[Ally Mcintosh]

A couple of you have said RCD's greens are not as good as Portrush's.  Do others agree with this?  If so, could a top-notch architect re-work the RCD greens, and make the course even better?    

I would never, ever want to see RCD's greens reworked en masse... It is one thing saying that someone prefers Portrush's greens because there is more internal contour and undulation. It is another entirely to try and recreate that on each and every site.

However, the single biggest reason is that RCD has the best maintenance mould I have seen anywhere bar none. The greens are high in fescue and the approaches and run-offs are cut so short that it is hard to tell where fairway stops and green starts. Trying to get that back with a bunch of new greens sounds like quite a challenge...

Anyway, I don't want all greens to have large internal contour. Some courses need to have (apparently) flatter, more subtle greens...

[Rory Connaughton]

Portrush by any objective standard is an incredible course.  Fantastic greens, wonderfully bunkered, great variety. It ticks all the boxes for greatness.
RCD on the other hand is simply a different kind of animal. The golfer feels as though he has been transported to a magical place.  Sensory overload.  The seductive qualities of the course make it stand out for me. 
RCD gets my vote

[Mark Smolens]

Are you a Brooklyn Decker or a Marisa Miller man? Both places are incredible. Wish I had the time and the cash to go back and try to anwer this question anew. . .

[Matthew Hunt]

Yes Simon, 7  is the kind of hole that grows on you. I see as the links versionof the 17th of sawgrass though a more refined version, Its the front and left bunkers going throught you ming during the swing makes it what it is.

Despite what a is often said there is a lot of contour and undulation in RCDs greens but it is often not appreciated due to the the land scape it feeds into.

[Simon Holt]

I agree Matt- I found Portrush's greens the easier of the 2 to navigate to be honest.  I certainly didnt come away thinking they had a large amount of internal contouring going on...well, that is to say no more than would make me ponder it.

RCDs were just so fast in comparision which I think was where my problems lay.  Absolutely world class conditioning- really something to aspire to.

[mike_malone]

 I played both 4/5 times. I guess that because RCD always came first in the order of play that its mystique always created a hurdle which RPR could not overcome. I then would come up with some specific reason to justify my feeling for RCD over RPR. Usually this was the angled nature of some of the tee shots with little visual clue where to hit the shot.

[Wade Schueneman]

Simon its funny you don't like 7 at RCD as i'm a member and it's my choice of all the holes. I can be a bit weird thought.When I was cadding a few weeks ago we were having to get 4 handicaps to miss the green on purpose on a 125 yarder, because it was unnholdable in the wind!

That is awesome!  I hope you count your lucky stars on a regular basis.

[Wade Schueneman]

A couple of you have said RCD's greens are not as good as Portrush's.  Do others agree with this?  If so, could a top-notch architect re-work the RCD greens, and make the course even better?    

They may generally lack significant contour, but they are beautifully pure and quick.

[Wade Schueneman]

A couple of you have said RCD's greens are not as good as Portrush's.  Do others agree with this?  If so, could a top-notch architect re-work the RCD greens, and make the course even better?    

I would never, ever want to see RCD's greens reworked en masse... It is one thing saying that someone prefers Portrush's greens because there is more internal contour and undulation. It is another entirely to try and recreate that on each and every site.

However, the single biggest reason is that RCD has the best maintenance mould I have seen anywhere bar none. The greens are high in fescue and the approaches and run-offs are cut so short that it is hard to tell where fairway stops and green starts. Trying to get that back with a bunch of new greens sounds like quite a challenge...

Anyway, I don't want all greens to have large internal contour. Some courses need to have (apparently) flatter, more subtle greens...

Ally, we need to play some time, as I generally find myself nodding when I read your posts.

[Gerry B]

love portrush but rcd is my fave course on the planet - so easy decision

[Ted Harris]

Royal Portrush for me

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tibanjax/3027488013/lightbox/

[Jim Eder]

These courses are like children, I love them both. Sure there are some features and holes that might be a bit better but whenever I am on either one I am at peace and thoroughly enjoy myself.  I hope they don't change the courses as they are wonderful in the current state. I can't wait to play them again.

[Jim Hoak]

I, too, love them both.
But, when I think of memories of golf, I think of standing on the 9th tee at Royal County Down, with the heather in bloom, the threatening gourse, the Mountains of Mourne in the background, the dunes protecting the green, and I feel like crying--with joy.

[Jim Eder]

One of the most amazing views on earth. At that moment all seems right with the world. I agree with you Jim, a lot of joy just thinking about it.

[Mark Alexander]

Just saw this post and thought I'd post a link to some new pics of the tremendous Portrush.

http://www.markalexanderphotography.co.uk/Portrush-Dunluce/

[Martin Toal]

I am originally from NI and have played both courses quite a few times. Both are magnificent courses that can claim to be among the best courses on the planet. My personal preference is for RCD. The club itself used to have a reputation for being rather inaccessible and unwelcoming, and most average people identified more with the Mourne Club who had their more modest clubhouse round the corner. On a windy day, RCD gives no quarter and can make a grown man cry. Portrush offers a wee bit more respite and a way to eventually get the ball to the green. I have never minded the 18th at RCD which I  thought was a decent hole. The old 16th and 17th were not so great, and I am not sure the new 16th is much of an improvement. The 13th and 15th, though, are magnificent holes, playing opposite directions to one another. The front nine is not to shabby either.

[Tony_Muldoon]

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,33952.0.html  Offers a picture, hole by hole, shoot out.

whatever happend to Ed Tilley, hell where Andrew Mitchell of late?

[Jim Tang]

I've only got one round on each course, played on back to back days.  Royal Portrush was glorious and I shot my best Irish round there, but, there may be no other place in golf where I would rather spend a day than at Royal County Down.

[Jonathan Cummings]

Yes!  Play RCD then drive up to play PR!

[Doug Wright]

I've only got one round on each course, played on back to back days.  Royal Portrush was glorious and I shot my best Irish round there, but, there may be no other place in golf where I would rather spend a day than at Royal County Down.

I agree 100% (and somehow I also played one of the best rounds of my life @ Royal Portrush).

[Wade Schueneman]

Jim and Doug,

My sentiments exactly.  Sounds like a GCA trip to Ireland is in order.

[Ryan Admussen]

I will be at
RCD March.28@ 8:20
Portrush March.29@ 9:30
if anyone wants to join, will be my first golf outside of North America, can't wait!

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

This Tiger is a Royal County Down man.

[Jim McCann]

The Top100golfcourses website issued its Top20 list of courses for Northern Ireland last week:

http://www.top100golfcourses.co.uk/htmlsite/story.asp?id=317

with RCD edging the Dunluce.

[Jim Tang]

Ryan -

You're gonna eat it up!  My first two rounds outside the U.S. were also at RCD and Portrush.  After having played that sort of golf, I have to admit that sometimes I find parkland golf here in the U.S. lacking.  Links golf is very special.  Where else are you playing?

-Jim

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