Open Championship in July! Looking for Scotland and Ireland course recommendations

[Petethreeput]

OK, I am just going to say it, and I don't mean to be super rude, but....   you know what follows that disclaimer.  And this is just for me, so total opinion piece.

 

Yes, the golf suggested is expensive, there is no doubt about it.  I traveled to Ireland this past fall, and frankly, the whole trip was expensive.  I also know I won't do it often (if ever again) and it was expensive just to go.  I looked at this way, and I do this for other hobby vacations as well, I just spent "X" to go somewhere cool and see things I have never seen before.  Do I want to come back home and lament that I saved $150 but didn't get to do it all, as I envision it?  For me, that would be the heartbreak, that I didn't go all in, because there is a good chance this was my chance.

 

Anyway, a different way to look at the expense of doing the "fun" things.  Also, if you are in Dingle for the day, my wife and I took one of the those high speed boat tours out in the bay.  Unfortunately I didn't get to see any puffins, but we got to see the cliffs from a different vantage, some dolphins and some seals.  We looked at the cute shops and asked ourselves if there wasn't more... it was great fun.

 

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by Petethreeput

[Hawkeye77]

5 hours ago, Petethreeput said:

OK, I am just going to say it, and I don't mean to be super rude, but....   you know what follows that disclaimer.  And this is just for me, so total opinion piece.

 

Yes, the golf suggested is expensive, there is no doubt about it.  I traveled to Ireland this past fall, and frankly, the whole trip was expensive.  I also know I won't do it often (if ever again) and it was expensive just to go.  I looked at this way, and I do this for other hobby vacations as well, I just spent "X" to go somewhere cool and see things I have never seen before.  Do I want to come back home and lament that I saved $150 but didn't get to do it all, as I envision it?  For me, that would be the heartbreak, that I didn't go all in, because there is a good chance this was my chance.

 

Anyway, a different way to look at the expense of doing the "fun" things.  Also, if you are in Dingle for the day, my wife and I took one of the those high speed boat tours out in the bay.  Unfortunately I didn't get to see any puffins, but we got to see the cliffs from a different vantage, some dolphins and some seals.  We looked at the cute shops and asked ourselves if there wasn't more... it was great fun.

 

 

Awesome!  We just decided over New Year weekend when I saw what I didn't think I wanted to see - a couple of really good airfare windows on Aer Lingus - and just like that!  The rental car prices are the shockers for me vs. our previous and pre-COVID trips to Scotland, but that's life.  Exploring Dingle is on the list during the week we will be based in the Tralee area and playing a couple of courses on the peninsula.

 

I am sure this is our only trip to Ireland, we won't see it all, I won't play every golf course or even every day or even 36 in a day, but just found out in the wee hours of the morning the other day after sending a couple of exploratory emails there just happened to be a couple of times yet to choose from at Lahinch and Tralee and I'm over the moon.  Other courses won't be any problem.  Yes, Lahinch is expensive and the wife even volunteered to just tag along at that one and answer was -- no way.  Since we have to have some sort of caddie there anyway, we're getting two.  Will play it by ear elsewhere and likely won't go the caddie route nor really need one anywhere else, but man if the weather is bad it's a nice luxury to have a caddie.

 

It's a bucket list trip for us and more so for her so we'll be selectively frugal (unfortunately our anniversary occurs while there so . . . . "romantic" getaway weekend at a castle hotel (not Adare, lol) I felt compelled to surprise her with has shrunk the vacation rental allotment - maybe we'll share a shed with some sheep - "honey, there will never be another ewe") but some things come with a bit of a price tag.  

 

It's a vacation, we're tourists.  

 

And just for you, even though it's from Scotland .  .  .

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by Hawkeye77

[Petethreeput]

34 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Awesome!  We just decided over New Year weekend when I saw what I didn't think I wanted to see - a couple of really good airfare windows on Aer Lingus - and just like that!  The rental car prices are the shockers for me vs. our previous and pre-COVID trips to Scotland, but that's life.  Exploring Dingle is on the list during the week we will be based in the Tralee area and playing a couple of courses on the peninsula.

 

I am sure this is our only trip to Ireland, we won't see it all, I won't play every golf course or even every day or even 36 in a day, but just found out in the wee hours of the morning the other day after sending a couple of exploratory emails there just happened to be a couple of times yet to choose from at Lahinch and Tralee and I'm over the moon.  Other courses won't be any problem.  Yes, Lahinch is expensive and the wife even volunteered to just tag along at that one and answer was -- no way.  Since we have to have some sort of caddie there anyway, we're getting two.  Will play it by ear elsewhere and likely won't go the caddie route nor really need one anywhere else, but man if the weather is bad it's a nice luxury to have a caddie.

