Welcome to the 2022 edition of Destination Golf Ireland .
After what felt like an endless 2020 , we discovered that 2021 offered more of the same . Covid curtailed us across so many walks of life . The year 2022 will be a better and brighter one , but the shadow of Covid will remain . That said , Ireland ’ s links courses , from the world renowned to the little known , are heavily booked by golf travellers who have had to postpone trips over the past two years . The ripple effect will reach beyond links courses and Irish golf will – all fingers crossed – have a very positive year . That ’ s good news for golf and the Irish economy .
The big news for Ireland was the unveiling of St Patrick ’ s Links at Rosapenna , which opened in July , to global acclaim . You ’ ll find an article on the following pages which shows just how big an impact it had on me . To say I was blown away by the Tom Doak design is an understatement . The county of Donegal has superb links courses but they have always ranked behind those in the south west … St Patrick ’ s Links will change that because the name of Tom Doak will prove utterly intoxicating and because the course is every bit as brilliant as everyone hoped it would be .
It is also not far from Royal Portrush , which has been confirmed as The Open Championship venue for 2025 . That ’ s a major coup when you consider the nine-course roster .
The course at Glasson enjoyed a big revamp to its final stretch of highly regarded holes and there was a lot of activity at golf clubs around the island . One in particular should be noted because the work at Druids Heath , by Peter McEvoy , has created such an improved and infinitely more playable course that it comfortably makes this Top 150 guide .
Despite the challenges of the past two years , Irish golf has a lot to look forward to in 2022 .
Swing slow … because you don ’ t hit anything with your backswing .
Kevin Markham Editor Destination Golf Media Ltd .
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