MongoSmash

Awesome trip. Interesting to hear your perspective. I thought Western Gailes was tough…but then again, I am a 9 cap who can be erratic off the tee. Not the recipe at Championship links

All, I’m planning a family trip to Ireland/N Ireland in 2026. I have secured a tee time at RCD on a Sunday, and plan to play Ardglass while up there. I need help choosing 2 courses around Dublin please. I am considering: The Island, Portmarnock, Corballis, Druids Glen, European Club. I love water views and bold design…Gamble Sands, Tobacco Road, Chambers Bay, Kingsbarns… also, I have heard European Club can be TOUGH. I am a 9 hcp. I would say I’m leaning Island, Druids Glen (for something different), or maybe Corballis. also, bonus points if anyone can recommend some short coures, par 3 courses, or putting courses like at Gullane, Turnberry, or St Andrews. TIA 👍

We’ll need a little more info….how many days you gonna be around. How much driving/traveling you willing to do, etc…

I just did a write up on my trip. 😁…. if your kids like golf, I would stay in N Berwick area and St Andrews area. Gullane and N Berwick have short and/or putting courses. st Andrews has a putting course. Tailor made for some time with the kids and spouse (if they’re interested).

trip wrap up. I’ll try not to rehash anything said above. I’ll provide rankings as well. All of these courses were in very good to great shape, and all were great settings… 1. Kingsbarns. Friendly enough for a double digit cap, stern enough for a good player. Great views, great strategy. 2. Turnberry. Too tough a test for me I think. A better player MIGHT have it ranked 1. I would love to play it on a calmer day. 3. N Berwick. Beautiful land movement and greens. Nice strategy. Better views than a I thought. 4. Crail. Tough to slot it here (ahead of Gullane). If the rough at Gullane was lower, it might be 2 or 3 on my list!! I love that Crail gives you 1 side to bail out on usually. It’s not just thick rough or ocean on BOTH sides. 5. Gullane. I hate to slot it here. Like I said, if the rough was down, I think it would be #2 or 3 for me. Also, shout out their green keeper. I think Gullane was the best condition, and that’s saying something!!! 6. Castle course. Again, a better player might have it higher. I would recommend a caddy for strategy off the tee. Great views. Greens were NOT off putting. 7. western Gailes. Some nice views, but a stern test. again, all of these courses were in great shape, and had their own beauty and strategy and demands. If you are a single digit cap, I would recommend them all! They were lovely. restaurant recommendations; not much was open in N Berwick on a Monday-Tuesday so watch out. And they close “early”. The fish and chips at The Old Clubhouse was good. st Andrews: burger at Mitchell’s was awesome! steak and oyster and Rogue were awesome - get a reservation! Mussels and Mac and cheese at The Saint were great! Troon: Tempura restaurant was awesome. Lamb and duck at Piersland hotel were top notch.

Ended the trip with a bang! Turnberry in heavy winds. 😁😬 The starter informed us since there was virtually no play for the last 9 months, and a wet winter…the rough was up! Combine that with heavy winds, and the into the wind holes were almost unplayable for this mortal. 🤦‍♂️ Turnberry would be a challenge on a calm wind day, with those winds it was tough tough tough! The challenge off the tee was just tight fairways lined with thick rough, and some strategically placed bunkers. The green complexes had MANY deep bunkers. the views were spectacular! i think if I were a low single figure player, this would have been my favorite course to of the trip, but the difficulty brings it lower on my “favorites” list. other things to know…the only water is at the halfway point!!! Nobody informed me of this, and I ran out of water on 13. Kind of unacceptable to not have coolers out on 4 and 14 when you charge what they charge. It would be so easy. No more golf for this trip. Back to reality tomorrow. I’ll post a final thoughts, wrap up, and ranking. 😝 IMG_4925.mov IMG_4923.mov

Round 6 update from Western Gailes… western Gailes is tough! Lots of awkward tee shots with bunkers, mounds, and deep rough. The green complexes don’t let up either; lots of deep bunkers and creeks. some very nice views, but not as many as Crail, kingsbarns, Castle, N Berwick, Gullane. I would only recommend it to single digit players. I am a 10, and felt a bit bludgeoned. 😝

Just walking. All the courses are totally cool with it, and no additional cost

I played the Castle Course today. I heard the greens were crazy and difficult, but I thought the driving was the most difficult. For a modern course, there were a lot of blind/semi-blind tee shots. There were lots of mounds, bunkers, and rough. I played the back nine with a New course member. He said the Caslte is the toughest in his opinion. the stretch of 6-9, and 16-18 were great. I kinda wish I would have had a caddy for strategy/advice off the tee.