jimbo2007

Great shots. Brings back a lot of memories. Was there in June 0f 2006 and Ballybunion was the one day that the sun was out and we were able to play in short sleeves. I even got some color that day (which wasn't windburn)... Looking forward to your Lahinch pictures. To this day, nothing has topped the golf experience I had there...

I have played it a few times the last several years when I am out there in the spring. Its definately cool playing a course that you see on TV and this year we had a great caddy which helped the experiece. I will say for the money we paid in high season though, I was VERY disappointed in the conditioning. There were more than a few burnt out area's in the fairways, with the 10th hole having huge areas all around the dogleg burnt out. Just really unacceptable. That was back in April, so hopefully they have rectified that. If the conditions are good then I would say that its a great course to play once for the experience (so that when you watch the 16th hold of the FBR open on TV next year, you can reflect on whether you would have been cheered or boo'd by the huge crowds). I'm not sure I would rush to play there again though. There are too many other great layouts in the area at better price points. Talking Stick North and We-ko-pa Saguaro are two that are must plays for me everytime i go back. Jim

Agree witht he comment above on caddies. Definately need to have one in your group on Lahinch and Ballybunion. Some blind shots that you want to have guidance on with respect to what line to take. Having a caddy at Lahinch was part of what made it the experience it was. Guy was like a 5 handicap that grew up and lives 5 minutes from Lahinch and who had been carrying bags for the last 30 years since he was 11 years old.

Took a trip with a bunch of buddies a couple of years ago and addition to the two you are playing, we played Doonbeg, Adare Castle and Dromoland Castle. I know that Doonbeg was very pricey, and definately wont fit your affordable criteria. I think Adare and Dromoland were both cheaper than Ballybunion and Lahinch. Not sure if they are "affordable" so much as less than the two you list. Both Adare and Dromoland are parkland courses as opposed to links. By the way, Lahinch was my single greatest golf experience ever. Just something about the place, history, caddy i had. Golf in the Kingdom type experience. Enjoy...

The nicest course I have ever played is Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey (a Tillinghast design that is going to host the Barclay's this August), where I was a guest of a golf camp acquaintance last summer. From the moment you begin your drive up, until you leave, the service, and class of everyone there was top notch, and the course was phenomenal. We played the Center and West 9's (its a 27 hole complex). Very special place. I also played Lahinch in Ireland, and that was probably the most pure golf experience I have ever had.

Eric, Great product all around. Have 3 rounds in so far, and can already see that this is going to be great tool in focusing me on my weaknesses (of which there are many!).

Mustangbryk, For an 8 handicap you really, really seem clueless about the golf swing and golf gear. You make these blanket statements about clubs that suck that are the least thought out comments I see on this board. I just got fitted while out in Scottsdale and picked up the G10 driver. Tried a ton of different head (Nike, Callaway, Taylor Made, Ping, etc., etc., etc.) and shaft combinations. The G10 with certain shafts, i just didn't care for, just didn't fit me, but then, boom, when he handed me one with an Accra T-50 (in an effort to get my launch angle up, and spin down) it was heaven. So please stop with the "this shaft sucks" and "this club sucks" speeches, it just makes you look the fool, diminishes your credibility (which your reputation seems to reflect by the way). What didn't work for you, it likely a perfect fit for someone else.

Guy's. From prior experience you can pretty much discount 90% anything that Mustang say's.

Head it directly from the club themselves.

Greens fees are $235. Way to go Pound Ridge

It would only become a hook if you put a bad swing on it. A good swing will give you a bit of a draw, and it will straighten out a fade, and try to straighten out a slice. I have a G10 draw on the way, custom fitted (and 44.5" instead of 45.75") and it is not hooky at all with a good swing.

I just came back from a week in Scottdale. My wife plays as well and we got 4 rounds in during the week. I happend to be partial to Coore/Cresnshaw designed courses, and really enjoyed Talking Stick (North) and We-Ko-Pa Saguaro. Neither are of the "target golf" variety that sometimes typify desert golf, so no heroic forced carries to deal with, and both are pretty friendly from the forward tees if that is important to your wife. Both are on indian reservations, so no intrusive housing either, just you the course and the desert. Both were is phenominal condition as well. We played TPC as well this year, which we also played a couple of years ago. We were there this year as a neighbor joined us on the trip and he was interested. The plusses were that its a course the pro's play, and I really like the idea of going out with a caddy (a forecaddy). Ours was the guy who trains the other caddies, so he knew every inch of the place. The fact is thought that it is a completely manufactured course, you are not going to be wowed with the surroundings like you will at We-Ko-Pa. Worse was that the condition of some of the fairways was embarrasing, burned out spots in places. 10th hole comes to mind as the worst, but it was more than just that hole. Conditions everywhere else we played was excellent, so not sure what TPC's excuse was, but for the money you spend there, it's unacceptable. We also played the Pheonician. Beautiful condition, a lot of elevation changes on one of the nines we played. Some of the holes run parallel to each other, so there were times there was just chaos as guys were on our fairway as we were trying to drive, etc. Nice, but not sure I would repeat. We stay at the Westin Kierland when we are in Scottsdale. They have 3 nines, always in great condtion, and very friendly courses (i.e. lots of room off the tee, no forced carries, etc.). Played a twilight there with our son this year, and as always was an enjoyable time. Talking Stick and We-Ko-Pa were the highlights and could not recommend those two places any more strongly. Jim

Not in my bag yet, but I was in Scottsdale last week and had an outdoor fitting session with ProFit at the Kierland, and was fitted for a G10 Driver at 44.5" with an Accra T50 shaft. WOW, what a huge difference from from the Callaway which I had bought off the rack. High launch, low spin, baby draw with nice roll out. Also swapping out my Callaway 3 wood into a G10 4 Wood, same shaft set-up, length at 42.5". Should be delivered by the end of the week. Am so looking forward to getting them on the course this weekend.

Eric, Your point is a good one in terms of what a low handicaper can run into playing higher handicap in a non-flighted competition. I sure hope you don't subscribe to the idea though that a 20 is BAD!!!! and a hacker as Mustang suggests...

Wow...didn't know as an 18 that I was BAD and considered a hacker. Given your tone/ego/view of the larger golf community I'm pretty certain that neither I or any of the other bogey golfers out there would be interested in playing with you, so you better stick to onesomes from now on...