Playing Ireland as a single walk-on?

[PJ Blake]

My wife and I are looking at a last minute (and our first) trip to Ireland the third week of this september. I'm thinking about hitting the courses on the Ring of Kerry: the Ring of Kerry course, Hogshead, Waterville, and Dooks.  Do you think I'll be able to walk on as a single later in the day? Or maybe show up at noon and put my name on a list? I wouldn't try it if everything were normal these days and it was the middle of summer, but I thought maybe I could get away with it given the circumstances at that time of year. Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

[puttnforthe8]

Zero issue - I did that for many years while living there.  

 

BTW - dates you are going are the single best time to play! 🙂

[PJ Blake]

8 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Zero issue - I did that for many years while living there.  

 

BTW - dates you are going are the single best time to play! 🙂

 

Thanks for the quick reply puttnforthe8. That is good to hear!

Edited August 19, 2021 by PJ Blake

[Serenity Now]

I did it 2 years ago at Lahinch with no problem. They told me to come in the afternoon but when I got there the girl told me I could have gotten out earlier as well. I just got confirmation that they will fit me in at Royal Portrush in 2 weeks when I get there. My wife will play the smaller courses with me in the mornings and then I will do Portstewart & Castlerock in the afternoon. Everybody wins (especially me)

[PJ Blake]

 

2 minutes ago, Serenity Now said:

I did it 2 years ago at Lahinch with no problem. They told me to come in the afternoon but when I got there the girl told me I could have gotten out earlier as well. I just got confirmation that they will fit me in at Royal Portrush in 2 weeks when I get there. My wife will play the smaller courses with me in the mornings and then I will do Portstewart & Castlerock in the afternoon. Everybody wins (especially me)

HAH! Sounds perfect! So you went pre-covid and even then it worked out...what month was it?

[Serenity Now]

Played Lahinch in 2019 on my birthday 1st day of fall (Sep 22)

[PJ Blake]

Nice. If we can't go in September I hope it won't be crazy busy next September. Appreciate the input

[GolfRat1]

Absolutely no issue… September is a great time of year there. Enjoy

[Chanceman]

Two of us turned up at Lahinch without a booking and they managed to get us both on so I imagine a single would not have much trouble. That was October though, so may have been easier.

[Chilidog]

I’m going early November and have Royal County Down booked as a single but Portstewart and Portmarnock won’t even reply to my email for whatever reason. Portrush said I couldn’t play because they were going to be closed for N Ireland’s Remembrance Day. 

[PJ Blake]

On 8/19/2021 at 10:10 AM, puttnforthe8 said:

Zero issue - I did that for many years while living there.  

 

BTW - dates you are going are the single best time to play! 🙂

We ended up postponing our trip because of covid restrictions. It was hard to pass up the incredible prices on round trip airline tickets, but we want the full-on Irish experience (pub music, etc). Especially given its our first trip there and good chance its our only trip. So, looks like early to mid May. Will the weather be decent enough for golf at that time in the SW and still ez for me to play as a single without a tee time?  Hope so. But I have a feeling many people have done the same thing I did and put off a Fall trip for a Spring one. 

 

[puttnforthe8]

52 minutes ago, PJ Blake said:

We ended up postponing our trip because of covid restrictions. It was hard to pass up the incredible prices on round trip airline tickets, but we want the full-on Irish experience (pub music, etc). Especially given its our first trip there and good chance its our only trip. So, looks like early to mid May. Will the weather be decent enough for golf at that time in the SW and still ez for me to play as a single without a tee time?  Hope so. But I have a feeling many people have done the same thing I did and put off a Fall trip for a Spring one. 

 

Interesting..my  good friend has been there for 2 weeks now with zero issues.  

 

May will be good...in May however, the showers can pop up and come down hard for long periods with lots of wind.  But no prob getting on as a single.

[PJ Blake]

2 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

Interesting..my  good friend has been there for 2 weeks now with zero issues.  

 

May will be good...in May however, the showers can pop up and come down hard for long periods with lots of wind.  But no prob getting on as a single.

Irish citizens have been keeping potential travelers abreast of the situation in Ireland on TripAdvisor. Sounded like no indoor music. Shoot...guess I'll wait till next September for better weather.

Thanks for all the replies everybody.

[PJ Blake]

Its been a while since I started this thread, but since its the same topic I'll continue with some questions.

 

I booked our flight for September '22 and flying into Dublin. We are staying at a hotel next to St. Patrick's Cathedral for one night when we arrive. Can we just waive down a taxi at the airport? I'd rather pay a little more to have a direct door to door transfer rather than the long bus ride and then a long walk to our hotel with golf clubs and suitcases. Is it safer to pre-book a taxi or would we be fine catching one when we arrive?

[hammergolf]

19 hours ago, PJ Blake said:

Its been a while since I started this thread, but since its the same topic I'll continue with some questions.

 

I booked our flight for September '22 and flying into Dublin. We are staying at a hotel next to St. Patrick's Cathedral for one night when we arrive. Can we just waive down a taxi at the airport? I'd rather pay a little more to have a direct door to door transfer rather than the long bus ride and then a long walk to our hotel with golf clubs and suitcases. Is it safer to pre-book a taxi or would we be fine catching one when we arrive?

There’s an app FREENOW that you can schedule a cab. It’s free but what I used when I was in Dublin in September. Basically works like Uber but for cabs. There will also be plenty of cabs at the airport so prob a good chance there will be some waiting.

Edited February 5, 2022 by hammergolf

[PJ Blake]

Ok thanks hammer

[puttnforthe8]

20 hours ago, PJ Blake said:

Its been a while since I started this thread, but since its the same topic I'll continue with some questions.

 

I booked our flight for September '22 and flying into Dublin. We are staying at a hotel next to St. Patrick's Cathedral for one night when we arrive. Can we just waive down a taxi at the airport? I'd rather pay a little more to have a direct door to door transfer rather than the long bus ride and then a long walk to our hotel with golf clubs and suitcases. Is it safer to pre-book a taxi or would we be fine catching one when we arrive?

yeah, zero issue with getting a lift in to city centre!!  If you want I can check if the guy we use is available to pick you up as well, and you can consider that option too.

[PJ Blake]

Thanks puttn...but I think we'll just grab a cab.