2017 Golf Thread

Koufax

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I've played golf in Plymouth and Buzzards Bay 3 times in January. While the recent snowstorm has put that on hold for a while, there may be a warming trend that will melt the snow within a week and Accuweather (for what it's worth) is predicting a high in the 50s on February 3.

If anyone else wants to meet up for a round of winter golf in Plymouth or the Cape, let me know. We can use this thread to monitor weather and availability and settle on tee times. FWIW, I"m a 21 handicap.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Feb 22, 2004
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Anyone here with experience playing the Cleveland RTX 2.0 cavity back wedges? I'm thinking of grabbing a 56 degree 3-dot (the high bounce). Wondering mostly how the grooves hold up but also if the subtle cavity back actually does provide any noticeable forgiveness. Also willing to listen on Vokey or others but I've been playing 588s for the past 15 years so there is a comfort level with the head shape.
 

Koufax

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I play the 588s but did not know about cavity back RTXs. If you do buy one and find it an improvement, let us know.

I once had a Taylor Made sand wedge that appeared to be identical to the 588. I could hit the 588. The Taylor Made, not so much. I've been a loyal Cleveland wedge guy ever since.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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I ordered a 52 degree RTX 2.0 CB from Cleveland. The customization options on even their stock equipment are fantastic. No additional charge for adding half an inch to the shaft, one degree upright, and using a new decade grip (pretty much in line with my iron specs). Free shipping too.

I think I want a 56 degree too since the face of my old gunmetal 588 is toast but I want to take a few swings with the cavity back before deciding whether I want to stay blade or switch over. Will report back but everyone online seems to love these things.
 

4 6 3 DP

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Appears this weekend has good weather forecasted - is there anywhere open on the South Shore?
 

HoyaSoxa

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Does anyone use an app with an Apple Watch for yardage? I fooled around a bit with the Grint last year on my phone and thought it was pretty good, but hate carrying my phone in my pocket/constantly going into my bag to look at it. I just got the watch and hoping it will provide basic GPS yardage more efficiently. I have seen mixed reviews of the Grint's watch app - is there a better app out there for yardage? I think the Grint is pretty cool for keeping stats, but ultimately I didn't get great use from those features.
 

Dan Murfman

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Going down to Orlando 3/16 with three other guys. We actually rented a house in Kissimmee. I have found out courses are much more expensive in March than in October. We are planning on playing 4 times. So far I have booked 3 courses andtwo of them I have never played but seems to get decent reviews.

Royal St Cloud
North Shore Golf Club
Disney Palm

Looking for one more. And also not locked in to any of these courses if something better comes along. Any suggestions?
 

TFP

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I have family who are members at St. Cloud and have played it a bunch of times. Nice course, but won't blow you away. A couple in the area I remember playing that were good were Foxfire and Eagle Creek.
 

HoyaSoxa

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I played Panther Lake at Orange County National a few years ago and thought it was one of the best courses I have played in Florida. The other 18, Crooked Cat, appears to be very similar - I especially enjoyed that the courses were not surrounded by housing developments - they are some of the most natural feeling courses I have seen around there. PGA Q School has been played there many times.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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I didn't realize new irons have such strong lofts. My old i3 O-Size pitching wedge is 48 degrees. New Ping and Calloway sets feature 45 degree pitching wedges (my 9-iron is 44.5). They're basically a club length stronger. That seems crazy since you would need another wedge around 48 even if you're already carrying a gap wedge at 52 (or maybe you do 48, 54, 60 or something). I'm assuming this is so companies can advertise longer irons that aren't really longer.

Anyway, itching to get out there. I've penciled in many more rounds than last season.
 

bostonbeerbelly

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I didn't realize new irons have such strong lofts. My old i3 O-Size pitching wedge is 48 degrees. New Ping and Calloway sets feature 45 degree pitching wedges (my 9-iron is 44.5). They're basically a club length stronger. That seems crazy since you would need another wedge around 48 even if you're already carrying a gap wedge at 52 (or maybe you do 48, 54, 60 or something). I'm assuming this is so companies can advertise longer irons that aren't really longer.

Anyway, itching to get out there. I've penciled in many more rounds than last season.
I plan on adding a 48/52/56/60 rotation of wedges to my bag this year. I haven't bought wedges in years, and really need some new toys for this year.
 

