Ballybunion, Tralee, Lahinch vs Carne, Enniscrone, Rosses Point??

[hammergolf]

For all my Irish friends and fellow wrx’ers who have played them, how would you rate these courses if you take popularity and notoriety out of it? Been reading a lot and watching lots of videos and I’m starting to think that the courses for my upcoming trip to the Northwest of Ireland will be even better than my trip last year to Southwest Ireland.

[Hawkeye77]

No clue, lol, but if we could have gotten a tee time on Carne when we were doing the trip planning, we were starting our trip at Belmullet.  It was showing fully booked - now there are tons of times.  No biggie, we are starting at Roundstone and will enjoy Connemara and take a little extra bit of travel out of the equation to start things off.  Maybe a proper trip northwest and north someday, but our main focus is Kerry area and Connemara and Lahinch and associated nature/sites on the way down. I can get on Ballybunion but just can't pull the trigger with courses that are more accessible already on the schedule, and it would compress a day more than I want it compressed, and cost-wise, since I can't get a time that works at the European Club, I'm looking into a pleasant Sunday with the wife parkland style at Mount Juliet, and may spend the $ there with a couple days in Kilkenny (and there are other options in that area), or head over Arklow way and maybe stay in Wicklow (could probably pay for the rooms for two nights and green fees for the cost of playing Mount Juliet, but Kilkenny looks like an interesting place) - a couple of days are still in doubt as of now.

[puttnforthe8]

This is me:  Lahinch, Tralee, Carne, Enniscrone & Ballybunion, Rosses Point

 

I almost became a member at Lahinch while living there (in hindsight, I wish I had).  But living on the east coast, made the proposition a tough sell.  But, I love everything about Lahinch and enjoyed it every play (3+ dozen times).  I love Tralee, but Lahinch is special for me.   

 

This trip of yours is, imo, one of the best in the world.  You could maybe say, a Bandon + Chambers Bay + Gold Mountain or a Pinehurst + Pine Needles + Southern Pines or some of these similar would come close.

[hammergolf]

Based on your thoughts, sounds like I’ll be very pleased with Carne, Enniscrone, Rosses Point, as well as Narin & Portnoo. I’m really looking forward to the trip because last years trip was even better than I expected. I’ve been on many golf trips, and by far the one to Ireland last year is at the top of my list. I’ve done Bandon, and it was great, but it doesn’t hold a candle to my Ireland and Scotland trips. Here’s my rankings of the golf trips I’ve take :

 

SW Ireland

St. Andrews

Ayrshire

Bandon

SF/Pebble

Kiawah

Casa De Campo

Chicago

Scottsdale

Mesquite

Reno

Tucson

 

Been in many others, but those would be my top 12. 

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by hammergolf

[Chanceman]

On 4/26/2022 at 3:10 PM, hammergolf said:

Based on your thoughts, sounds like I’ll be very pleased with Carne, Enniscrone, Rosses Point, as well as Narin & Portnoo. I’m really looking forward to the trip because last years trip was even better than I expected. I’ve been on many golf trips, and by far the one to Ireland last year is at the top of my list. I’ve done Bandon, and it was great, but it doesn’t hold a candle to my Ireland and Scotland trips. Here’s my rankings of the golf trips I’ve take :

 

SW Ireland

St. Andrews

Ayrshire

Bandon

SF/Pebble

Kiawah

Casa De Campo

Chicago

Scottsdale

Mesquite

Reno

Tucson

 

Been in many others, but those would be my top 12. 

 

Mind me asking what was your Chicago rota?

[hammergolf]

11 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Mind me asking what was your Chicago rota?

There is so much good golf in Chicago that we just scraped the surface since my group was only there for 5 days. Here are the courses we played:

 

Lost Dunes 

Cog Hill Dubsdread

Medinah #3

Mistwood

Conway Farms

 

Not sure if you read any of his posts, but Argonne69 lives in the Chicago area and can give you info on courses since he has played almost all of them in the area. 

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

On 5/1/2022 at 12:30 PM, hammergolf said:

There is so much good golf in Chicago that we just scraped the surface since my group was only there for 5 days. Here are the courses we played:

 

Lost Dunes 

Cog Hill Dubsdread

Medinah #3

Mistwood

Conway Farms

 

Not sure if you read any of his posts, but Argonne69 lives in the Chicago area and can give you info on courses since he has played almost all of them in the area. 

 

 

He's played almost every course in the U.S.!

[Chanceman]

I have just come home from a family trip to Ireland so not a full golf trip, but I did play Carne and imho it is the one to play.

Last time I played the others so this is my personal list:

Carne

Lahinch

Rosses Point 

Enniscrone

Ballybunion

To me Carne was just the best. Very playable, very scenic, very well routed, not hugely expensive, great craic, with the only negative being potential for very bad weather!

And while in that region you have to play Mulranny, a great little 9 holer en route from/to Westport.

[hammergolf]

21 minutes ago, Chanceman said:

I have just come home from a family trip to Ireland so not a full golf trip, but I did play Carne and imho it is the one to play.

Last time I played the others so this is my personal list:

Carne

Lahinch

Rosses Point 

Enniscrone

Ballybunion

To me Carne was just the best. Very playable, very scenic, very well routed, not hugely expensive, great craic, with the only negative being potential for very bad weather!

And while in that region you have to play Mulranny, a great little 9 holer en route from/to Westport.

Well, I’m going back to Ireland the first week of October. I’m playing Castle Dargan, Carne, Enniscrone, Strandhill, Rosses Point, Narin & Portnoo, and Donegal. I’m looking forward to comparing them with Lahinch, Ballybunion, and Tralee.

[Chanceman]

That's a nice rota. Not many people seem to be playing the new St Patricks Links up in that corner. It would be on my list.

[El Gringo]

On 4/25/2022 at 2:50 AM, hammergolf said:

For all my Irish friends and fellow wrx’ers who have played them, how would you rate these courses if you take popularity and notoriety out of it? Been reading a lot and watching lots of videos and I’m starting to think that the courses for my upcoming trip to the Northwest of Ireland will be even better than my trip last year to Southwest Ireland.

Just in terms of quality, not price, experience etc

 

Lahinch & Ballybunion 

 

Co Sligo

Enniscrone 

Carne

 

Tralee

 

Ciao 

 

 

[hammergolf]

5 hours ago, El Gringo said:

Just in terms of quality, not price, experience etc

 

Lahinch & Ballybunion 

 

Co Sligo

Enniscrone 

Carne

 

Tralee

 

Ciao 

 

 

I’ll post plenty of pics and reviews. Can’t wait!

[ALTSean]

Just booked a tee time at Ballybunion for Tuesday August 16th.  We'll be on a family vacation and we're spending a few nights in Tralee so I could not, not play Ballybunion.  I'll be renting clubs, but am looking forward to it!

[puttnforthe8]

12 hours ago, ALTSean said:

Just booked a tee time at Ballybunion for Tuesday August 16th.  We'll be on a family vacation and we're spending a few nights in Tralee so I could not, not play Ballybunion.  I'll be renting clubs, but am looking forward to it!

In Tralee and not playing Tralee?  

[ALTSean]

7 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

In Tralee and not playing Tralee?  

We’re staying just to the east of Tralee so it’s the same distance to Tralee and Ballybunion.  I only have time for one and went back and forth on which to play and finally pulled the trigger and booked a 9 am at Ballybunion.  I need a future guys golf trip to Ireland and will get back to Tralee.

[hammergolf]

Back 9 at Tralee may be one of the best collection of 9 holes anywhere….