Midlands of Ireland

[ajgoodal.704]

I have several vouchers for Carne to use since we were washed out back in June.  Looking at a more budget conscious trip next May (Fly into Dublin and work my way to and from Belmullet).  There looks to be some good golf at reasonable prices in the Midlands.  Anyone have any experiences to share?  I'm looking at Heritage, Moyvalley, New Forest, Esker Hills, Glasson, etc.  My one splurge round will be The Island.  

[Chanceman]

4 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

I have several vouchers for Carne to use since we were washed out back in June.  Looking at a more budget conscious trip next May (Fly into Dublin and work my way to and from Belmullet).  There looks to be some good golf at reasonable prices in the Midlands.  Anyone have any experiences to share?  I'm looking at Heritage, Moyvalley, New Forest, Esker Hills, Glasson, etc.  My one splurge round will be The Island.  

I presume you have considered Rosses Point in Sligo, Strandhill and Enniscrone which are kind of on the way. You might also look at Mulranny (9holes but great fun) and maybe Westport which I haven’t played but looks ok.

[hammergolf]

5 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

I have several vouchers for Carne to use since we were washed out back in June.  Looking at a more budget conscious trip next May (Fly into Dublin and work my way to and from Belmullet).  There looks to be some good golf at reasonable prices in the Midlands.  Anyone have any experiences to share?  I'm looking at Heritage, Moyvalley, New Forest, Esker Hills, Glasson, etc.  My one splurge round will be The Island.  

Corballis is a great bargain at €30. Definitely worth it. Palmerstown is one we are looking to play when we go in two months. I’ll report back. 

Edited August 5, 2022 by hammergolf

[ajgoodal.704]

I played Rosses Point, Strandhill and Enniscrone in June.  Great courses, but my time and budget are limited for this trip.  I’m looking at flying into Dublin on a Sunday and out on Saturday.  My thought currently is:

Monday - The Island (200e)

Tuesday - New Forest (35e) or Headfort New (65e)

Wednesday - Carne (Hackett) 

Thursday - Carne (Wild Atlantic Dunes)

Friday - Moyvalley (40e)

[Copacetic]

On 8/6/2022 at 3:45 PM, ajgoodal.704 said:

I played Rosses Point, Strandhill and Enniscrone in June.  Great courses, but my time and budget are limited for this trip.  I’m looking at flying into Dublin on a Sunday and out on Saturday.  My thought currently is:

Monday - The Island (200e)

Tuesday - New Forest (35e) or Headfort New (65e)

Wednesday - Carne (Hackett) 

Thursday - Carne (Wild Atlantic Dunes)

Friday - Moyvalley (40e)

Headfort new is a nice course, quite American in feel, plenty of water etc, better condition than new forest. Not a great split of the driving though, I’d be tempted to make the straight motorway run all the way from Dublin to Galway and play Galway bay or similar. Then leave the tricky driving for the next day. 
 

as mentioned above, I’d look to rosses point or county Sligo in way back, they seem close to Carne but actually split the drive quite well, this morning it’s almost 2 hours from carne to rosses point and only 2.30 all they way back to Dublin from there for example. 
 

if looking at timings, Motorways make a massive difference here. 

[ajgoodal.704]

On 8/27/2022 at 2:53 AM, Copacetic said:

Headfort new is a nice course, quite American in feel, plenty of water etc, better condition than new forest. Not a great split of the driving though, I’d be tempted to make the straight motorway run all the way from Dublin to Galway and play Galway bay or similar. Then leave the tricky driving for the next day. 
 

as mentioned above, I’d look to rosses point or county Sligo in way back, they seem close to Carne but actually split the drive quite well, this morning it’s almost 2 hours from carne to rosses point and only 2.30 all they way back to Dublin from there for example. 
 

if looking at timings, Motorways make a massive difference here. 

 

Funny that you should mention the breakup of the drives.  I've since revised the trip and was going to go straight from Dublin to Sligo on Sunday (No golf).  Golf would be: 

Monday - Strandhill or Enniscrone

Tuesday & Wednesday - Carne

Thursday - New Forest or another Midland course

Friday - Moyvalley

 

Lodging would be 1 Night in Sligo, 3 Nights in Ballina and 2 Nights in Trim.  

[Rollotomasi]

On 8/5/2022 at 6:37 PM, ajgoodal.704 said:

I have several vouchers for Carne to use since we were washed out back in June.  Looking at a more budget conscious trip next May (Fly into Dublin and work my way to and from Belmullet).  There looks to be some good golf at reasonable prices in the Midlands.  Anyone have any experiences to share?  I'm looking at Heritage, Moyvalley, New Forest, Esker Hills, Glasson, etc.  My one splurge round will be The Island.  

 

I played the Heritage last month and it was in excellent condition.  

New Forest can be in superb condition in summer but other times less so (but never bad). It is an interesting layout.

