Ireland Itinerary

[golfday]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm working on an itinerary for an Ireland trip and am wondering if what I've worked up below is possible and, if not, how I could adjust. A few of the key tenants would be: Playing Portrush (assuming we can get a time), playing Lahinch, having some time off for rest/sight seeing (a few 36 days are ok, but some 0 days also desired). We will have a rental car and don't mind driving. I have only been to Ireland once before and drove around plenty, but didn't get to play any golf.

 

Day	AM	PM	Town to Sleep In
Sat	Land in Belfast, drive to County Down	Play CD Annesley	Newcastle
Sun	Play Ardglass	Play CD Championship (PM time)	Portrush
Mon	Play Portrush (Valley before 9 am)	Play Portrush (Dunluce 2pm or later)	Portrush
Tues	TBD: Ballylifin / PortS / Castlerock	Drive to Galway	Galway
Wed	Day off	Day off	Galway
Thurs	Play Lahinch	Drive to Dublin	Dublin
Fri	Play Portmarnock (8:30 - 10 am)	TBD	Dublin
Sat	Day off	Day off	Dublin
Sun	Flight home from Dublin	NA	NA

[hammergolf]

Certainly doable. A long drive from Portrush to Galway, but pretty nice lineup.

[Chanceman]

Maybe better to play Ardglass on day one, then the two County Down courses on day two.

Also consider Rosses Point aka County Sligo for the day you head to Galway.

[puttnforthe8]

Personally, I would do Ardglass first and then RCD 2nd.  That way you play on a nights rest, a great meal and pints.

 

Yes...Rosses Point or Enniscrone.

 

Would recommend Island over Portmarnock.

[El Gringo]

It's a doable trip, but a lot of windshield time for a week. 

 

I assume there is a reason you aren't playing both RCD courses on the same day. 

 

Since Tuesday is a travel day, consider playing the terrific 9 hole Bann course at Castlerock rather than a rugged 18 holer. Lovely course. 

 

If you are looking for a second game on the final Friday consider Corballis. It's basically next door to the The Island so not far from Portmarnock. Corballis is a short 18 holes which is a bit links with some funky holes. Cheap, cheerful and fun. 

 

 

 

 

[Chanceman]

Meanwhile we are stuck in Australia and can only dream about trips like this. Go your hardest and play as much golf as you can. I would. 

[ajgoodal.704]

11 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Maybe better to play Ardglass on day one, then the two County Down courses on day two.

Also consider Rosses Point aka County Sligo for the day you head to Galway.

 

I agree.  Driving from Portrush to Ballyliffin and then to Galway would be a long day.  Sligo gives you some great sightseeing with the golf and then a straight shot down to Galway.  

[hammergolf]

12 hours ago, El Gringo said:

It's a doable trip, but a lot of windshield time for a week. 

 

I assume there is a reason you aren't playing both RCD courses on the same day. 

 

Since Tuesday is a travel day, consider playing the terrific 9 hole Bann course at Castlerock rather than a rugged 18 holer. Lovely course. 

 

If you are looking for a second game on the final Friday consider Corballis. It's basically next door to the The Island so not far from Portmarnock. Corballis is a short 18 holes which is a bit links with some funky holes. Cheap, cheerful and fun. 

 

 

 

 

I agree. My group is playing Corballis the morning we arrive to knock off the rust and adjust to the time change. 14 holes look great. For €30 euros you can’t go wrong….

[fullstop]

On 9/13/2021 at 6:56 PM, golfday said:

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm working on an itinerary for an Ireland trip and am wondering if what I've worked up below is possible and, if not, how I could adjust. A few of the key tenants would be: Playing Portrush (assuming we can get a time), playing Lahinch, having some time off for rest/sight seeing (a few 36 days are ok, but some 0 days also desired). We will have a rental car and don't mind driving. I have only been to Ireland once before and drove around plenty, but didn't get to play any golf.

