Adare
Adare
The new Adare opened to great fanfare this year. The course was
already widely regarded as Ireland’s best parkland so Tom Fazio’s
redesign was eagerly anticipated. The routing has not changed but
every green, tee and bunker has been replaced, and fairways have
been re-shaped. Thousands of trees have been cleared to make it
more playable and rough is minimal. Apart from the water features
and River Maigue you shouldn’t lose a ball here. But you could lose
your head around raised greens which boast vast aprons and steep
slopes. Your greatest challenge on this immaculately maintained
course (sub-air technology is installed in every green) is finding that
putting surface. Expect Adare to host the Ryder Cup in 2026.
Ballybunion (Cashen)
Many believe the Cashen was blessed with dunes even more
spectacular than the Old course. You’ll need to play both to
decide for yourself but the wonderful Co. Kerry setting remains
the same. The Old has been left relatively untouched, embracing
classic links traditions, but the Cashen is a more revolutionary
beast. Opened in 1984, it was designed by Robert Trent Jones
Senior, who set greens in positions which demand target golf
and not classic bump-and-run approach shots. It matters little…
the Cashen is thrill-a-minute golf where you get tossed around
as dunes get ever more dramatic. There are blind shots and deep
hollows everywhere. The back nine promises epic approach
shots and holes 14 to 17 are the pick of the bunch as they find the
coastline.
Doonbeg
The routing has not changed
but every green, tee and bunker
has been replaced, and fairways
have been re-shaped.
88
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.