Pick 6 rounds in Eastern/Northern Ireland

[Duane Sharpe]

I will be travelling to Dublin at the end of September with 7 good friends.  We want to play 6 of the best golf courses between Dublin and Royal Portrush.  Where would you play and can anyone recommend ideas for accomodations for 8 guys? We usually rent houses but I think this is out of the question on this trip with the distance of travel planned.
High on my radar are Portmarnock, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, The Island, County Lough, Laytown/Bettytown, Port Stewart and possibly Royal Belfast.
Looking for ideas. Thanks in advance.
Sharpee

[Tom_Doak]

Duane:

They are all in your list:  from south to north, Portmarnock, The Island, County Louth, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, and Portstewart.

I strongly endorse playing the second 18 hole course at Portrush, the Valley course, as well.  I might rate it equal with one or two of the others mentioned, but somebody or other would get mad if I did ... and I didn't say it was superior, just equal.

[Duane Sharpe]

Thanks Tom!
Thought we would start planning now. Honestly can't wait.
Sharpee
Blackhawk

[Frank M]

I'd also say Portmarnock, The Island, County Louth, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush and Portstewart are the way to go. If you can make it just slightly south of Dublin maybe substitute Portstewart with European Club.

[Doug Wright]

Duane:

They are all in your list:  from south to north, Portmarnock, The Island, County Louth, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, and Portstewart.

I strongly endorse playing the second 18 hole course at Portrush, the Valley course, as well.  I might rate it equal with one or two of the others mentioned, but somebody or other would get mad if I did ... and I didn't say it was superior, just equal.

I agree with Tom with one question and a comment: Is Portstewart (which I haven't played) better than nearby Castlerock (which I have and thought was quite good though not as good as Portrush Valley). I also was pleasantly surprised by Portmarnock Links during our last visit.

For accommodations we liked the Grand Hotel in Malahide near Portmarnock/The Island, and GCAer Matthew Hunt's grandparents' B&B abuts RCD and was great. IM me if you want details.

[Ally Mcintosh]

The six / seven that Tom mentioned are the ones... I'd like to see him take a trip back toThe Island one day though... To see if his initial opinion has changed since all the course alterations in the last 25 years... I'm not as big a fan as some but I'd place it above Portstewart on that list of 6...

I do think Castlerock gives Portstewart a run for its money...

[Bill_McBride]

Haven't played Portstewart, but thought Castlerock was a blast. I loved the par 4s on the back where the greens were bencher into saddles between the dunes.  Really a fun course. 

[Michael Whitaker]

The first nine at Portstewart are amazing... some say if you could pair the front nine at Portstewart with the back nine at Ballybunion you would create the greatest course in all of golf!

[Ally Mcintosh]

The first nine at Portstewart are amazing... some say if you could pair the front nine at Portstewart with the back nine at Ballybunion you would create the greatest course in all of golf!

I think the front nine at Royal County Down might pick a fight with you over that statement.... Or Lahinch...

[Mark Smolens]

Find a tour guide by the name of Jimmy O'Leary. He'll drive your group in his bus (there's very little better than traveling the Irish countryside with somebody else behind the wheel), serenade you on his guitar, get you into the best places to stay (at prices well below the rack rate).

In terms of the courses, choices between say Castlerock and Portstewart are 6 of one, half dozen of the other. I loved the Valley Course at Portrush, but the other two guys I was there with did not. Last trip we stayed in a hotel/inn on the hill above Portrush. Great views, especially with sun coming up in the a.m. Jimmy got them to open the kitchen for us around 9:30 because we got off the course late.

[Ted Harris]

Duane,

Ardglass might be a course to consider as it is very close to RCD - not a true links but very scenic

If you decided to play - Portrush, Portstewart, and Castlerock you could possibly rent a house for 4 or 5 nights and base yourself in one location for ease of travel and possibly save $$$


as for hotels I have stayed in the first 2 on this list and was happy with both

http://www.bayviewhotelni.com/

http://www.ramadaportrush.com/


this accomodation is right across the street from Portrush and looks very nice

http://www.linksviewportrush.co.uk/


If you run into problems booking any of the courses around Dublin or want to save some $$$ or experience scenic Donegal look into taking a ferry from Magilligan Point close to Portrush and play the 2 different courses at Ballyliffin

http://www.ballyliffingolfclub.com/

[Padraig Dooley]

Duane:

They are all in your list:  from south to north, Portmarnock, The Island, County Louth, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, and Portstewart.

I strongly endorse playing the second 18 hole course at Portrush, the Valley course, as well.  I might rate it equal with one or two of the others mentioned, but somebody or other would get mad if I did ... and I didn't say it was superior, just equal.

This is a great list. I'm going to throw in a wild card and suggest playing Greenore while on the way from Baltray (Co. Louth) to Newcastle (RCD), probably could do it in the afternoon after a morning's round in Baltray.

[Sean_A]

The Island
Co Down
Kirkistown
Castlerock
Portstewart
Portrush Valley

Ciao

[Bill Brightly]

Here is what I would do:

Day 1: Fly to Belfast, drive up to Portstewart and play 18, stay there.
Day 2: Play both courses at Royal Portrush and stay there (or drive a few hours south.)
Day 3: Play RCD, drive to Dublin
Day 4: Play Portmarnock and The Island, stay in Dublin
Day 5: Play RCD again! Fly home out of Belfast.

