Royal County Down - my favourite course...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Snelly
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Snelly

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Just can't contain myself as I am off to play RCD for the second time next Monday in Pat Jennings Golf Day.

I can't wait. RCD is the best course I have ever played (and I have played a few good'uns!) and is also the most difficult.

I am hoping for better weather than last year with less wind so that I can try and post a decent score. I was miles over par last year but the caddies said it was the strongest wind conditions that they could remember! For example, last is a par 5 and I hit a driver, two 3 woods and a 4 iron and was still 25 yards short!

Really excited about the guinness at Sleive Donard, the golf and the great night out afterwards.

If you ever get the chance to play this course, do so at any cost. It is ranked as the number 3 course in the world for good reason. Just stunning and I can't wait.

Cheers,


Snelly.
 
Superb stuff!!

I need to get another game to remind myself how good it is...I have played it twice and it is my favourite but after now visiting Royal Aberdeen twice it is creeping up close behind it!

Enjoy it you lucky bugger!
 
Good man, another golfer not scared to leave his county to play better courses. Rcd and the shorter annesley course are simply brilliant with impressive scenery.
I got word last week that I am to play Castlerock up near Royal Portrush on Thursday, only ever managed 8 holes last time so looking forward to another fantastic NI links course. The year is starting to wind down soam looking forward to it.
 
sounds scary.lol

al that club and still short, will leave it a year or two before i play it me thinks.

@ brendy.played castlerock on sunday past(captains day out)
Ita a beaut alright.

Is there many of yous going up ?

Sean.
 
20-30 of us I believe, all NIE staff/ex staff from the various societies within the areas of the company have 5 members from each society invited up.
 
you will def enjoy. its giving good weather as well.

i found it very tight on sunday, mind you it was raining and big wind. greens were great though.

sean,.
 
You lucky bugger!

Have been there twice and I agree that it is definitely the best course I have ever played. Played one of the best rounds of my life there shooting a 78 in the howling wind. Just thinking about that place makes me happy to be honest.

I am so jealous of you right now it's unreal!
 
I also have played there twice, and it has chewed me up and spat me out both times.
I was at slieve donard last week, but didn't play rcd as I am currently refusing to stump up £165 for the green fee.
Annoying to walk past it every day and see a load of yanks and japs hacking it up though.
 
I also have played there twice, and it has chewed me up and spat me out both times.
I was at slieve donard last week, but didn't play rcd as I am currently refusing to stump up £165 for the green fee.
Annoying to walk past it every day and see a load of yanks and japs hacking it up though.
Click to expand...

Murph makes a valid point here I'm afraid. The greenfee for RCD has gone up out of all proportion since the signing of the Good Friday agreement and the gradual return of the tourist to the province. Not all that long ago, you'd have been on there for £68. Times change and the travelling golfer is now more likely to visit NI, so the prices seem to have jumped. Call me a cynic if you want, but that's what I've experienced. It's affected more than just the golf I'm afraid., making a trip to NI a costly business nowadays :eek:
 
I agree it is quite expensive.

That said, whilst RCD is not cheap, I think that £165 does represent good value for money for what you are getting. Especially when you consider that a round on the West at Wentworth is now £365.

In is a personal view but I don't mind paying an expensive green fee if I feel it is good value for money. For example, Sunningdale - a round on the old and the new course including a great lunch is about £220 for the day. This is fantastic value in my opinion.

Compare Sunningdale or RCD to the Belfry. £165 to play the Brabazon! Ridiculous! A overrated farmers field made good for the same price as one of the world's best!

I appreciate that we are still talking about a lot of money for a round of golf but these are special occasion places that I personally don't mind spending the money on.

Belfry aside of course, I would not be bothered if I never played there again and I certainly would not pay the outrageous green fee for the Brabazon. :D Same goes for Wentworth West - massively overrated in my view.
 
To an extent, as a world top 10 course, I guess the green fee is probably in line, or cheaper than some equivalent others. I just can't justify it myself, having already played there.

Especially as you can get on as a members guest for £20. Unfortunately, the only member I even vaguely know there was on holiday in Oz that week.
 
The other thing is, as a 9 handicap golfer, I am really not good enough to play rcd and play it well (tough course, many blind holes, and tough conditions, mostly). For those off cat 1 handicaps, it may be a bit more playable, and so they may enjoy it more.
For me, if I pay £165, lose 4 golf balls, and struggle to break 100, then it is not good value.
 
The other thing is, as a 9 handicap golfer, I am really not good enough to play rcd and play it well (tough course, many blind holes, and tough conditions, mostly). For those off cat 1 handicaps, it may be a bit more playable, and so they may enjoy it more.
For me, if I pay £165, lose 4 golf balls, and struggle to break 100, then it is not good value.
Click to expand...

This is a good point, well made. It certainly depends on what you want from a day's golf.

