News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.


Brad Isaacs

  • Karma: +0/-0
Northwest Ireland
« on: November 14, 2011, 01:26:48 PM »
Starting at Portrush and ending with a flight out of Shannon, I have ten rounds of golf to play. Please help me decide what is the best to play. Thank you,

Brad I

K. Krahenbuhl

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2011, 02:06:53 PM »
When I did that trip I played the following 10.  I'm not sure if it was the best possible group or not, but it was a hell of a lot of fun.

Royal Portrush GC - Dunluce
Royal Portrush GC - Valley
Royal County Down
Ballyliffin GC - Old
Ballyliffin GC - Glashedy
Carne Golf Links
County Sligo GC
Lahinch GC
Tralee GC
Ballybunion GC - Old

edits:
Enniscrone GC
Donegal GC
« Last Edit: November 14, 2011, 02:37:34 PM by Kyle Krahenbuhl »

Sean Leary

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2011, 02:22:04 PM »
I would definitely play Enniscrone if you are up there.....

Lou_Duran

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2011, 02:25:36 PM »
Kyle and Sean,

Put that itinerary together and let's sign up.

K. Krahenbuhl

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2011, 02:28:04 PM »
I would definitely play Enniscrone if you are up there.....

I knew that I had forgotten one.

Tim Pitner

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2011, 02:32:34 PM »
Especially if you're focusing on the NW itself, I would recommend Donegal (Murvagh)--beautiful setting, emblematic of the Eddie Hackett style and a good day of golf. 

Tom Scupholm III

Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2011, 02:34:37 PM »
I recommend a night or 2 at the Bushmills Inn when playing Portrush.  While staying there you can also play Portstewart and Castlerock.  Both are very good.
Pick up Finnegan's book on traveling thru Ireland, it is a great guide.
 

K. Krahenbuhl

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2011, 02:35:44 PM »
Especially if you're focusing on the NW itself, I would recommend Donegal (Murvagh)--beautiful setting, emblematic of the Eddie Hackett style and a good day of golf. 

I forgot that one too as well as how much golf we played on that trip.  It was definitely one for the ages.

Sean Leary

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2011, 02:36:23 PM »
Brad, Kyle just nailed it. Do that.

I would agree other than substituting Enniscone for Carne. Not a Carne fan myself, and it is really out of the way.

And if it were me, I would stay at County Down for a couple of days anyway. My one regret of a similar trip...

K. Krahenbuhl

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2011, 02:42:01 PM »
Brad, Kyle just nailed it. Do that.

The best part of the trip, which I would recommend for everyone to try, was that we set all of our golf reservations in advance and made no advance plans for accomodations.  I had a great guide, and between him and suggestions at the clubs we were able to find really enjoyable, fairly priced B&B options near each club along the way.  I'll never forget walking into the B&B after a REALLY wet round at Tralee and exchanging my wet clothes (which were taken to the dryer) for a glass of whiskey.  I can guarantee that you'll meet some great people along the way (and never leave for the next course without a full stomach in the morning).

K. Krahenbuhl

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2011, 02:46:35 PM »
Kyle did you stay at Barrow house? Walking distance from course...

I couldn't pick the place out today if I walked right in front of it - it was just one of those moments that has stuck with me.

Tony_Muldoon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2011, 03:01:38 PM »
 
When I did that trip I played the following 10.  I'm not sure if it was the best possible group or not, but it was a hell of a lot of fun.

Royal Portrush GC - Dunluce
Royal Portrush GC - Valley
Royal County Down
Ballyliffin GC - Old
Ballyliffin GC - Glashedy
Carne Golf Links
County Sligo GC
Lahinch GC
Tralee GC
Ballybunion GC - Old

edits:
Enniscrone GC
Donegal GC

Only thing wrong with this list is it's not all NW Ireland. There’s W to S/W Ballybunion and E RCD.  More windscreen time means less golf and less Craic.


Portsalon, Rossapena (both), Cruit Island, Sandhills to mention a few that are worth visiting if you can focus your trip a little to just do the NW this time.
Let's make GCA grate again!

Brad Tufts

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2011, 03:08:03 PM »
I will take a shot...

36 at RP (incl. Valley)....Castlerock and Portstewart are the other options around here, I haven't played them.

RCD  (the wrong direction, but it's only 2 hours or so)

Ballyliffin x2 (or twice round the Old)

Rosapenna...play all the holes they have...not sure of the current configuration.  I think there are 36 holes ultimately.

Rosses Point

Carne

Ballybunion

Waterville
So I jump ship in Hong Kong....

jeffwarne

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2011, 03:12:49 PM »
I will take a shot...

