Is Sleive Russell comparable to Druids Glen?

[hammergolf]

Looking for somewhere to play on the way from Dublin airport to Sligo. Looking at Slieve Russell, and the videos look similar in layout to Druids Glen. Has anyone played both or played Slieve Russell lately that could comment on the condition?

[ajgoodal.704]

Just go for it!!  Had we flown into Dublin instead of Shannon, I had it, Headfort New or Lough Erne Faldo as options on the way to Sligo.  I don't think you could go wrong with Slieve Russell.  65 euros for one of the top parklands in the country.  Druids Glen has always been on my list for when I'm in the Dublin area.  I recently saw the 2023 rack rate of 190 euros and now I'm not so keen.  

[hammergolf]

4 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

Just go for it!!  Had we flown into Dublin instead of Shannon, I had it, Headfort New or Lough Erne Faldo as options on the way to Sligo.  I don't think you could go wrong with Slieve Russell.  65 euros for one of the top parklands in the country.  Druids Glen has always been on my list for when I'm in the Dublin area.  I recently saw the 2023 rack rate of 190 euros and now I'm not so keen.  

Talked to a friend in Ireland earlier today. He said the course and hotel are top tier and that if it was in a less remote location it would get a lot more publicity. I think I’m going to make it our first round after we land, then stay the night there before driving on to Sligo the following morning. I’ll be interested to see Druids Glen again after the current redesign that is ongoing. It was really good when I played it last year, but I’m excited to compare it to Slieve. I’m Not sure I’d stay in the hotel at Druids at that price since it’s an easy drive from Dublin. The good news is I’ll be able to compare them both after October.

[ajgoodal.704]

Can't wait to hear about your experience at Slieve Russell.  I always thought a Lough Erne, Slieve Russell, Concra Wood trio would make a fantastic few days of golf.  

[hammergolf]

I looked at Concra Wood originally, but a couple of my guys are higher hdcp and that does not look like the type of course you want to play after a 7 hr flight, 2 hr drive, and working on very little sleep. It’s on my list to play for sure. 

[ajgoodal.704]

12 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

I looked at Concra Wood originally, but a couple of my guys are higher hdcp and that does not look like the type of course you want to play after a 7 hr flight, 2 hr drive, and working on very little sleep. It’s on my list to play for sure. 

No doubt.  I have it listed for our 2024 trip.  It'll bridge our NI rounds with our Dublin links rounds.  

[hammergolf]

20 minutes ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

No doubt.  I have it listed for our 2024 trip.  It'll bridge our NI rounds with our Dublin links rounds.  

Yeah, I was thinking of mixing those in with Baltray, RCD, and Ardglass to make a nice loop

[ajgoodal.704]

2 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Yeah, I was thinking of mixing those in with Baltray, RCD, and Ardglass to make a nice loop

Royal Portrush is on my Dad's bucket list, so I'm looking at Castlerock, Royal Portrush, Ardglass, Concra Wood, The Island and Royal Dublin for 2024.  

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

Royal Portrush is on my Dad's bucket list, so I'm looking at Castlerock, Royal Portrush, Ardglass, Concra Wood, The Island and Royal Dublin for 2024.  

That’s a great trip. Hopefully within a couple years I’ll be able to take a month off work and just start in Dublin and drive counter clockwise to play as many as I can.

[Chanceman]

9 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

Royal Portrush is on my Dad's bucket list, so I'm looking at Castlerock, Royal Portrush, Ardglass, Concra Wood, The Island and Royal Dublin for 2024.  

Not trying for Royal County Down? Its the best.

[ajgoodal.704]

9 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Not trying for Royal County Down? Its the best.

Honestly it is probably more course than a couple in my group could handle.  I'd rather they have fun on the course.  Someday I'll get there with my sons when they are grown, but I'm not all that worried about it.  I think I've settled on playing all 27 at Castlerock, the bucket list round at Portrush, followed by eye candy rounds at Ardglass and Concra Wood and finishing out at Portmarnock and the Island.  Throw in optional rounds at Laytown & Bettystown and/or Balbriggan and we are set.  Its just too bad it won't be until Summer 2024.  

[Chanceman]

9 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

Honestly it is probably more course than a couple in my group could handle.  I'd rather they have fun on the course.  Someday I'll get there with my sons when they are grown, but I'm not all that worried about it.  I think I've settled on playing all 27 at Castlerock, the bucket list round at Portrush, followed by eye candy rounds at Ardglass and Concra Wood and finishing out at Portmarnock and the Island.  Throw in optional rounds at Laytown & Bettystown and/or Balbriggan and we are set.  Its just too bad it won't be until Summer 2024.  

Portrush is no picnic either.

[ajgoodal.704]

Portrush is my Dad’s #1 bucket lister, so I guess we’ll take our lumps there.  

[puttnforthe8]

On 8/18/2022 at 5:56 AM, ajgoodal.704 said:

Can't wait to hear about your experience at Slieve Russell.  I always thought a Lough Erne, Slieve Russell, Concra Wood trio would make a fantastic few days of golf.  

It is most definitely a great trip - done that many times.

[ajgoodal.704]

On 8/30/2022 at 2:05 PM, puttnforthe8 said:

It is most definitely a great trip - done that many times.

Any chance you have some pictures from the courses?  

[fullstop]

On 8/18/2022 at 5:56 PM, hammergolf said:

I looked at Concra Wood originally, but a couple of my guys are higher hdcp and that does not look like the type of course you want to play after a 7 hr flight, 2 hr drive, and working on very little sleep. It’s on my list to play for sure. 

Slieve Russell is a far superior course to Concra Wood, IMO. Concra feels a bit like they didn't quite finish the place and the course conditioning wasn't as good as it could have been the couple of times I played there. Slieve Russell is always top notch. 

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, fullstop said:

Slieve Russell is a far superior course to Concra Wood, IMO. Concra feels a bit like they didn't quite finish the place and the course conditioning wasn't as good as it could have been the couple of times I played there. Slieve Russell is always top notch. 

Thanks! Looking forward to it, 32 more days…