 

It's a bucket list trip for us and more so for her so we'll be selectively frugal (unfortunately our anniversary occurs while there so . . . . "romantic" getaway weekend at a castle hotel (not Adare, lol) I felt compelled to surprise her with has shrunk the vacation rental allotment - maybe we'll share a shed with some sheep - "honey, there will never be another ewe") but some things come with a bit of a price tag.  

 

It's a vacation, we're tourists.  

 

And just for you, even though it's from Scotland .  .  .

 

We were forewarned to buy the most expensive rental car insurance, and I am glad we did.  The roads are so danged narrow and with people coming at you it isn't uncommon to take a little brush to the side of the car.  The agent said the companies are getting pretty aggressive with filing the claims for even minor repairs.

 

My wife is not a golfer so she didn't play Lahinch or Ballybunion (and she would have hated them because they are hard), but she really enjoyed Waterville at the end of the Ring of Kerry, and it was a great way to break up the slog of a drive, so it might be something to consider.  It is a playable course which is exactly what we were looking for.

[hammergolf]

22 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Awesome!  We just decided over New Year weekend when I saw what I didn't think I wanted to see - a couple of really good airfare windows on Aer Lingus - and just like that!  The rental car prices are the shockers for me vs. our previous and pre-COVID trips to Scotland, but that's life.  Exploring Dingle is on the list during the week we will be based in the Tralee area and playing a couple of courses on the peninsula.

 

I am sure this is our only trip to Ireland, we won't see it all, I won't play every golf course or even every day or even 36 in a day, but just found out in the wee hours of the morning the other day after sending a couple of exploratory emails there just happened to be a couple of times yet to choose from at Lahinch and Tralee and I'm over the moon.  Other courses won't be any problem.  Yes, Lahinch is expensive and the wife even volunteered to just tag along at that one and answer was -- no way.  Since we have to have some sort of caddie there anyway, we're getting two.  Will play it by ear elsewhere and likely won't go the caddie route nor really need one anywhere else, but man if the weather is bad it's a nice luxury to have a caddie.

 

It's a bucket list trip for us and more so for her so we'll be selectively frugal (unfortunately our anniversary occurs while there so . . . . "romantic" getaway weekend at a castle hotel (not Adare, lol) I felt compelled to surprise her with has shrunk the vacation rental allotment - maybe we'll share a shed with some sheep - "honey, there will never be another ewe") but some things come with a bit of a price tag.  

 

It's a vacation, we're tourists.  

 

And just for you, even though it's from Scotland .  .  .

 

How many are in your group playing at Lahinch? You don’t necessarily have to take an individual caddie at Lahinch. There only has to be 1 caddie per group. We all had an individual caddie out first round at Lahinch. The second round we all agreed to just hire one forecaddie for each foursome. Saved us money and to be honest he was just as good as having your own caddie. He would give everyone lines off the tee, give yardages, rake bunkers, and read putts. Only thing was he didn’t carry bags, but most of us rented a pull cart anyways. We weren’t being tightwads, just meant we had more money for Guinness and Jameson after the rounds…. We did the same at Tralee also. 

[Hawkeye77]

39 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

How many are in your group playing at Lahinch? You don’t necessarily have to take an individual caddie at Lahinch. There only has to be 1 caddie per group. We all had an individual caddie out first round at Lahinch. The second round we all agreed to just hire one forecaddie for each foursome. Saved us money and to be honest he was just as good as having your own caddie. He would give everyone lines off the tee, give yardages, rake bunkers, and read putts. Only thing was he didn’t carry bags, but most of us rented a pull cart anyways. We weren’t being tightwads, just meant we had more money for Guinness and Jameson after the rounds…. We did the same at Tralee also. 

Figure if my wife isn't going to have to push her bag I'm not either!  She doesn't mind using a push cart and has at some hilly venues (we are Friends of the Glen, as they say in North Berwick), but when we've had caddies both of us enjoy the aspect of someone carrying the bag and saving some energy (we aren't the kids we used to be). 

 

BTW - did you check out the range facility at Tralee and if so, what was it like?

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Figure if my wife isn't going to have to push her bag I'm not either!  She doesn't mind using a push cart and has at some hilly venues (we are Friends of the Glen, as they say in North Berwick), but when we've had caddies both of us enjoy the aspect of someone carrying the bag and saving some energy (we aren't the kids we used to be). 

 

BTW - did you check out the range facility at Tralee and if so, what was it like?

