kmarkham

I'm down the road, literally. Have a chat with your buddy about playing Macreddin - it was designed by Paul McGinley. I'll take you for a game if you have the time/opportunity. [URL=https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmarkham/sets/72157645313528270/]Macreddin Photos[/URL]

Good lad - love that positive thinking. The 11th will prove far more disastrous if you're slicing - big beach and ocean alongside. Will you get a chance to play the Ballybunion Cashen course, too? Try to play the back nine if time permits. Some amazing holes at the end.

Sure. Happy to help

Quote: Originally Posted by jetsknicks1 Quote: [/quote Thanks so much for the photos, they all look amazing and I wish I could play them all, unfortunately I'll only be able to play one so I'll give a breakdown. I'm a pretty high HC at an 18. I will definitely be getting a caddie. This is a bucket list round for me so it has to be an ocean course. I'll be going out on my own, my wife has no desire at all to walk a golf course with me lol. Ballybunion, Lahinch & Tralee are my top three choices, as of now. For this round, I really don't care much about the cost. So in your experience which one do you think would be best? I also have a buddy who lives in Glenealey (sp) who is going to set me up with some of his friends to play golf but I haven't been able to find much info on courses in that area. Any ideas? Thanks again, your help is greatly appreciated. Well then - in a word - Ballybunion. It's a slowish start, but once you get to the 6th, it's brilliant. As for Glenealy - I'm assuming that's Co. Wicklow, which is on the east coast. Golf courses around there would be Wicklow and Blainroe (both seaside courses), The European Club (you've probably heard of the famous links), Arklow (another small links) and Macreddin and Woodenbridge, which are very picturesque parkland courses in the Wicklow Mountains. Macreddin was designed by Paul McGinley. Again, plenty of photos on my Flickr page.

This is Carne Golf Links, Belmullet, Co. Mayo, Ireland. The photo above is of the new 8th hole on the Kilmore Nine, opened last year. Nine new holes built for €200,000. The photo below is of the new 5th green, taken from the 7th tee box. A full set of the original Hackett 18 is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmarkham/sets/72157645711993325/ The Kilmore nine are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmarkham/sets/72157645702973992/

Such a great opening hole. Haven't played the course in years, but when I was there they had no yardage markers\posts on the fairways. Everything had to be done by eye and feel. I guess GPS devices etc., have done away with that.

Honestly, you have a very tough decision to make. All of those courses are worth a visit, and everyone has their own opinions on which is the best and why. As an Irish golf writer, I get into the Ballybunion/Lahinch debate all the time. I prefer Ballybunion (Old) but conversations about the better course often lead to arguments. Tralee has its amazing back nine but it doesn't have that 'old links' feel. Waterville is a peach - it has a slightly manicured feel, but I still think it's the most picture-perfect links on the island. Portmarnock has a huge reputation and is a strategic monster, but it's not a big-dune course, and doesn't offer the same thrills and views as nearby The Island. I have full sets of these courses up on my Flickr page: Ballybunion Lahinch Portmarnock Tralee Waterville Island Photos Of those courses, if you're playing on your own, I'd go for Ballybunion. If your wife fancies a beautiful walk, then Tralee or Waterville. And if you play Ballybunion Old, see if you have time to play the back nine on the Cashen course - you won't be sorry. As for a caddie, get one. Doesn't matter if you're a great golfer or an average golfer, a good caddie will make the game more enjoyable for you - save you shots and lost balls.

In total there were 12 interested parties considering a purchase of Doonbeg - according to the receivers anyway. It was never going to disappear, not when the infrastructure was already there and a world acclaimed golf course and hotel are still trading. It's no surprise that Trump snatched it up so quickly and for a rock-bottom price. If he hadn't got there somebody else would. As others have pointed out, he has the resources and flamboyance to take Doonbeg (or that oh-so-modest long name that he's now going to call it) to a wider, wealthier audience. It's what he does best. We may not like it, but then not many of us are worth billions, are we!

I was chatting to my dad, discussing his putting woes over the weekend. Then we did a quick evaluation of the putters that we own between us. He has two - both of which are mine; and I have two - both of which are his. I haven't used a putter I purchased for myself in about 6 years, so just interested to find out how you got your hands on the putter you're currently using.

