Destination Golf Ireland 2021
Esker Hills
The Heritage
Much of the attention focused on The Heritage concentrates on the Seve Ballesteros connection ( and design ). It is little wonder . The enigmatic Seve still conjures up all that is enthralling about the game of golf . The course opened in 2004 , and golfers are met first by the statue of the great man and then the stylish clubhouse . It is worth heading up to the balcony and looking out over the stunning lake which separates the 9th and 18th – two of the best holes which both conclude underneath the clubhouse . The course is laced with water but it is only one of the challenges you ’ ll face as holes flow over the gently shaped , open Co . Laois countryside . There are dramatic and complex bunkers throughout and they define many holes .
Tullamore
Trees , trees , and more trees … Tullamore is a wonderfully wooded course where the oak , beech and chestnut get very , very friendly . It is an enchanting setting but if you have an unruly draw or fade you will face intimidating shots time and again … especially off the tee . Here you will find sensational greens , smart routing , several knee-jangling doglegs and a superbly maintained course . This is why Tullamore is discussed in such glowing terms . It may not be long ( par 70 , 6,472 yards off the back tees ) but it demands your full respect . And when the course opens up slightly ( the 5th to 8th ) lakes present serious threats , while the Slieve Bloom Mountains provide the backdrop . The final three holes will test the best .
Esker Hills
If golf courses were rollercoasters , then Esker Hills would be the biggest ride of all . The eskers make this course almost hypnotic with their heaving rhythm through the lilting Co . Offaly countryside . The design was by Christy O ’ Connor Jr ( 1997 ), who must have been in his element shaping holes between all the twists and turns that this landscape has created . Open Champion Shane Lowry ’ s name will forever be associated with Esker Hills , but this is a course bristling with adventure : right from the off you are thrown into the mounds , doglegging through the valleys , and up and over those swinging elevation changes . Trees constantly guide the way around a wonderfully routed course .
Killeen Castle
No other course can boast such a glorious landscape as Killeen Castle . Six hundred lazy acres , drenched in trees , wrapped around a 12th century castle … how could it not be the idyllic setting for a Jack Nicklaus ‘ Signature ’ course . This is the longest course in Ireland ( 7,677 yards ), and home to the Solheim Cup in 2011 , but golfers of all abilities will enjoy this expansive course . There are five tees ( choose wisely ) and fairways always appear wide and inviting , which makes this a delicious driving course . Every hole is strong , but the par five 12th , with its stream cascading across the front of the green , may be Killeen Castle ’ s signature hole .
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