Top 5 pure Irish links courses...

[Matt_Ward]

Jack:

You asked a very good question. I wonder how others would define Old Head?

A pseudo-links!

[fred ruttenberg]

I assume everyone can have his own definition as what constitutes a "links" course. Old Head certainly has the feel of a links course. I agrre with you Matt that Old Head has some excellent holes. It was just my let down after playing the course as opposed to the sensation after playing Bandon Dunes for the first time.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I think Old Head is a very good golf course, it just isn't a links course.  It is seaside with a capital "S".  The ground while firm is more inland in nature.

[Tim_Weiman]

Matt Ward:

I do like #4, 17 and 18 at Old Head, but am not quite as wild about the others. That aside, maybe you are right about opinions swinging too high at first and now falling too low. Any way you look at it, The Old Head is worth a visit at least once in one's life......even for non golfers, e.g., the golf widow who tags along.

Tim

[Tim_Weiman]

tommyw:

I'm not aware of what you mean by suggesting Ballybunion Old has seen tickering lately. My last visit was in December and I don't recall seeing anything. The last significant work I know of was a few years prior to the 2000 Irish Open and even that would be difficult to detect for most people.

There ARE some changes that have been made on the Cashen recently, e.g. the grading in front of #17 tee, but again, I don't recall anything done on the Old from my three visits last year.

I'll be there again in a couple weeks so I'm curious what you meant.

Thanks,

Tim

[Matt_Ward]

Fred:

In any listing of great holes one has to include the 12th at Old Head. What an exciting par-5 -- fraught with so many options and consequences.

When you stand on the back tee and look over the expanse with the cliffs / water hugging the left side as close as any child would stand next to their parents you get a rush of excitement.

I have to say the 12th at Old Head is one of those types of holes that causes a rush of excitement because literally ANY number is in play.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Tim,

I may have incorrect info but i was told that the second green, fourth tee, sixth green, fifteen green  and eighteen have been altered slightly.  Is this true or was I misinformed.  I haven't played there since 1999.

[Tim_Weiman]

tommy w:

Wow! That is some information.....perhaps I'm the one misinformed, but I didn't see any evidence of any changes to the greens you mentioned when I was there in December.

The best clue that your source probably was refering to another course is #2 and #6. I'd be shocked if anyone even proposed touching them.

As for the 4th, I wonder if your source had #5 in mind and was refering to the extra tee built for the Irish Open....a tee close to the O'Sullivan home that is barely noticeable.

Regarding #18, honestly I don't remember the exact year (late 90's), but the top of the Sahara bunker was lowered about 12 inches. Again, this change is barely noticeable, but I do like it. It means that while the green remains blind, tee shots hit to certain location sometimes afford of view of the flag.

Bottom line: changes to the Old Course at Ballybunion come very slowly. After the Watson review in the mid 90's, not much has happened save recontructing some bunkers, e.g., holes #1 and #3.

Sorry, Watson also rebuilt the #7 green in the late 90's.

Tim

[Tags:]

Tags: