Top 5 pure Irish links courses...

[RJ_Daley]

As we approach the happy hour on St Patrick's day, perhaps you can wet the appetite for the yearning to play some authentic Irish links and the best atmosphere to go with it.

I have yet to have the pleasure of tramping across those links, but from what I have seen and heard, Connamera, Lahinch, Dooks, Ballybunion old, Sligo, Rosapenna and Portmarnock are representative.  Ooops, was that more than 5.  Well we Irish have a difficult time not over endulging from time to time...

[hp@hc]

Royal Portrush
The Island
Rosses Point
Doonbeg
Portmarnock

[Stan Dodd]

County Louth
County Down

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

Five is a poor number in Ireland,  you are stuck excluding several great courses.  Ten to twelve is a more appropriate number for a top list!  Though there are some week holes, I have a soft spot for Port Stewart.  And Dooks is very far from great, but there are some awesome holes and it is a total blast to play. A pilgrimage to Ireland is as much in order as one to Scotland!!!!

[Dan Grossman]

Yup...great topic..

Newcastle (County Down)
Portrush
(big gap - both in golf and politically....)

Baltray (County Louth)
The Island
Rosses Point (County Sligo)

I haven't played Ballybunion and I have only played Lahinch pre-recent changes.  I don't think its better....

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

1. royal county down
2. Portrush



3. Ballybunion
4. Portmarnock



5. lahinch, county louth, county sligo back nine at traylee, Ballyliffin
really only a true top 4 to me.

[Mike_Sweeney]

With the use of the word "Pure", I have to add in Carne. It still has a virginal quality out there !!

[Tim_Weiman]

Dick Daley:

Never mind the comment above about Dooks not being a "great" place. It is!

But, it is also a bit like Ballybunion in that its real charm comes not from the architecture, but from just hanging out there. If you show up, play the course and quickly leave, you will really miss it - a mistake far too many American visitors make.

FYI, I recently got a very nice e mail from someone who lurks here and asked for assistance getting on Ballybunion a few weeks ago when the course was closed for non member play.

Candidly, I told this gentleman that I get many similiar requests and I turn almost all of them down. But, I also told him to just go to Ballybunion anyway just to have a beer. Trust me, I told him, if you have reasonable social skills, you will be invited to play.......and of course, he was.

That's the secret to Irish golf. Don't try to plan or rate everything......just be a warm human being and you'll do fine.

Like a friend of mine said about Dooks: "Dooks is really cool......it doesn't deserve to be.......it just is".

Tim

[RJ_Daley]

Awe shucks guys, this was too easy, and I'm surprised no one else picked up on it.  I feel so guilty, I will do the honors myself.  

Considering my responses to the SH VS FH thread and all my blather about ratings, one has to admit, I have foisted myself upon my own petard...whatever the heck a petard is?

ouch!

[Dan Kelly]

Awe shucks guys, this was too easy, and I'm surprised no one else picked up on it.  I feel so guilty, I will do the honors myself.  

Considering my responses to the SH VS FH thread and all my blather about ratings, one has to admit, I have foisted myself upon my own petard...whatever the heck a petard is?

ouch!

Dick --

I know you'd want to know -- and now you will, courtesy of www.m-w.com:

"Main Entry: pe·tard

Pronunciation: p&-'tär(d)

Function: noun
 
Etymology: Middle French, from *peter* to break wind, from *pet* expulsion of intestinal gas, from Latin *peditum*, from neuter of *peditus*, past participle of *pedere* to break wind; akin to Greek *bdein* to break wind

1 : a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall

2 : a firework that explodes with a loud report"

----

Foisting oneself upon one's own petard is one of the great malapropisms of our time, or perhaps any time! Take a bow!

Again from m-w.com:

"Main Entry: 1hoist  

Pronunciation: 'hoist, *chiefly dial* 'hIst

Function: verb

Etymology: alteration of *hoise*

*transitive senses*

1 : LIFT, RAISE; *especially* : to raise into position by or as if by means of tackle

2 : DRINK 1 <*hoist* a few beers>

*intransitive senses* : to become hoisted : RISE

synonym see LIFT

- hoist·er *noun* Main Entry: hoise"

Under "hoise," we find:

"hoist with one's own petard : victimized or hurt by one's own scheme"

---------------

I do believe that the Middle French *peter* was the etymological inspiration for the stage name of one Joseph Pujol -- a/k/a "Le Petomane" (the Fartiste). See  www.thatisweird.com/petomane.htm.

At another site -- one you probably don't want to visit, lest you be overwhelmed with spam, as I expect to be -- I found: "At his peak, this anal entertainer won sellout crowds at Paris' renowned Moulin Rouge, with his appearances outgrossing top performers like actress Sarah Bernhardt several times over."

No pun intended, I trust.
 
---------------

You will recall that one of Mel Brooks's characters in "Blazing Saddles" was "Gov. William J. LePetomaine." Now you'll know why, if you didn't before.

---------------

The only Irish course I've played is Lahinch. If there are five better there, I can't wait to get back to the homeland -- where I can hoist a few in their honor!

 

[RJ_Daley]

Dan, we are never going to make the 1000 if we keep this up.   But then again, I don't feel I'm foisting anything on anyone since it was my thread to highjack.  

As for the rest, I guess that whole etymology thing with petard should have been within my cultural grasp since we Italians say 'petitune'  and I might fancy myself a petitunista after enough St Pat's day...  As for my musings about the futility of ratings exercises on the other thread... foist it or hoist it; it was my petitune for the day...

