[D_Malley]

In reading finnegans new book "Where Golf is Great" i discovered this links course in Donegal, Ireland.  Does anyone know of it, or possibly have some pics, hoping maybe Aidan has been there.  i have a special interest in this place because an irish cousin is a member and the family owns a pub "Packies" just across the Gweebarra bay from the course.  i am sure i will get there some day.  finnegans quote was "a majestic jewel" for fear of overusing the phrase hidden jem.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I am not sure it is "majestic' but it certainly is fun.  It begins in a trailer park but quickly goes out in great dunesland.  It is off the beaten path but well worth the trip.  I found it by accident ten years ago and still remembeer the course.  The conditioning wasn't the best because the course is on common land and shares it with "wild" beasts.

[David_Tepper]

N&P has been mentioned favorably here a few times over the past couple of years. I more or less came across the course by accident on a trip in 1994. The first 4 or 5 holes are more or less across flattish pastureland. But once you get into the seaside dunes, things get VERY interesting, with a lot of bumps and humps. The 360 degree view from the 6th or 7th tee is truly spectacular. Definitely worth a detour if you are in that part of Ireland.

[D_Malley]

par 69, 5800+ yards & six par 3's.

[Aidan Bradley]

Sorry Racetrack_George, no images of Nairn and Portnoo yet. Scheduled to shoot there this coming Summer.

Aidan.

[D_Malley]

thanks anyway Aidan, when you are over there you must go to Packies Pub, they say one of the best views in Ireland to enjoy a pint.

[Johnny_Browne]

George,
I know it well and am a member there. I will be there this weekend. The views from the course are outstanding but I have not (yet) visited that Pub. I have many pictures but have not posted pictures before - will try to post a few over the next few days. The course has improved dramatically over the last few years and is one of the most fun courses you will ever play.
Johnny

[D_Malley]

johnny
 glad to hear from someone in that part of the world. if you would email a couple of your photos, i think i can post them for you.  you can get my email address by clicking on my name.  thanks in advance

[Jonathan Cummings]

I've played N&P.  A fine little club that could not be more understated.  

Johnny - how is the re-working of the home holes going?  Those final holes looked great although they were not finished when we visited last year.

JC

[Johnny_Browne]

Jonathan,
All holes finished but two par fives along the coast not yet opened as still battling with the environmentalists.  Will update after this weekend.
Johnny

[D_Malley]

here are some photos compliments of Johnny Brown

8th Green

[D_Malley]

9th Tee


16th Hole


New 15th HolIMG]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/paxonpro/new15th.jpg[/IMG]e

[D_Malley]

New 15th Hole
IMG]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/paxonpro/new15th.jpg[/IMG]

[D_Malley]

for some reason the pic of the new 15th hole is not comming up

[Tom Huckaby]

New 15th Hole

[D_Malley]

johnny
what is the new yardage with the new holes and recent changes, and are there still 6 par 3's.

Tom H. thanks for posting the last photo for me.  

[Jack_Marr]

[Johnny_Browne]

Jack,
That is a great picture of the tee shot at 17 - a wonderful par 4 with a roller coaster fairway that would never appear on a modern course because the bulldozers would flatten it. There used to be a fence accross the middle and cows on the fairway on the other side of the fence (which caused some interesting lies).
Some of the new holes are open and there are still 6 par 3s but there will only be 4 if the holes along the shore are allowed to come into play.
Johnny

[Jonathan Cummings]

Wonderful pictures!  Racetrack - if that is you on the tee you look to have a great swing.

We visited N&P during a gale.  It was a blustery but mostly clear day with the wind blowing so hard power lines to the hamlet had been down for hours.  We arrived on "ladies day" to a dark clubhouse.  A pleasant woman took our Euros for a few tokens, Guinnesses and greens fees and hand wrote us receipts - her cash register had no power.  We were early and she told us we were free to 'play on' after all the women were off for the day.  Three showed up.

N&P played downwind on the outward half and we were merrily enjoying Herculaneum distances blasting over par 5s in two.  At the marvelous spit of land where N&P makes a somewhat convoluted turn, we reversed direction directly into the wind.  Bent over like Quasimodos we fought our way back to the clubhouse in one of the most severe conditions (and it wasn't even raining!) I have ever played in.  

Still it's a place I want to see again and I recommend it to all.  With the new holes N&P is a strong second echelon gem that almost any of the treehouse denizens would greatly appreciate.

JC

[Johnny_Browne]

Jonathan,
That is my brother Tim hitting off - I was only allowed to post pictures of his good swing! The new back nine if allowed to open all holes will be the toughest back nine in Ireland with 8 holes into the wind, 3 par 5s, 2 long par 4s that were par 5s and the hardest drive I have ever been faced with off the new high tee at 15 (I will post a picture sometime soon)
Johnny

[D_Malley]

where is the green in the pic of 17 tee?

[D_Malley]

two more pictures i have found

8th hole from tee, green is also pictured above


12th hole green, tee high on dune in distance

[Jay Flemma]

The course is affectionately called Narin and Portmoo because of all the cows that inhabit the land.  These pictures are terrific...lok at the way the land just rolls all over the place.  What terrific fairway undulation and green contours!

I think the course was highlighted in either "golfing in ireland" or "links of heaven" I forget which.  I'll look it up tonight when I get home.

[Jack_Marr]

Jack,
That is a great picture of the tee shot at 17 - a wonderful par 4 with a roller coaster fairway that would never appear on a modern course because the bulldozers would flatten it. There used to be a fence accross the middle and cows on the fairway on the other side of the fence (which caused some interesting lies).
Some of the new holes are open and there are still 6 par 3s but there will only be 4 if the holes along the shore are allowed to come into play.
Johnny

Johnny

Yes, I thought was a good picture. It's from their own website.

Here's a different course, but with a similar fairway...

[Jonathan Cummings]

Actually, the outward 4-5 holes are rather flat with much less surface definition.  A picture of the 2nd or 3rd hole would look nothing like the posted pictures.  The course really starts rock and rolling around 7(?) (8?) when it heads uphill into the dunes.

JC

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