36 at RP (incl. Valley)....Castlerock and Portstewart are the other options around here, I haven't played them.

RCD  (the wrong direction, but it's only 2 hours or so)

Ballyliffin x2 (or twice round the Old)

Rosapenna...play all the holes they have...not sure of the current configuration.  I think there are 36 holes ultimately.

Rosses Point

Carne

Ballybunion

Waterville


Brad and Brad,
You've picked a huge chunk of geography.

Do as Tony says and see NW Ireland, and perhaps some Northern Ireland
Otherwise you drive by a great # of excellent courses and multiple hidden gems.
More golf, less driving!

Fly into and out of Belfast
"Let's slow the damned greens down a bit, not take the character out of them." Tom Doak
"Take their focus off the grass and put it squarely on interesting golf." Don Mahaffey

Dónal Ó Ceallaigh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2011, 03:20:42 PM »
Brad,

Here' Jeff's thread on his recent Donegal trip:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48302.0.html

Food for thought ...

Sean Leary

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #15 on: November 14, 2011, 03:23:12 PM »
Brad T,

Why don't you put courses in Scotland on your list as far as you would have him driving. ;)

Since he is leaving from Shannon he should play Lahinch at a minimum as Ballybunion is kinda hard to get to. Plus Lahinch is better;)
« Last Edit: November 14, 2011, 03:42:25 PM by Sean Leary »

Tim Johnson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #16 on: November 14, 2011, 03:30:43 PM »
Brad, you have picked, for my money, he best run of golf anywhere. All great courses and the drive between them is not that bad when taking out Ballybunion and Tralee. Carne may be out of the way from either Lahinch or Belfast but it is a great starting point when discussing the NW Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Did almost the same trip twice and other than the first day from Belfast to Carne, the rest was a breeze driving wise.
Portstewart is a course you may want to add, I loved the front 9 and didnt think as bad of the back 9 as most people do.

Have fun, it is a great trip and the dollar for the courses blows away all the other courses.


Brad Tufts

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #17 on: November 14, 2011, 03:51:29 PM »
I guess some of my ideas would change it if were "10 days" as opposed to "10 rounds."

And don't get me going on Scotland....ferry over, ferry back, ferry over, ferry back...
So I jump ship in Hong Kong....

Will Lozier

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #18 on: November 14, 2011, 04:08:52 PM »
Brad,

Definitely stay a few days in Newcastle to play RCD at least twice - a real treat and perhaps my favorite with pure beauty and brawn to spare!  I would also recommend multiple rounds at Portrush (both courses with Dunlace the highlight) although I never made it up myself - shame on me! - but have studied the courses quite intently.  And Lahinch, for sure get in 2 rounds there with one day at Ballybunion as well - I didn't play Cashen but kind of wish I had as it is supposed to be VERY adventurous.  I've driven across the entire country - Dublin to Ballybunion overnight - in, I think, just 4-5 hours so no place is too far "out of the way"!  Good luck with the weather and have fun!

Cheers

Wade Schueneman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #19 on: November 14, 2011, 08:32:00 PM »
Brad,

I have not played a number of the courses in the Northwest that others will mention, but if you are starting in Northern Ireland and leaving out of Shannon then I submit to you the RCD, Portrush, Lahinch and Ballybunion simply should not be missed (and that you might want to consider playing RCD, Lahinch, and Ballybunion two times each).

mike_malone

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #20 on: November 14, 2011, 10:32:53 PM »
 Brad,

   It would be helpful to learn a little about what you like. Do you like the understated or do you want to experience just the top courses? Would you like to travel as little as possible and maybe do some multiple plays?

   I like to mix the top courses with the so called lesser ones and don't mind travel. When I put my biggest trip together with 12 guys I made sure we played the top courses twice because many would  be there only once.

    My friends like to stay in b+b's and experience the small towns. I, myself, love the traditional music and the druid sites.

   All of this goes into planning a great trip.

   On one trip we stopped by Newgrange on the way from Dublin to RCD. On another we took the coast road from Carne back to Enniscrone and visited a bog archeology site. It was the hit of the trip. Another time we rode up Slieve Russell, the nontouristy Cliffs of Moher, in Donegal . We needed to drive less than 5 mph because there was no railing!

