Cork
The words ‘Alister MacKenzie’ will prove sufficient to lure golfers
from around the world, such is the esteem in which this revered
British golf architect is held. Cork Golf Club is rightly proud of the
work he carried out here on Little Island, in the 1920s. This has a
beautiful old school charm to it that combines the beauty of holes
clinging to the waters of Cork Harbour (4 to 6), parkland holes
flowing through the trees and the famous limestone quarry holes.
Recent work has seen the bunkers returned to more traditional
MacKenzie shapes and they are raised up, attractive and very
threatening. It was a brave move by the club, but one that has
proved a triumph. This mature setting mixes the variety of holes
to perfection. It keeps you on your toes and keeps the adrenaline
flowing, especially with couple of sharp and unexpected elevation
changes at the end of the round. Look out for Seve’s Tree, a Spanish
Chestnut planted in 1983 to celebrate the legend’s 332 metre drive
on the 11th hole.