Zomp

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I'm unfortunately not going to be posting in this thread much this year. Last summer I was supposed to golf with 4 Peters and another member when I had some shoulder pain. Cortisone shot helped with the resting pain but did nothing for golf. MRI revealed posterior torn labrum. Just had surgery in January and they project recovery to be 6 months or so before I can fully swing a club but my doctor said I won't feel 100% until a year after.

Maybe if the new EA sports Golf was good I'd feel better but even that sucks...
 

Leon Trotsky

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I'm unfortunately not going to be posting in this thread much this year. Last summer I was supposed to golf with 4 Peters and another member when I had some shoulder pain. Cortisone shot helped with the resting pain but did nothing for golf. MRI revealed posterior torn labrum. Just had surgery in January and they project recovery to be 6 months or so before I can fully swing a club but my doctor said I won't feel 100% until a year after.

Maybe if the new EA sports Golf was good I'd feel better but even that sucks...
Ugh, that sucks. Very sorry to hear that. I need some pretty serious knee surgery but have been putting that off for exactly this reason. I'm probably gonna have to do it in the fall.
 

steveluck7

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For the first time in ever, i took today and tomorrow off to golf, drink and watch the Tournament. Got out this morning for the first time since early November. Played by myself so i played 2 balls and parred the first 2 holes with both balls. Pretty good overall, especially off the tee which i was most concerned about given the winter layoff. Hoping to get back out tomorrow morning.
 

4 6 3 DP

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Spring Valley in Sharon is running a bigtime membership special this Spring. Curious if anyone here is or has been a member and has any comments. I have played the course (pretty nice) but any other feedback appreciated.
 

jercra

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Just got back from 4 days at Bandon on my annual trip (24 guys this year) and just want to reiterate once again that, if you haven't been, go. I got in 18 at Trails, 36 at Pac, 36 at Bandon and 18 at Mac. Played like shit but who cares. I go every year right after daylight savings time and it's a totally reasonable trip if you're able to spend on any golf trip. We get a special rate for being long time repeat customers but the regular rates in March are around $800 (sharing a room) for 3 nights lodging, 3 rounds of golf, 3 breakfasts and 2 dinners. The breakfasts are either a good buffet or a la carte. The dinners are great (I had a 20oz ribeye and a rack of lamb). Stayed up til the wee hours drinking, playing poker and smoking cigars in the Bunker Bar in the basement of the main lodge. The do literally everything right there. Get some rain gear, some comfortable shoes and a couple friends and book for spring 2017.

Also played 4 days in Vegas the week before Bandon. It was nice but it was not Bandon.
 

TFP

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I've been playing a lot this winter at Fore! Golf in Westborough. Great simulator spot, there's 10+ bays, full bar, couches, TVs, etc. Played there Saturday with some friends and shot an 80 at some Florida course I've never heard of. Obviously scores don't translate, but it's realistic enough that it shows I was hitting the ball well. Happy with my swing right now, especially my irons. Need to get outside to work on the short game, can't wait for the weather to cooperate.
 

Leon Trotsky

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Spring Valley in Sharon is running a bigtime membership special this Spring. Curious if anyone here is or has been a member and has any comments. I have played the course (pretty nice) but any other feedback appreciated.
What is the special? I probably can't play enough to justify a membership, but it would be nice.
 

dlaz

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Mar 24, 2010
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Just got back from 4 days at Bandon on my annual trip (24 guys this year) and just want to reiterate once again that, if you haven't been, go. I got in 18 at Trails, 36 at Pac, 36 at Bandon and 18 at Mac. Played like shit but who cares. I go every year right after daylight savings time and it's a totally reasonable trip if you're able to spend on any golf trip. We get a special rate for being long time repeat customers but the regular rates in March are around $800 (sharing a room) for 3 nights lodging, 3 rounds of golf, 3 breakfasts and 2 dinners. The breakfasts are either a good buffet or a la carte. The dinners are great (I had a 20oz ribeye and a rack of lamb). Stayed up til the wee hours drinking, playing poker and smoking cigars in the Bunker Bar in the basement of the main lodge. The do literally everything right there. Get some rain gear, some comfortable shoes and a couple friends and book for spring 2017.