I stayed in the Ramada Hotel in Portrush and it was fine. And if time permits, I think a Black cab hitorical tour of Belfast is very worthwhile.
www.belfastattractions.co.uk

[Bill Brightly]

Hey, isn't there a new ferry from Portstewart to Machrihanish in Scotland? That might be very cool to do.

 http://www.machgolf.com/

[Anthony Gray]

  For lovers of pure golf Ardglass may be the Cruden Bay of Northern Ireland and it is very close to RCD. What others course has the club house in a castle. A must play.

  Anthony 

[Kevin Pallier]

High on my radar are Portmarnock, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, The Island, County Lough, Laytown/Bettytown, Port Stewart and possibly Royal Belfast.

Duane

I've seen the following from your list and would recommend them to you RCD, Portmarnock, RP, County Louth. I also agree with the RP (Valley) notion.

You could also play Portmarnock Hotel next door to the other Portmarnock course. Whilst its not in the class of the others I mention above its a decent links experience if you wanted to base yourselves there for a day ?

[Doug Wright]

  For lovers of pure golf Ardglass may be the Cruden Bay of Northern Ireland and it is very close to RCD. What others course has the club house in a castle. A must play.

  Anthony 

Anthony, given your love of Cruden Bay I'm surprised by your comments about Ardglass. Aside from the first and 18th holes and a couple of decent seaside holes on the front side (the back nine seaside holes are mediocre IMO) I found Ardglass to be pretty mundane. Ardglass is a filler if you can't play 36 @ RCD.  I would definitely try to play 36 @ RCD instead.   

[Adam Lawrence]

Hey, isn't there a new ferry from Portstewart to Machrihanish in Scotland? That might be very cool to do.

 http://www.machgolf.com/

There is - see http://www.kintyreexpress.com/ but people should be aware it's not a big car ferry kinda thing. I'm not sure I'd be in a fit state to play golf after bouncing around those seas in a RIB for an hour and a half.

[Michael Underwood]

I just returned from a business / golf trip to Northern Ireland.

I would suggest the following:

Day 1: Fly to Belfast - flights from the U.S. arrive in the morning hours.
Play Malone Golf Club in Belfast - it is in fantastic condition and a real hidden gem!
After playing Malone make the 1.5 hour drive to the Bushmills Inn in Bushmills.

Day 2: Play Portrush Dunluce in the morning and Valley in the afternoon.
          5 minute drive from the Bushmills Inn.

Day 3: Play Portstewart in the morning and make the short drive to Castlerock G.C. for the afternoon.
         If your legs need a break Castlerock G.C. has motorized carts for rent.
         15 minute drive from the Bushmills Inn.
         After golf make the 2 hour drive to Newcastle.

Day 4: Play Royal County Down

Day 5 Play County Louth

Day 6: Play Portmarnock

Fly out of either Dublin or Belast.

[Bill Gayne]

On a sunday morning, how long would it take to get from the Dublin Airport to Ballycastle to take the Kintyre Express Ferry to Campbelltown, Scotland? Considering making an overnight trip to Machrihanish.

Thanks

[Bill_McBride]

  For lovers of pure golf Ardglass may be the Cruden Bay of Northern Ireland and it is very close to RCD. What others course has the club house in a castle. A must play.

  Anthony 

Anthony, given your love of Cruden Bay I'm surprised by your comments about Ardglass. Aside from the first and 18th holes and a couple of decent seaside holes on the front side (the back nine seaside holes are mediocre IMO) I found Ardglass to be pretty mundane. Ardglass is a filler if you can't play 36 @ RCD.  I would definitely try to play 36 @ RCD instead.   

Doug, I agree that there were a few nondescript inland holes at Ardglass, but I thought there were more than two good holes there.  All the holes hugging the coastline were good.  We played there the morning after the Walker Cup in 2007 and it was a fine warm up for Castlerock and Portrush's courses.   

[Doug Wright]

  For lovers of pure golf Ardglass may be the Cruden Bay of Northern Ireland and it is very close to RCD. What others course has the club house in a castle. A must play.

  Anthony 

Anthony, given your love of Cruden Bay I'm surprised by your comments about Ardglass. Aside from the first and 18th holes and a couple of decent seaside holes on the front side (the back nine seaside holes are mediocre IMO) I found Ardglass to be pretty mundane. Ardglass is a filler if you can't play 36 @ RCD.  I would definitely try to play 36 @ RCD instead.   

Doug, I agree that there were a few nondescript inland holes at Ardglass, but I thought there were more than two good holes there.  All the holes hugging the coastline were good.  We played there the morning after the Walker Cup in 2007 and it was a fine warm up for Castlerock and Portrush's courses.   

Bill we agree-- As I said, "Aside from the first and 18th holes and a couple of decent seaside holes on the front side (the back nine seaside holes are mediocre IMO)..."

[Tommy Williamsen]

Royal County Down must be played three times.  The first time it is so imposing and terrifying that you feel the course is impossible.  The second time around you get a feel for the landing areas of the tee shots and feel that maybe, just maybe it is possible to actually keep score.  The third time you can make some pars and even a couple of birdies. 

[Tony_Muldoon]

Kirkistown

Ciao

Have you played it? 


I Have an Uncle with a house on the beach within 5 miles. You can hear the sea form the bedrooms.  If you wake up with a clear head its heaven. If you wake up with a sore head its hell.

Looks interesting,  now on my list.
http://www.linksgolfkirkistown.com/pages/index.asp?pageID=10