[Jack_Marr]

Royal County Down
Portmarnock
Ballybunion
Enniscrone
Lahinch

Of course, I could have Portrush, Portstewert, Baltray, Tralee, Rosses Point, Doonbeg (never played it, but it looks great), The Island.

I don't consider Old Head to be a links course...

One day, maybe, Royal Petard.

[Norbert P]

  Dick, I really do believe that YOU SHOULD GO TO IRELAND.  I don't know what the five best pure linksers are but I can assure you that if you played five they'd be your favorites.  If that makes some sense than it's as good a reason to go as there can be given. There is no bad links course if you follow Tim Weiman's advice.  
    I think it comes down to time and trail.  I went the Lahinch, Carne,  Narin & Portnoo way so missed out on a lot but didn't miss or regret a thing.  I always thought I'd go back and play the famous toughies when I got better as a player but getting better doesn't seem to be much of an ambition for me any more. Just getting back to Ireland and hangin' with the banshees is enough to keep my blood moving at a healthy trot.  
   That said, Lahinch is a must and the rockin' little town of Doolin is just up the way.  Great craick and live music makes for great times to be had.  You'll feel like an Irishman for the first time all over again.  The misses will love it too.   There's Jameson's too.  You remember the Jameson's don't you?  

[Jack_Marr]

Doolin is a lovely town. Cram yourself into Gus Connor's pub for good music and good craic.

I always put Royal County Down up top of my lists, even though I've never played it. Of all the courses listed, Lahinch is my favourate and always has been. My father is from Lisdoonvarna, so I have ties out there. You'll meet the most unpretentious people you'll ever see there.

Speaking of Jameson, John Jameson of the whiskey fame used to own the land that Portmarnock is on. And if you can pick up a bottle of Jameson Gold in the airport, you shouldn't miss the opportunity.

[Paul Richards]

Royal County Down
Ballybunion
Royal Portrush
Portmarnock
Lahinch

Slainche!!

 

[Norbert P]

 Purely....

 www.carnegolflinks.ie  

Eddie Hackett's final and perhaps finest presentation of Ireland's naturally grand and unpretentious golf.

 Getting there is half the fun with stops in the charming little towns of Clifden, Westport, Mulrany and of course Belmullet; with Enniscrone and then Sligo not that far away.  

 Also, landing in Shannon is as relaxed an airport as you'll ever find and you won't get white-knuckled driving (on the left side) out of there on the first day if you rent "eine mietwagen".    

[Top100Guru]

Not in any order:

Portmarnock
Lahinch
Royal County Down
Royal Portrush
Ballybunion

[Paul Richards]

Top100Guru:

Looks like we have the same list - only I put mine in order.

Slainche!

[fred ruttenberg]

Royal Portrush
Royal County Down
Ballybunion

In any order these are the top 3.

Portstewart (front 9 might be best in country)

Fifth place is a toss-up between several. I would select The European Club. However, if I were recommending to a friend where to play a fifth round, I would pick Old Head which is one of the most dramatic settings for golf in the world (even though the course does not live up to the setting).

[Matt_Ward]

Fred R:

Just one little point on Old Head -- you have a layout that is more than just a view. It contains really three acts --

*six holes are really pedestrian
*six holes are really good
*six holes are simply stellar

Clearly, the issue for Old Head is rising above the high bar that already exists in Ireland. In my mind -- Old Head is much more than simply a treat for the eyes.

P.S. You're quite correct -- if a choice is made between European Club and Old Head I'd go with the latter as well and the decision rests on more than just the view.

[Tim_Weiman]

Matt,

Can you share which holes at Old Head you feel are stellar?

Thanks,

Tim

[michael j fay]

In order:

Royal Portrush
Ballybunion Old
County Louth
Royal County Down
Lahinch

In pure esthetics RCD is the best but it suffers from a mediocre finish (16,17,18).

Although Royal County Down is often referred to as the course with the most spectacular views (the sea, the town of Newcastle and the Mountains of Mohr, all at once), I was blown away bt the Ring of Kerry through 600 yards of yellow gorse in bloom at Dooks.

One course that has not hit the radar in this thread is Waterville, a wonderful layout with spectacular views. The bamboo growing behind the 17th tee is a nice touch. A visit to Waterville, staying at the Waterville House, eating at the Huntsman or the Butler Arms and playing the course with the best caddies in Ireland is phenominal. I think Waterville falls into the great golf experiences in the British Isles.

[Matt_Ward]

Tim:

How bout the following ...

2nd (par-4)
4th (par-4)
12th (par-5)
16th (par-3)
17th (par-5)
18th (par-4)

I even think the short par-4 15th is quite good.

The issue with Old Head is that certain people raved about the place as being beyond the top 4-5 pure links of Ireland and that's a big time stretch. However, on the flip side, you have people who have not been really fair in their assessment of the course either -- when I hear comments that the whole place is just another "American" course plopped down in Ireland that's also a stretch.

[Jack_Marr]

But Matt

Is it a links course? I don't think so.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have to admit that the "pure" word causes me to change my thinking from the best to those courses that humans have touched the least.  I would include courses:
Narin and Portnoo
Carne
Royal Portrush (valley)
Balliliffen(old)
Ballybunion(old) although it has been tinkered with recently.
Dooks

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