Also played 4 days in Vegas the week before Bandon. It was nice but it was not Bandon.
Curious...where did you play in Vegas?? Also, did you have to pay extra for the 36 hole days?
 

jercra

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Curious...where did you play in Vegas?? Also, did you have to pay extra for the 36 hole days?
I played Las Vegas National (crap conditions), twice at Desert Pines (lots of fun) and Wolf Course at Paiute (awesome).
Rerounds at Bandon in March are $70. Third rounds are free.
 

jercra

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How is the new course at Bandon? We have a trip booked there in October
What do you mean by "new" course? Do you mean Old Mac? If so, it's fantastic. It's about as wide open as a course could be (which didn't stop me from hitting 2 trees and a gorse bush). The defenses are the greens, the bunkers and the wind. The views are sweeping and spectacular.
 

Koufax

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I think he is asking about the short course - Bandon Preserve.
 

TFP

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When is the best time of the year to hit up Bandon? It's on my bucket list for sure.
 

jercra

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When is the best time of the year to hit up Bandon? It's on my bucket list for sure.
There's not really a "best" time for Bandon. It can be glorious or horrible weather at any time of the year. August and September are the best hopes at no rain but there's basically a 100% chance of wind on any trip. The big differences will be in price and wind direction. In the winter months (October to May on the coast of Oregon) the winds will be out of the North. In the Summer they will be out of the South. That basically makes all 4 courses play totally different in the different seasons since a mild wind there is 20-30 mph. From November to March you can get the package I described above. In the other months there's no package and you're looking at $250/rd.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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I play the 588s but did not know about cavity back RTXs. If you do buy one and find it an improvement, let us know.
I got a couple rounds in over the weekend... they're solid wedges. Not quite as good feeling as my old 588 but certainly more forgiving. A trade off totally worth making IMO for distance control alone. They generate a lot of spin, or at least I was used to very little with my old worn wedge. The sand wedge is noticeably easier to hit out of the sand (though I think it has more bounce, 14 degrees, than my old wedge). Shockingly smooth out of the rough but the grass isn't in gnarly deep mid-season form either.

Negatives: the finish wears off immediately, especially the laser-etched stuff. Poor choice by Clevelend filling the etching with some sort of thin paint.

All in all super happy with them.
 

PaulinMyrBch

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Bit the bullet and went and got fitted today. I'm not 18 anymore fellas. Not 18 anymore. Looking to play more this summer than in the past few years.

Old set was a fitted set, but 14 years ago: Titleist 975 D with Grafalloy 35+ S
962 irons 3-P, x100, 130+ gram shaft

New set, Titleist 915D2, blueboard shaft, s flex 60 grams
21 degree hybrid
716 AP2, KBS Tour 90 shaft, S, 105 gram shaft
Vokey's 56, 60, S200 shaft

On the Track Man swing gauge, I was 80mph swing speed 7-iron and 102-104 Driver swing speed.

Edit: Driver is a D2
 
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bostonbeerbelly

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Also biting the bullet this year and got fitted and purchasing the following.

M2 Taylor Made - 10.5
M2 Taylor Made - 15
Titleist 816 - 19
Titleist AP1's 4-PW
SM6's - 48, 52, & 56

Swapping out the stock gap wedge for the 48 and not planning on carrying a 60.
 

bostonbeerbelly

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Also just got an invite to Ireland. Found out a guy I have become friendly with over the past few years has a membership at Old Head in Cork. If anyone has any course recommendations to try to play while I am over there in that vicinity I would love to get some input.
 

TFP

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Also biting the bullet this year and got fitted and purchasing the following.

