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Castletroy
Shannon
Tucked away behind the airport, this lovely club is a parkland
of dark corridors, unforgiving trees and a sweet dose of the
Shannon Estuary at the farthest point. The course flows so
easily over the level terrain and it is the subtle doglegs and
the trees which will test your nerve. Brawn is not always the
answer here. The par threes are all strong, especially the long
17th beside the estuary. It is the only hole where trees can’t
ruin your card… that’s left to the estuary, which you must
cross.
Clonmel
Set in the foothills of the Comeragh Mountains, high above the
town, Clonmel is a hillside parkland that embraces its natural
charms… just as so many Eddie Hackett courses do. Woods are
everywhere and border much of the course, revealing a mountain-
scape at one end and views over the River Suir valley at the other.
In between are some bumpy fairways, slippery greens and strong
changes in elevation. The par three 14th is an exceptional par three,
hitting into the heart of a mountain from a high tee, while the 13th is
Index 1, with a sharply sloping right-to-left fairway. Expect plenty of
entertaining shot-making.
Dundrum House
This is such a peaceful estate setting for a golf course with the
Multeen River sliding gracefully through the Co. Tipperary landscape.
Big trees dominate 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 begins to hum. This is 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 tenth, where a stand of three
regal oaks dominates the fairway and the river runs along the right
hand side.
Castletroy
This is a quality suburban parkland on the outskirts of Limerick
city. It may not have acres of space, but it uses smart design
and routing to provide an invigorating test of golf. And, at 6,000
metres, it is longer than you might expect. The 2006 renovations
have proved a big success with new bunkering, water features
and sparkling new greens elevating the course’s reputation and
challenges considerably. Today’s course slides comfortably back
and forth between the trees, with some high tee box settings
offering terrific tee shots – particularly on the back nine.
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