[Brent Carlson]

Gents,

I have been searching the archives and appreciate the loads of useful information.

That being said - I have a question for those of you in the know.  This year we are headed to Ireland and have the following schedule:

Sunday Morning Arrive BFS - open

Monday - RCD morning

Tuesday - Dunluce morning

Wednesday - open

Thursday - Lahinch morning

Friday - Ballybunion Old & Cashen

Saturday - open

Sunday - open

Monday Morning - depart BFS

How would you fill in the blanks?  I would like to see as many good tracks as possible without overdoing it.  As you know I am really looking forward to the links courses of the Emerald Isle.

Thanks!

[Sean_A]

Gents,

I have been searching the archives and appreciate the loads of useful information.

That being said - I have a question for those of you in the know.  This year we are headed to Ireland in June and have the following schedule:

Sunday Morning Arrive BFS - open

Monday - RCD morning

Tuesday - Dunluce morning

Wednesday - open

Thursday - Lahinch morning

Friday - Ballbynion Old & Cashen

Saturday - open

Sunday - open

Monday Morning - depart BFS

How would you fill in the blanks?  I would like to see as many good tracks as possible without overdoing it.  As you know I am really looking forward to the links courses of the Emerald Isle.

Thanks!

Brent

Play Portrush Valley Links on Wednesday.  Try to get back on Ballybunion for Saturday.  Failing that, make your way toward Dublin and play The Island on Saturday and Baltray on Sunday.

Ciao

[Padraig Dooley]

Brent,

Sunday you could try one of the older parklands in Belfast like Malone, Belvoir Park, Clandeboye or Royal Belfast but am not sure about access on sunday as they could be tied up with members but a quick enquiry to each would reveal that information.

I would suggest changing monday with tuesday, you are going down to Newcastle to play RCD then up to Portrush then back down again to play Lahinch. For wednesday morning try Co. Louth and onwards travel to Lahinch.

On saturday and sunday on the way back up might be tricky as well as most of the good ones around Dublin would be tied up with members, but I would suggest travelling back to Dublin after Ballybunion and looking for a couple around there maybe a couple of Portmarnock, Royal Dublin, The Island, Portmarnock Links or down to the European which is about 45 minutes from Dublin. Again you would have to enquire about access on the weekend to each of the clubs, would imagine the morning in each would be very difficult but that there may be something in the afternoon.

[Brent Carlson]

Thank you.  I should say that those four times are fixed, as in already booked.  The RP Valley links sounds good.

[mike_malone]

 Ardglass on day one on the way to RCD.

[Padraig Dooley]

Brent

It's a long drive from Portrush to Lahinch, so maybe the Valley might be a good option for tuesday afternoon. I would look for something further south on the wednesday.

I would also suggest that even with the RCD and Portrush times already booked, look into switching them, there is a lot of travelling already in the schedule and switching them takes one length of Northern Ireland out of the journey. Visitor numbers are down and it mightn't be that difficult to change, somebody in reservations at one of the clubs could do the enquiries.

[Brent Carlson]

Thanks for the advice Padraig.  Perhaps County Sligo would make the drive more tolerable on Wednesday.  There is definitely a lot of driving but I am trying to see as much as possible in a short time.  Ardglass sounds like a winner for Sunday as many have said it is worth the time.

Brent

It's a long drive from Portrush to Lahinch, so maybe the Valley might be a good option for tuesday afternoon. I would look for something further south on the wednesday.

I would also suggest that even with the RCD and Portrush times already booked, look into switching them, there is a lot of travelling already in the schedule and switching them takes one length of Northern Ireland out of the journey. Visitor numbers are down and it mightn't be that difficult to change, somebody in reservations at one of the clubs could do the enquiries.

[Rory Connaughton]

circle across to Enniscrone on your way to lahinch and play there wednesday.  its basically straight across and then south to lahinch.