Esker Hills, I have not played in quite a while but (personal opinion) there are nicer close by.

Headford New is a fine layout, with super greens.

 

With any course in May, it is worth ringing in advance to check that the greens have not been cored/sanded.

 

Just to throw in a few other courses, Slieve Russell may be slightly out of the way when on your way across the country but its a really nice course. 

 

For your last day, I've not played Moyvalley for many years so can't give an opinion but a favourite of mine is Tulfarris in Wicklow for the money. Its not far from Dublin. 

Lutrellstown is a nice parkland, for somewhere closer to Dublin. As is Palmerstown.

 

If you can do a second 18 on the same day I would recommend you fit in Corballis, even if you can only play 9 holes, as a warm up for The Island.

[hammergolf]

3 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

 

Funny that you should mention the breakup of the drives.  I've since revised the trip and was going to go straight from Dublin to Sligo on Sunday (No golf).  Golf would be: 

Monday - Strandhill or Enniscrone

Tuesday & Wednesday - Carne

Thursday - New Forest or another Midland course

Friday - Moyvalley

 

Lodging would be 1 Night in Sligo, 3 Nights in Ballina and 2 Nights in Trim.  

I’ve added Slieve Russell to my itinerary for October. 

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, Rollotomasi said:

 

I played the Heritage last month and it was in excellent condition.  

New Forest can be in superb condition in summer but other times less so (but never bad). It is an interesting layout.

Esker Hills, I have not played in quite a while but (personal opinion) there are nicer close by.

Headford New is a fine layout, with super greens.

 

With any course in May, it is worth ringing in advance to check that the greens have not been cored/sanded.

 

Just to throw in a few other courses, Slieve Russell may be slightly out of the way when on your way across the country but its a really nice course. 

 

For your last day, I've not played Moyvalley for many years so can't give an opinion but a favourite of mine is Tulfarris in Wicklow for the money. Its not far from Dublin. 

Lutrellstown is a nice parkland, for somewhere closer to Dublin. As is Palmerstown.

 

If you can do a second 18 on the same day I would recommend you fit in Corballis, even if you can only play 9 holes, as a warm up for The Island.

Corballis is my hidden gem. So much fun to play and you can’t beat the price and views!

[ajgoodal.704]

If you had to choose between Headfort New or Slieve Russell, which would you choose?  After playing Galway Bay in June, I have to say I'm a big Christy Jr. fan, so Headfort is intriguing.  Our 2024 NI trip will have a Christy stop at Concra Wood.  

[Rollotomasi]

17 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

If you had to choose between Headfort New or Slieve Russell, which would you choose?  After playing Galway Bay in June, I have to say I'm a big Christy Jr. fan, so Headfort is intriguing.  Our 2024 NI trip will have a Christy stop at Concra Wood.  

I think I would choose Slieve Russell with more variety in holes, but very little in it.

Slieve Russell is narrower off the tee in places and has some dog-legs that a second playing might benefit. The Headfort New layout is more out-in-front.

Concra Wood is a great track. Another Christy Jr course is Mount Wolseley that is worth playing another time.

[ajgoodal.704]

16 minutes ago, Rollotomasi said:

I think I would choose Slieve Russell with more variety in holes, but very little in it.

Slieve Russell is narrower off the tee in places and has some dog-legs that a second playing might benefit. The Headfort New layout is more out-in-front.

Concra Wood is a great track. Another Christy Jr course is Mount Wolseley that is worth playing another time.

This is great information!  Thank you.  I love links golf, but I also love mixing in some beautiful Irish parklands.  

[fullstop]

On 8/29/2022 at 7:24 PM, ajgoodal.704 said:

If you had to choose between Headfort New or Slieve Russell, which would you choose?  After playing Galway Bay in June, I have to say I'm a big Christy Jr. fan, so Headfort is intriguing.  Our 2024 NI trip will have a Christy stop at Concra Wood.  

Both excellent courses, Slieve Russell probably shades it for me...just. 

 

Have you considered Killeen Castle as an option?

[ajgoodal.704]

20 hours ago, fullstop said:

Both excellent courses, Slieve Russell probably shades it for me...just. 

 

Have you considered Killeen Castle as an option?

I did until I saw what they want for a greens fee.  

[fullstop]

On 9/6/2022 at 4:37 PM, ajgoodal.704 said:

I did until I saw what they want for a greens fee.  

How much?! I'd have offered to take you out but gave up my membership there recently.

[ajgoodal.704]

22 hours ago, fullstop said:

How much?! I'd have offered to take you out but gave up my membership there recently.

It was 150e.  I'm sure it is a great course, but I'd rather put that kind of money towards links rounds that I don't get to play at home.  

[fullstop]

On 9/15/2022 at 6:52 PM, ajgoodal.704 said:

It was 150e.  I'm sure it is a great course, but I'd rather put that kind of money towards links rounds that I don't get to play at home.  

Wow, yeah that's too much.