[Thomas Dai]

But as with all links courses, get them in July & August and they can be tough - worst two months to play on a links

Very perceptive.
All the best.

And which months are the most popular with overseas visitors and holiday golfers?
Admittedly the wind seems to be lighter on warm summer days (settled high pressure?).
When I joined a links course I thought it would all be summer golf by the seaside.   
But now give a cooler day with a good wind and the rough down a bit.  Heaven.

"July & August - worst two months to play on a links."

The first time The Open was played it was held in October. When Bobby Jones won at Hoylake in 1930 it was played in June. May, when I believe it has been held at times, would be nice time to hold it, what with the gorse a bright yellow, whoooops, sorry, that'd be too much like going down the eye-candy avenue (sic)!!

All the best

[Jud_T]

I loved Portmarnock.  There's such an old-school look to the place.   Getting up and down out of one of those ridiculous green-side bunkers to win a key hole in my match didn't hurt either.  We played in a 2 club wind in mid-June.  I imagine if it were blowing much harder it could make for a long afternoon.  I must admit that while I enjoyed the Island, I wouldn't have rated it in the same league as Portmarnock.  Probably need to give it another go.

Brent,

I believe the best time to play here is in August:

https://www.northstargolf.com/

[Martin Toal]

I have never played Portmarnock, but I must confess that I have always quite liked its neighbours Royal Dublin and Portmarnock Links (the Langer course at the hotel of the same name). The former I liked from the first play and the latter has grown on me after a number of plays.

Martin,

The super at Portmarnock Links is called Fintan Brennan - He has done a tremendous job in widening fairways, run-offs, clearing vegetation and bringing on the conditioning. This has had a big effect on how much I enjoy the course as well.

Ally

I think Portmarnock Links might be losing out because of the similar name. Maybe at the start it helped, but now I think it puts the Hotel Links in a shadow. Maybe they would be better off with another name now and carving a more distinct identity?

[Rory Connaughton]

Certainly the landforms at Portmarnock are less dramatic then many of Ireland's other top links but I cannot think of a better use of a single dune ridge and the par threes are fantastic the entire way around.  Fantastic greens and surrounds.

[mike_malone]

Rory
I agree the use of that ridge is marvelous. Much like the way Enniscrone's lower holes do

[Rory Connaughton]

Mike, the 12th, 14th and 15th really struck me the first time I played Portmarnock and every time thereafter.
As for Enniscrone . . . always the needle!!

[Ally Mcintosh]

The 6th uses the same main dune ridge for its green site (as well as 12, 14 & 15).

There was also a proposition a few years back to move the 4th green site from its low position to that same dune ridge on the right which could have created a nice skyline feature. This was a good idea but rejected and rightly so. The current 4th green has some of the best subtle undulations on the course, is semi-blind from the left side of the fairway (creating good angles) and allows grade level run-ins.

The proposed green site would have been stunning visually but may not have played as well. In other words, there would not have been a clear improvement so why change?

See Subtlety vs Eye Candy thread...

[Ally Mcintosh]

Was at Portmarnock yesterday and noticed they are trialling frilly-edged sand faced bunkers on the 7th hole of the Yellow Nine. I had heard rumours of this.

Meanwhile, below are a few relevant photos of The Island.... First up, I don't think there are any posted photos of the new Hawtree Par-3 which would play as the fourth if the second phase of the proposed plan is ever implemented... For the moment it remains out of play as a 19th hole...

From back tee:




From behind the green looking back to tee:




I think it's a very good hole. The next tee shot then looks like this:




And here is a photo of the ridge in front of the current 7th which can be used to feed long balls in:




And a similar ridge before the 17th. An underrated hole with great run-in options and a lovely swale just at the front of the green surface:




Finally, the approach to the 11th. A hole that never gets mentioned but one of the very best on the course:

[Steve Green]

One more example of how individual preference influences the impressions we form.  I loved Portmarnock and enjoyed it more than Ballybunion, Lahinch, Waterville and Doonbeg.  I found every hole to be a test and was truly challenged on every shot.  Ballybunion has all the hype and too many blah holes.  So to turn the question around, what am I missing/

[Jeff Johnston]

Ally, thanks for putting up those pics of the 'new' 4th at The Island - it does look to be a strong hole. How do you think the next would play if the plan was implemented - the drive looks a bit 'boxy' but presumably the bold play would be to hit over the dune on the right?

