|
|
| _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 7,139. Adare Golf Club was designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. and offers a magnificent parkland layout. From his first perception of Adare Manor as having all the flavor of Augusta National, he has created a true masterpiece and one of the leading parkland courses in Ireland. The Maigue River comes into play on three holes with a dramatic finish at the par-5 18th hole. And, if you are struggling a bit with your game, then don't worry as the beautiful surroundings will ensure that you still enjoy a visit here. The ruins of the Desmond Castle, built in 1200, are a magnificent backdrop to the 1st and 15th greens, while the ruins of the Franciscan Abbey, built in 1464, dominate the centre of the course. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 6,306. The 'second' course at Ballybunion was designed by Robert Trent Jones and is every bit as good as its big brother. There are some who go as far to say that the Cashen Course is even more dramatic and challenging than the Old Course. It certainly has higher dunes than the Old and some of the carries from the tee are demanding, to say the least. The Cashen Course finishes with two par-5s, the second of which stretches to a whopping 612 yards. The two courses share the same clubhouse and, as you'd expect at a place which is so well known all over the world, you can expect the warmest of welcomes at Ballybunion.
Maximum handicap: 24 men, 30 women. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 71, yardage 6,651. The Old Course at Ballybunion is one of the most popular courses in the whole of Ireland. American visitors in particular just love the course and five-time Open Champion Tom Watson is a self-confessed fan of Ballybunion. Established in 1893, the course was extended to 18 holes in 1926. Due to the threat of coastal erosion - it is set in sandhills alongside the Atlantic Ocean - the order of the holes was changed in the early 1970s and you now actually start on the old 14th. Visitors to Ballybunion will undergo a stiff test from start to finish, with the 11th hole in particular being a potential card-wrecker. Visitors are welcome on weekdays, while a state-of-the-art clubhouse offers first-class facilities.
Maximum handicap: 24 men, 30 women. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 6,737. Situated nine miles northwest of Dingle in County Kerry, Dingle (Ceann Sibeal) Golf Club is home to the most westerly golf course in the whole of Europe. When he redesigned Dingle in 1988, Christy O'Connor Jr. declared: "It has everything St. Andrews has to offer...and more!" As the comment indicates, it is a traditional championship links course, having been carved out of the natural landscape. A burn snakes its way through the entire course while there's an even bigger expanse of water nearby in the shape of the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors are always welcome and the club has excellent clubhouse facilities. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 70, yardage 6,010. Dooks Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Kerry, having been founded way back in 1889, when the game was introduced to locals by Army officers who were visiting a nearby artillery range. The links course is located on the Ring of Kerry road and sits on three stretches of sand dunes at the head of Dingle Bay. At every turn you'll be treated to a stunning view, the sights on offer including the Slieve Mish and Dingle mountains and the fishing village of Cromane. Many visitors to Dooks pick out the 13th as their favorite hole and that's probably because the saucer-shaped green makes putting a real adventure. Visitors are welcome on every day except a Sunday. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 6,885. Doonbeg Golf Club plays along 1.5 miles of beach and dunes. The ocean is visible from the green, fairway or tee of 16 of the 18 holes. "This is a course I want to be identified with, one I will be able to say with pride - I did that one. I am the luckiest designer in the world...because of the uniqueness of the site. I have designed the course around the 15th hole, a magnificant par-4 of 440 yards to a funnel-shaped green surrounded by the highest dunes on the course. Landing a ball on the front edge of the 150-foot-long green and wondering if it will stop before running off the far end (into perdition), is far more of a challenge to me than the target golf of hitting behind the flagstick from 187 yards and spinning it back six inches." --- Greg Norman | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 6,845. Dromoland Castle Golf & Country Club has been in existence since 1962 and golf has been played over the lush rolling tree lined landscape that drains into Dromoland Lough with the Castle as a backdrop. The course has been entirely revamped over the past two years at a cost of over 5 million euros. The course architects, Ron Kirby and J.B. Carr teamed up again following their success at the Old Head of Kinsale. The result is nothing short of spectacular and places Dromoland at the vanguard of "must play" golf destinations on the island of Ireland. Already, the course has earned a reputation equalling that of Adare and Mount Juliet and the quality of the greens and tees is compared very favorably to the very best worldwide. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 71, yardage 6,927. This traditional parkland tract is one of the most popular courses in the Emerald Isle - and rightly so. It was co-designed by well-known Irish professional Christy O'Connor Jr. and Peter McEvoy, the former amateur star who captained the winning Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup teams in 1999 and 2001. The pair have come up with an absolute gem and, since 1995, Fota Island has hosted a number of top tournaments, most notably the Irish Open in 2001 and 2002. There's not a weak hole on the course and it ends with a great par-5, where the green is protected on three sides by water! Visitors are welcome seven days a week and, as you'd expect, the facilities here more than match the quality of the course. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 7,123. The flagship of the three courses, Killeen is truly one of the greatest courses in the country. It will certainly challenge the longest of hitters and with water on almost every hole accuracy is essential. Killeen played host to the Carroll's Irish Open in both 1991 and 1992, and proved to be a stern test for the pros. For the 1991 Carroll's Irish Open, only three players finished under par for the tournament. Killarney also hosted the Curtis Cup in 1996, when Great Britain & Ireland defeated the USA. With an impressive list of international tournaments such as these, you will not be disappointed with what Killeen has to offer. