Nairn and Portnoo GC - Donegal w/ pics

[D_Malley]

a link on the club's website says the course was featured on an episode of "The Wandering Golfer"

[D_Malley]

more pictures of this place to come tomorrow, compliments of gca.com contributor and N&P club member Johnny Browne.  thanks for sharing these awesome images johnny.

[D_Malley]

pictures of the 10th hole.  

[D_Malley]

tee shot on new 15th hole


view from 9th

[Johnny_Browne]

Dan,
Thanks for posting the pictures. Unfortunately the good swing off the 10th tee is not mine - it is my prospective son in law - a PGA professional in N Ireland - I am the admiring onlooker.  I am off to Narin and Portnoo in the morning and will report back on developments although the photos may not be so good as weather wet and windy.
Johnny

[David_Tepper]

Gentleman -

Thanks for the N&P pics. What a beautiful spot.  You have brought back some nice memories.

DT

[Mike Leveille]

Johnny:

I am planning to play at N&P on a trip this spring.  In looking at the pictures you posted, I started wondering how the new holes (particularly the 15th) blend in with the rest of the course?  That last picture of 15 sure looks narrow with awfully thick grass right off the fairway.  Reminds me a bit of some of the new holes at Enniscrone - great golf but awfully punitive for the higher handicap player, especially if and when the wind is blowing hard.

Mike

[Jonathan Cummings]

Actually Mike, Enniscrone is not a bad comparison.  A flatter more benign start to both courses ends with a romp through the dunes for a series quite unlike the beginning holes.

JC

[D_Malley]

here is another of the new holes which are not open yet

new 16th


view from 11th



old 16th is pictured above par 3 playing down towards the caravan park.  

[D_Malley]

to me the pictures of N&P are similar to the look of cruden bay, especially the rolling nature of the land and the large sand dunes.  but unfortunately i have never been to either course.

[Johnny_Browne]

Mike,
You have hit the nail on the head - for various reasons 2 holes were put in along the dunes where there was really only room for one - trying not to disturb too much dunesland has resulted in too narrow landing areas (because jungle just off fairway). I am not sure how it will unfold.  I was there yesterday and new holes still not opened. I will keep GCA posted as I think many more are going to travel to NW Ireland as a golfing venue.
Happy New Year
Johnny

[Ed Tilley]

Actually Mike, Enniscrone is not a bad comparison.  A flatter more benign start to both courses ends with a romp through the dunes for a series quite unlike the beginning holes.

JC

Jonathan,

I think you probably played Enniscrone prior to the new holes in the dunes. The course now goes straight into the dunes and hardly comes out. There is a separate nine on the flat land that used to be in the main course. It really is an absolutely majestic course and vastly underrated IMO.

Ed

[Jonathan Cummings]

Ed - I'm sure you are right because I frankly had no idea what Sean was talking about.  The "old" Enniscrone was flat and played away from the dunes until 7 or 8.  I played Enniscrone last nine years ago so I assume the changes have been since then.  We thought the dunes holes were wonderful.  If the course has been re-routed to take more advantage of the dunes then schedule me a re-visit.

JC

[Ed Tilley]

Ed - I'm sure you are right because I frankly had no idea what Sean was talking about.  The "old" Enniscrone was flat and played away from the dunes until 7 or 8.  I played Enniscrone last nine years ago so I assume the changes have been since then.  We thought the dunes holes were wonderful.  If the course has been re-routed to take more advantage of the dunes then schedule me a re-visit.

JC

I think the changes were made in 2000 or 2001 - I think 7 new 'dune' holes designed by Donald Steel. It really is worth a visit, particularly as it is only 50 Euros for a round.

[Aidan Bradley]

A few images from Enniscrone since the changes were made. Happy New Year to all........Aidan

[Norbert P]

 Thanks for exciting some sleeping neurons. I ventured up on a whim to Narin and Portnoo after Donegal (Murvagh) was booked solid for a tourney.
    I remember one par three that had two large hillocks fronting and blocking full view of the green with a small pot bunker cleaving between them. It was a very interesting and unique design that I've never seen anywhere else. Does it still exist?   The photo of the 8th takes me back cleanly and I'm glad they've changed the old corrigated metal ocean spray break on 9 green(?) for the tidier choice.

 Tom Doak, in his Conf Guide, said positives but held it to a 4 and a "lark" as, justifiably, was not a strong 18. It's great to see it reinvesting and reinventing itself.  It's beautiful country up there and I would recommend it to anyone that makes the Carne, Sligo, Enniscrone loop.

  Thanks again.

[D_Malley]

new 15th tee