[Ryan Admussen]

Jim

I have rounds booked at
RCD
Portrush
Portstewart
Portmarnock
Lahinch
Ballybunion

We have 2 weeks there so hopefully I can add a few more along the way,  just depends on how generous my Fiance is feeling!

[Jim Tang]

Ryan -

Sounds like a great trip.  Lahinch is unbelievably good.  Ballybunion is almost as special as RCD.  I had horrible weather at Ballybunion, with rain and overcast skies.  If you get a clear, sunny day out there, the entire setting will be just rediculously beautiful.  If driving yourself, get a rental car w/ GPS.  It will cost you more, but it's worth its weight in gold!

[Tyler Ince]

I thought this was a joke.....Portrush can't hold RCD's jock strap! No brainer on that one IMHO!

[Sean_A]

In my opinion, the 5 best courses in Ireland are as follows:

Royal County Down
Royal Portrush
Ballybunion
Portmarnock
Lahinch

On any one day, I could argue for any of these over another to the extent that I have stopped trying. They all have different aspects that make them excellent.

Ally

I think you are right except I would stick Ballybunion out on its own ahead of the pack.  I would also add the following to your group as contenders for top 5: Enniscrone, Sligo, The Island and Portstewart.  I would probably lean toward Enniscrone and The Island in with Portmarnock and Portrush out.  But I think all eight courses are in the same general class and its easy to argue for one over another on any given day.  The question is which course fills out the top 10?  There are a few candidates such as Carne, TEC, Waterville, Co Louth and Doonbeg (plus a few others no doubt), but in any case these are drop off from the previously mentioned courses.  I would probably plop for Carne because there are enough championship type courses already mentioned, but I am not totally convinced. 

To give some idea of the strength of these top 9 courses of Ireland (IMO of course), excellent courses such as Cruden Bay and Porthcawl (two courses often mentioned as top 100 in the world) would be the sort fighting for a 10th spot. 

Ciao

[Scott Warren]

Ryan A:

That sounds like a great trip.

I'd have two recommendations:

1. Play County Louth. If your fiancee likes the countryside it's an easy trip from up north and if she likes the city it's an easy, quite short drive from Dublin. It really is a wonderful course with greensites that will convince you Tom Simpson was a genius. Worth the price of admission for the stretches of 3 to 8 and 12 to 16 alone.

2. Visit Kilmarnham Prison in Dublin and take the guided tour. It is the single best historic tour I have taken. Then hit the Guinness brewery, which of course goes without saying!

[Kevin Pallier]

Ally

I think you are right except I would stick Ballybunion out on its own ahead of the pack. .  

Sean

I'd be interested to hear why you think that is so ?


Scott

The Book of Kells and history tour at Trinity College was very interesting and well worth seeing when I was in Dublin.

[Sean_A]

Kevin

Off the top of my head I wopuld say the greens at Ballybunion are unsurpassed by the other eight courses.  Portrush may be Ballybunion's equal, but that is as far as I would take it.

The course moves beautifully and effortlessly through some pretty rough dune country.  The only real exception to this is the rather awkward transition for #15.  I would also say that one aspect which sets Ballybunion apart is how some dunes run at angles away from the sea rather than along the shore.  This is fairly unusual and the designers took advantage of it.  I also like how the design moves in all directions - again the unusual dune lines make this possible.

There is a very good mixture of land from flat to towering dunes.

If folks can point to the opening six holes as ordinary than I know Ballybunion must be a dynamo because there are some very good holes and great shots to be played on those holes. 

The only aspect Ballybunion could be said to be missing is a stream effecting one or two holes such as at Sligo (one reason why I probably rate the course higher than most). 

Ciao

[Jim Tang]

Sean -

When I played Ballybunion I thought the first 6 holes were pretty ordinary.  However, upon further reflection, I've come to realize that #6 is a great hole with a crazy difficult approach, #2 is wonderful and gives a preview of the dunescape to come and #1 is a very cool opener, down the dunes with the graveyard on the right.  From #7 on, I was mezmorized by Ballybunion and thought the remainder of the course was simply an unbroken string of greatness.

The entire setting is majestic and Ballybunion seemed the most "Irish" course I played.  I regret to only have one round there.  As with most great courses, it would seem the more you play the layout the more you discover and appreciate.  Of the courses I played while in Ireland/N. Ireland, my top 3 were RCD, Ballybunion and Lahinch, in that order.  I really enjoyed Portrush, but thought it was a bit behind those three.

[Melvyn Morrow]

From Belfast, head south to Newcastle. I would be happy to stay a week playing RDC and sometimes go walking beside the mountain streams in the Park. Takes me back to the happy times spent there in the late 1960's just before all the terror started. Love the North Coast has more facilities and activities but for a golfing break with family and friends, go south to Newcastle.

Melvyn

[Matthew Hunt]

Why RCD is the best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvv6-OFtxwM&feature=related

Melvyn is it Donard Forest or Tollymore where you spent time? I live in Newcastle about half a mile away from RCD, and the older I get and the more visit other places the more I appreciate what a special place Newcastle is!

