8
5 6
1: Dublin’ s O’ Connell Street Bridge at dusk. 2: The par-4 7th at The European Club is one of the world’ s greatest
100 golf holes. 3: The 7th green at The European Club. 4: Lovely day for a Guinness. 5: 13th Hole at Druids Heath Golf Club. 6: St Anne’ s Golf Club, a good quality links north of the city. 7: Stunning views of the Irish Sea from Deer Park Golf Club. 8: There are plenty of golfing options in and around Dublin.
7
conditions throughout the year and some of the most consistent greens in the country, Corballis Golf Links is a hidden gem located just 25 minutes drive north from the centre of Dublin. Well recommended for an introduction to the vagaries of links golf.
Hole 6 – Rathsallagh Golf Club
A top-quality parkland track that has rapidly developed a reputation as one of the best courses in the Dublin region is Rathsallagh Golf Club, beautifully laid out by Christy O’ Connor Jr and Peter McEvoy on 250 acres of superbly natural terrain dotted by mature oak and beech trees. It features several lakes and small streams that meander across the fairways with immaculate greens.
Hole 7- Royal Dublin Golf Club
On Dublin Bay’ s Bull Island Nature Reserve you will discover a natural links fashioned in a classic style in the early part of the last century by the renowned golf architect Harry Colt. Over the years, many legends of the game have played here including Nicklaus, Trevino, Ballesteros, Langer, Norman and Faldo. Martin Hawtree has now enhanced this top-drawer links for the modern era; making one of Ireland’ s greatest golfing tests, well, even greater.
Hole 8- The K Club
West of Dublin is the K Club’ s Palmer Course and the dramatic scenes of that famous European victory over the USA in the 2006 Ryder Cup. One of Ireland’ s finest parkland courses, the closing stretch is a classic. The 16th is an all-or-nothing two-shotter, where an accurate drive must be followed by a long and precise approach over water to an island green. The 18th dares the golfer to drive over the top of a bunker-strewn hill and then tempts you to fire straight at the flag in search of that heroic Ryder Cup finish. The K Club’ s other course the Smurfit, would best be described as an inland links, with dune-type mounding throughout.
Hole 9- Portmarnock Golf Links
Widely recognised as one of Ireland’ s premier golf resorts with a golf course that combines all the charms of a traditional links layout with the challenge of the modern game. Gently undulating luxuriously sprung fairways leading to large fast greens must be negotiated through 98 strategically placed bunkers, while hillocks, wild grasses and gorse await wayward shots. The 1st tee and 18th green are conveniently situated just a wedge shot from the hotel and clubhouse.
9