Royal County Down from Dublin

jwortsman · June 21, 2018

Good morning all,

I'm headed to Ireland at the end of September and was planning to play RCD as a single. I just found out that the course is closed in October for maintenance and there is 1 spot left on the only day I will be there in September. The problem is that I arrive in Dublin at 06:50 and the tee-time is at 10:30. For those that have been, how is the drive from the airport to RCD and what is customs like in Dublin?

Thanks in advance!

North Butte · June 21, 2018

If it were me I'd consider that a definite no-go. It's not just clearing immigration at the airport, you also have to go claim your rental car. So no way you're on the road before 8am and even that assumes no flight delays and reasonable lines at immigration and at the car-hire place. So absolute very best case you pull up in the car park 30-40 minutes before your tee time.

Maybe if you could wait and try it but if they want you to pay (big $$$) in advance for a round you're very likely to miss, it seems a lot of stress for the first day of a trip.

duffer987 · June 21, 2018

Man you are cutting it super super close.

Let's say best case scenario, your flight is on time, and the queues and baggage are all there, and then there's no big queue at the car hire counter (although you can mitigate this depending on the company). At best you'd be in the car ready to leave the airport by 8:00. Perfect traffic conditions and you go at a good clip, you don't stop along the way for anything, and you are there a bit before 10am.

Any 1 of a shedload of things, starting with the biggie a delay in your flight, and you won't make it.

I'd contact them and let them know your schedule, they may be understanding if you are late then, as opposed to just showing up at noon and wanted to get out.

Edit: No me and NB didn't exchange notes before our posts ;)

North Butte · June 21, 2018

I've never been to Ireland (yet?) but made quite a few trips to England and once to Scotland. Every time I have a flexible arrival-day schedule my flight is early, there are like three people in front of me at the immigration queue and I'm on the road 50 minutes after my plane was supposed to land.

And every time I have made plans that morning I've been at least an hour late getting away from the airport...

P.S. While I'm off topic I'll mention that traveling via Manchester airport around Ramadan is quite an adventure.

duffer987 · June 21, 2018

Last year we had a theoretical 4.5hr window between landing at Shannon at 7:30 and teeing off at Ballybunion at noon. We were going to check into the house, have a nice breakfast, maybe a nap, and then pop over to the course

My flight was properly delayed, we went straight to the course and got there at 11:30.

On my own it's typically two days in the pub before playing so it doesn't come up, but this year I had a 3.5hr window between landing at Gatwick and teeing off at St. George's Hill (only 30mins away). Everything went like clock work.

But yes OP, my boring anecdotes aside, if you can work something else out, it would likely be for the best.

jwortsman · June 21, 2018

Thanks for the feedback guys. I agree with you all, but really wanted and/or hoped for this to be a great idea.

duffer987 · June 21, 2018

If you only have 1 day to play (not sure if you meant that was the only overlap between your stay and a teetime or your only day to play full stop), then Portmarnock is really easy to get to from the airport. It or The Island would be great choices for a round after you land. and just down the road.

North Butte · June 21, 2018

If I may hijack the thread briefly...

Hey duffer987 have you play Baltray at all?

They have Dormie accommodation in their clubhouse which sounds kind of cool. Fly into DUB, pay a small fortune for a taxi to Drogheda (sp?) and play 2-3 days while staying on-site.

duffer987 · June 21, 2018

If I may hijack the thread briefly...

Hey duffer987 have you play Baltray at all?

They have Dormie accommodation in their clubhouse which sounds kind of cool. Fly into DUB, pay a small fortune for a taxi to Drogheda (sp?) and play 2-3 days while staying on-site.

No damnit! ;) It is the only Irish links course I really want to play that I haven't. Over the years, 1 rain out and two tournaments being on when I wanted to play.

The good thing with that plan, is you also have Laytown and Bettystown GC just South of it to play as well while you're there. It's a modest, yet interesting course that I'd rate above a number of more well know courses I've played.

TBH I don't think a cab would be that terrible, 60-70 EUR maybe? Although maybe I am outta touch price wise.

There's also an express bus that leaves right from the terminal and only stops in Drogheda if you don't mind schlepping your sticks. Cab it from the station.

North Butte · June 21, 2018

Sounds cool. I've had that sort of thing filed away as a future "plan" one of these days. I really enjoy being somewhere to play a good course multiple times and grab one or two other nearby rounds. Much better than the old play/drive/play/drive/play/drive whirlwind tour.

duffer987 · June 21, 2018

Sounds cool. I've had that sort of thing filed away as a future "plan" one of these days. I really enjoy being somewhere to play a good course multiple times and grab one or two other nearby rounds. Much better than the old play/drive/play/drive/play/drive whirlwind tour.

Agreed, we/I always end up with an overall whirlwind trip, but with pockets of 2-4 night stays of stability within it ;)

jwortsman · June 21, 2018

If you only have 1 day to play (not sure if you meant that was the only overlap between your stay and a teetime or your only day to play full stop), then Portmarnock is really easy to get to from the airport. It or The Island would be great choices for a round after you land. and just down the road.

No, I have more days to play, but since RCD doesn't accept visitors on the weekend, that's the last day of September and they told me the course was closed October for maintenance, so just 1 day to get on RCD. I'm planning to play the following week at Royal Portrush and at this point am likely going to look at Royal Portmarnock.

On another note, where in Texas are you?

duffer987 · June 22, 2018

If you only have 1 day to play (not sure if you meant that was the only overlap between your stay and a teetime or your only day to play full stop), then Portmarnock is really easy to get to from the airport. It or The Island would be great choices for a round after you land. and just down the road.

No, I have more days to play, but since RCD doesn't accept visitors on the weekend, that's the last day of September and they told me the course was closed October for maintenance, so just 1 day to get on RCD. I'm planning to play the following week at Royal Portrush and at this point am likely going to look at Royal Portmarnock.

On another note, where in Texas are you?

Royal Portrush is awesome. Strong driving course. Some may say the rough encroaches a bit too much, but I really enjoy it.

Don't go adding the Royal designation in front of Portmarnock, they'll think you are taking the piss ;)

Down in Austin, much different weather than Ireland ;)

Although some of the baked out fairways + wind, can give you links-like rollout

TerpFangolfer · July 10, 2018

Agree, with the already stated opinions - I did the drive from Dublin to RCD back in '15. And it took at least 30-45 min longer than I thought - more like 2:30 Instead of a little under 2 hrs.

Also, 1 more thing to consider...we had been all around Ireland - spending Euros...and I realized on the way to Newcastle, I need an ATM to get Pounds to be able to pay the caddy in cash! So had to make an extra stop...