The police squad car, driven by Deputy Chief Pat Rollins, which rescued Rory McIlroy in time to get him to his Ryder Cup Singles match is going up for auction. Anyone care to venture who would buy a Ford with 80,000 miles on the clock. Here's my top five: 1. Davis Love III, or the next US Ryder Cup captain, who will use it for team target practice come 2014… a cut-out face of Rory laughing at them from the back window. 2. Medinah Country Club could use it to dispense drinks by the 1st tee, with everyone having to sit in Rory’s seat to be served. Or use it as the security ‘hut’ at the golf club entrance. Or cut off the top and use it as a flowerbed behind the 17th green. 3. Donald Trump, who will send it to his Trump Scotland course, where it will sit on the dunes above one of the greens as another example of the course’s “Natural” features… with the radio channel open and a recording of Trump lambasting the wind turbines on the horizon. 4. The local Driving Range, doing pretty much what Davis Love III has in mind above. Probably positioned at the 300 yard mark, with special prizes for anyone who can hit it. 5. The next European Ryder Cup Captain, because wouldn’t that be a psychological slap in the face when the Americans turn up at Gleneagles and get driven to the practice range in ‘that’ car! Any other contenders?

It's easy to get down on yourself when you play a bad round of golf. If that's the case then draw inspiration from these 11 US veterans who have arrived in Ireland to play some of the island's greatest courses. With artificial limbs and numerous other injuries, these men and women are enjoying some great golf and Irish hospitality at its finest. And they deserve every minute of it. They've played Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville and Dooks so far... and most of it in sunshine. A couple of links that tell more about the story. Roger Schiffman's Blog (Managing Editor of Golf Digest) Golfing Union of Ireland

Just finished playing Ireland's Atlantic Coast Challenge (Rosses Point, Carne and Enniscrone) and took this pic on the 14th tee box at Carne. Says everything that needs to be said about links golf...

Played at Portstewart in Northern Ireland over the weekend with David Owen. On the par three 6th - a mere 135 yards - he hit his shot straight at the flag and despite the two club wind coming from ahead and right, it never moved. It landed less than an inch from the hole with the pitchmark pressing the cup. It was beautiful to watch. The hole is called Five Penny Piece - you can see why.

As you walk up to the 15th tee box at Carne, in Belmullet, Co. Mayo, take a look behind you. There's nothing out there but sea... next stop west is New York. It is one of the loneliest golf courses in Ireland. Then you tee off and tumble back down into the biggest dunes you can imagine. Not sure if this is the right spot for this Thread, but I wanted to give a plug to the 'Atlantic Coast Challenge' - an amateur event that plays for three days over the links of Carne, Enniscrone and Rosses Point, from July 2-4 this year. I know Americans have a fondness for links golf, and it doesn't get any better than this. I'm not associated with the event - other than that I'm playing in it and I'm an Irish golf writer - but this Challenge (and the many others that take place in Ireland) is a great way to play superb golf courses for low cost green fees (roughly $175 for the entire event) and play in a competitive but fun environment. I rate these three in Ireland's top ten. Easily. If you've been looking for an excuse to get over here, or trying decide where to go on your next Irish trip, I can't recommend this enough. The closing date is approaching (apr 30) so if you want to enter or find out more, the Carne website is here If you need any more convincing: Carne Photos Enniscrone Photos Rosses Point Photos

Cooler, Not sure how far you've got with your planning, but drop me a line if you're still looking for advice/recommendations. I'm Irish, have a golf blog and would be happy to give you a steer. It just depends on what kind of golf you want to play (i.e. big names or great value - or both) and when you want to come. Personally I'd start by looking at the north west (fly to Shannon) and play Carne (aka Belmullet), Enniscrone and Rosses Point - the big links in the area - and then try Strandhill (quirky links). It's superb golf, but perhaps without the bragging rights of Ballybunion etc. You'll find photos of all of these on my Flickr page . Where to stay? Carne is far enough away that you'll want to stay there for at least one night (to be honest, you'll want/need to play the course twice, too), then stay in Sligo town for the rest of the trip. There's a great buzz to the place. If you want specific recommendations - let me know. Mkrolewski makes valid points about driving, but I'd like to think we're slightly nicer than 'quite nice'!