M2 Taylor Made - 10.5
M2 Taylor Made - 15
Titleist 816 - 19
Titleist AP1's 4-PW
SM6's - 48, 52, & 56

Swapping out the stock gap wedge for the 48 and not planning on carrying a 60.
Where did you go to get fitted? I'm debating just re-doing my entire bag, but will probably wait until the end of the season. Here's my current setup:

Driver - TM Rocketballz Tour (original) 10
3 Wood - TM Rocketballz - 15
5 Wood - TM Rocketballz - 19
Irons - Callaway X20 Tour - 4-PW
Wedges - Taylor Made ATV, 52 & 56

I'm 1 club short but don't want to purchase another one until I figure out my approach. I could get another wedge, a 3 iron, or a hybrid. I'm just wondering where my game is and if it's worth considering new clubs or sticking with what I have.
 

bostonbeerbelly

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Where did you go to get fitted? I'm debating just re-doing my entire bag, but will probably wait until the end of the season. Here's my current setup:

Driver - TM Rocketballz Tour (original) 10
3 Wood - TM Rocketballz - 15
5 Wood - TM Rocketballz - 19
Irons - Callaway X20 Tour - 4-PW
Wedges - Taylor Made ATV, 52 & 56

I'm 1 club short but don't want to purchase another one until I figure out my approach. I could get another wedge, a 3 iron, or a hybrid. I'm just wondering where my game is and if it's worth considering new clubs or sticking with what I have.
I got fitted at my club - I could have gone to Joe & Leigh's in South Easton (the best around) but I trust my pro at my club, he has worked with me for a few years and I am comfortable with the decisions made. The new Taylor Made M2 is the straightest driver I have ever hit in my life, I am real excited for the season to start.

With regard to what club to get, I am not the most knowledgable but you don't have a huge gap between your 5wood (19 degrees) and your 4 iron - which a quick google search shows as 24 degrees. My favorite club seems to be my Gap Wedge something around a 48/49 may be useful for you, but wait until May see where your game is at.

I grew up playing a 5/7/9 iron set, I practiced all the time 1/2 and 3/4 swing shots - so I feel like I have way to many clubs in my bag these days.
 

TFP

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I got fitted at my club - I could have gone to Joe & Leigh's in South Easton (the best around) but I trust my pro at my club, he has worked with me for a few years and I am comfortable with the decisions made. The new Taylor Made M2 is the straightest driver I have ever hit in my life, I am real excited for the season to start.

With regard to what club to get, I am not the most knowledgable but you don't have a huge gap between your 5wood (19 degrees) and your 4 iron - which a quick google search shows as 24 degrees. My favorite club seems to be my Gap Wedge something around a 48/49 may be useful for you, but wait until May see where your game is at.

I grew up playing a 5/7/9 iron set, I practiced all the time 1/2 and 3/4 swing shots - so I feel like I have way to many clubs in my bag these days.
Thanks. I'll probably go to Joe & Leigh's since I don't have a club of my own to go to.

For the club setup, I hit my 5 wood about 240 and 4 iron about 205-210, so that's kind of the gap I think I have. I hit PW 140 and my 52 about 115-120, so I'm ok there. I'd potentially get a 60 degree or something with better loft around the green, but if I do that I'd re-examine all my wedges to get a matching set (since I don't love the ATVs). Everything is so interconnected though because if I get new irons then I might end up with different PW loft so I might need a 48-54-58 split in my wedges too.

Hence wanting to do a full bag evaluation. I'll probably do it at some point this spring to get an idea without committing to buying anything.
 

Over Guapo Grande

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Just got my "free" Callaway Mini 1.5 metal. Anyone have experience with it? Hoping to bring it out to the range Thursday before its course debut Saturday. My driver is 10*, and 3 wood is a 15*. This can be dialed from 11-14. I am tempted to keep it at 12 for now.
 

jmbean50

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Looking to get fit this year as well, as I'm hoping to be able to play a bit more. Wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on getting fit for the whole bag in a 3hr session vs. breaking it up and doing woods separately from irons/wedges? It may cost more to do separate sessions, but wondering if you'd have more time to try different shaft head combinations and really dial in what fits best for you.
Does Joe and Leigh's have your hitting outside on a launch monitor for the fitting or is it into a net?
The other place that I've heard good things about is Spargo golf in Cranston, RI. Was thinking about doing the titleist tour fitting at their Manchester Lane facility, but not sure if I want to fully commit to one brand vs seeing which options work better for me. Plus, it's $600 and doesn't count towards clubs you buy.
 

jercra

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Do you ever sit and hit balls for 3 hours straight? My concern wouldn't be not having enough time so much as it would be getting fit for a swing that's not your normal swing due to fatigue.
 

steveluck7

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Joe & Leigh's has bays that open up to the driving range so you're hitting outside. I agree with jercra... i noticed some fatigue when i went through a "regular" fitting. Even that is ~60 balls in a pretty short window
 

Leon Trotsky

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I got fitted for a driver/woods end of last summer at Joe and Leigh's. The fittings are actually done a couple miles away from the main facility at their Performance Center. You hit out of bays out into the range with the launch monitor, and it really is a revelation. Its a great service and worth every penny I think.
 

