Links Admiration

[kid2]

Evening all,
I just thought id post this as i have to acknowledge those who play on links courses week in week out.
I had the chance to play the Ballybunion new course here at home in ireland yesterday and to say i was in awe for the whole round is an understatement...Now i know the dabate about links vs parkland has been brought up many times on the forum in the past but for me yesterday i played "Real Golf" Fairways as in immaculate condition as the greens that they were feeding Bunkers with sand as soft as flour with face only a ladder could get you up and well the rough well thats not even funny. Now the weather as always here was diabolical.
50 mph winds and driving rain for the front 9 didnt exactly help my cause. The rain died for the back 9 but the wind stayed to haunt me. I have to admire those club, amateur, and pro players that have the armoury to conquer these courses as i was given an invaluable lessen in course management by my dad and his mate both seniors.Both finishing with 34 points
It is a day i will always cherish even though i walked of the course minus 6 balls and with 22 points there mindset of play was average and straight in total contrast to mine long and all over the course.... They made me swallow my pride on a number of holes and leave the big stick in the bag.
I will approach my next round at my parkland course from a completely different angle.
So to those of you on this forum who have welcomed me and to those that play these courses week to week " My admiration is only going to grow stronger for ye"
I learned alot yesterday but i still have a lot to learn........

 

[kevinmarkham]

If you hadn't played links before, the Cashen course is a hell of an introduction. In strong winds those closing holes would tame 90% of golfers. I'd say your 22 points were well earned. A big difference from East Clare (a favourite of mine btw).

Be sure to go back and try the Old course.

 

[kid2]

Hi Kev,
Ya it was my first time playing links and even though i had the preverbial nightmare i enjoyed every step i took on the course..... Its a big change from my own track

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Its a different world playing links golf. Not only has the swing got to be good but you need a vivid imagination and feel. I don't play links golf very often but its something to relish. If you haven't played it before it is simply a must do in your golfing life.

 

[John_Findlay]

I have many good memories of Ballybunion (both off the course and on it) but never once played it in the rain! I must have played both courses a dozen times. Unlucky, kid2. Wind, heavens yes. And many a lost ball, like yourself, particularly on the Cashen which had evil rough and dunes when I was playing it 20 years ago. I preferred it to the old course at the time because I thought the holes were just so spectacular. I may have to dig out the old photos! I'm getting all nostalgic.

My pal and I once bought a weekly ticket (for 100 punts at the time!) and played both courses every day that week in sunshine. I thought I wanted to retire there (I was 22). Must return one day to sample the "new" clubhouse and that heavenly Guinness.

Shame the women are mental

 

[kid2]

I have many good memories of Ballybunion (both off the course and on it) but never once played it in the rain! I must have played both courses a dozen times. Unlucky, kid2. Wind, heavens yes. And many a lost ball, like yourself, particularly on the Cashen which had evil rough and dunes when I was playing it 20 years ago. I preferred it to the old course at the time because I thought the holes were just so spectacular. I may have to dig out the old photos! I'm getting all nostalgic.

My pal and I once bought a weekly ticket (for 100 punts at the time!) and played both courses every day that week in sunshine. I thought I wanted to retire there (I was 22). Must return one day to sample the "new" clubhouse and that heavenly Guinness.

Shame the women are mental

Hi john,
I did enjoy it and it may have changed a bit since you were there but the Holes have stayed the same some really brain bending undulations.. like you my dad played it around that time also when they got a discount at the time it was 30 punts and a pint with a steak dinner plus your round of golf.... Things have definately changed a bit although we did get to play it yesterday with there job society for 50 euros which was pretty good i think. but then its not exactly peak season at this time of the year either....
Women are still mental here though

 

[Imurg]

Now i know the dabate about links vs parkland has been brought up many times on the forum in the past but for me yesterday i played "Real Golf"
I will approach my next round at my parkland course from a completely different angle.

But why? You've just said that the 2 are very different. If you try to play "links" golf on a "parkland" course you're just as liable to come as unstuck as if you try it the other way round.

 

[SammmeBee]

The Cashen is a top course - IMHO better than the Old at Ballybunion as a golf course, it's just you have to play the Old because of the history and the views after the first 6 (a bit like the New and the Old at St Andrews - the New is by far the better course but the Old is the one you have/want to play)...

