What are your top 20 Irish courses?

[WilliamWang]

i was watching the volvo pga championship last night, and a viewer question asked renton his "must plays" in ireland.  renton did not answer but a fellow from the irish tourism board did answer with 16 courses.  i was surprised that both ballybunion and lahinch were not on the list.  the k club and old head were however.

[Rick]

1. Portmarnock  
2. Royal Portrush
3. Royal County Down
4. Ballybunion Old
5. Tralee
6. County Louth (Baltray)
7. Portstewart
8. Lahinch
9. Killarney (Killeen)
10. St. Margarets
11. Partmarnock Links
12. Connemara
13. Waterville
14. Mt. Juliet
15. Enniscrone
16. Ballybunion (Cashen)
17. Killarney (Mahoney's Point)
18. County Sligo (Rosses Point)
19. Royal Dublin
20. Carne
21. The K-Club  

[Tim Weiman]

Will W:

The Old Head ia a must play......once.  Maybe that means a "must see".  Hell, I even took my Mom there for drinks.

[Ran Morrissett]

Rick, What is it that you don't like about Rosses Point? Cheers

PS Have you played The Island?

[Dub_ONeill]

I have not played all of the courses on your list, so I cannot comment on someof them.  However, I have played St. Margarets and I do not understand its position on this list.  If you are going to leave the links to play somewhere in Ireland, I think there are better places than St. Margarets that are not listed  at all.  Cork Golf Club would be one that comes to mind.

[Dan Grossman]

The Island was the most fun round of golf that I had in Ireland.  What a neat golf course (once we actually were able to find the road to the course).  

[John_D._Bernhardt]

I am Royal County Down for 1 to 5 then
Royal Portrush, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Portmarnock, then the rest. I kinda like Rich's list except i would have County sligo higher like in the top 8.

[Rick]

I have not, unfortunately played The Island... so many courses, so little time.

I've been to Ireland twice for extended golf holidays - 1993 and 1997. On both occasions, Rosses point was having considerable problems with the greens. Frankly, they were easily the worst we encountered. Were my ratings based purely on design features and challenge of play, I'd move it up to #7 or #8.

Otherwise these are the only courses I've played in Ireland.

Rick, What is it that you don't like about Rosses Point? Cheers

PS Have you played The Island?

[TEPaul]

Not for me to get into 20 Irish courses because the only ones I've played in the last forty years are Port Rush, County Down and Old Head (and Malone, Port Stewart and Mallow). The first two would probably be in my top 5-10 in the world and as mentioned on another post on this topic Old Head should be seen!!

I know Ran says that Old Head has some mundane holes (the ones on the inside of the routing) and he's probably right--they certainly aren't much to look at. But Old Head itself--the site--everyone should see! I'd make the trip to see it even if there wasn't a golf course there. It's so dramatic anyway but the other thing is the site sort of hums with spirits in my book--It was the home of the Eirreans--Ireland's original people!! I'm still amazed that the O'Connor's were allowed to build a course on Old Head!

[Paul Richards]

There's Royal County Down, and then there's everything
else!!

[Lynn Shackelford]

Of the few I have played:
1. Royal County Down
2. Royal Portrush
3. Ballybunion, old
4. Portmarnock
5. Lahinch

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Lynn I am one of those who feel after those you listed, the rest are not in the same discussion.

[Theresa Stotler]

:)I would add Castlerock to your list, and I think Enniscrone is a definite.  

[Fred Ruttenberg]

After Ballybunion(old),Portrush and Royal County Down(which are all good enough to be in the top 10 in the world) I would rate Portstewart #4. Its front 9 compares to the first 3. I would rate the Island, E club and Druids Glen above Portmarnick and Lahinch. Another gem is Cork.

[mike_malone]

1-Ballybunion--the dune canyons!!!!
2-Royal County Down
3-Portmarnock
4-Portstewart
5-Royal Portrush

[mike_malone]

hit the wrong button.
6-County louth
7-Lahinch
8-Island
9-Cashen
10-Royal Dublin
11-European Club
12-Ballyliffen(glashedy)
13-Ardglass
14-Castlegregory
15-Druid's Glen(isn't this course in n.carolina?)
on my first trip we played driud's.i see no reason to go to Ireland to play parkland courses..and there is a course named after me!!!!!!

[JohnV]

Having played exactly 20 Irish courses I must have the definitive answer to this question.  

Royal County Down
Ballybunion - Old
Portmarnock
Royal Portrush
Lahinch
Waterville
County Sligo
The Island
Portstewart
Baltry
The European Club
Carne
Connemara
Donegal
Killarney - Kileen
Dooks & Craigh
Tralee
Royal Dublin
Ballybunion - New
Mulingar

[Paul Richards]

Here's my personal list:


1. Royal County Down
2. Ballybunion (old)
3. Royal Portrush
4. Portmarnock
5. Old Head
6. Tralee
7. Lahinch
8. Waterville
9. Druids Glen
10. European Club
11. County Louth (baltray)
12. County Sligo (rosses point)
13. K-Club
14. Castlerock GC
15. Killarney (killeen)
16. Links Portmarnock
17. Ballybunion (new)

[John_D._Bernhardt]

1. Royal County Down and then the rest and none within 2 lengths 2. Royal Portrush 3. Ballybunion 4. Portmarnock 5. Lahinch big break  6. Tralee 7. County Sligo( Rosses Point) 8. County Louth ( Balray), 9.Portstewart 10. Ballyliffen 11. Waterville 12. Enniscrone 13. Donegal 14. Killarney Killeen 15. Connamera 16. Old Head. 17. Ballybunion (new) 18. Island 19. Carne 20. Whatever of several Parkland courses you are silly enough to play instead on another round by the sea.

[Paul Richards]

John;

Loved your first line "1. Royal County Down and then the rest and none within 2 lengths," which is SOOOO true!

Interesting that you, Rick and JohnV also put Ballybunion - New at the bottom of your lists as well.

[Paul_Turner]

Does nobody rate Portrush Valley?

I haven't played it, but from most accounts it's good enough for a top 15.

I bet Belvoir Park should be there somewhere too, but nobody appears to want to play there.  It'll be interesting to see how Enniscrone and Rosapenna fare with the new holes.

Ballybunion New gets too hard a knock.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

I have not played the Valley course. There was a bombing the week I was there, so it fell through the cracks. Ballybunion New has some just flat bad holes and such an down start which make the good parts of the course hard to give credit too. Thanks Paul I feel RCD is in the top 5 world.

[Paul Richards]

John:

Agreed.  RCD is in the top 5 of the world.