Playing the great courses in Scotland and Ireland

[Ally Mcintosh]

Jeff,
   Glad I'm not alone.  I have a buddy whose opinion on architecture I respect, who agrees with me that Baltray is special, he rates it in his top 5 in Ireland. Most others I know just shrug, and don't seem to get it.
Bill,
  You are right about the greens set on shelves at Castlerock. There are also several that sit at the end of partial dune corridors. One more point, the highest compliment I can give to a course is that it is fun, in my mind you can't get to that word unless what lies on the ground captivates the imagination and stirs the soul. Castlerock provides that in spades.

Baltray is also one of my favourites, always in my top 6 or 7 in Ireland. A real architectural treat and a must play. The two sections (3 to 7 and 12 to 16) are two of the best stretches anywhere.

[cary lichtenstein]

I did it Cary's way, probably way different that most. I was interested in multiple play at the greatest courses, so  my wife and I played 36 everyday, 2 hours and 35 min to be exact and loved it. Royal Dornock, St. Andrews, troon, Muirfield, etc as in Ireland

[Ryan Coles]

Jeff,
   Glad I'm not alone.  I have a buddy whose opinion on architecture I respect, who agrees with me that Baltray is special, he rates it in his top 5 in Ireland. Most others I know just shrug, and don't seem to get it.
Bill,
  You are right about the greens set on shelves at Castlerock. There are also several that sit at the end of partial dune corridors. One more point, the highest compliment I can give to a course is that it is fun, in my mind you can't get to that word unless what lies on the ground captivates the imagination and stirs the soul. Castlerock provides that in spades.

Baltray is also one of my favourites, always in my top 6 or 7 in Ireland. A real architectural treat and a must play. The two sections (3 to 7 and 12 to 16) are two of the best stretches anywhere.

Would you say Co Louth is similar to Muirfield?

Not played the latter but when I was at the former, I remember thinking this is is how I imagine Muirfield to be like.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Jeff,
   Glad I'm not alone.  I have a buddy whose opinion on architecture I respect, who agrees with me that Baltray is special, he rates it in his top 5 in Ireland. Most others I know just shrug, and don't seem to get it.
Bill,
  You are right about the greens set on shelves at Castlerock. There are also several that sit at the end of partial dune corridors. One more point, the highest compliment I can give to a course is that it is fun, in my mind you can't get to that word unless what lies on the ground captivates the imagination and stirs the soul. Castlerock provides that in spades.

Baltray is also one of my favourites, always in my top 6 or 7 in Ireland. A real architectural treat and a must play. The two sections (3 to 7 and 12 to 16) are two of the best stretches anywhere.

At sixes and sevens, no wonder people have trouble placing it!
Curious as to which course you give such a similar rating to?  Enniscrone?

Pictures of Ally here.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,33879.0.html 

[Sean_A]

If I had to pick a course Murifield most resembles it would be Ganton.  A place where bunkers rule the roost. 

I can recall there being several standout holes at Baltray, but a handful which were a bit bland - in sum an uneven course.  That was a loooooong time ago though.  I would like to go back.

Ciao

[Jeff Johnston]

Sean, I felt a little bit the same my first time round Baltray, but it definitely grows on you (speaking after two further plays each a couple of years apart, and also watching the pros (but not Mr S Lowry  ) being brutaised by the place on Irish Open Saturday 2009). I think some of the holes around the clubhouse suffer in comparison to the holes out by the big barrier dune due to being on less interesting terrain, but IMO they are still strong enough holes mostly.

Interesting you mention Ganton in connection with Muirfield, as it is another 'inland links' that sometimes puts me back in mind of Baltray - being the course at Carton House bearing the name of the 2010 Ryder Cup winner. On a number of holes the land movement (and elements  of fairway bunkering) at CH have (for me) distinct echoes of Co Louth (and all the better for it). And thinking about it just now, they also have VERY similar 18th holes......This could be a completely wilda$$ theory of course - interested in other views.

On the other thread copied by Tony above, Ally cites the 14th at Baltray as perhaps his all-world favourite hole. There is definitely something enchanting about that end of the course - the 12th flows beautifully into the 13th, then you climb the hill to the 14th tee and see that view - very special. Last time I was there, I was playing with some Scottish visitors - their flirtation with Baltray became declared love on that tee.

[Adam Lawrence]

Interesting you mention Ganton in connection with Muirfield, as it is another 'inland links' that sometimes puts me back in mind of Baltray - being the course at Carton House bearing the name of the 2010 Ryder Cup winner. On a number of holes the land movement (and elements  of fairway bunkering) at CH have (for me) distinct echoes of Co Louth (and all the better for it). And thinking about it just now, they also have VERY similar 18th holes......This could be a completely wilda$$ theory of course - interested in other views.

Stan Eby, who designed the Monty course at Carton House, was also the architect of the Portmarnock Hotel course. What, if anything, that has to do with Co Louth I couldn't say 

[Jeff Johnston]

Aha - thanks Adam, didnt know that. Only ever heard Langer's name re the Hotel. Maybe my amateur eye can spot the odd thing here and there!