 

 

Day	AM	PM	Town to Sleep In
Sat	Land in Belfast, drive to County Down	Play CD Annesley	Newcastle
Sun	Play Ardglass	Play CD Championship (PM time)	Portrush
Mon	Play Portrush (Valley before 9 am)	Play Portrush (Dunluce 2pm or later)	Portrush
Tues	TBD: Ballylifin / PortS / Castlerock	Drive to Galway	Galway
Wed	Day off	Day off	Galway
Thurs	Play Lahinch	Drive to Dublin	Dublin
Fri	Play Portmarnock (8:30 - 10 am)	TBD	Dublin
Sat	Day off	Day off	Dublin
Sun	Flight home from Dublin	NA	NA

 

If playing on the Tuesday and it's a choice between those 3, I'd go for Ballyliffin all day long, fantastic course(s). Also worth considering Cruit Island for a fun 9-hole. 

[Raziren]

On 9/13/2021 at 6:56 PM, golfday said:

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm working on an itinerary for an Ireland trip and am wondering if what I've worked up below is possible and, if not, how I could adjust. A few of the key tenants would be: Playing Portrush (assuming we can get a time), playing Lahinch, having some time off for rest/sight seeing (a few 36 days are ok, but some 0 days also desired). We will have a rental car and don't mind driving. I have only been to Ireland once before and drove around plenty, but didn't get to play any golf.

 

 

Day	AM	PM	Town to Sleep In
Sat	Land in Belfast, drive to County Down	Play CD Annesley	Newcastle
Sun	Play Ardglass	Play CD Championship (PM time)	Portrush
Mon	Play Portrush (Valley before 9 am)	Play Portrush (Dunluce 2pm or later)	Portrush
Tues	TBD: Ballylifin / PortS / Castlerock	Drive to Galway	Galway
Wed	Day off	Day off	Galway
Thurs	Play Lahinch	Drive to Dublin	Dublin
Fri	Play Portmarnock (8:30 - 10 am)	TBD	Dublin
Sat	Day off	Day off	Dublin
Sun	Flight home from Dublin	NA	NA

 

I've just got back from 10 days in Ireland (from the UK) having driven this time. Just a few thoughts

- they are currently much stricter on wearing face masks than the UK but it's open. Everyone is wearing them into and when moving around pubs & restaurants (+ shops). It's currently table service only (supposedly) but it didn't seem to widely observed in the smaller 'pokey' pubs. Overall though pretty much everyone was wearing masks in the south. Some places (retaurants mainly) ask to see your vaccine certificate as you enter. Have a screenshot saved rather than trying to download it in the app each time. Some larger hotels wouldnt serve you unless you were a resident which i didnt think was even a rule any more).

- driving in Ireland (north & south) can be not a lot of fun if you're used to wider (better) multi lane roads. In NI try and plan your route using the A roads (they dont have many motorways (M) in NI). A roads in NI may be 2 way roads (single lane each way separated by lines in the road) but they'll be better than non A roads. In the south the M roads are their maninly decent dual carriageways, or try to stick to N roads as a second best.

- I agree that the drive from Portrush area to Galway will be long and tedious - you will need to be focused. Try and plan a route using the roads mentioned above. The days are also getting shorter so try and leave in plenty of time so you're driving in daylight. Some Irish roads feel like you're heading into space when it's dark & if no one else is about. They're also not very well lit so take your time. Even Dublin can be grim - the road is grey, the houses are grey and more often that not the sky is grey - and that's in an urban area. Don't trust TomTom in Ireland not to want to try and take you up a one track lane up a mountain - pre plan your route using google maps.

- make sure you have enough petrol. In ireland there are not a lot of services on the roads but the roads often link town to town. this is where you should look to fill up as you pass through.

- The drive from Galway to Dublin looks half decent as it appears to be all Motorway (dual carriageway in ireland)

- When i have hired a car from Dublin previously sometimes there is an additional fee to take the car to the North, check you have this included. Some give it for free. Try and get car insurance before you arrive or you'll be stung for a higher daily charge by the hire company.

