Irvine (Bogside)
James Braid’s name is once again prominent
on the design sheet of this charming, heather-
laced course. Undulating terrain reveals several
intriguing surprises with deep hollows, ridges
and cleverly sited greens. Look to your left as you come over
the railway bridge and admire two fine holes (3 and 4) where
high greens can only be found by using intelligent shot-making.
Irvine is not a long course but the gorse and heather which
await the errant shot make it a gripping test of golf. They frame
fairways and constantly cause you to hesitate over the ball. And
then there are those cunningly placed small greens and pocket
bunkers, a few of which contain railway sleepers to ramp up the
drama further. And those wonderful and unexpected shapes
promise no end of variety, especially as Braid knew how to design
a daunting par four! The course may lie away from the sea but
that matters little on a course packed with enjoyment.
www.theirvinegolfclub.co.uk
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