would try to go to Kilrush over Kilkee.

What's your objective in playing these courses? I can't imagine your traveling to Ireland for the architectural meirts of Kilkee or Kilrush.
Logged

Jonathan Cummings

  • Total Karma: -4
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2009, 09:05:37 PM »
Bill - I've played what seems like everywhere in Ireland (150+ courses) over the last 20 years, the big ones I've played many times.  I'll be in Ennis for a few days in June and just looking for someplace I haven't seen.  JC
Logged

Sean Walsh

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: Kilrush & Kilkee
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2009, 09:28:48 PM »
Dan,

I should add the qualification that I travelled from Dublin to Kerry and up the west coast by either bus or hitching.  I had it all organised well before hand and decided it was going to be very difficult to get to Carne, Enniscrone and the courses north of there without use of a car so rented a car once i got to Galway.

I did keep something of a diary so if i were to pull my finger out I could put something reasonably accurate into print.

From a Golf Archy perspective it was before I had joined (possibly before I had even encountered this site) so my notes on courses are more involved in likes dislikes than an architectural critique.  FYI during the trip I played The Island, County Louth, Druids Glen, The European Club, Dooks, Waterville, Ceann Sibeal, Tralee, Doonbeg, Lahinch, Carne, Enniscrone, County Sligo, Ballyliffin (Glashedy & Old) and just about circumnavigted the island.  Wexford would be one of the only coastal counties I didn't visit.

Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up