XXXX Waterville
Waterville
Golfers from around the world flock to Waterville, and the drive along the Ring of Kerry, above the sea, builds the expectation no end. This is something special, something idyllic, and the setting only makes the course all the more alluring. It is far too easy to fall in love with it. Few courses can boast such pictureperfect holes and such a sensuous rhythm. You can thank Eddie Hackett and, later, Tom Fazio for this links work-of-art. The dunes start low but build quickly into more dramatic and wonderfully pristine shapes. Raised tee boxes ensure you can see much of the hole and, with wide fairways, it will make you want to swing hard. It’ s a long course so go right ahead. The front nine are excellent; the back nine are spectacular. Holes 11 and 12 and the seaside run for home are breathtaking.
Trump Doonbeg
In 2015, Doonbeg underwent its first upgrade under Martin Hawtree. The changes to Greg Norman’ s original design were completed in 2016. Norman was restricted in what he could do and where he could go( the rare snails on the biggest dunes had to be protected), but Doonbeg still flashed with genius. He let the natural terrain of big, chaotic dunes shape the holes, resulting in some stunning shots and remarkable green settings … the 1st, 5th, 13th and 15th come to mind. Holes weave in a vague figure of eight in and out of the dunes, brushing up to Doughmore Bay on several occasions. Hawtree has refined Norman’ s work and the routing to play better in the wind, and the new greens are beautiful creations.
Old Head
Bold and dramatic, Old Head is undoubtedly one of the world’ s greatest golfing experiences. The peninsula south of Kinsale blossoms like a pearl earring, dropping into the Atlantic Ocean. It promises tees and greens perched on 300 foot cliffs. Half of the holes here sit tantalisingly above a raging sea as you head out to a lighthouse on the front nine and then back again. For the back nine, press‘ repeat’. The back tee on the 18th is one of the scariest places you will ever hit a shot from, tucked above cliffs and below the lighthouse. It may be surprising to find that golf here is of the generous variety. On such an exclusive, plush course the objective is not to punish you but to let you play. If you don’ t knock it into the ocean then you’ re unlikely to lose it. Fairways and greens are pristine … even the rough is elegant. There are some terrifying holes( the 12th most notably), but donating the ball to the ocean has never been so much fun.
The back tee on the 18th is one of the scariest places you will ever hit a shot from, tucked above cliffs and below the lighthouse.
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