Ireland's Top 100 Courses

[BuckeyeNut]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Hey, there are probably a couple hundred courses not on this list.

This thread got me wondering, so I googled it. There are 300 golf courses so I'd think the 'top third' should all be quite respectable.

[kmarkham]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

This thread got me wondering, so I googled it. There are 300 golf courses so I'd think the 'top third' should all be quite respectable.

There are 348 eighteen hole golf courses in Ireland, both Golf Union of Ireland (GUI) and non-GUI affiliated (probably why your search didn't pick up the full number), but the question as to how many should actually make a 'best courses' ranking is frequently debated. Some say only 50 should be on the list, but the issue with that - from an Irish point of view at least - is that it would be piled high with links courses, which would mean there's practically no promotion for some very good parkland tracks that wouldn't get a shot at the top 50.

100 is a good number, and it creates plenty of debate as a result.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by kmarkham

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

This thread got me wondering, so I googled it. There are 300 golf courses so I'd think the 'top third' should all be quite respectable.

There are 348 eighteen hole golf courses in Ireland, both Golf Union of Ireland (GUI) and non-GUI affiliated (probably why your search didn't pick up the full number), but the question as to how many should actually make a 'best courses' ranking is frequently debated. Some say only 50 should be on the list, but the issue with that - from an Irish point of view at least - is that it would be piled high with links courses, which would mean there's practically no promotion for some very good parkland tracks that wouldn't get a shot at the top 50.

100 is a good number, and it creates plenty of debate as a result.

When Score Golf Magazine ranks the top 100 Canadian public courses, they do it regionally. BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec get more courses on the list because they have more courses, but every province is included with at least 5. They also get numerical scores so top ranked courses from one province can be compared against another. Nobody is saying 5th place course in Saskatchewan is comparable to 5th course in BC or Ontario, but it's meant more as a travel guide than a brag sheet.

[pjwalsh606]

I have had the privillage of playing 5 different courses in Ireland from Portmarnick, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Ballybunion (old & new) and Old Head of Kinsale. I have to tell you Old Head of Kinsale is the best course i have ever played. I played there about two years after it opened with my father. The first day we played 36 and the second 18. I can't think of a better place for a golf course. Just down right the coolest setting right on the Irish Sea! It is also the most challenging course i have ever played with the cross winds and the bunkers it is just crazy. The best hole is #17, 652 yards long dead into the wind. Our Caddy said after the course first opened a five some of Tiger, O'Meara, Payne Stewart, David Duval and Appleby came and Tiger stepped up to the tee box and O'Meara told him to let her rip. Apparently, our caddy was caddying for Tiger. Apparently, Tiger put one 340-350 dead center. Took out his 2 iron and ended up just off the green in two, chipped to within 5 feet and got his birdie. I was lucky to par it twice and took a double bogey on the third round in 30 mile an hour winds and a little hung over haha! Good times!