Any other info you have on the rest of Hawtree's plan would be very interesting. Did I read somewhere that he proposed running 8 & 9 together to accommodate the new 4th?

[Shane Wright]

One more example of how individual preference influences the impressions we form.  I loved Portmarnock and enjoyed it more than Ballybunion, Lahinch, Waterville and Doonbeg.  I found every hole to be a test and was truly challenged on every shot.  Ballybunion has all the hype and too many blah holes.  So to turn the question around, what am I missing/

Steve,

I would love to hear why you think Ballybunion has too many blah holes.  I disagree with you. But I'd prefer to have the discussion in a separate thread vs. interrupting this one.  Feel free to start a new thread if you would like and let's discuss.

Shane

[Frank Pont]

Was at Portmarnock yesterday and noticed they are trialling frilly-edged sand faced bunkers on the 7th hole of the Yellow Nine. I had heard rumours of this.

Ally,

Cool, so maybe there will be links courses going back to the classic sand faced bunkers after all!

Do you know if there was an archie instigating this, or was it driven by the club/course manager

[Ally Mcintosh]

Was at Portmarnock yesterday and noticed they are trialling frilly-edged sand faced bunkers on the 7th hole of the Yellow Nine. I had heard rumours of this.

Ally,

Cool, so maybe there will be links courses going back to the classic sand faced bunkers after all!

Do you know if there was an archie instigating this, or was it driven by the club/course manager

Frank,

I think this is based on an architect's recommendation but need to find out more. Even then I may choose not to comment on this website.
I suspect the current work was done in-house.

What I would like to note is that there is no history of lacy-edged bunkers at Portmarnock.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Ally, thanks for putting up those pics of the 'new' 4th at The Island - it does look to be a strong hole. How do you think the next would play if the plan was implemented - the drive looks a bit 'boxy' but presumably the bold play would be to hit over the dune on the right?

Any other info you have on the rest of Hawtree's plan would be very interesting. Did I read somewhere that he proposed running 8 & 9 together to accommodate the new 4th?

Jeff,

I'm not sure what to make of the drive for what would become the new 5th. It doesn't work as well as the current one on first appearances but it could maybe play quite interesting with the need to stay tight right and maybe even carry the dune. Certainly not as aesthetically pleasing.

I think the Hawtree plan did have 8 & 9 more or less running together (with a new green site short of the current 9th green). The entrance road was then going to be taken in on the far side of the practice ground.

Always thought this was quite a good idea because I wasn't a huge fan of 8 and 9 is a little squeezed in. Not so sure having returned again. I enjoyed these two holes.

[Jeff Johnston]

Thanks for those thoughts Ally. As you say 8 and 9 are enjoyable holes - the problem is where else you might gain the required hole if not there....the front 9 routing (as I see it) doesn't offer any other obvious opportunities and the back 9 is just a belting run of golf - as you mention above, there are very good ones even among the less-celebrated holes on that 9.

playing The Island again in a few weeks - will be sure to have a look at that 'new' 4th.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Jeff,

If you have time / have the desire to pop in to Portmarnock, let me know and perhaps we can meet...

Ally

[Jeff Johnston]

Ally, with apologies for the delay in responding, many thanks for your very kind suggestion to meet up some time. I am actually a Dublin resident (albeit a southsider ) but it has been a few years since I've paid a visit to Portmarnock - it would be great to rectify that at a convenient time for yourself. My time is tight on the day I'm playing The Island but let me know when might suit you generally and hopefully we can sort something out.

thanks again, all best wishes

Jeff

[Ally Mcintosh]

There we are then, Jeff...

Should arrange a fourball with yourself, Jack Marr and Patrick Glynn one Friday afternoon if we can make that suit all...

Ally

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