    So plan the driving to include some sights, stay in places that fit your group's preferences, experience the Irish, and play a variety of courses.
AKA Mayday

Kevin Pallier

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #21 on: November 14, 2011, 10:53:18 PM »
Brad

I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to see RCD if ever in Ireland so I would suggest perhaps the following 10 rounds with a little sight seeing along the way:

Royal County Down
Royal Portrush (x2)
Ballyliffin (x2)*
County Sligo
Carne*
Enniscrone
Lahinch
Ballybunion (Old)


Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #22 on: November 15, 2011, 03:13:26 AM »
Brad

Spangles is right.  RCD to Portrush to Ballybunion is too much windshield time for ten days - really only 8 days with two half days.  There is plenty of good golf - no need to run around like a chicken with its head cut off.  

Assuming you are flying into Belfast and out of Shannon and it is your first time playing any of the courses (still a bit of a busy trip for my liking - I would stick to 1/2 areas, but here goes):

1. 18 Portrush Valley - off the plane
2. 18 Portrush Dunluce (can play 36)
3. 18 Portstewart (can play 36)

Stay at http://www.adelphiportrush.com/ for the first three nights.  Be sure to try the oriental part of http://www.ramorerestaurant.com/

4. 18 Portsalon (can try to slip in Cruit Island between here and #5)
5. 18 Narin & Portnoo
6. 18 Donegal
7. 18 Enniscrone (can play 36 - Strandhill just outside of Sligo is charming)
8. 18 Co Sligo

Stay in Sligo for #s 6, 7 & 8 - there are a few chain hotels in heart of a reasonably attractive town.

9. 18 Lahinch
10. 18 Lahinch

I would definitely skip RCD as it fits much better with a trip to Dublin working north with Baltray.  It is way out of the way for what you are doing. You will be seeing plenty of greatness -don't worry.  

I would consider adding Ballybunion, but its well out of the way (Lahinch is perfectly suited to finish at - 45 minutes from Shannon).  It depends on if you don't mind skipping Narin & Portnoo and Portsalon.  Then you could add two days for Ballybunion, but see less.  Again, a trip back to Lahinch, Doonbeg, Tralee etc gives another chance to do Ballybunion properly.  

It is a shame to miss Carne, but it is out of the way and can be picked up easily if you ever go back to the Donegal/Sligo/Enniscrone part of the world - and you should.  

Ciao


« Last Edit: November 15, 2011, 09:42:30 AM by Sean Arble »
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Ally Mcintosh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #23 on: November 15, 2011, 06:14:01 AM »
Starting at Portrush and ending with a flight out of Shannon, I have ten rounds of golf to play. Please help me decide what is the best to play. Thank you,

Brad I

10 rounds or 10 days?...

I think Sean has the right idea to break the trip in to 3 sections... But I think in this case you should pass on Narin & Portnoo / Cruit Island in favour of the Ballyliffin / Rosapenna / Portsalon trio.... Those 3 (5 courses) sit closer together and closer to the road you will take...

I'd then take the Enniscrone & Carne trip (pulling in Rosses Point and possibly Murvagh on the way)... If you are going to the former, you are half way to the latter and there is no place quite like Carne... plus the N59 road travelling down via Westport et al is a beautiful drive... Your big drive is then Carne down to Lahinch which you should make sure you play 36 on before travelling to Shannon airport...

So,

Phase 1: Portrush (36) and Portstewart

Phase 2: Ballyliffin, Portsalon, Rosapenna

Phase 3: County Sligo, Enniscrone, Carne

Phase 4: Lahinch


Brad Isaacs

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Northwest Ireland
« Reply #24 on: November 15, 2011, 10:20:02 AM »
I love Royal County Down and it is in top 5 of courses I have ever played.  I just cant see everything and still get to courses I have not played.  As I also love Lahinch and Ballybunion and played there a reasonable amount I am going to skip them as well. Doonbeg at once was enough.

SPitting the trip into 3 segments sounds very logical and helpful.  So far that leaves me with:

1) Portrush Dunlace-  played it once before but really have a need to do again as I had terrible golf day then

2) Portrush Valley-  Never played it but it seems to have a group that really like it

3) Portstewart??


Phase 2

4) Ballyliffin  - both courses or just old?

5) Portsalon

6) Cruit

7) Rosapenna


Phase 3

8) County Sligo

9) Enniscrone

10) Carne

My tastes would probably oriuent toward hidden gems, pub food, enjoying the Irish people as they have always been great fun.  I don't mind travel and don't mind Irish roads.  This would be with one or two guys as an aftertrip to Scotland.  Therefore unstructured and enjoyment of the people, out of the way places are in order.  The northwest of Ireland is lacking in my travels of Ireland.  As I enjoy design etc. classic courses have to crossed off the bucket list but I still keep coming back to hidden gems.

Thak you all for suggestions.  Do you have furrther comments or suggestions on refining what is above?

Brad I

Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back