an inquiring mind about the Cashen Course

[PThomas]

Mark Rowlinson brought this course up on a another thread, so I thought it was worthy of its own

how good is it?  I remember when it came out the late  great Peter Dobereiner thought it was even better than the other course there!

for those who have played them, perhaps you could give them a Doak rating...

gracias

[Bill Gayne]

Doak in the Confidential Guide gave it 0-5. I'm not sure what that means.

I would give it a high 6. Definitely a six "A very good course, definitely worth a game if your in town, but not necessarily worth a special trip to see. It shouldn't disappoint you."

A seven being an "excellent course."

You make the "special trip to see" the old course. The Cashen didn't disappoint me at all.

[PThomas]

it would be interesting if Tom provided an explanation to what he means by the "0-5" scoring, as he does it a few times in the book...

[Jason Topp]

I've only played it once, but I would agree with the 6 rating.  Incredible land, some interesting holes, but at least my recollection is that it does not really play like a links, more like a very firm inland course.  I recall needing to fly the ball into the greens on many or most holes.

Additionally, the only thing I remember about the seaside holes is the incredible view on a beautiful day.  Definitely play it if you are there but play as often as you can on the Old.  

[PThomas]

didn't they bring some other architect in to modity it?

[Jason Topp]

I don't recall that being mentioned.  I played there last June.

[PThomas]

Jason, I think I was thinking of Doonberg

[cary lichtenstein]

I always liked the Cashen course, thought the topography was great. I'd give it at least a 7.

[Tom_Doak]

The "0-5" ranking was meant to indicate that a fair number of people were absolutely going to hate the course and would support a "0" on the scale, while the rest would rate it somewhere up the line.

I'm shocked so many people rate the Cashen highly.  It's a spectacular piece of ground but it has a BUNCH of problems, and basically the club can only get people to play it by forcing visitors over there as part of a two-round package with the Old course.  Most of the members play it only in the summer when the Old course is completely full of slow visitors.

[Jason Topp]

I'm shocked so many people rate the Cashen highly.  It's a spectacular piece of ground but it has a BUNCH of problems, and basically the club can only get people to play it by forcing visitors over there as part of a two-round package with the Old course.  Most of the members play it only in the summer when the Old course is completely full of slow visitors.

Tom - It certainly did appear that only visitors played the Cashen.  Care to detail the problems you allude to?

[Philip Gawith]

I did not like the Cashen course at all. I felt like a goat wandering round on the side of these huge dunes, looking for balls in forbidding rough. Of all the links courses I have played in Ireland. it would be a strong competitor for my least favourite. It has scale, but no charm. It was ten years ago, so I don't really have specifics to back up those broad impressions, but I am sure not hurrying back.