[J_ Crisham]

     If your group is adventurous and open to a lengthy drive you could head out to Belmullet and play Carne. One of the sportiest courses in the world and a hell of a bargain-it's also a hell of a drive. Of the 30 courses I've played in Ireland it is easily in my top 10. Anothe option is playing Doonbeg -very close to Lahinch.  Just some ideas,   Jack

[Carl Nichols]

I would play Portstewart before Portrush Valley -- not because it's so much better (I think it's close to a toss up), but because the front nine at Portstewart is really stunning and unique (at least compared to the courses I've played).

[Brent Carlson]

To break up the long drive to Lahinch, I have narrowed it down.  What would you choose between County Sligo, Enniscrone or Carne?  A win-win situation  ....... 

[Scott Warren]

I would join Sean Arble in urging you to make time for County Louth (Baltray).

It has two of the very best stretches of golf I have ever played (3-7 and 12-16) with some other very good holes supporting them. Magnificent green complexes, a touch of blindness. They have a dormie house, too.

[Sean Leary]

To break up the long drive to Lahinch, I have narrowed it down.  What would you choose between County Sligo, Enniscrone or Carne?  A win-win situation  ....... 

Hi Brent,

Before I made my trip I would have gone to Carne as that was the one I was most looking forward to playing of the 3. But after playing all 3 I would have Carne 3rd with the other 2 a toss up (Maybe Enniscrone slightly ahead). Carne is also much farther out of the way.

[Jud_T]

Courses I would look to add if possible:

Portmarnock
Baltray
Waterville

Courses I would look to delete:

Ballybunion Cashen

[Ally Mcintosh]

Brent

It's a long drive from Portrush to Lahinch, so maybe the Valley might be a good option for tuesday afternoon. I would look for something further south on the wednesday.

I would estimate that drive at 7 to 8 hours... unless I'm missing a shortcut...

[Tim Johnson]

Brent
My 2 cents on the 3 choices, Carne is my favorite with Enniscrone just behind it. I loved playing Sligo but I prefer the huge dunes at Carne and Enniscrone.
I would suggest Carne but it is an hour or so from Enniscrone and you basically would have to drive back towards Enniscrone and then head south to Lahinch so when factoring the driving times i would suggest Enniscrone and then head to Lahinch.

The courses you have selected are all great so you should have a great time. Lahinch has alot of pubs so it is a great town to stay over in.

Safe travels.

[Bill Brightly]

I made a similar trip last year and played Portstewart the same day as Dunlunce. I would recommend it.

I also really like Ballyliffing Old, but I'm not sure that helps get you closer to Lahinch.

Off the topic of golf, if you find yourself with a couple of hours to kill, I would recommend a black cab historical tour of Belfast. It was educational, amazing, chilling, and a little sad, but I am glad I did it.

[Padraig Dooley]

Brent

It's a long drive from Portrush to Lahinch, so maybe the Valley might be a good option for tuesday afternoon. I would look for something further south on the wednesday.

I would estimate that drive at 7 to 8 hours... unless I'm missing a shortcut...

One hour to Belfast, an hour and a half to Dublin, three hours to Limerick and an hour from there to Lahinch, so spot on Ally, with a couple of stops it puts it in the 7 to 8 hour range. The only short cut is taking the aerial route.

To break up the long drive to Lahinch, I have narrowed it down.  What would you choose between County Sligo, Enniscrone or Carne?  A win-win situation  ....... 

I would recommend going down the East Coast through Dublin rather then the West Coast, it's a long drive and the roads are much, much better the East rather than West. However the West route would have much better scenery, so there's advantages to both ways.. Given the choice between Carne, Co. Sligo, Enniscrone and Co. Louth. I would choose Co. Louth, although there isn't too much in it, all are a good day's golfing.

[Sean Leary]

I made a similar trip last year and played Portstewart the same day as Dunlunce. I would recommend it.

I also really like Ballyliffing Old, but I'm not sure that helps get you closer to Lahinch.

Off the topic of golf, if you find yourself with a couple of hours to kill, I would recommend a black cab historical tour of Belfast. It was educational, amazing, chilling, and a little sad, but I am glad I did it.

