Hole By Hole
Hole Guide – The club Professional’s view.
Hole 1 – Par 4 … 328yds
At 328 yards from the back tees, on paper it looks to be a soft opening hole- in reality its and uphill, severe dogleg right, meandering to one of the toughest greens in the country.
Hole 2 – Par 4 … 379yds
A few of the ‘big hitters’ can reach this downhill par 4 with ‘birdie’ in mind however the tee shot at the 2nd Hole is just as demanding with trees on both sides of the fairway ready to gather up any stray shots.
Hole 3 – Par 4 … 457yds
A long Par 4 that has a very demanding tee shot to stay clear of a large trees that line left and right of the fairway followed by a second shot that needs to avoid a greenside bunker front left of the green with a stream that runs parallel to the fairway for the last 120 yards. A 5 is never a bad score on this hole
Hole 4 – Par 3 … 136yds
A short par 3 which is heavily guarded by bunkers, hit it too big or too far left and your out of bounds. A front pin position is hard to find.
Hole 5 – Par4 … 374yds
On this par 4 the fairway slopes from left to right, a nice draw is a must to hold this fairway. Approach is to a narrow elevated green which, like many others on the course, is surrounded by bunkers.
Hole 6 – Par 4 … 453yds
A very picturesque par 4 with water hazzard across the fairway and to the left of the green. A recently remodelled hole which has had an extra bunker added, a challenging hole which requires an accurate second shot threaded between the waiting bunkers. Many visitors standing on the tee believe this is a par 5 hole!
Hole 7 – Par 4 … 394yds
An accurate drive is essential here if you are to avoid two deep bunkers on the left and Bluebell Hill to the right. This tough uphill par 4 with its ever narrowing two-tier green is simply a great golf hole.
Hole 8 – Par 4 … 409yds
This hole starts with a blind tee shot and leaves a ‘nervy’ approach over a river that extends further that looks. An accurate approach may well leave you with a ‘birdie’ opportunity but watch out for that river!
Hole 9 – Par 4 … 363yds
A dog leg par 4 which turns to the left over the brow of the hill, a makeable ‘birdie’ chance if you get a good drive away.
Hole 10 – Par 5 … 493yds
The only par 5 on the course, not overly long but with fairway bunkers to the right and left. The green is a small target with trouble on the left
at the back. If your approach shot is too big you could be out of bounds.
Hole 11 – Par 4 … 417yds
A long straight par 4 requiring two accurate shots. Holding the green which slopes front-to-back can be particularly tricky during the summer or when the course is dry and firm.
Hole 12 – Par 3 … 147yds
A picturesque hole based on the design of the 12th at Augusta National (although our green slopes in the opposite direction to theirs) Six bunkers guard this narrow green.
Hole 13 – Par 4 … 377yds
A shortish par 4 with out-of-bounds running virtually all along the left hand side, this is a ‘hookers’ graveyard (and ironically a local cemetary is situated just on the other side of the road).
Hole 14 – Par 4 … 447yds
This is a stroke index 1 hole and at 447 yards this is the last of the three ‘signature’ par 4’s. The only hole on the course to have no bunkers, there are however still plenty of hazards to contend with. There is an out-of bounds running almost the full length of the left hand fairway and a water hazard 30 yards short of the elevated green which slopes quite steeply from back to front.
Hole 15 – Par 4 … 403yds
David Feherty (ex Ryder Cup player) stated that this is one of the best par 4’s in Ireland. A tight driving hole (similar to the 18th at Agusta National) leaves a middle iron to a two tiered well guarded green.
Hole 16 – Par 3 … 185yds
A long par 3 to a very narrow green which is protected on both sides by deep bunkers, there’s no hiding place if you miss this green.
Hole 17 – Par 4 … 270yds
A drivable par 4 but miss the green and making a par can become difficult.
Hole 18 – Par 4 … 396yds
A great finishing hole with fairway bunkers set to catch shots going left. A second shot has to carry a stream in front of the green which has three
bunkers surrounding it.
