Northwest Ireland

[Ally Mcintosh]

I love Royal County Down and it is in top 5 of courses I have ever played.  I just cant see everything and still get to courses I have not played.  As I also love Lahinch and Ballybunion and played there a reasonable amount I am going to skip them as well. Doonbeg at once was enough.

SPitting the trip into 3 segments sounds very logical and helpful.  So far that leaves me with:

1) Portrush Dunlace-  played it once before but really have a need to do again as I had terrible golf day then

2) Portrush Valley-  Never played it but it seems to have a group that really like it

3) Portstewart??


Phase 2

4) Ballyliffin  - both courses or just old?

5) Portsalon

6) Cruit

7) Rosapenna


Phase 3

County Sligo

9) Enniscrone

10) Carne

My tastes would probably oriuent toward hidden gems, pub food, enjoying the Irish people as they have always been great fun.  I don't mind travel and don't mind Irish roads.  This would be with one or two guys as an aftertrip to Scotland.  Therefore unstructured and enjoyment of the people, out of the way places are in order.  The northwest of Ireland is lacking in my travels of Ireland.  As I enjoy design etc. classic courses have to crossed off the bucket list but I still keep coming back to hidden gems.

Thak you all for suggestions.  Do you have furrther comments or suggestions on refining what is above?

Brad I

Looks like you are getting there Brad... I may pass on Cruit purely because it takes you off the beaten track for just one or two holes... Far easier to travel from Portsalon / Rosapenna straight to County Sligo... I would stay in Ramelton for that leg of the trip and eat / drink in the Bridge Bar... I'd choose at least one of Ballyliffin or Rosapenna for 36 holes (seeing as you are there), probably the former... I'd argue that you could maybe pick up Strandhill when you are beside County Sligo... Some very singular holes there... or Murvagh / Donegal on the way down...

But those quibbles aside it looks like you have the basis of a sound trip...

[mike_malone]

 Skip Ballyliffen and spend more time at either Narin/Portnoo , which I really enjoyed, or Donegal/ Strandhill, neither of which I have played.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Skip Ballyliffen and spend more time at either Narin/Portnoo , which I really enjoyed, or Donegal/ Strandhill, neither of which I have played.

This is probably decent advice Brad if you put hidden gems high on the priority list... Narin & Portnoo (then you can take in Cruit as well) and Strandhill give tonnes of fun... and Donegal / Murvagh's stretch from 5 to 8 is as good as it gets...

Hard to pass Ballyliffin though... entering down in to the town gives a great view of the extent of the duneland...

[Sean_A]

Brad

In that case:

1. 18 Portrush Valley - off the plane
2. 18 Portrush Dunluce (can play 36)
3. 18 Portstewart (can play 36)

Stay at http://www.adelphiportrush.com/ for the first three nights.  Be sure to try the oriental part of http://www.ramorerestaurant.com/

4. 18 Portsalon
5. 18 Narin & Portnoo
6. 18 Donegal
7. 18 Strandhill (can do 36)
8. 18 Co Sligo  (can do 36)

Stay in Sligo for #s 6, 7 & 8 - there are a few chain hotels in heart of a reasonably attractive town.

9. 18 Carne
10. 18 Enniscrone

Stay in Enniscrone for 9 & 10.  

Ciao

[Tim Pitner]

Regarding Sean's latest proposed agenda, I'd throw in a night or two in Donegal on the way down to Sligo.  Sligo town is no great shakes, no need to spend 3 nights there.  Donegal is much smaller and, in my experience, more fun.

[Bill Brightly]

Personally, I think you should fly in to Shannon and out of Belfast, and reverse your order. That leaves you a reasonable drive if you can squeeze in RCD, which I think should be played last

It is a lot of driving, and you really need to like driving to attempt this. But it is worth it and the Irish country side is beautiful.

[jeffwarne]

I love Royal County Down and it is in top 5 of courses I have ever played.  I just cant see everything and still get to courses I have not played.  As I also love Lahinch and Ballybunion and played there a reasonable amount I am going to skip them as well. Doonbeg at once was enough.

SPitting the trip into 3 segments sounds very logical and helpful.  So far that leaves me with:

1) Portrush Dunlace-  played it once before but really have a need to do again as I had terrible golf day then

2) Portrush Valley-  Never played it but it seems to have a group that really like it

3) Portstewart??


Phase 2

4) Ballyliffin  - both courses or just old?

5) Portsalon

6) Cruit

7) Rosapenna


Phase 3

County Sligo

9) Enniscrone

10) Carne

My tastes would probably oriuent toward hidden gems, pub food, enjoying the Irish people as they have always been great fun.  I don't mind travel and don't mind Irish roads.  This would be with one or two guys as an aftertrip to Scotland.  Therefore unstructured and enjoyment of the people, out of the way places are in order.  The northwest of Ireland is lacking in my travels of Ireland.  As I enjoy design etc. classic courses have to crossed off the bucket list but I still keep coming back to hidden gems.

Thak you all for suggestions.  Do you have furrther comments or suggestions on refining what is above?

Brad I

You're getting there
Add narin and Portnoo

Don't see too much hidden, but plenty of gems
is this a 10 DAY trip or 10 rounds?