TFP

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Did it make a noticeable improvement in your performance with those clubs?
 

steveluck7

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for me, it absolutely did. Took a couple of rounds to get used to them. My old clubs were hand-me-downs and a bit too short and heavier than new clubs so i had learned to compensate for those factors.
Once i got used to the new ones, it's been a big difference
 

Leon Trotsky

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Yes, for me it was a huge improvement. My game off the tee is a million times better. That is not all the clubs, as I took a lesson and worked out a couple kinks, but the new fitted woods definitely contributed. Probably added 20 yards to my drives and many many more balls in play.
 

jmbean50

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Thanks for the replies. Good to know that Joe and Leigh's allows you to see the full ball flight and seems like it might be the place to go, since I'm considering a few different brands.
The irons that are most intriguing to me are the Titleist 716 AP2, Callaway Apex Pro and the Srixon 745. I'm excited about the potential improvement in consistency, since I'm still playing an old set of Titleist DCI 962s with S300 shafts that I got stock off ebay. I'm thinking that the iron technology has improved just a bit over the past 20 years since those came out.
I think i'll try doing the irons/wedges in the same session for deciding on the appropriate gapping of the set and then the woods/hybrids on a different day. I'd like my swing to get a little more into mid-season shape, so i'll probably be looking to do this more late May, early June.
 

PaulinMyrBch

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I did the full fitting in one session mainly because I was concerned I was in the wrong shaft for both irons and driver. I had my son fitted two weeks ago for irons only and there really wasn't much difference in the amount of balls we hit. However, he tried 3-4 different iron heads and then went through 2-3 shaft combinations, where I was zeroed in on the AP2's and dialed in the shaft. I was going to swing the CB, but after feeling the AP2's, I had no reason to try anything else. I was coming from 962's for 14 years and Hogan blades for the 15 years before that, so I wasn't going to experiment much.

So basically, he tried AP1's, AP2's, Taylor Made, Ping, and then worked through 2-3 shaft combinations. While he absolutely kills the ball, him trying several iron heads was important to see what he liked and felt best swinging.
I hit AP2's and moved through three shaft combinations until we got it right. Moved on to wedges to get the right bounce setup, and then moved on to Hybrid and Driver. By the time I was swinging the driver, I was a bit fatigue'd, but hit enough good ones to dial in the right combination.

Also, all irons are done testing the 7 iron. They get launch angle, spin, ball speed and pretty much dial it in from there. You don't hit every iron in the bag. Gaps are easy for them to figure based on your 7 iron distance. My old set was 3-P, with a 56 and 60. My new set will be 4-P, +Gap, 56, 60. And that is perfect as I had a big hole in that 100-125 range.
 

4 6 3 DP

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Ace of Clubs in Saugus is excellent as well - I took the plunge and got an M1 driver, Callaway Apex Pro Irons from him, and I love the equipment so far.

The M1 vs M2 debate on the driver is something I'll probably question in my mind, but Frank is excellent.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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I got fitted for a driver/woods end of last summer at Joe and Leigh's. The fittings are actually done a couple miles away from the main facility at their Performance Center. You hit out of bays out into the range with the launch monitor, and it really is a revelation. Its a great service and worth every penny I think.
If you buy the clubs through them, it doesn't cost anything, they give you a credit towards your club purchase.
 

Eck Master

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Also just got an invite to Ireland. Found out a guy I have become friendly with over the past few years has a membership at Old Head in Cork. If anyone has any course recommendations to try to play while I am over there in that vicinity I would love to get some input.

Old Head is an amazing experience. The layout is nice, but it is the spectacular cliff-side setting that makes it the most beautiful course I will ever play. Enjoy. Kinsale is also a fun town.

Hell, the Lusitania is just a few miles offshore.