Well done Geoff. As always, your links lead to wonderful rabbit holes.
One quibble = a course rating for normal people should ask if normal people can afford to play there. When the greens fee is > than the Old Course and > my annual dues at home (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) the answer is in the neighborhood 4/10.
Yes I'm pretty conflicted over that. In the book I conceded that the "experience" is going to always impact people no matter how hard we try to focus on design. And like seeing a movie in a certain kind of theater or sports event at a well run facility, the surrounding stuff does impact our enjoyment. So certainly price and the attitude of the people at the place can impact your enjoyment (if I had a dollar for the number of times I've heard, "great course, lousy experience" for a few places in LA I'd be able to afford a membership to every club in town!
Played it several years ago. Don't recall any holes save 1 & 18, just recall the great weather, terrain and overall great vibe. Played Portmarnock the day prior and remember more of those holes.
Interesting, usually it's the opposite just given the difference in properties as gg notes. They're so different. But glad the weather and vibe were great, that's all ultimately matters.
Thank you for this comprehensive preview, Geoff. My dad and I are flying from the States to Ireland for our first Open and am beyond excited. Your preview raised the level of anticipation by quite a bit.
Geoff, I'm just a little more excited about the Open this year than usual because I will have the opportunity to play there in September along with our buddy, the UK Golf Guy. It's always so enjoyable to view the high-quality videos of the course, then read your informative and interesting comments and analysis of both the course and the tournament, then watch the tournament on TV, and then play the course a few weeks later. Just an all-around great experience.
After your excellent summary I want to do two things 1) play Royal Portrush 2) purchase two of those H&B sweaters - Heathered Skye for me and Heathered Abaco for she-who-must-be-obeyed. (Credit: D. Feherty)
Hope to meet up with you at Portrush We’re playing R Port Stewart Monday am. Tuesday Practice Day at OC Wednesday playing Castlerock am Thursday Friday OC Talking of clubs our four can rustle up Rye, New Zealand, R Worlington St George’s Hill, R Blackheath and R&A all because someone else thought we were OK blokes!
Best
A
Ps Fortrose and Rosemarkie great golf course and much fun!!
Well done Geoff. As always, your links lead to wonderful rabbit holes.
One quibble = a course rating for normal people should ask if normal people can afford to play there. When the greens fee is > than the Old Course and > my annual dues at home (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) the answer is in the neighborhood 4/10.
Yes I'm pretty conflicted over that. In the book I conceded that the "experience" is going to always impact people no matter how hard we try to focus on design. And like seeing a movie in a certain kind of theater or sports event at a well run facility, the surrounding stuff does impact our enjoyment. So certainly price and the attitude of the people at the place can impact your enjoyment (if I had a dollar for the number of times I've heard, "great course, lousy experience" for a few places in LA I'd be able to afford a membership to every club in town!
I've played your course sir! It was awesome on the spit of land next to the caravan park.
Comprehensive doesn’t come close. Chapeau Geoff
Thanks Dan, always fun to research the best places!
Played it several years ago. Don't recall any holes save 1 & 18, just recall the great weather, terrain and overall great vibe. Played Portmarnock the day prior and remember more of those holes.
What? Portmarnock is a classic as well but entirely different
Interesting, usually it's the opposite just given the difference in properties as gg notes. They're so different. But glad the weather and vibe were great, that's all ultimately matters.
Thank you for this comprehensive preview, Geoff. My dad and I are flying from the States to Ireland for our first Open and am beyond excited. Your preview raised the level of anticipation by quite a bit.
Outstanding! Let me know what days you're out and we'll try to say hi.
Awesome. We have tickets for Friday and Saturday.
The Quad introduced me to Holderness & Bourne. Bought a bunch of stuff. Has Bourne ever introduced you to his cousin Jason?
nice article GS
spot on vid by Andy and TFE, very on brand!!
fortunate to have played there in 2019...great course etc... great town....historical
Enjoyed this as always. I hope to run into you next week - I need some advice and suspect you’d have plenty of good stuff to offer
I'll be on the lookout for you Mike!
Bravo 👏
Spectacular! And now a moment for our sponsor while I order something from them in support of the Quad.
"3.75 mm: Height greens were cut in 2019" ... typo? Decimal point?
Sorry, misplaced decimal point! This mm thing is scrambling my limited mental math skills.
It's a trade-off... I have math skills but no golf skills.
"Links Collection Capital" ... sounds like burn, rape, pillage private equity making their move.
See Brent Myers comment.
It's not the quaintest sounding name is it?
Geoff, I'm just a little more excited about the Open this year than usual because I will have the opportunity to play there in September along with our buddy, the UK Golf Guy. It's always so enjoyable to view the high-quality videos of the course, then read your informative and interesting comments and analysis of both the course and the tournament, then watch the tournament on TV, and then play the course a few weeks later. Just an all-around great experience.
After your excellent summary I want to do two things 1) play Royal Portrush 2) purchase two of those H&B sweaters - Heathered Skye for me and Heathered Abaco for she-who-must-be-obeyed. (Credit: D. Feherty)
I think she who must be obeyed pre dated Feherty ... I think it was Adam & Eve ... didn't turn out well for them.
Great article with or without the typos
Hope to meet up with you at Portrush We’re playing R Port Stewart Monday am. Tuesday Practice Day at OC Wednesday playing Castlerock am Thursday Friday OC Talking of clubs our four can rustle up Rye, New Zealand, R Worlington St George’s Hill, R Blackheath and R&A all because someone else thought we were OK blokes!
Best
A
Ps Fortrose and Rosemarkie great golf course and much fun!!