I reckon I lost at least four balls at RCD last time, probably more. Not sure if I broke a hundred. I know I birdied the 1st after hitting a drive and a wedge to 8 feet! Also, got soaked, then sunburnt and was blown away by gales the whole way round. However, I had a smile on my face for 5 hours and took a masochistic pleasure from the conditions and the test of golf.

I remember laughing after hitting a 3 wood to the 4th. I aimed 60 yards left, hit a cracker and never found my ball on the bank on the right of the green. Great fun though and as I saw my ball swerve with the elements, silhouetted against the mountains of Morne in the background, I loved it!

Can't wait to go back!

PS - Am currently in Toulouse on business but have my clubs. Am playing here tomorrow - http://www.maeva-latitudes-toulouse.com/...8&idpage=86 - apparently it is very good and the sun is shining so should be a nice day out on Friday.
 
Played it a couple of years ago and paid £100 it was a winter fee loved the course and will go back but not sure if i would pay £165 to play it again. It must be the only course in Ireland that has increased its green fee in the last couple of years.
There are so many great links courses here and they are either priced reasonably or priced for the American Market as they won't play a course unless its over 100 bucks green fee.
There is very little difference in quality between all the great links in Donegal,Sligo and Mayo and the likes of Lachinch except thats its twice the green fee.
Mike
 
I also have played there twice, and it has chewed me up and spat me out both times.
I was at slieve donard last week, but didn't play rcd as I am currently refusing to stump up £165 for the green fee.
Annoying to walk past it every day and see a load of yanks and japs hacking it up though.
Click to expand...

Murph makes a valid point here I'm afraid. The greenfee for RCD has gone up out of all proportion since the signing of the Good Friday agreement and the gradual return of the tourist to the province. Not all that long ago, you'd have been on there for £68. Times change and the travelling golfer is now more likely to visit NI, so the prices seem to have jumped. Call me a cynic if you want, but that's what I've experienced. It's affected more than just the golf I'm afraid., making a trip to NI a costly business nowadays :eek:
Click to expand...

Dave i have to disagree with your point about a trip to Northern Ireland being costly ,if you go up to the North to Portstewart,Castlerock,Ballycastle,Royal Portush fantastic value can be found i've been going there for the past 5 years and never tire of it. Portrush you can play The Valley course for under £40 and its a fantastic track with some locals saying its better than the Dunluce course at £150 a go.

Brendy, enjoy Castlerock i think its a fantastic course which is as tough as old boots of the back tees at a Par 73, i've played about a dozen times and look forward to it.

Haven't played RCD or Ardglass how close are they to Larne ? really fancy Ardglass i think its about £60 at the weekend i think.

Even better go to Donegal and play the 2 courses at Ballyliffin , Rosapenna and Dunfanaghy,as well as Rosses Point at Sligo and Murghvay at Donegal and Portsalon, great tracks.
 
I also have played there twice, and it has chewed me up and spat me out both times.
I was at slieve donard last week, but didn't play rcd as I am currently refusing to stump up £165 for the green fee.
Annoying to walk past it every day and see a load of yanks and japs hacking it up though.
Click to expand...

Murph makes a valid point here I'm afraid. The greenfee for RCD has gone up out of all proportion since the signing of the Good Friday agreement and the gradual return of the tourist to the province. Not all that long ago, you'd have been on there for £68. Times change and the travelling golfer is now more likely to visit NI, so the prices seem to have jumped. Call me a cynic if you want, but that's what I've experienced. It's affected more than just the golf I'm afraid., making a trip to NI a costly business nowadays :eek:
Click to expand...

Dave i have to disagree with your point about a trip to Northern Ireland being costly ,if you go up to the North to Portstewart,Castlerock,Ballycastle,Royal Portush fantastic value can be found i've been going there for the past 5 years and never tire of it. Portrush you can play The Valley course for under £40 and its a fantastic track with some locals saying its better than the Dunluce course at £150 a go.

Brendy, enjoy Castlerock i think its a fantastic course which is as tough as old boots of the back tees at a Par 73, i've played about a dozen times and look forward to it.

Haven't played RCD or Ardglass how close are they to Larne ? really fancy Ardglass i think its about £60 at the weekend i think.

Even better go to Donegal and play the 2 courses at Ballyliffin , Rosapenna and Dunfanaghy,as well as Rosses Point at Sligo and Murghvay at Donegal and Portsalon, great tracks.
Click to expand...
Nairn and Portnoo it a must if u are back in donegal.
 
Even better go to Donegal and play the 2 courses at Ballyliffin , Rosapenna and Dunfanaghy,as well as Rosses Point at Sligo and Murghvay at Donegal and Portsalon, great tracks.
Click to expand...

Nairn and Portnoo it a must if u are back in donegal.
Click to expand...

Hmmm whilst it is a nice track allright It is a bit of a slog with the back nine IMO kinda stupid, 3 par 5's in a row? Dunfanaghy is a nicer track and Cruit Island is a belter even though only nine holes. THen cut across the national park and you have Portsalon and the two at Rosapenna which are miles better.
 
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