Stackstown Golf Club (219)

When we arrived at Stackstown last night they were in the middle of a power cut and not only that, but they were also out of Guinness!! We spoke to Gerard, the bar/restaurant manager, explained out story and hung around while he called whoever he needed to call to get the go ahead. It just wasn’t the same without the Guinness so we made token efforts and having a drink before turning in for the night.

The next day was very grey, and by the time we had finished breakfast it has started to rain, though it wasn’t very heavy. More of a light mizzle.

So we set off but it wasn’t long before the mizzle became steady rain. And it wasn’t long before the steady rain became a persistent shower which more of less became a downpour. As we approached the 9th green the hooter sounded signalling the end of our round, which was just as well as water was beginning to settle on all the greens.

So we only managed 9 holes at Stackstown but despite the weather we liked what we saw. The course looked lush and well looked after and the greens were in great order, but not as fast as we’ve played lately (though the rain may have been the cause of that).

Best of all, when we went to the shop to pay up the pro (I think his name was Michael) wouldn’t take our money so we got 9 free, albeit immenselt damp holes. But it looks like a really nice course so we might come back one day and play the full 18 holes.

Thomas says:
I really wish the rain would just go away for while and leave us to get on with out golf!! For some reason the weather was really putting me off today so I didn’t pay very well. And I wish we could have completed the course as it seemed like it could be really nice on a good day. I like the par 3 2nd – a downhill hole but witha steep bank just in front of the green so you had to carry it all the way (which I didn’t do).

The rest of the holes we played were fairly ordinary but they still looked really nice. Most of the fairways were open and forgiving, but the rough wasn’t. There was a dual tee box (the 5th and the 8th I think) which I still find a bit weird on an 18 hole course with seemingly plenty of space for one more tee box, but I can’t see it casuing any delays all the same.

Nice course, shame about the weather.

Clive says:
After driving through Dublin it was lovely to be in the mountains. Stackstown looked good and we hoped for a good round. However a lady said the weather was going to be bad – and it was! This course was started by the Guards in 1976 and their most famous son is Patrick Harrington – lots of photos to prove it too!

I liked the course except for the awful rain – I thought we would just finish it but the hooter signalled the end after the first 9 holes. It’s only the second course we could not complete because of the weather (Ballina was the other).

Like Thomas I think it woud be good to play again – but only after we’ve played the next 220 or so!! We cut our losses today and went to the fancy Dundrum Shopping Centre to see the latest Harry Potter movie. Then we returned to the hills for a chill out and went on to St Anne’s on Bull Island – and they let us park – boo hoo to Howth!