some of our group would like to golf during our June tour of Ireland, in Dingle.

any suggestions?

would like to hear from anyone who has actually been on these courses or has played at a "pitch and put"

3 or the 4 men do not have a handicap certificate...so wondering if really need...and what handicap should be...also what would a pitch and put be like (assuming like 9 hole par 3?)

alson comments on cost...thanks

Have a look at www.gui.ie

My husband and I did a pitch and putt in Doolin, it was a par 3, 18 holes distances were about 45-60 yds we paid 7euros each including two clubs, the course had the look of a links course.The scenery was glorious since the course faces the Cliffs of Mohr.
My husband also golfed Watterville and I walked along with the other 3 he was paired with. No handy cap needed cost around 150euros to golf ( you'll need reservations )club rental 40euros. The course is spectacular! even for those of us who are non-golfers

Dingle Golf Club is highly recommended as "a natural links with fine character". www.dingle-golf.com

For pitch-and-putt info, call the Pitch and Putt Union at 011-353-1-450-9299.

Cheers,

Jinx Hoover

I swear I tried to respond to this once before, but here it is again.

I've played some courses in Ireland, smaller ones, and never had to prove my handicap. They were both spectacular but your wind game had to be VERY good. The golf course on Dingle is the most westerly in Europe. I'm guessing that the wind there is pretty strong too. Have fun!

There's a 9-hole Parkland course in Abbeyfeale (Limerick-Kerry border) but my favorite is Spanish Point Golf Links in west Clare. It has all the 'personality' of the famous Irish Links courses (Ballybunion, Old Head, Doonberg, etc.) without having to pay something like the $200 it costs to play one of those. You have to walk; but that's one of golf in Ireland's pleasures.

Wojazz3 writes: "The golf course on Dingle is the most westerly in Europe. I'm guessing that the wind there is pretty strong too. "

My favorite golf course in all the world is Carne Golf Links in extreme western County Mayo: a chalenge for westernmost golf course in Europe. It's cheap, by European standards (about 50 Euro) and they have about a dozen 'buggies.' Carne has a website if you're interested.

The last time I was there I hitched a ride with 2-couples from Texas: it was raining very hard but they went ahead and played - I waited until the following day when the wind was kicking up a storm.

Ned:

I played at tiny Connemara Isles (E20) and tinier Cruit Island (E10). Both were great fun. Connemara Isles requires you to hit from one Isle to the next (about 130 yards from land to land). Renting clubs was a bit amusing. At Connemara they gave us each a bag and told us to pick out the clubs that we needed. I accidentally grabbed a left handed putter and pitching wedge. Cruit only had two sets of clubs so the four of us had to share. That added a lot of time to it. So far, golfing has not been a major enough part of the trip to drag my own along.

We were considering Carne (on your suggestion) but the days that were available for it in our itinerary turned out to be cold and wet and windy.

Bill

Wojazz3: I wouldn't use my own clubs at Connemara Isles: too rocky! But the course is fun. I hope it was my suggestion that prompted you to visit that last 'thatched roof' clubhouse in the Irish Republic.

For anyome else looking for it: take the first right after the (Texaco?) service station crossing the causeway from Ross a'Veal to Carraroe.

thanks...this is exactly the information that I needed.

Carne Golf Links is in Belmullet, Co. Mayo; Spanish Point Golf Links is at the Armada Hotel, about 2km from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.

Ned:

The thatched clubhouse was great. By the time I got there, my friend Scott had already consumed three pints so he was an easy mark. I would go ther again in a flash.

Bill