Thoughts on Narin & Portnoo Links?

[ajgoodal.704]

Anyone who has played there in the past year or so, what are your thoughts?  In the grand scheme of Donegal courses how does it rate? 

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

Anyone who has played there in the past year or so, what are your thoughts?  In the grand scheme of Donegal courses how does it rate? 

I love it! The redesign by Hanse is great. Has an amazing stretch from 6 to 10, then 16 and 17. Only negative I can give is it has two very short par3 holes. They are good holes, but would be better if they were more than a wedge. For me as far as courses in Donegal it would be:

Rosses Pointe

Narin & Portnoo

Donegal 

in that area. Of course you have Ballyliffin, Rosapenna, and Portsalon as well but they are not as close to Donegal.

[ajgoodal.704]

On 10/19/2023 at 1:58 PM, hammergolf said:

I love it! The redesign by Hanse is great. Has an amazing stretch from 6 to 10, then 16 and 17. Only negative I can give is it has two very short par3 holes. They are good holes, but would be better if they were more than a wedge. For me as far as courses in Donegal it would be:

Rosses Pointe

Narin & Portnoo

Donegal 

in that area. Of course you have Ballyliffin, Rosapenna, and Portsalon as well but they are not as close to Donegal.

Thank you for the feedback.  Putting the finishing touches on my June trip to County Donegal and trying to figure out whether or not Narin & Portnoo is worth adding in place of either my day at Donegal GC or Sandy Hills Links.  

[hammergolf]

4 minutes ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

Thank you for the feedback.  Putting the finishing touches on my June trip to County Donegal and trying to figure out whether or not Narin & Portnoo is worth adding in place of either my day at Donegal GC or Sandy Hills Links.  

As much I love Donegal GC, N&P is better.

[sabram]

On 10/19/2023 at 1:58 PM, hammergolf said:

For me as far as courses in Donegal it would be:

Rosses Pointe

Narin & Portnoo

Donegal 

Rosses Point is in County Sligo.

 

OP, The courses at Rosapenna and Ballyliffin are at the top of my Donegal list . Portsalon is a really good less well known course in that area. I like Narin and Portnoo a lot. The green fee there has skyrocketed since the Hanse reno, although that's true for green fees at many places. 

 

After playing Narin & Portnoo, Cruit Island is a very fun 9 holer located very close to N&P

[ajgoodal.704]

On 10/20/2023 at 5:10 PM, sabram said:

Rosses Point is in County Sligo.

 

OP, The courses at Rosapenna and Ballyliffin are at the top of my Donegal list . Portsalon is a really good less well known course in that area. I like Narin and Portnoo a lot. The green fee there has skyrocketed since the Hanse reno, although that's true for green fees at many places. 

 

After playing Narin & Portnoo, Cruit Island is a very fun 9 holer located very close to N&P

Thanks for the response.  We're playing Donegal on the way to Letterkenny from Belmullet.  I played Enniscrone, Strandhill and County Sligo last year, so this time around we're going to check out Donegal.  From Letterkenny we are playing Sandy Hills & Old Tom Morris one day and Portsalon the next.  Was really just trying to determine whether Narin & Portnoo is that much better to make any changes to either of those days.    

[ESOX ZO]

22 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

Thanks for the response.  We're playing Donegal on the way to Letterkenny from Belmullet.  I played Enniscrone, Strandhill and County Sligo last year, so this time around we're going to check out Donegal.  From Letterkenny we are playing Sandy Hills & Old Tom Morris one day and Portsalon the next.  Was really just trying to determine whether Narin & Portnoo is that much better to make any changes to either of those days.    

When you headed there in June by chance? Im playing Narin & Portnoo solo (Wife is taking that 18 off) June 7th. 

[ajgoodal.704]

23 hours ago, ESOX ZO said:

When you headed there in June by chance? Im playing Narin & Portnoo solo (Wife is taking that 18 off) June 7th. 

We'll be there from June 14 - 21.  Looks like we'll just miss you.  Seriously considering dropping Donegal for Narin & Portnoo.  It'll add to the drive for that day, but sounds like it would be worth it.  Anyone see any issues with going from Belmullet to Letterkenny via N&P, other than the additional driving?  It'll be pretty close to the solstice, so sunlight won't be an issue.  

[ESOX ZO]

21 minutes ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

We'll be there from June 14 - 21.  Looks like we'll just miss you.  Seriously considering dropping Donegal for Narin & Portnoo.  It'll add to the drive for that day, but sounds like it would be worth it.  Anyone see any issues with going from Belmullet to Letterkenny via N&P, other than the additional driving?  It'll be pretty close to the solstice, so sunlight won't be an issue.  

I'm doing a fair bit of driving with my itinerary, but Narin & Portnoo 5pm tee time and Donegal next morning at 6:30am then Rosapenna St Patricks 1:00pm. 

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

We'll be there from June 14 - 21.  Looks like we'll just miss you.  Seriously considering dropping Donegal for Narin & Portnoo.  It'll add to the drive for that day, but sounds like it would be worth it.  Anyone see any issues with going from Belmullet to Letterkenny via N&P, other than the additional driving?  It'll be pretty close to the solstice, so sunlight won't be an issue.  

You could drive from Belmullet to Ardara and spend the night there. Great little town about 15mins from N&P and will save you about 30 mins driving instead of going to Letterkenny and another 30mins the following morning.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, ESOX ZO said:

I'm doing a fair bit of driving with my itinerary, but Narin & Portnoo 5pm tee time and Donegal next morning at 6:30am then Rosapenna St Patricks 1:00pm. 

It’s not a bad drive from N&P to Donegal. It’s only around 40mins.

[ajgoodal.704]

2 hours ago, hammergolf said:

It’s not a bad drive from N&P to Donegal. It’s only around 40mins.

I'm torn.   I could easily do either Lough Erne, County Sligo, Donegal or Narin & Portnoo on the way north.  

[hammergolf]

3 minutes ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

I'm torn.   I could easily do either Lough Erne, County Sligo, Donegal or Narin & Portnoo on the way north.  

Here’s a video with Tom Coyne and Bill Murray. Lots of fluff in between the courses, but they play Carne, Donegal, Narin & Portnoo, St. Pats, Cruitt Island, and Enniscrone.

 

 

 

[ESOX ZO]

2 hours ago, hammergolf said:

It’s not a bad drive from N&P to Donegal. It’s only around 40mins.

Nice! A bit worried with timing on the hotel part though, checking in to Donegal at 4 would leave me time crunched for 5pm. A few details I need to iron out but with 7 months to go there is plenty of time ha.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, ESOX ZO said:

Nice! A bit worried with timing on the hotel part though, checking in to Donegal at 4 would leave me time crunched for 5pm. A few details I need to iron out but with 7 months to go there is plenty of time ha.

The people there are so nice,I would be surprised if they didn’t let you check in early. Worst case you could just drop off your luggage at the hotel so you’re not in such a hurry.

[ajgoodal.704]

18 hours ago, hammergolf said:

The people there are so nice,I would be surprised if they didn’t let you check in early. Worst case you could just drop off your luggage at the hotel so you’re not in such a hurry.

I'd reach out to the hotel and ask if you could drop your luggage off or check-in early.  Like Hammer said, the Irish are very accommodating and will take care of you.  As much as I want to add N&P, I think I'm going to stick with our original plan for our three days in Donegal.  Monday at Donegal; Tuesday at Rosapenna playing Sandy Hills & Old Tom; Wednesday at Portsalon and possibly a stop at Otway on the way back to Letterkenny.  The next trip will have to include N&P and St. Patrick's.