Ireland's best

[PThomas]

the family vacation plan is to go to Ireland next year..the following are the courses I DEFINITELY want to see:

1. Royal C Down
2. Both Ballybunion courses
3. European CLub
4. Portmarnock
5. Royal Portrush
6. Lahinch
7. Waterville
8. The Island
9. Doonberg
10. Old Head

thoughts on the above?  others you'd recommend?  all opinions would be greatly appreciated!!

[Padraig Dooley]

Paul

They're all worth seeing. I'd include Co. Louth on the list as well.

[PThomas]

Brad Kelin said in GW last year that Old HEad is one of his five favorites Donal

Padraig, Mike Hurdzan had Co. Louth as one of his five...I shall be adding it to my list!

[Padraig Dooley]

The Old Head mightn't be the greastest course in the world but it is a great experience, well worth going out of your way to have a look.

There is much more to have a look at. How much time do you have Paul?

[John Mayhugh]

Definitely add County Louth to the list if you're able to.  I don't think there is a weak hole on the course.  And if you like, you're almost sure to get a lot of wind.

[PThomas]

The Old Head mightn't be the greastest course in the world but it is a great experience, well worth going out of your way to have a look.

There is much more to have a look at. How much time do you have Paul?

Padraig - we are going to try and stay for three weeks...so I am hoping to play abour 15 times , give or take...feel free to forward any suggestions!

and this will NOT be my last trip there!!  so if I don't get to them this time I will in the future!

[Jason Topp]

Based on my one trip to the Southwest, I would consider adding the following to your list:

Dooks (I really enjoyed it after getting the snot beat out of me by the bigger courses)

Tralee - back nine and 3-4 holes on the front are terrific.

If I were to remove anything from your list it would be:
 - Doonbeg
 - Ballybunion Cashen

However I was glad I played them both

Old Head is worth the trip.  I expected one of the great courses in the world and was disappointed.  Nonetheless, it might be the most spactacular setting for golf in the world.

[David_Tepper]

Paul -

The problem with playing the "best" courses in Ireland is that they are spread out around the country and drive times are much longer than you might expect.

Rosses Point (County Sligo) is highly recommended, but it is a bit of a drive from the other courses on your list.

DT

[PThomas]

re the Cashen Course, I had started a thread on that one a few months ago, and there were many who felt that it was not worth playing...but there were several who felt the opposite..

Doonberg was one of Brad's five favorites...he wrote that it "is by far the most interesting course he [Norman] has done."...but it certainly doesn't have the almost universal stamp of greatness that Ballybunion Old, RCD, and a few others have

[Aidan Bradley]

Paul,

Just to make sure that you send in the check to your travel agent,  below, sans "The Island" is a tease. They are arranged in your order of preference as per the first of this thread.

[PThomas]

WOW Aidan, thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!  I'll make sure my family sees these pictures

right before I saw your pictures I was looking at Old HEad's website and drooling over its pictures....and then I see your stuff...and I want to go NOW!!!!

I literally have goosebumps while I am typing this!

only 14 months or so to wait!

[Aidan Bradley]

Paul,

I feel like I am working for the Irish Tourist Board but here are examples of the other courses mentioned on this thread.

Dooks
Tralee
Baltray (Co Louth)
Rosses Point (Sligo)
Rosapenna (Sandy Hills)

[PThomas]

the Irish Tourist Board SHOULD hire you AIdan!! thanks again!!!

[Jeff Doerr]

Aidan,

I hope they are paying you, because I think you just added a bunch of new reservations!

[Marty Bonnar]

the Irish Tourist Board SHOULD hire you AIdan!! thanks again!!!

Au contraire, Paul,
the man should be imprisoned for misrepresentation under the Trades Descriptions Act 1968. Nowhere on this planet can possibly look this good!

You're a talented snapper, Mr B. Every image has me reaching for the travel agent's phone number....marvellous!

FBD.

[mike_malone]

 Aidan,
   

    I'm with Martin. Are you sure this is "the" Ireland ; the one just to the left of Great Britain on the map ?


   I would add Portstewart to your journey, Paul.



   BTW here's my Sept. trip

     Day
   
        1--Lahinch--pitch and putt
        2--Lahinch--possibly Spanish Point
        3--Ballybunion--Should we try for Tralee?
        4--Cashen-long drive
        5--Enniscrone-36
        6--Carne-36
        7--County Sligo--possibly a nine holer like Connemara
                       Isles
       

[Padraig Dooley]

Paul

Where are you basing yourself? It's probably easiest to pick two bases and build your itinerary around them. You'll get to most courses on your list from Dublin and Killarney with a maximum of around 90-120 minutes driving time with a couple of exceptions.


As always Aidan's pictures are excellent. It's always perfect weather over here as well .

[PThomas]

Paul

Where are you basing yourself? It's probably easiest to pick two bases and build your itinerary around them. You'll get to most courses on your list from Dublin and Killarney with a maximum of around 90-120 minutes driving time with a couple of exceptions.

that's what I was thinking as I looked at a map this morning and where the courses are located Padraig...my wife went there last year and said Dublin has a big city feel to it, which i don't need to experience, so I think we will stay somewhere near Dublin but not directly in it

[Brendan Dolan]

If you head up to the Northwest part of Ireland, Carne, Enniscrone, Portsalon, Donegal (Murvuagh), and Rosses Point are all pretty darn good.  Also up there is a little 9 holer called Criat Island(Spelling might be wrong).  It is a really remote course, but has some excellent holes.  Also if you spend a couple of days in Portrush there are a number of really good courses around there.  Although we didn't play it the valley course at Royal Portrush got some high praise from a member we talked to.  Castlerock and Portstewart are also excellent.  Another course near Royal County Down that is quite good is Ardglass.  Good luck with the planning!

Brendan  

[Aidan Bradley]

Recent thread additions for your viewing pleasure from the land of eternal sunshine, craic, and adult libations.......

Portstewart
Carne
Ardglass
Enniscrone

[mike_malone]

 Aidan,

   I can attest that I am going to County Sligo because I want to play that par three that I saw from your website a while ago.

[Aidan Bradley]

Michael,

Try playing it in a howling wind and rain storm as I did and you will find it a cruel mistress. Nevertheless, a few pints of Guniness by the fire place a little later and you will be singing her praises.......

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I like your list and would add County Louth as well a few of the ones Aidan noted. I would drop TEC down to the 8 to 10 ranking and Cashen at Ballybunion below that though.

[cary lichtenstein]

Cashen is well worth playing and can be done the same day as the old Ballybunion course

[Matt_Ward]

Paul:

Old Head gets dissed by a few of the snobs on this site but there are a number of excellent holes there -- no less than a third of the layout is first rate in my mind for what it's worth. I have not been back since my first time about three years ago -- if they corrected about 1/3 of the course that looks like it could be designed out of the Orlando coloring book then things have clearly improved there.

In regards to the scenery there -- it simply blows away Pebble Beach as a comparison.

I also would elevate any time you can to play Lahinch multiple rounds -- on the down side I have a very low opinion of The European Club. It's a stern layout but on the character side I think you have better places to spend your time and $$.

One last item -- on Ballybunion / Old the real course -- minus the superb uphill 2nd, only begins when you reach the par-4 6th. I also thing the layout -- while solid in so many ways -- lacks quality par-5's of note.

P.S. Be sure to bring plenty of eggs when you tackle Dunluce at Portrush. The fairways are especially narrow in many spots and when you leave the secondary cut for the primary you have better odds finding the body of Hoffa than in ever seeing that golf ball again. I'd love for them to soften the hayfields at Dunluce just a tad or widen the fairways and keep the hay.