- When you get the car, in settings see if you can change the units from MPH to KPH. Road signs in the north are MPH, in the south they are KPH. It just makes it easier. Also take time when you pick up the car to take plenty of pictures when you pick it up and video of any dents or scratches. Ask the comapny to update the paperwork although the date stamps on your pictures should be ok. Ive never had any issues returning a car in Ireland - they dont seem that bothered about minor dings. Every hire car in Ireland seems to have had a rough life. And dont accept a Dacia - made of tin foil and just the worst.

- Most of the car hire drop offs at Dublin airport are located together a shuttle bus ride from/to the airport so you'll need to find the address for these. There's a petrol station (maybe 2) if you drive past the entrance to the car hire returns for about 500/1000m. That's if you need to return the car full. One might be manned, the other was a random DIY place with no staff.

 

Hope these brain dumps are useful. Have a great trip 

[golfday]

On 9/22/2021 at 9:09 PM, Raziren said:

 

I've just got back from 10 days in Ireland (from the UK) having driven this time. Just a few thoughts

- they are currently much stricter on wearing face masks than the UK but it's open. Everyone is wearing them into and when moving around pubs & restaurants (+ shops). It's currently table service only (supposedly) but it didn't seem to widely observed in the smaller 'pokey' pubs. Overall though pretty much everyone was wearing masks in the south. Some places (retaurants mainly) ask to see your vaccine certificate as you enter. Have a screenshot saved rather than trying to download it in the app each time. Some larger hotels wouldnt serve you unless you were a resident which i didnt think was even a rule any more).

- driving in Ireland (north & south) can be not a lot of fun if you're used to wider (better) multi lane roads. In NI try and plan your route using the A roads (they dont have many motorways (M) in NI). A roads in NI may be 2 way roads (single lane each way separated by lines in the road) but they'll be better than non A roads. In the south the M roads are their maninly decent dual carriageways, or try to stick to N roads as a second best.

- I agree that the drive from Portrush area to Galway will be long and tedious - you will need to be focused. Try and plan a route using the roads mentioned above. The days are also getting shorter so try and leave in plenty of time so you're driving in daylight. Some Irish roads feel like you're heading into space when it's dark & if no one else is about. They're also not very well lit so take your time. Even Dublin can be grim - the road is grey, the houses are grey and more often that not the sky is grey - and that's in an urban area. Don't trust TomTom in Ireland not to want to try and take you up a one track lane up a mountain - pre plan your route using google maps.

- make sure you have enough petrol. In ireland there are not a lot of services on the roads but the roads often link town to town. this is where you should look to fill up as you pass through.

- The drive from Galway to Dublin looks half decent as it appears to be all Motorway (dual carriageway in ireland)

- When i have hired a car from Dublin previously sometimes there is an additional fee to take the car to the North, check you have this included. Some give it for free. Try and get car insurance before you arrive or you'll be stung for a higher daily charge by the hire company.

- When you get the car, in settings see if you can change the units from MPH to KPH. Road signs in the north are MPH, in the south they are KPH. It just makes it easier. Also take time when you pick up the car to take plenty of pictures when you pick it up and video of any dents or scratches. Ask the comapny to update the paperwork although the date stamps on your pictures should be ok. Ive never had any issues returning a car in Ireland - they dont seem that bothered about minor dings. Every hire car in Ireland seems to have had a rough life. And dont accept a Dacia - made of tin foil and just the worst.

- Most of the car hire drop offs at Dublin airport are located together a shuttle bus ride from/to the airport so you'll need to find the address for these. There's a petrol station (maybe 2) if you drive past the entrance to the car hire returns for about 500/1000m. That's if you need to return the car full. One might be manned, the other was a random DIY place with no staff.

 

Hope these brain dumps are useful. Have a great trip 

Thank you for all of the tips! I've driven in Ireland before, but have not been in Northern Ireland. However, the rental car was a mini so this time I'll need something a little larger. Very good to know about masks and cards... honestly doesn't sound too much different than DC right now.