The range at Tralee is great. Lots of grass hitting areas, target greens, and the views are amazing as well. I tried to attach  a video that shows a little of the range but the brightness was extreme for some reason even though the video on my iPad isn’t like that. Not sure what caused that, but I’ve had the issue posting pics here before that are upside down…. Anyways I’ll try to see if I can figure out what is causing that… Tralee is my new favorite place in the world. It was by far my favorite place from our trip and had the friendliest people of any course we visited.

 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2022 by hammergolf

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Figure if my wife isn't going to have to push her bag I'm not either!  She doesn't mind using a push cart and has at some hilly venues (we are Friends of the Glen, as they say in North Berwick), but when we've had caddies both of us enjoy the aspect of someone carrying the bag and saving some energy (we aren't the kids we used to be). 

 

BTW - did you check out the range facility at Tralee and if so, what was it like?

Here you go….

 

 

Edited January 7, 2022 by hammergolf

[Hawkeye77]

14 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Here you go….

 

 

 

You inspired me to send another email now we know our time in the area is going to be a little longer and I'm getting another time and a very kind offer of a discounted replay rate which I didn't even ask for!  Not many times to be had with carryovers from the past year or two, etc. For $ sake I am giving Ballybunion a pass, but Carne/Enniscroe (may have to choose), Lahinch, Tralee, Ceann Sibeal, Castelgregory and Dooks are our intinerary at the moment and maybe a round at Kilarney Golf & Fishing and maybe European Club or County Louth (not both) at the end of the trip.

 

And may not play all those - we like to be tourists, see places and sites and at least most of one day will be spent salmon or trout fishing in the Tralee area, but playing one course twice is worth it to me.

Edited January 8, 2022 by Hawkeye77

[Pastit]

14 hours ago, hammergolf said:

The range at Tralee is great. Lots of grass hitting areas, target greens, and the views are amazing as well. I tried to attach  a video that shows a little of the range but the brightness was extreme for some reason even though the video on my iPad isn’t like that. Not sure what caused that, but I’ve had the issue posting pics here before that are upside down…. Anyways I’ll try to see if I can figure out what is causing that… Tralee is my new favorite place in the world. It was by far my favorite place from our trip and had the friendliest people of any course we visited.

 

 

 

The issue could be balancing your view finder to include more of the landscape and not a bright sky. Also to shoot on reflected light. Good luck. 

[hammergolf]

3 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

You inspired me to send another email now we know our time in the area is going to be a little longer and I'm getting another time and a very kind offer of a discounted replay rate which I didn't even ask for!  Not many times to be had with carryovers from the past year or two, etc. For $ sake I am giving Ballybunion a pass, but Carne/Enniscroe (may have to choose), Lahinch, Tralee, Ceann Sibeal, Castelgregory and Dooks are our intinerary at the moment and maybe a round at Kilarney Golf & Fishing and maybe European Club or County Louth (not both) at the end of the trip.

 

And may not play all those - we like to be tourists, see places and sites and at least most of one day will be spent salmon or trout fishing in the Tralee area, but playing one course twice is worth it to me.

One thing I would highly recommend is a day trip driving the ring of Kerry. I’ve heard Carne is just incredible, but have not been able to make it there yet. A Northwest Ireland trip is definitely on the list including Enniscrone, Sligo, Carne, Donegal, Narin and Portnoo, Rosapenna, Portsalon, and Ballyliffin.

[Hawkeye77]

48 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

One thing I would highly recommend is a day trip driving the ring of Kerry. I’ve heard Carne is just incredible, but have not been able to make it there yet. A Northwest Ireland trip is definitely on the list including Enniscrone, Sligo, Carne, Donegal, Narin and Portnoo, Rosapenna, Portsalon, and Ballyliffin.

We’ll be in Kerry for ten days, so definitely exploring all around there and reaching out a bit. Driving straight from Dublin to Bellmullet then Cong on the way to Doolin then down to the Tralee/Dingle/Kilarney area where we’ll spend most of our time. Probably Kilkenny on the way back to Dublin and the east coast. 

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye77 said:

We’ll be in Kerry for ten days, so definitely exploring all around there and reaching out a bit. Driving straight from Dublin to Bellmullet then Cong on the way to Doolin then down to the Tralee/Dingle/Kilarney area where we’ll spend most of our time. Probably Kilkenny on the way back to Dublin and the east coast. 

Enjoy!

[hammergolf]

12 hours ago, Pastit said:

The issue could be balancing your view finder to include more of the landscape and not a bright sky. Also to shoot on reflected light. Good luck. 

Not sure why, but when I posted it again it wasn’t overexposed and super bright like it was the first time.