Destination Golf Ireland 2016 | Page 47

Tulfarris Arklow A links dating back to 1927, Arklow is a somewhat forgotten course. And yet it has all the links traits you could ask for, with bumpy, mischievous fairways, aggressive bunkers and perfect, lilting greens. The clubhouse sits above it all and from the car park you get great views of the course, offering an appetiser of what’s to come. It’s a low-running links where bump-and-run is nearly always an option – and often the best strategy – but you need to be cunning to play this par 69 well. There are some parkland traits in the middle of the back nine, but the 18th is a links beauty to bring you home. Seapoint Seapoint, right next door to Co. Louth Golf Club, offers two distinct sets of holes. The front nine play over sedate terrain, where trees and water define the holes on the perimeter and gorse plays an ever-growing role towards the end. The fairways call for accurate driving and the doglegs have to be respected. The back nine are true links holes, with the shapes and subtleties that make links golf such fun. The closing three holes, above the beach and through the biggest dunes, are a delicious finale. The 17th is a gorgeous par three while the par five 18th streaks straight towards the clubhouse. Knightsbrook Knightsbrook is the full resort package and one of Ireland’s newest parkland additions. The clubhouse is part of a hotel, and they both watch over the 1st hole which slides alongside. It is a Christy O’Connor Jr design and it is a muscular beast, measuring 6,600 yards (par 72) from the forward green tees… you’ll need to be driving well to take Knightsbrook on. But the doglegs are plentiful and the water features magnetic so length is only one of the requirements Trees are infrequent so you definitely have lots of room to play on an open, mounded landscape, and hitting into such quality greens is always a thrill. Tulfarris Tulfarris is a splash of lakeside heaven set on the Blessington Lakes. And water plays a large part on the more inland holes, too. As such, it is no place for the faint of heart (or for those with too few balls) and yet Tulfarris is also one of the prettiest courses we have. The lakes are one thing, but the mature trees that streak across the landscape are idyllic… and they threaten often. Every shot here is a pleasure, even those that leave you trembling (approaches to 10, 17 and 18), and the par threes are excellent. Exceptional value, too. 45