[mark chalfant]

3 good golfers whose opinions I repect describe these
courses as quirky but fun to play. They also suggested that
Cashen was harder.

Which course might be worth a special trip ?
Does either have more admirable strategy than the other?

Thanks for any ideas.  !

[Jack_Marr]

Probably both courses require more balls than strategy. Maybe not. I would say for value for money, Carne is better. But Cashen is beside the old course in Ballybunion, so...

[Tim_Weiman]

Mark,

With the possible exception of Neil Regan, there is no one with more love of the Cashen than me. But, I would concur with Jack Marr. Strategy is not the word that comes to mind. Rather, the ability to hit very accurate shots in the usual strong wind is more important.

Strong legs wouldn't hurt either.

Take in the Cashen for the awesome nature of the land and don't worry so much about the architecture.

Make sure to hang out at the bar afterwards.

[Brian Phillips]

Tim,

I know one architect called Robin Hiseman that posts on here that might argue with you about who loves the course more.  I know he is a great fan of the course and even wrote about one of the holes in the latest 'Fave holes' book by Paul Daley.

The Institute just played the old course two weeks ago and I really enjoyed it even in the worst weather I have ever, ever played in.  80 mph and rain ALL day..

Brian

[Bill Gayne]

Mark,

I'd agree with what everybody before me has posted.

I've played both courses and I'm not sure what you mean by "special trip" but they are both worth making the journey to play. The journey is really half the fun. Especially Bellmullet which is not very convenient to anything.

The finishing holes at Carne are tough but play over great links land. Carne is a very raw course with minimal bunkering and very little that is artifical which is typical of Hackett.

Cashen course is a very demanding golf course to score well. The 13th hole is one of my favorites. If  you're planning on playing multiple courses you have more options with the location in Ballybunion.

[cary lichtenstein]

Cashen has always been a favorite of mind. It has the biggest dunes of all time. Very well worth playing.

[mark chalfant]

Jack,Tim,Brian,et al thanks for your help. Sean welcome !


Any thoughts on  Cashen's   best holes ?

[Matthew Schulte]

Sean:

Scotland seems to be quite a value when contrasted with Southwest Ireland in particular.  Muirfield is a bargain compared to Doonbeg at €195 or Old Head at a truly whopping €250!  Even The European Club weighs in at €150.

[Jack_Marr]

Yeah, the golf in the southwest is excessive. How much is the greenfee in Muirfield, by the way?

Carne is doing a deal at the moment - 25 euro per round http://www.carnegolflinks.com/E-Forms/specialOffers.php?Item=2005+Green+fees+for+25+euros

That represents good value to me.

[Doug Siebert]

What does the Links Trust do with its profit?  It must take in more than it spends...  Does it reduce or eliminate property or other taxes for the locals?  Is it used to buy land to build more courses?  Or is it just growing into an ever bigger pile of investments that their bylaws will never allow them to spend?

[GeoffreyC]

Mark

I've also played both and they are well worth a trip.  In my opinion Cashen is both a more difficult course and one with more that a person interested in architecture would appreciate.

Carne is absolutely beautiful and the ride to get there is well worth the trip. It is on land almost as dramatic as Cashen but some of the course is routed over somewhat mundane land with a few pedestrian holes (10 and 11?).  There is quite a bit of old discussion on Carne from back in 2000 or so if you can find it. I consider it a hidden gem yet it does not have any specifics or specific holes that stand out in my mind.  The Cashen certainly does.

[Jack_Marr]

Geoffrey

I wouldn't say 10 was a mundane hole - it's one of my farourate on the course. 11 is a great driving hole, but I dont' think much of the approach shot. I think the more mundane holes appear on the front nine.

Jack

[GeoffreyC]

Jack

Perhaps you are right about #10.  I recall the hole before the uphill fortress-like par 3 on the front 9 as being rather mundane.

This is all really nitpicking for faults in what is really a thrilling links experience.  Carne is well worth going to see.

Do you know what is happening with a second course?  That land adjacent to the course is awesome.

[Jack_Marr]

Geoffrey,

No, not nitpicking at all. Sure that's what this discussion board is about. I agree with you that Cashen might be architecturally more appealing.

Yeah, that would be the 6th. Taht' spretty mundane, alright. As is the fourth. There are a few more mundane holes too. In general, the front nine is much flatter than the back.

There is a further nine holes being developed by Jim Engh. This is quite dramatic land and will be like the back nine. None of the new holes will be along the sea, but maybe a further nine in the future will. Hopefully he'll do a good job.

Jack

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