I see there are dozens of books out there from 2011. Hardly surprising given the year that's been and the cult of celebrity that has descended on golfers globally. If you have recommendations, please add them - but in terms of a premium book (focusing on Ireland not surprisingly), check out Ireland's 18 Greatest Holes , by Andrew Ross and Craig Morrison. It would certainly make for a great round of golf. http://www.18greatestgolf.com There's also a book on Scotland's 18 greatest holes. It's not something you can get on Amazon either. There's a review/description of the book on my blog .

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.

The Irish love to spin a story... and after 200 years, historians are hoping to locate the remains of the dead sailors of the HMS Saldhana under the 18th of Ireland's Portsalon Golf Club. No one knows quite what will happen if the remains are found, but the stories of ghosts will no doubt get another boost... and encourage late evening golfers to play the 18th in record time. And if you want to play the best 2nd hole on the island, and one of the best holes in the 32 counties, drop in to Portsalon GC on your next visit.

You'll find some more pics on my Flickr Page , but yes, a very honest course with no fancy stuff. Holes 7-10 are the thrillers.

I've read Tom Coyne's book... I've always wanted to tell him that he missed a course - Dunfanaghy in northern Donegal. As for coming back to Ireland in the summer, I'd suggest you consider April or May as these (along with March) are our driest months. It may not be as warm, but, personally, I'd rather be cool than wet. You'll also have more joy getting tee times!

That's a hell of a way to find yourself playing one of the best courses in the world. The first time I played, it was a February morning and my friend who had come over from New York made me take photographs because we were playing in t-shirts. He said there's no way his buddies back home would believe he was playing in such perfect conditions. I completely fell for the place. You won't find many Honour Boxes any more. On the Par 3s and 9-holers perhaps, but not the 18 hole courses. Then again, it's not that strict on the second tier courses, so it's up to the visitors to drop in to the clubhouse and pay.

Flog4, I'd have to say that you and I are almost in perfect agreement... with the exception of Mount Juliet, which I'd put a bit further down my top ten parkland list since the arrival of places like Lough Erne and Concra Wood. I was down at Mount Juliet recently and I wasn't nearly as enamoured with it as I used to be. You're obviously over a good bit - have you enjoyed the charms of Strandhill next to Co. Sligo? And I know what you mean about going back to the places you love. If I'm going to the north west, it has to be Enniscrone and Carne. I've been lucky enough to play all of the courses in Ireland, so I always know where I'm going and what to expect... which is why I mention Strandhill. It's not big and fancy, but it is quirky and has some amazing holes. Interesting comments about Scottish golf - I know it's a toss up between the two countries (and I'll be enjoying the delights of Royal Dornoch and Nairn in Scotland next week), but great to hear that it's more fun in Ireland. Sure, isn't that what we're here for! I should pass your comments on to Tourism Ireland. Good luck Kevin

Practically every magazine and website, in every country, produces a list of Ireland's top 100 courses - but if you want to know what the Irish golf community considers to be our top 100 courses... Golf Digest Ireland has just brought out their 2011 rankings. You'll find the list here (on my blog): Can't say that I agree with all of them (or a lot of them for that matter), but isn't that what lists are all about!

Does spending 14 months travelling around Ireland in a camper van, playing every 18 hole course on the island just so I could play free golf at Old Head of Kinsale, Royal County Down, Portmarnock, Ballybunion, Lahinch and all the rest count??

Howth is much under-rated. It's a great golf experience - and I certainly want to get back to it soon - same too for Blainroe. Did you ever try using your putter on the par three 190 yard 8th? I've seen a couple of guys reach the green. Carton House Monty - played it myself a few weeks back - I still say the course has probably the best greens in ireland Now that's interesting... not you hating his guts, but him being Coyne's physical trainer. He wouldn't be much of a trainer if he didn't make you work hard though, would he! Question is, has it worked? In a word, yes. Play it around now or in the next few weeks and you'll get all the autumn/fall colours. Along with Adare, it's my favourite parkland in the country