Charleville
Macroom
Two different nines greet you at Macroom, but what greets you
first is an entrance that passes through old castle gates, dating back
to the 12th century. The course was first developed in 1947 and it
combines a front nine that drifts lazily up a gentle hillside, through
magnificent trees of oak and lime. It is short and inviting off the tee.
The back nine shifts style with far flatter holes to start. The River
Sullane appears here, as does an old bathing housing, and the water
adds some real danger. Macroom may not be long or difficult but it
is a lot of fun.
Charleville
The trees wrap around you all day long at Charleville. Hundreds
were lost during the 2014 storms but that has only improved this Co.
Cork parkland. Holes now have more air without losing any of the
challenges. And of those there are plenty, with gently sliding doglegs
greeting you on many tee boxes and fairways that put a premium
on positioning off the tee. It is not a long course (par 71, 6,467 yards,
back tees) with half the holes falling between 350 and 380 yards, but
the doglegs come in different sizes, calling for smart golf. Peaceful,
embracing and rewarding.
Muskerry
The River Shournagh brushes up against this old parkland course,
coming in to play on the final three holes and ensuring that there
is a sedate and colourful end to a round flowing over a wooded,
gorse-laden hillside. It is wild and natural and rarely is a flat lie
to be found… save for those final three holes. Alister MacKenzie
was involved here, but even without his reputable name this is an
adventure worth taking on. Some of those tee shots are absolute
beauties and the greens will really test you. In all, there are 23 holes.
The main course is a par 71.
Bantry Bay
Bantry Bay is tucked away in west Cork, perched on a high rolling
landscape above the sea and the charming fishing village of
Bantry. The setting is glorious, with views spilling across the bay
to mountains and peninsulas. The course has an unexpectedly
muscular feel, no doubt due to Christy O’Connor Jr’s influence
which uses the big rolls of the landscape to full effect, including
several blind shots. This is no place for the faint of heart so get out
the driver and swing hard. The greens are correspondingly big with
tiers and slopes that will test you all day long.
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