Northern Ireland - Help....!

[Stew]

Evening

Trying to organise a week long golf trip with Brother in Law in May over in Northern Ireland (Changed from previous post...)

I have scoured the web and we are book in for 3 opens so far but need some help with the following....

1) A cheaper way to get onto Royal County Down

2) Is Royal Belfast worth playing

3) Is Belvoir Park worth playing

4) Is Malone worth playing

Thanks

 

[Thor]

Hi Stew,

Sorry can't help with cheap access to Royal County Down, I suggest contacting them to see if any offers available.
I can thoroughly recommend the other 3 courses in the following order:
1) Belvoir Park
2) Malone
3) Royal Belfast

All 3 are parkland courses in the greater Belfast area.
Belvoir Park is perhaps the most challenging layout designed by Harry Colt. Malone is very manicured and a pleasure to play. Royal Belfast is perhaps the most forgiving of the three and provides beautiful views over Belfast Lough.
Royal County Down and Royal Portrush are both high in the world rankings and would certainly be worth travelling to if reduced green fees can be negotiated.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[clubchamp07]

Everyone to their own, Don't you have to be invited to play there (RCD)?
Royal Portrush and the other 3 yes go for them. I've played all 4 and are great course's. As are alot of course's over here. To name but a few more-----
Shandon Park
Bangor
Ardglass are another 3 top class courses you can't go far wrong.

where you from Thor?

 

[brendy]

Everyone to their own, Don't you have to be invited to play there (RCD)?
Royal Portrush and the other 3 yes go for them. I've played all 4 and are great course's. As are alot of course's over here. To name but a few more-----
Shandon Park
Bangor
Ardglass are another 3 top class courses you can't go far wrong.

where you from Thor?

I used to play at Shandon every week when I was younger and love the course, Ive played there 3 times in the last year and its been big disappointment, the greens were terrible (partly due to the inclement weather) there was grass growing out of the bunkers (16th hole stands out from memory) It really was a shame to see it in less than top condition.
This year, I am Captain of a fairly large Society and Id love to have gone there for one of the outings but just couldnt put them on the list this year. I see they do have big plans for the course including lengthening a few holes.
Bangor is a little damp at the moment though is showing signs of drying now.
Ardglass is a good course and with plenty of wind it is damn near impossible.
Belvoir, Malone, RCD, The Annesley Course (the little course at RCD), The Hilton Templepatrick, Galgorm, Spa, Edenmore,Massereene, Knock, Tandragee, Lurgan Park, Castlerock, Royal Portrush, I could name dozens more worthy courses. For a relatively cheap game you could try Ormeau ( a little course in suburban Belfast, Holywood (where Rory grew up), Dunmurry (also in Belfast, not long but water and plenty of bunkers), Ballymena (very flat course with only a foot or two difference in height across the course). Helens bay (scenic little 9 holer just up the lough path from Royal Belfast.

There really are so many courses within 40 miles of each other, its a hell of a prospect for folk travelling ehre and picking which courses to play and which to mark for next time.

 

[USER1999]

I have played RCD (expensive, but worth it in my opinion, will be back in September/October), and Ardglass, which was a nice track, but obviously not in the same league.

 

[brendy]

I like Ardglass but its so bloody tough in the wind (which is 99% of the time coming in off the irish sea), the first 3 or 4 holes are real tighteners down below (if you get my drift)
The final hole has a massive magnet like carpark too
The place does actually look like this too,sometimes photos are misleading,
http://www.ardglassgolfclub.com/pictures_hole_by_hole_pics.php?imageNumber=1

 

[USER1999]

I played Ardglass in the rain (and wind), but still really enjoyed it. The first few holes are definately the nicest though. It is amazing how they have got so many holes with a sea view.

 

[brendy]

The 11th hole is built on reclaimed land, when you are walking on the fairway above it (9th if I remember rightly) you dont even know its there.

 

[USER1999]

Yep, I thought that too. I had to wander over to the left of the ninth to have a look down at where the 11th went.

The tenth is a nice par 3 too. All down hill, with a view accross the bay.

 

[Thor]

Sorry CC07 don't want to be secretive but I've just joined the forum and am a bit loathe to give out personal info until I settle in a bit.

 

[John_Findlay]

Ooh! Ardglass looks amazing. I've come over all funny just looking at the photos.