Day 2
Ballyliffin
I still can't get my arms around this place after 2 visits.
I was predisposed to like the Old but preferred Glashedy with its wilder terrain and more variety.
It just seemed like every par 4 on the Old was the same length.
Glashedy had a bit of that too as the modern obligatory usually proportionately 4 sets of tees tends to force that.
I usually remember every hole but I had trouble after the round remembering the holes, especially with the crossover hill in the middle of the course forcing long walks presumably to allow all four nines to start and end at the clubhouse.
No doubt there are numerous good to great holes on both courses but the similarity in first tee proximity, routing, terrain, and texture make it difficult to remember every hole.
I will say they are very accomodating and were kind enough to put us out in front of member groups.
We played as a threesome in 3:45 and 3:30.
Certainly a very good 2 course destination. we ate lunch and dinner there and were treated well.
I guess it was all a bit too modern standardized for me and lacked the oldish quirk/distinction I enjoy.
No doubt I am being unfair as individual holes were very hard to find fault with.
Stayed in Buncrana again.
Day 3
Northwest GC
arrived effectively unannounced as I had no email reply.
No worries as they sent us right off but unfortunately behind a large slow group.
After three holes we played back down 18 and made a quick trip to the bar and restarted with now a 6 hole cushion.
I already really liked this course (see 2011 notes)
They've made a few chances, specifically raising portions of greens and building a new 4th hole to eliminate the crossing of the 17th.
i wasn't a fan of the new greens as they looked modern and different than their charming lay of the land older greens, and the jury is out having not played the new third as it's not open.
We played with a fine 2 handicap gentleman who could really drive the ball with his compact linksy swing.
Amazingly my ball landed near his when we picked teams
My one comment was that they really should cherish their status as the "St. Andrews of Scotland" being one of the oldest courses in Ireland-1891-and should highlight that rather than trying to conform to the modern norms that the course down street is stuck with. They also keep their rough pretty severe as they tend to think it's their defense, but as I said to them-"No one is coming to Northwest Golf Club because of its rough, and no one ever leaves a course and said that they wish the course had more rough".
Brought me average down to even par on the par 3 7th
after a double. A really tough green to hit and hold from any distance.
All in all a course really worth playing. Gary in the shop was again more than accommodating and the members seemed thrilled we had visited.
Played the 9 hole Buncrana afterward-some fascinating greens, the toughest par 3 of the trip (240 into a small bowl across the first green) and the longest par 5 (600 yards) all fit into a tiny seafront parcel.
Really interesting greens especially the par 3 9th and the fallaway semiblind 8th
Headed to Portsalon to stay in another rental house on the doorstep of Sarah's ,Store's pub and Portsalon GC