Ardglass and Kirkstown Castle

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
Playing a comp in Ardglass Kirkstown and RCD at the end of the month its called the Coasts of Down. I was hoping i would get up to play Ardglass and Kirkstown but it looks unlikely at this stage have played RCD. So looking for a bit of info if anyone has played either lately.
Whats the rough like in both? are they tight driving courses or will you get away with a bit off the tee.
Are the greens fast and sloped or flat enough.
Any other info that may be helpful.
Mike

 

[DCB]

Brendy is your man for this. Not been at either for 10 years but remember Ardglass playing along the clifftop. Kirkistown has a more linksy feel to it but actually plays inland and away from the sea. It was a tough but fair track with good greens when I was last there.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Thanks

 

[Chris1980]

Friend of mine plays off 5 at kirkistown. There is room for error off the tee but when the wind is blowing theres very little chance of making some of the par 4's in 2. Lovely course and it is a links so the ball will always roll on fairways. Greens are always in great nick!

 

[brendy]

Ardglass is a class course which does allow several loose tee shots but e very green is easier approached head on rather than from the sides. The first 6 holes have no room at all down the left. Plenty of room on the right (all of county down in fact) but as i said thegreens are best approached from as close to straight on as possible as the greens tend to be longer than they are wide.A few holes go away from the cliffs and inland slightly, they are the easiest on the course.
The hardest hole on the course for me is the 11th which runs along the bay and suits a slight fade over a draw. With a tailwind there is a drain/river which can be reachable so sometimes a 3 iron from the tee then a 4 iron leaving a short pitch to the green can give better results than potentially living your drive or second shot out to the right and oob. 12th is a belting par 3 the back inland again.Overall there is rough and very little in the way of trees so keep an eye on your drives if they are a little off line as the rough is quite lush and potentially ball losing.
Kirkistown is shorter but usually as tricky as it always seems to be blowing a gale.Rough is again, thick in places but the small bunkers and greens are are the biggest ask of your game on this course.Plenty of undulating holes there you tee off low hitting to a raised green (SI1 is a pig) and vice versa, some raised tee hitting down and there seen to be the shorter almost livable holes surrounded by bunkers. Not one of my fav courses but a very tough test in all but calm conditions which it never seems to get.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Thanks Bendy.