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Royal County Down 3 times and Portrush 3 times, Portstewart once, County Sligo once then fill in any other the others. None of the rest are in the same league with these.

[Ally Mcintosh]

An awful lot of expert opinions from one time visitors here...

Take the advice on Donegal as a town over Sligo... You'd be silly to miss a stop at Rosapenna when visiting Portsalon... Take my previous advice and stay in the lovely village of Ramelton for a night or two and eat in the Bridge Bar...

Taking Sean's previous agenda and your love for hidden gems, I would seriously suggest this: Play Enniscrone then Carne (not the other way round) and after Carne travel down from Bangor along the N59 to Westport (lovely town) stopping for 9 holes at Mulranny... A forgotten links course with fences round the greens but great rolling undulations...

[Sean_A]

I wrote play Carne first because I assumed they would be heading to the airport after the Enniscrone game (the 10 game) - which is much closer to Shannon.   

The point of staying in Portrush three days and Sligo three days is to limit the pack and go (most unpleasant for many people) aspect of the trip, not because Portrush and Sligo are great towns - they aren't - especially Portrush (mind you, there is nothing special about Donegal either).  Of course, one could stop in Donegal for three days instead of Sligo, but logistically it doesn't make much sense.  In my experience, there are very few great golfing towns in GB&I (or anywhere for that matter) - ones that are worth the effort to get to and hang about.  Usually, a pub or two and a decent place to eat get the job done.  This may not be the case for Brad, but most would think the above two suggestions quite sensible.

Ciao

[Ally Mcintosh]

I agree about the pack and go Sean... It's a pain...

Better to seek out little villages and Enniscrone has a decent pub or two so that's a pretty good suggestion... It just seems to me Brad wants to taste a little of Ireland and staying in the big soulless towns doesn't always do that for you...

You are right about Enniscrone being closer to the airport but it actually increases overall travel time being that you have to track back an hour from Carne.... And that journey down the N59 to Westport and then past Cong is beautiful (plus taking in Mulranny on the way)

[Sean_A]

Ally

Yes, heading out from Enniscrone means more traveling on a previous day, but if there is a plane to catch...

In fact, I would consider leaving Strandhill or Sligo for the last day as its even shorter to the airport.  No way would I be left in Carne, mind you, I wouldn't be left in Enniscrone either.  My butt would be at Lahinch, 45 minutes from the airport - its better to face the long journey when missing a flight isn't a risk.  Its a small logistical price to pay to play one of the best courses in the world to catch a flight - tee hee. 

I have not stayed in Ennsicrone, but it didn't look terribly enticing going through it several times and recently that awful hotel was built by the course.  Maybe next time I will give it a go.  Strangely enough, in that general part of the world, Belmullet is my favourite golfing town, but its not special in any way - I just like the feel. 

I have my own problems to solve!!!  I am off to Ballybunion next June - can anyone think of a worse golfing town?  I still can't believe, with all the cash rolling through that place, that a few cool hotels and restaurants haven't been built.  I am also told Lahinch is looking quite a bit worse for wear these days.  Ireland really has got themselves in a muck.  During my last few trips there I was gobsmacked at the building going on and wondered where all the money was coming from.  The prices some people paid for properties - ay caramba!   

Ciao   

[jeffwarne]

An awful lot of expert opinions from one time visitors here...

Take the advice on Donegal as a town over Sligo... You'd be silly to miss a stop at Rosapenna when visiting Portsalon... Take my previous advice and stay in the lovely village of Ramelton for a night or two and eat in the Bridge Bar...

Taking Sean's previous agenda and your love for hidden gems, I would seriously suggest this: Play Enniscrone then Carne (not the other way round) and after Carne travel down from Bangor along the N59 to Westport (lovely town) stopping for 9 holes at Mulranny... A forgotten links course with fences round the greens but great rolling undulations...

Mulranny is charming.
We had a great day there climbing into the sheep maintained dunes and creating our own elevated seaside tees.
The only place I've been with not only an honor box, but an honor bar!

Brad memntioned his tastes leaned toward hidden gems.
That said, there are many gems along his path as he has picked a massive area
Cruit (not so Hidden), Gweedore, Otway, Spanish Point, Connemara Isles,Achill Island are all within minutes of their route/se;ected famous course and make for a wonder ful day paired with an18 holer for a scenic "beer nine".
In addition , Northwest Golf Club and Dunfanaghy are precisely on his route and in my opinion are not to be missed.

Also, I never understood why "packing" was such a big deal.
What exactly are you packing?
Your rainsuit and a few clothes.
I refuse to drive an extra 45 minutes to an hour or more (each dayx 2) to save myself from "not packing"

Brad's going to have to decide for himself  but traveling all the way to Ireland, spending more time than I've ever had myself at one time(10 days) driving 1/2 the coast, and playing
RCD , Portrush, Ballybunion, and Lahinch(which he's already played) behind a bunch of American, Swedish, and German tourists(and spending a fortune) seems more like going to Disneyland than visiting rural Ireland and the multiple once in a lifetime hidden gem, scenic oppoortunities, and cultural experiences that could be had at places not purely patronized by guys in Pebble Beach rainshirts.