Old Head Golf Links - Opinions?

[Dan Herrmann]

Any opinions on Old Head Golf Links in Southern Ireland?

My TiVo caught a show on Old Head and it looked like it had great views and awesome golf.  But you never know how much TV adds to the experience.

It looked that filming occured during grow-in.

http://www.oldheadgolflinks.com/

Green fees are 250 Euros ($330 US)

[Jason Topp]

Dan - there was some discussion about Old Head about a month or so ago in the following threads:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=15914;start=0

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=15935;start=msg275179#msg275179

While there are some differences of opinion, my view is that it is an incredible setting for an o.k. course.  Nonetheless go play it for the experience.

[Jack_Marr]

I don't like the idea of Old Head, but it is a fantastic place to play golf. Judging byhow much I enjoyed playing it, I think its a very good course on its own merits, disregarding the views and setting... I am in the minority in this, though.

Anyway, I doubt I'll play it again because of the fees, but it is a fantastic place.

[John Goodman]

I agree with Jack.  It's not a "must play" for an Ireland trip in general, but I would consider it such if traveling to the southwest part of the country.  Doak 6.  Maybe 7.

[Matt_Ward]

Dan H:

I have opined previously that Old Head is really a three-act play. There are ...

Six weak holes (design wise that is)
Six good holes
Six excellent holes

It's easy for people to diss the course as being simply a place "with a view" but that would be a major shortchanging of what's there.

However, one should not confuse Old Head with the likes of County Down, Portrush, Portmarnock or Ballybunion (Old).

[Steve Lapper]

Matt's opinion mirrors mine exactly. There are equal amounts of disappointment, pleasure, and elation. Not so dissimilar from my assessment of Pebble Beach and quite close in both price and experience. In fact, without Pebble's storied competitive history, it might as well be the US Old Head!

Perhaps the most compelling reason to visit Old Head might be the promise of spending time in nearby Kinsale....one of Ireland's most charming towns.

[Jim Franklin]

While I have not played there, I do have some friends that have and are low single digit handicappers that tell me it is their favorite course in the world. These guys have played a ton of places and like I said are good players too. I think the general golfing public probably likes it more than this hard core group of critics.

[Bill Gayne]

I played Old Head about five years ago when the rates were considerably less and found it completely enjoyable. I would pay today's rates one time to see the course. It's truly one of a kind. There's a lot of material in the archives about Old Head but I'm not sure what the best search word would be to get just Old Head posts.

[Matt_Ward]

Ditto my feelings on what Steve said about Kinsale. Great town to spend time in. I had the erfect "babysitter" for my wife while I played at the course.

Last item to mention -- I have to say the par-5 12th and par-5 17th are two of the finest par-5 holes you can play. The 12th is simply delicious with its daring go-for-broke tee shot and a green complex that's well done.

The sad part for Old Head is it's too bad what might have been. The golf could have shared equal billing with the spectacular views. But then again -- one can say the same for a place like Pebble Beach IMHO.

[cary lichtenstein]

It's like a gorgeous blond, the eye candy is great, you can't believe they even got a permit to built on this spectular land, and when you get done, you're left speechless, but somehow not quite satisfied.

[Andy Doyle]

I will also ditto the comments on Kinsale.  We stayed there one night on our recent trip - a gorgeous little harbor town with great seafood and a brewpub (supposedly the only pub in Ireland that doesn't serve Guinness).

I had read online that the course was closed, but we drove down to Old Head to have a look.  I was hoping to be able to walk out to the lighthouse and take a look at the course, but we were stopped by security at the rather imposing gate.  The security guard was very nice in turning us away, but I was more than a little put-off by the fort-like wall across the penninsula, complete with barbed wire that extended down to the cliff sides (as if they needed protection from the dirty masses of golf course nuts that might try to gain access to the property by braving the 200 foot cliffs).

The scenery is extraordinary, though, so I suppose I will try to play it some day.  It is a bit of a drive from the other SW Ireland courses - on my next trip I plan to concentrate on the coast from Lahinch down to Waterville (Lahinch, Doonbeg, Ballybunion, Tralee, Dooks, Waterville).

Andy

[Bob_Huntley]

I had read online that the course was closed, but we drove down to Old Head to have a look.  I was hoping to be able to walk out to the lighthouse and take a look at the course, but we were stopped by security at the rather imposing gate.  The security guard was very nice in turning us away, but I was more than a little put-off by the fort-like wall across the penninsula, complete with barbed wire that extended down to the cliff sides (as if they needed protection from the dirty masses of golf course nuts that might try to gain access to the property by braving the 200 foot cliffs).

Andy

Andy,

I am afraid that you have hit on the one of the less appealing aspects of Old Head. The relations with the locals has descended into an abyss of bitterness and recriminations. The thrust of the operation is to have an International Membership. For a six month season and some of the foggiest weather in Ireland during some of the time that the Club is
open, makes this a daunting proposition.  It ain't cheap either.


Bob

[Andy Doyle]

Bob:

With the relatively open land use spirit that people seem to have over there, I'm sure having that whole penninsula closed off is not going over well.  As if you couldn't tell from the walls and barbed wire, there was a big "Members Only" sign stuck right in the middle of the road as you approached the gate.  Maybe it's the jealous feeling from being on the wrong side of the wall, but it didn't make me want to rush back there.

Andy

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have thought about Old Head quite a bit.  I know this may sound ridiculous but I think it suffers from having such a dramatic and spectacular site.  There is no way the golf can match the views and aura of the place.  I have what I call the every other Tuesday syndrome.  One Tuesday I thinks the golf is only mediocre and the other tuesday I think it is grand .  I like being there and playing there.  I just am sad that it was made into such an expensive club for wealthy Americans and Brits.

[Tim_Weiman]

Dan,

I've never been a big fan of Old Head, the golf course. Now that I've seen the other 8th Wonder course - Cape Kidnappers - I'm even more convinced it is definitely a place you should see at least once, but good golf is not what the place is all about.

By contrast, Cape Kidnappers has as many, if not more awesome views, but also has alot more good golf.

Kinsale, however, is pretty cool.

[Andy Doyle]

Fantastic



Not


Note the barbed wire and the sign in the middle of the road before the entrance.

AD

[Bill Gayne]

Better steps probably could have been taken to provide a less austere entry and relations with the local community. Look at the attached links to see the types of attacks that Old Head has come under by anarchists who are fighting against private property rights. Fortunately, Irish courts have upheld private property rights. Whether such a glorious piece of property should have been developed into a golf course or a National Park is a good question. But the golf course is complete and the private property rights should not be subject to attack by anarchist.

http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/news/2003/oldheadJULY.html

http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/newold/2003.html

I believe from a 2002 protest.





Link to a 2001 protest with pictures.

http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/news/2001/kinsale_july2.html

[Andy Doyle]

OK, finally successful in posted images, and with a lot of tinkering in PhotoShop finally got them the right size.

In the top photo, also note the barbed wire fence that extends right to the edge of the cliff.  In the bottom photo it's hard to see, but the big yellow letters on the columns of the gate also proclaim "Members and Guests Only."

I think I understand the fortress mentality after seeing Bill's anarchist photos  .

Andy