Dundrum House
Ballybunion (Cashen)
Many believe that the Cashen course was blessed with dunes
even more spectacular than the Old course… you’ll need to play
both courses to decide for yourself. The wonderful Co. Kerry
setting remains the same, regardless. The Old course embraces
classic links traditions but the Cashen is a more revolutionary
beast. Opened in 1984, its designer, Robert Trent Jones Senior,
introduced certain parkland traits… namely positioning greens
that demand target golf and not classic bump-and-run. It matters
little… this still thrills and you will get tossed around as the dunes
get ever more dramatic. There are blind shots and deep hollows
everywhere, so don’t expect to see your ball finish. The back nine
(14 and 17 especially) promise epic shots into greens.
Castlemartyr
There are only a few courses in Ireland designed as inland ‘links’… and
Castlemartyr is the last of them. Five miles from the sea, it has that
low rhythmic flow that makes links golf so enjoyable, but the wind
will be far less of a burden as you target the generous fairways and silklike greens. The boundary is deep woodland which highlights the stark
openness of the fairways. Your draw or fade will rarely be threatened
so open the shoulders and drive to your heart’s content. But, a word of
warning, the bumps and ridges bordering fairways are home to deep
rough… they are not to be trifled with. A small creek also runs across
several holes. Castlemartyr is a short course (par 72, 6,262 yards)
cleverly routed around the resort’s magnificent five star hotel.
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Killarney (Killeen)
As parkland settings go, Killarney’s Killeen is superb. Nestling
under the imposing MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, stalked by deer
and clinging to the edges of Lough Leane, you will bask in
Ireland’s beauty, regardless of whether you’re playing golf.
Killeen, and Mahony’s Point alongside, are a vibrant, popular
and essential addition to Co. Kerry’s world famous links.
Killarney also happens to be a seriously buzzing town. The
course hosted the Irish Open in 2010 and 2011 (won by Ross
Fisher (-18) and Simon Dyson (-15)), and, despite the low
scoring, this is a big, muscular course where you need smart
strategy as you play between big trees and over surprisingly
deceptive and natural terrain. The lakeside holes may be
regarded as the best but it’s quality from start to finish.
Dundrum House
This is such a peaceful parkland setting for a golf course. Here you’ll find
an early 18th century manor house – now a hotel – as a centrepiece
and the Multeen River sliding gracefully through the Co. Tipperary
landscape. It affects several holes and is a serious water hazard. Big
trees predominate and the course’s designer, Philip Walton, did a
wonderful job using the natural features to create this impressive par
72 course. It starts calmly, easing you in, but after three lakeland-style
holes Dundrum House really starts to hum from the par five 7th on.
It’s when the river comes in to play and it is a danger on tee shots and
approaches alike. One of the undoubted highlights is the stand of three
regal oaks in the middle of the 10th fairway, the river running along the
right hand side. It is a dogleg and Index 2.