Laytown & Bettystown
Naas
Naas is a peach of a driving course , with lots of changes in elevation offering tempting tee shots between scatterings of mature trees . It is by no means hilly but the older nine offer up some delicious high tees . The 13th is one of those par fives where you ’ ll kick yourself for missing the glorious fairway below . It ’ s the shot of the day . Indeed , the entire back nine are thrilling with three par threes and three par fives . The course is well maintained and smartly bunkered , but it is not overly long so golfers of all abilities will enjoy it . The big , deceptive greens are another matter entirely .
Laytown & Bettystown
Despite a lengthy and interesting evolution , Laytown & Bettystown has ended up as a more traditional out-and-back links , where the 9th is at the farthest point of the course . Expect a rugged , testing start , on this under-appreciated links . These opening holes will vex you with devilish fall-offs around greens , blind shots and unexpected hollows . Your short game needs to be razor sharp , as will your imagination . The turn for home introduces the wind and wider , flatter fairways so you can start swinging … and you ’ ll need to for this is the longer nine , culminating with the double-blind par five 18th .
It is by no means hilly but the older nine offer up some delicious high tees .
Dundalk
It is the rhythm and consistency of Dundalk ’ s 18 holes which have helped to establish the course ’ s strong reputation . The dark trees shadowing holes only emphasise this , as they rise and fall gently with the terrain while the fairways flow back and forth . But it is a good length ( par 72 , 6,000 metres , middle white tees ) and those trees come close enough to terrify golfers with big draws or fades . The Dundalk Senior Scratch Cup is a significant event in the amateur golfing calendar , confirming the course ’ s popularity .
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