Links golf helps you visualise shots more and helps you think your way around a parkland course rather than going for the hit it from A to B to C route.....

 

[kid2]

Now i know the dabate about links vs parkland has been brought up many times on the forum in the past but for me yesterday i played "Real Golf"
I will approach my next round at my parkland course from a completely different angle.

But why? You've just said that the 2 are very different. If you try to play "links" golf on a "parkland" course you're just as liable to come as unstuck as if you try it the other way round.

Hi Imurg
What im trying to say i guess is that you have to think alot more on a links course than on parkland My own theory is that i think a links golfer would find it alot easier to play a parkland course than the other way round. I played holes yesterday that i know you would never find on a parkland course.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

I've only played proper links once at nefyn and the weather was atrocious. 40mph+ winds and rain.

Some great drives that on any parklands in good weather would carry 250 only just made 200.

Cant wait to return to nefyn in better conditions even though its probably always windy.

 

[jammydodger]

My own theory is that i think a links golfer would find it alot easier to play a parkland course than the other way round.

Tosh

 

[kid2]

My own theory is that i think a links golfer would find it alot easier to play a parkland course than the other way round.

Tosh

You disagree then jammydodger

 

[Ethan]

I think links golf is a great form of the game. I have some sympathy with the idea that a good links golfer can play parkland courses well too.

Links golf teaches you that you need to realistically assess what you can do with a given shot in the conditions. A 200 yard drive or getting on a longish par-4 in 3 might both be great results. That patience helps in parkland golf too, as does controlling the trajectory of your shot. PLaying running chips and leaving the lob wedge in the bag may also be good ideas.

 

[kevinmarkham]

Some photographs:

Ballybunion Cashen
Ballybunion Old

My own theory is that i think a links golfer would find it alot easier to play a parkland course than the other way round.

Despite Jammydodger's eloquent reply!, I agree with you.

As for some of the guys here preferring Cashen to the Old course, I had an interesting conversation with the club's Captain when I was down there last year. Generally, it is felt that the Cashen is built on a more spectacular piece of land but, because it was designed by an American (Trent Jones) he has turned it into target golf - i.e there are few opportunities for classic bump and run, so you have to fly the ball onto the green - and a lot of the members/visitors don't like this. Personally, I think the two courses work brilliantly together. The club has €5 million set aside to redevelop the Cashen into a classic links, although who knows if that will happen now.

 

[Parmo]

You can not compare Parkland to Links courses, they are two seperate things and you also can not say a Link player would walk a parkland course as they are two seperate courses.

 

[kevinmarkham]

You can not compare Parkland to Links courses, they are two seperate things and you also can not say a Link player would walk a parkland course as they are two seperate courses.

No one's comparing parkland with links, and no one's saying that a links player would 'walk' a parkland course - I'm just saying a links golfer would find it easier to tackle a parkland course than the other way around. Having played huge amounts of both I feel I can offer a balanced opinion

 

[JustOne]

Some great drives that on any parklands in good weather would carry 250 only just made 200.

LOL and the rest! When you've got 120y to the pin and you're not sure if a 5-iron is enough club to even make the green. I have to admit that it can get pretty windy on inland courses too, thankfully just not as often

 

[CVG]

22 points, I'd be over the moon wth that. The first time I played Ballybunion (also my first links course) I scored 9 points with nothing on the back 9 at all! I played with an old campaigner who grew up on the links who walked off with 38 points. I learned a lot that day. I've been back since and played it much better thankfully. Just for the record we had one of the warmest welcomes from a club I've ever had. A great course. As for the debate around links v parkland courses, it will run and run, but lets be glad we have both and each is challenging.

 

[John_Findlay]

The club has €5 million set aside to redevelop the Cashen into a classic links

I see they invested my 1989 green fees well then!! Seriously, how many courses have that much moolah to play with?

I remember at the time I could have bought a life membership for £1100. Ah, with the benefit of hindsight.

 

[Screwback]

My own theory is that i think a links golfer would find it alot easier to play a parkland course than the other way round.

I have to agree with that. I play a links course and can hit the ball high and low (sometimes). Going to a parkland i find it easier to score on an average day than i would on a links course.

Thats not to say the better golfer comes from a links background. I just feel the golf played on a links course is easier to adapt to a parkland course than the other way round.

Hope that makes sense!!