Sandy Hills or Portsalon? Strandhill or Donegal?

[mike_malone]

Working with some friends on an Ireland trip next September. Which of these would you choose?

[Tom_Doak]

Working with some friends on an Ireland trip next September. Which of these two would you choose?

If you are all low handicappers, play Sandy Hills.  Otherwise, probably Portsalon, though it is no pushover, either.

[mike_malone]

Tom,


We will have a mix of 12. Will do 36 at St. Patrick’s.

[Garland Bayley]

I prefer Strandhill over Donegal.

[Sean_A]

I am encouraged by Doc and Spangles who have told me Sandy Hills is a more playable course these days and far more enjoyable. I might be inclined to choose Sandy Hills if it isn't inconvenient or noticeably more expensive than Portsalon.

I would rather see Strandhill over Donegal because of the new work. But I like Donegal as well.

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

I am encouraged by Doc and Spangles who have told me Sandy Hills is a more playable course these days and far more enjoyable. I might be inclined to choose Sandy Hills if it isn't inconvenient or noticeably more expensive than Portsalon.

I would rather see Strandhill over Donegal because of the be work. But I like Donegal as well.

Ciao

Any close observer of this site knows I'm a big homer for Portsalon, and am often in the minority here.
Two years ago I would have unequivocally said Portsalon, (which I have played 15 times over roughly 20 years) over Sandy Hills(mostly because Portsalon is one of my favorite spots in the world and partially because I had early on deemed Sandy Hills borderline unplayable for most)


But last September I was more than mildly surprised with the playability improvements/mown marram grass areas at SH and watched my assistant shoot his low round of the trip, and I was pretty close as well.
I had forgotten how many good/great holes were out there ,and how good the views and topography were.
IMHO, it wouldn't take a whole lot more to elevate Sandy Hills to the top tier of courses in Ireland, but I do think Tom's advice is pretty good re: which course to choose.


As it is, I can't think of anywhere in the UK/Ireland or anywhere for that matter, with three courses of such high quality and such variety(Tom Morris, SH and St. Patrick's)
I've always been a fan of TM, in all its various iterations, and used to make it a point to play it every trip to Donegal. Now all three courses at Rosapenna are must plays in Donegal.


There's also the convenience aspect of playing another round on the Rosapenna property, though that could be offset for me by the spectacular drive into Portsalon via the Mulroy Bridge and subsequent scenic drive overlooking the lough.


Strandhill over Donegal, though Donegal is a friendly club and both courses have their charms.
Strandhill(played in 2018) probably has a bit more cool quirk and a bit more blue collar feel. It's been a long time since I played Donegal ('97 and 2011) so I may have missed some updates.

[Thomas Dai]

Combine Cruit and Gweedore in one day?
If you play Sandy Hills play from the most appropriate tees and hint, they ain’t likely to be one’s players walk back  too otherwise it’s likely to be a slow, disillusioning, lost ball slog.

Atb

[Dan_Callahan]

I would do Sandy Hills over Portsalon without even thinking about it, and I would combine it with Old Tom for a 36-hole day (Old Tom is an easy walk, Sandy Hills is more of a hike up and down the dunes, so I would build some time in between the rounds if possible).


I enjoyed Strandhill, but I would have had a very tough time if I wasn't playing with a member. It is absolutely a course I would happily go back to. However, Donegal is very good. When I first played it in 2019, I was unimpressed. It seemed long a difficult just for the sake of being long and difficult. When I played it again last summer, it was clear they had made significant changes, clearing out lots of trees and softening the course quite a bit. So if I had to choose between. those two for one round, I would go with Donegal.


I will also add that in that part of Ireland, I would pick Narin & Portnoo over Strandhill and Donegal (and I would add a round at Cruit Island for a 27-hole day). I also really, really liked Rosses Point, even though it is expensive.

[Doug Wright]

Hi Mayday, As you may recall I toured west and northwest Ireland after BUDA, and played all these courses except Portsalon (which I've played before several years ago). The two biggest surprises on the trip, which also included Lahinch, Carne, Enniscrone, Narin & Portnoo and Cruit Island, were Strandhill and Sandy Hills. I played Strandhill the same day as Rosses Point (which I played in really difficult conditions and was really tough) and really enjoyed Strandhill. Playable, good variety and a lovely setting. With a couple exceptions, I found Donegal to be rather bland.


I was somewhat dreading playing Sandy Hills again because it was brutally narrow and no fun at all the other time I played it years ago. However, as mentioned the playing corridors have been widened and the course softened in a couple places and therefore it was a much more enjoyable round. I still prefer OTM and now St. Patrick's (which exceeded my already high expectations) but I now would not hesitate to play Sandy Hills.


Message me if you want more information.   

[Rob Marshall]

Hi Mayday, As you may recall I toured west and northwest Ireland after BUDA, and played all these courses except Portsalon (which I've played before several years ago). The two biggest surprises on the trip, which also included Lahinch, Carne, Enniscrone, Narin & Portnoo and Cruit Island, were Strandhill and Sandy Hills. I played Strandhill the same day as Rosses Point (which I played in really difficult conditions and was really tough) and really enjoyed Strandhill. Playable, good variety and a lovely setting. With a couple exceptions, I found Donegal to be rather bland.


I was somewhat dreading playing Sandy Hills again because it was brutally narrow and no fun at all the other time I played it years ago. However, as mentioned the playing corridors have been widened and the course softened in a couple places and therefore it was a much more enjoyable round. I still prefer OTM and now St. Patrick's (which exceeded my already high expectations) but I now would not hesitate to play Sandy Hills.


Message me if you want more information.

When did they make these changes to Sandy Hills? I was there in 2013.


What are thoughts on the Old Mac course there?

[Tony_Muldoon]

Yes indeed Sandy Hiils has been transformed.


First played in April 2008 and was stunned by the feeling of playing on top of the world, above the clouds ( must have been the weather that day because I've not quite had that feeling since - it was a spectacular experience).  But it was a day of lost balls and forget the score.


Played again circa 2015(?) and it was just too difficult.


So setting out with Doc, who had played it shortly after it opened,  in a 'solid' wind gusting 25 mph a couple of weeks ago, we we delighted by what we found. Not only were the fairways pushed out,  but at least 7 "Ruddy" bunkers randomly inserted into the face of the raised greens, had been removed (as evidenced by my 2008 Scoresaver) and it even felt like the greens were larger and easier to hold than before. All very useful as the wind grew even stronger.  I felt a few holes on the back 9 didn't seem to have enjoyed the full benefit from widening, but I now long to play it again.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Here's some info on the work Beau Welling did on Sandy Hills:
https://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/beau-welling-oversees-reshaping-of-the-twelfth-green-at-sandy-hills-links