Destination Golf Ireland 2021
Blainroe
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 and golfers of all abilities will enjoy it . And after considerable recent upgrades you can expect to be impressed .
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 .
“ you drive over the cliffs and ocean to find the
fairway .
“
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 . And the course has received a facelift in recent years .
Seapoint
Seapoint offers two distinct sets of holes , right next door to
Co . Louth Golf Club . Indeed , Seapoint ’ s closing holes could easily be an extension of the great Baltray links as they back on to each other . The front nine play over sedate terrain , where trees border the course and fairways glide smoothly between low , rolling shoulders of dunes . Gorse plays its part emphasising the importance of accurate driving and the doglegs have to be respected . The turf is tight and while it doesn ’ t quite feel like a links early on , this is exactly what it is . The back nine ramp up the temperature , introducing the shapes and subtleties that make links golf such fun .
Blainroe
This high quality parkland perches above the sea and falls into distinct halves . The more level holes lie around the clubhouse and play alongside the sea while the more inland holes ( 2 to 8 ) slide across and around a hillside . There are plenty of doglegs here – some subtle , some less so – so golfers need to pay attention as positioning off the tee is key . And you ’ ll need to avoid the big , distracting bunkering . That said , the course is playable by all levels of golfer . The par four 14th is the signature hole – you drive over the cliffs and ocean to find the fairway .
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