Last Minute Ireland - Accessibility as Single

[SPDB]

A last minute trip came up, and I'm trying to figure out whether to pair it with a side trip to Ireland. What is walk-up (or late booking) accessibility like in Ireland for the single player for some of the better known courses/clubs?

[Jonathan Cummings]

You can play almost all the Irish courses as a single (RCD, Portrush, Lahinch included).  Portmarnock and Ballybunion can be hard to access even as a single but if you are willing to wait that is also often do-able.  The Scots and Irish have become drugged by the American and Japanese dollar and Yen.  Be prepared to pay $100-200+ for a round.  $300 at Old Head.  

Have a letter of intro with handicap and most will let you fill out a foursome.  In Ireland and Scotland you generally have to be "invited" to join a 3-some, in other words the group is asked and can refuse you if they wish.

JC

[Don Dinkmeyer]

Other factors include time of day for non-member play and days of the week available.

I've done single w/advance planning in Ireland and had no problems after wrestling a few of the logistics as mentioned...

I've found it easier to call if you need immediate confirmation; email often takes several days to a week (my experience recently).

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I think it is a great way to play over there. I have met some great people as a single. My only disappointment is when I get paired with a dockers commercial group of yanks.

[Mike Hendren]

I think it is a great way to play over there. I have met some great people as a single. My only disappointment is when I get paired with a dockers commercial group of yanks.

Tiger, imagine THEIR disappointment at being paired with an LSU Tiger

[Jonathan Cummings]

Tiger - I agree.  I've trooped around Scotland and Ireland by myself on a number of occasions and have never hit a road block.  I've played the Old Course many times as a walk on and the longest I've had to wait is about an hour.

That said, it has become nearly impossible to get a group out at any of the named courses at the last minute....

JC

[Jim Nugent]

I played Portmarnock with a friend as walk-ons, in August 1997.  Wait was about 15 minutes.  Course was very empty that day.  Cost about $90 back then as I recall.  

[SPDB]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

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