[RSLivingston_III]

I have headcovers from my three fav courses on my woods. RCD protects the driver.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Mathew

Spent many a time at The Slieve Donard Hotel between 1968/1972 & RCD. As for the Park I do not recall its name but you could walk up into the mountain along a stream  which was cold and it had a deep plunge hole where we use to jump in for a quick swim but it was indeed cold  Many Easters and  Summers were spent enjoying ourselves at Newcastle.

Some evenings we would drive down from Belfast (lived just off the Malone Road at Notting Hill) for a few drinks and a fish supper before driving back to Belfast.

Special place for me and always my first choice when I’m visiting NI. Hope one day to get back over again.

Have a great Christmas and New Year

Melvyn

[Matthew Hunt]

Mevlvyn, That would be the Donard Forest, a lovely place. Coincidently during the term I'm studying Law at Queens University and am living at Elms, off the Malone road and beside Notting Hill. It's a nice place but not as nice as where the 'Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea... " QUB must have the one of the best set of courses around for university golf. RCD as a home venue, Malone as the secondary course. With matches and event regularly at Portrush, Ballybunion and Lahinch.

Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year.

Matthew

[Kevin Pallier]

Kevin

Off the top of my head I wopuld say the greens at Ballybunion are unsurpassed by the other eight courses.  Portrush may be Ballybunion's equal, but that is as far as I would take it.

The course moves beautifully and effortlessly through some pretty rough dune country.  The only real exception to this is the rather awkward transition for #15.  I would also say that one aspect which sets Ballybunion apart is how some dunes run at angles away from the sea rather than along the shore.  This is fairly unusual and the designers took advantage of it.  I also like how the design moves in all directions - again the unusual dune lines make this possible.

There is a very good mixture of land from flat to towering dunes.

If folks can point to the opening six holes as ordinary than I know Ballybunion must be a dynamo because there are some very good holes and great shots to be played on those holes.  

The only aspect Ballybunion could be said to be missing is a stream effecting one or two holes such as at Sligo (one reason why I probably rate the course higher than most).  

Ciao

Sean

Thanks for that - I dont rate Ballybunion as high as some and was intersted as to your take on it. For mine is a bit too stop / start with it's quality. It doesn't hold my interest like RCD. Sure it has some good holes at 1-3, 6-8 and of course 16-17 but for mine RCD hits more highs than lows.

Each to their own I suppose.

[Sean_A]

Kevin

That is understandable.  From my perspective and like TOC, RCD has too many of those just blind shots over a rise to be completely satisfactory.  Plus, the fairways seem to turn a bit on these blind shots and it isn't as if RCD is wide course to start with.  I don't know, RCD just has this feeling of almost perfect about it, but some of the shots annoy me.  I probably would feel like most others do, but I played two games there with about a 50 capper.  He can hit the ball alright and will play for safety, but I have never seen a course eat up a player like this EVER - I think he lost about 20 balls - no lie.  This guy is a great marker for deciding if "your gnandmother can play teh course" and I use him for this upper level analysis an awful lot.  However, I have known him since high school and we have played many games together over the 30 years so I know when he is off or on.  I mark RCD down for this and I expect a great many mark up the course for its beauty - the bunkering is often cited in these matters.  Anyway, it all sounds very harsh, but RCD is a wonderful course.  

Ciao

[Tony_Muldoon]

Melvyn from '58 to 64 we lived in Bladon Drive, small world.

Mathew I understood that in the '60's and 70's Portrush was Queen's home course, if so when did it change? 


Tony

[Matthew Hunt]

Melvyn from '58 to 64 we lived in Bladon Drive, small world.

Mathew I understood that in the '60's and 70's Portrush was Queen's home course, if so when did it change? 


Tony

To be honest I'm not too sure when it changed. Newcastle is only half the travel from South Belfast that Portrush is, so that may the reason for the change (and RCD is better ). University of Ulster (Jordanstown) play at Portrush. I wonder if Coleraine play there too as they are just up the road.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tony

Just too close for comfort – Looking at Google Earth I can still see the old house to the right of Notting Hill Manor complex with what looks like a sports car to the rear. Small world indeed

Melvyn

[Martin Toal]

Melvyn from '58 to 64 we lived in Bladon Drive, small world.

Mathew I understood that in the '60's and 70's Portrush was Queen's home course, if so when did it change? 


Tony

To be honest I'm not too sure when it changed. Newcastle is only half the travel from South Belfast that Portrush is, so that may the reason for the change (and RCD is better ). University of Ulster (Jordanstown) play at Portrush. I wonder if Coleraine play there too as they are just up the road.

I was at QUB in the 80s, although nowhere near a golf team player. Most Wednesdays, the Golf Society played at Malone. There was usually a good attendance of first team players, all low single figure handicappers, including a cabal from Ardglass, and a few other very good players.

I think in those days, RP was more welcoming than RCD.

[Tyler Ince]

How come everyone is talking about RCD, Portrush, Lahinch, Ballbunion.............

But no one is mentioning possibly my #2 course in Ireland.  TRALEE! Might have the best 9 holes in Ireland!

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