Potstewart was the surprise of our trip. Its quite good.

I actually liked it more than Carne, but I am in the minority on that

[mike_malone]

 Sunday-Ardglass
Monday--RCD 2X
Tuesday-either Portstewart or head out of town
 Wednesday--Sligo if you want a classic links or Enniscrone for a dunesy experience ( I say Sligo because you will get plenty of dunes on this trip)
Thursday-Lahinch2x
Saturday-probably afternoon--Portmarnock/Island
Sunday-whichever of Saturday you did not play then play early with Baltray in the afternoon.

   I think if anyone on your trip is going once you must try to play the best courses two times. Also, I suggest you visit Newgrange after your Baltray game.

   REST WHEN YOU GET HOME!

[Sean_A]

To break up the long drive to Lahinch, I have narrowed it down.  What would you choose between County Sligo, Enniscrone or Carne?  A win-win situation  ....... 

Its a toss up between Enniscrone and Co Sligo.  I think Co Sligo offers a lovely blend of architecture; old, newer, flat, hilly, steam.  Enniscrone is more of a modern course, but it too has a good blend of flat, hilly and perhaps a bit more funk than Co Sligo.  Carne is much more wild and wooley than either and has far less intervention from the hand of man, but I don't think its as good as the other two.  I would recommend all very highly, but for me I think Enniscrone pips it.    

Ciao

[Martin Toal]

The roads between Belfast and Dublin are now fantastically improved compared with 10 or 15 years ago. Cheers, European Union. Back then if an old woman dropped her shopping crossing the road in a small town somewhere, the traffic was paralysed in both directions. Now it is fast smooth motorways (Interstates).

Driving around the country roads of Donegal is the upper opposite, charming and fun, but not intended to get anyplace fast.

A bit late now, but starting from BFS (Belfast International aka Aldergrove), it would be quicker to head to Portrush first, then track back to RCD before heading down the road to Dublin and cutting across to Clare.

That is still the way to go from Portrush. Head for Belfast, M1 to the turnoff for Dublin, and hammer down that road at a speed which just keeps the local police (aka Gardai) from stopping you. Speed limit plus 10% is usually pretty safe.

If you want to go down the west, which is lovely but slow, County Sligo is less of a detour.

Remember to get some UK £ and some Euro.

[Bill Brightly]

Sounds you will be doing your own driving.  Spend the extra bucks and get the Garman GPS! I drove alone from Belfast to RCD, then back to Portrush/Portstewart (only way I could get on RCD) and that GPS saved my @$$ on the roundabouts! The roads are really pretty good, but the roundabouts are wild if you are American and used to overpasses...


The suggestion to play RCD twice is a good one. I guarantee you will want to go around again when you are done!

[Mark Woodger]

will be tough to get to tomorrow as their air space will be closed. 

[Ted Harris]

assuming your current golf times are set and can't be modified - here is my suggestion


Sunday - play ARDGLASS   (if you are not too tired from your flight)  it is close to RCD  - overnight at the Slieve Donard Hotel Sunday night    
                                        if you have never been to Belfast and you feel jetlagged u might consider a day of sightseeing instead of golf


Wednesday - play COUNTY SLIGO - drive to Sligo after your round at Portrush and stay near Rosses Point on Tuesday night - staying here            
                                                    will shorten your drive to Lahinch by about 50% on wednesday afternoon/evening


Saturday - play WATERVILLE midday - because you are doing 36 holes at Ballbyunion on friday it is unrealistic to drive very far on friday              
                                                       night -  I recommend staying in Tralee or preferably Killarney on friday night for ease of travel


Sunday - play DOOKS or DINGLE in the morning - stay overnight in Killarney(Dooks) or Dingle(Dingle links) for saturday night depending  

                                                                       on the course you choose - after your round make the long drive back to Belfast



one word of advice - learn how to flight your golf ball low      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aONitPxeQg&feature=related
                                                                        
                                                                      
                                                                        
                                                                        

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