In Dublin with family. Stay extra 4 days for solo Ireland golf, or pay more, fly to Edinburgh to play in Scotland?

[Chanceman]

On 7/5/2023 at 9:32 AM, hammergolf said:

I’ve played Druids Glen before the redesign, but haven’t made it to Macreddin yet. How would you compare the two? Pics look amazing on their site.

Personally, I enjoyed Macreddin more than Druids. It is a more open style of course but just as memorable. Quite undulating with some great views. I think from memory the last few holes are quite spectacular. Put it this way, I would definitely play it again in pref to Druids.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, Chanceman said:

Personally, I enjoyed Macreddin more than Druids. It is a more open style of course but just as memorable. Quite undulating with some great views. I think from memory the last few holes are quite spectacular. Put it this way, I would definitely play it again in pref to Druids.

I’ll have to add it to my itinerary when I come back. I already was looking at playing Druids Glen to see the remodel, The European Club, Rosslare, and Arklow. What’s your opinion on Wicklow?

[Chanceman]

5 hours ago, hammergolf said:

I’ll have to add it to my itinerary when I come back. I already was looking at playing Druids Glen to see the remodel, The European Club, Rosslare, and Arklow. What’s your opinion on Wicklow?

Did not play Wicklow, Rosslare or Arklow. I liked The European Club but found it difficult.

[johnspies]

I love St. Andrews with a passion but have to agree with the rest, stay in Ireland. You've got RCD on the list and if you want to stay in Dublin area, Portmarnock, European Club and The Island are all first-rate. One word of advise when playing the European; they don't have Caddies and you'll take a golf cart. Be sure to either have an electronic device with course layout or get a yardage book. Lots of blind shots there; in our group of 12, the better golfers loved it and the rest hated it. Personally, I'm a high handicapper but loved the place when I could see what I was doing 😉

 

If you can travel whilst in Ireland I'd maybe pop up farther north and play Portrush and Portstewart. Both are fantastic....but RCD is my fave for sure.

 

In Scotland, my fave is Kingsbarns by a mile. 

[noahwein]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful input

 

Just got home after a great trip, ended up squeezing in a few 36 hole days for the last week I was there solo and got to play in order:

 

Royal County Down

Lahinch

County Louth

Royal Portrush

Narin & Portnoo

Cruit Island

St Patricks

Portsalon

Ballyliffin Glashedy

Ballyliffin Old

 

I think my only regret is starting the trip playing RCD, in hindsight I wish I had found a way to save that round for last, only because it ended up being my favorite course and couldn’t help comparing the others to it. 

 

Narin & Portnoo was a big underrated highlight for me. The first three holes or so are quite ordinary but from holes 5 or 6 onward was just fantastic, I would STRONGLY recommend finding a way to fit this into any trip.

 

A 36 hole day at Ballyliffin on both courses on a perfect sunny day was also a highlight, the Old course I thought was a fantastic walk with some of the most interesting fairways I’ve seen.

 

Lahinch and Portrush both fantastic as expected.

 

Managed to hole a combined 70 feet worth of par putts on 8&9 at RCD en route to carding a 79, which was an incredible way to start the trip.

 

Strongly recommend taking a caddie at RCD and Lahinch mostly due to the blind shots. The other courses on this list could easily be done with just a push cart. 
 

 

 

Edited July 15, 2023 by noahwein

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, noahwein said:

Thanks to everyone for the helpful input

 

Just got home after a great trip, ended up squeezing in a few 36 hole days for the last week I was there solo and got to play in order:

 

Royal County Down

Lahinch

County Louth

Royal Portrush

Narin & Portnoo

Cruit Island

St Patricks

Portsalon

Ballyliffin Glashedy

Ballyliffin Old

 

I think my only regret is starting the trip playing RCD, in hindsight I wish I had found a way to save that round for last, only because it ended up being my favorite course and couldn’t help comparing the others to it. 

 

Narin & Portnoo was a big underrated highlight for me. The first three holes or so are quite ordinary but from holes 5 or 6 onward was just fantastic, I would STRONGLY recommend finding a way to fit this into any trip.

 

A 36 hole day at Ballyliffin on both courses on a perfect sunny day was also a highlight, the Old course I thought was a fantastic walk with some of the most interesting fairways I’ve seen.

 

Lahinch and Portrush both fantastic as expected.

 

Managed to hole a combined 70 feet worth of par putts on 8&9 at RCD en route to carding a 79, which was an incredible way to start the trip.

 

Strongly recommend taking a caddie at RCD and Lahinch mostly due to the blind shots. The other courses on this list could easily be done with just a push cart. 
 

 

 

Great trip! No doubt, N&P is really good and very underrated. If you make it back, you have to get to Carne and Enniscrone!