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 7,013. The latest addition to the Club, Lackabane is still in its infancy but is already proving to be quite a challenge. The design is fantastic. With lakes and streams running through the course, it adds to the beauty and also adds a lot of danger to crooked shots. The course is very different from Killeen and Mahony's Point but has just as much to offer. Thousands of visitors flock to Killarney every year and the venue has hosted several top professional and amateur events over the years. Visitors are welcome here seven days a week and the facilities are first class. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 6,744. Golf has been played in Killarney since 1891, originally on a nine hole inland course. Then in 1939 it was expanded to an 18-hole course. The expansion brought the course to the lakeside and added outstanding beauty. This superb course, situated beside the famous lakes of Killarney, is a good test for golfers of all skill levels. Mahony's Point is the shortest of the three courses, but with a combination of well undulated greens, well positioned bunkers and water hazards, wayward shots will often find big trouble. The 18th, the signature hole, is a stunning par-3 over the lake which measures 196 yards from the back tees, and with the wind coming in from the lake usually playes even longer. The par-5 13th is a great hole with an approach shot to an elevated green, which is very difficult to hold. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 6,699. Lahinch has often been described as the 'St. Andrews of Ireland'. It's a traditional out and back links course which sits on the Atlantic coast and is a favorite with many of the thousands upon thousands of golfing visitors who flock to the Emerald Isle year after year. Phil Mickelson, for one, is a big fan of the Lahinch Old Course, which was originally designed by Old Tom Morris before being tweaked by Dr. Alister Mackenzie. The holes are memorable from start to finish, though many single out the fifth as their favorite. A par-5 that measures 483 yeards, the second shot is played over a sand dune and anything better than a par here is a real bonus. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 7,121. The incredible Old Head Golf Links, which is situated approx. 25 miles south of Kinsale in Co. Cork, is built on a 220-acre diamond of land which juts out over two miles into the Atlantic. The promontory is almost an island with numerous caves running beneath your feet as you play the course. The links and practice area occupy 180 acres and the remaining 40 acres of unspoiled cliff frame the course and rise in places to over 300 feet. With a minimum of six tees on every hole, the course provides a stern test to the touring pro and high handicapper alike. Nine holes play along the cliff tops, and all 18 holes provide stunning ocean views.
Maximum handicap: 24 men, 36 women. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 6,814. Ring of Kerry is located in the village of Templenoe, four miles west of the town of Kenmare in South Kerry on the 'Ring of Kerry' route. As Kerry's foremost golfing experience, the course sits majestically overlooking spectacular Kenmare Bay. The architectural brief for designer Eddie Hackett was to create a world-class golf course that's flexible to challenge experienced players, yet be capable of being played and enjoyed by the average handicapper. As with any good golf course there are holes that require wits and a good deal of deliberation - get it right and it's an experience you won't forget in a hurry. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 6,786. Rosslare is a traditional championship links course and was designed by Hawtree and Taylor. Nine new holes were added in 1992 and designed by Christy O'Connor, Jr., making Rosslare one of the top golfing venues in Irish golf. Six holes of the old course have been reconstructed in recent years and have led to very favorable comments from members and regular vistors alike. The championship course provides for a superb round of links golf and features sunken greens and many blind shots. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 71, yardage 6,799. The great Arnold Palmer was involved in designing Tralee Golf Club and, boy, is it a gem! Palmer had always wanted to design a course on the Emerald Isle and that chance came in the early 1980s, the American star working with Ed Seay to create this links masterpiece. There are some great holes on the course, notably the second, which runs along the clifftops, and the third, which has been likened to the famous seventh hole at Pebble Beach. Visitors can play at Tralee without restrictions during the week. On Saturday, they can only start between 11 AM and 1:30 PM while Sunday is out altogether.
Maximum handicap: 28 men, 36 women. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 6,790. Waterford Castle is known as Ireland's only authentic island course as it is situated in the estuary of the River Suir, one mile downstream of Waterford City. The "Castle", as it is known by the locals, with the adjacent Waterford Castle Hotel, offers the very best in Irish hospitality, enjoying magnificent grounds. The championship course was the work of Des Smyth and team. Smyth, incidentally, said he couldn't turn the offer down. Notable features include the many bunkers, strategically placed to test the long hitter. From the back tees, it presents a monumental test, even for the more talented player. | | | _ | | _ | | | Par 72, yardage 7,225. It is hard to believe that Waterville Golf Club was only built in 1973. It's the type of place you feel that has been there forever. Jack Mulcahy, an Irish-born American, had the vision for this links gem and, after returning to Ireland to live, he handed the task of designing the course to the legendary Eddie Hackett. His creation is widely regarded as one of the top links courses in the world and Americans in particular flock to Waterville in the thousands every year. While the front nine is good, the inward half is even better and make sure you take a minute or two to enjoy the view of Mulcahy's Peak at the par-3 17th. Yes, it is easy to see why this place is so popular. | | | | | | |
|