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Surprise! The golf links of Ireland are awesome
photo by Judy Hendershot
Rick Hendershot, Special Golf Travel
Destinations
OK. We know Scotland is the home of golf. Golf courses
in every small town and all that. Historic links courses built up and down the
coastlines. Good good.
But it turns out Ireland is no slouch when it
comes to links land. Some of the most picturesque, awe-inspiring courses in the
world are in Ireland. In fact Ireland is home to almost 40% of the world's
genuine links courses.* That means there are more than 50 links courses in
Ireland, not to mention the other 350 or so that are not of the links variety.
Rates are quoted in Euros.
By far the most famous golf course in Ireland
is at Ballybunion, in the Southwest corner of the island, in the county of
Kerry. In fact there are two 18s. The Old Course, founded in 1893 is
consistently rated among the world's top 10 courses. Tom Watson (who obviously
knows how to get quoted, and is also the Millenium Captain of the Club) once
called it "the best in the world." (€110) The Cashen Course, built in 1981 among
the more dramatic dunes on the site, is the more difficult of the two, and
noteworthy for its small greens and tight fairways. (€75)
Other
well-known links courses in the southwest include Tralee (€130), designed by
Arnold Palmer to be a golf destination (and therefore expensive), and Lahnich
(€110), originally designed by Old Tom Morris (of St. Andrews) and Alistair
Mackenzie whose imprint was also left on Augusta National, Pebble Beach, and
Cypress Point.
Meanwhile, the northwest area of the country is blessed
with some outstanding golf courses as well. Ten of these courses have come
together to form the North and West Coast Links. At the eastern end of the loop
is Royal Portrush just west of Derry in Northern Ireland. Ranked in the top 20
in the world, and host of many major tournaments, there are two 18s at Portrush
with the Dunluce course costing €138 a round in 2003.
You'll find
another outstanding 36 hole links layout not too far along the coast at
Ballyliffin. Referred to as the "Dornoch of Ireland", green fees range from
€50-€70. Nick Faldo called Ballyliffin "the most natural golf links I have ever
played."
Donegal County, in the extreme northwest corner of the island,
is the home of some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Ireland — including
the highest sea cliffs in Europe. It is also where you will find Donegal in the
town of Murvagh. This is one of Europe's longest 18 hole courses at more than
7200 yards. Built among the impressive coastal dunes, Donegal is another
masterpiece of nature. Green fees are in the €50 range.
Contact the North
and West Coast Links and ask them for a copy of their excellent
brochure.
If you're in the Dublin area (on the Irish Sea side of the
island), the most famous course is Portmarnock. First opened in 1894, many
golfers rate it as Ireland's finest links course. Laid out within the curve of
the coastline formed by the Howth peninsula, it offers stunning views of
Ireland's Eye and Lambay Island, rising sharply from deep waters. At €165 - €190
it is also pretty pricey.
When you're in Northern Ireland you'll want to
check out Royal County Down, located at a relatively remote site 30 miles south
of Belfast in Newcastle. This is a first class course which has been the site of
many major championships, and will host the 2007 Walker Cup. Green fees are also
surprisingly reasonable — €95 on the Championship Links, and €18 on the much
less intimidating Annesley Links.
Royal County Down near Belfast in
Northern Ireland ..."This, arguably the greatest of links courses, is the polar
opposite of a typical American golf experience. It's as different as George Will
and Will Smith."
-Joel Zuckerman, WorldGolf.com
"It would be advisable
to pre-book the more famous Ireland golf courses especially during the summer
months. Based on reviews received by Golfeurope, golfers rave about many of the
lesser known clubs so one should take the time to visit a selection of these.
Indeed the more famous golf clubs sometimes charge exorbitant green fees and
demand pre-booking or impose other explicit or implicit restrictions. Its golf
snobbery, charge a lot and make people feel privileged to play. Exclusive and
expensive are not the same as excellence. This is rare and not indicative of the
Irish. The point being that in Ireland, you don't have to tolerate this
behaviour given the wide choice."
— GolfEurope.com
If any of my Irish
golfing friends out there have any helpful information, I would be very pleased
to let our readers know. Just contact me HERE.
-----------------------
Rick
Hendershot is an avid golfer and student of the game, as well as a writer and
internet publisher who lives in Conestogo, Ontario, Canada. He publishes several
golf related websites and blogs, including Golf Articles and Reviews,
Very Special Golf
Travel, and The
Weekend Golfer's Blog. He also manages an advertising and link placement
service called The LinkNet
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