A gem of `hidden Ireland'

A golfing trip I made to Spain's Costa del Sol 12 or 13 years ago, happened to coincide with Christy O'Connor Senior's first and, I suspect, only experience of Torrequebrada. We were playing in a pro-am there - and he hated the place.

Unlike certain other visitors, O'Connor's displeasure was not directed at the severely undulating terrain which tested the stamina even of young, fit bones, especially under a torrid sun. No, Himself disapproved of the way the design took the driver out of a player's hands.

In his attempt at achieving a workable routing through difficult terrain, the architect, Pepe Gancedo, resorted to severe, right-angle doglegs, rendering the driver largely redundant for the better-class player. Consequently, when the Spanish Open was staged there in 1979, Seve Ballesteros became so frustrated by the challenge that he whacked the ball into all sorts of trouble and missed the cut.

Christy O'Connor Jnr would be more familiar with Torrequebrada than his famous uncle. And if Gancedo, who once competed in the Mullingar Scratch Cup, is interested in a return visit here to observe the design skills necessary to cope with such a demanding site, he should call into Esker Hills.

There, two and a half miles outside Tullamore, O'Connor Jnr provides a fine example of his craftsmanship, which is increasingly in demand these days. And the driver remains very much in the player's hands - even at the 307yard 10th.

This is another one of those "par-three-and-a-half" holes, which are becoming an attractive feature of O'Connor courses. And the Esker Hills version is especially attractive, with a drive from an elevated tee down towards a green heavily protected to the right by water and sand. Incidentally, this particular water-hazard is beautifully finished with an open stone wall.

Esker Hills opened for play two years ago and my host, Donal Molloy, informed me that during construction, O'Connor sought the minimum of soil disturbance. Indeed, he had his routing sorted out in remarkably short time, reflecting an immediate empathy with the terrain.

"On telling people about the course, the usual reaction was that if it's in Offaly, it has to be a bog," said Molloy, one of three brothers who own the development along with the fourth shareholder, Donal O'Brien. The Molloys also own a concrete factory on the 150-acre site.

In the event, visitors anticipating bogland couldn't be more wrong. It seems that more than 10,000 years ago, the unique landscape of Offaly was powerfully sculpted by the awesome natural forces of the dying Ice Age.

As the great glaciers retreated, they left in their wake narrow ridges of sand and gravel which were deposited by the streams of water that had once flowed in tunnels beneath the melting ice. These ridges now comprise the majestic Esker Riada, from which the course gets its name.

Excellent, natural drainage is one of the more obvious advantages the terrain offers golf-course construction. Then there are the dramatic undulations of valleys and plateaux which, along with natural lakes and woodlands, provide splendid design features.

"It gave me great satisfaction to plot the course through nature's own sand-hills and valleys," said O'Connor. Critics will argue, however, that aspects of the terrain are too severe for the sort of relaxed endeavour synonymous with weekend or holiday golfing.

So, let's confront this issue. On a promotional video of the course, a customer who looked remarkably like the former Galway All-Ireland footballer, Enda Colleran, claimed to have thoroughly enjoyed 36 holes in the one day. Thirty years on from his halcyon days, one is forced to conclude that Colleran is still made of stern stuff.

There is no escaping the fact that the course is decidedly hilly. As a consequence, it is certain to produce quite a share of hanging lies and I imagine that the rise up to the 17th and 18th greens, could be very unwelcome at the end of a poor-scoring day.

But for those who like their golf to be more gentle, 20 buggies are available. For my own part, I would strongly recommend shanks' pony, starting from elevated tees which provide some charming views of the surrounding countryside, extending to the Slieve Bloom Mountains.

The sun was shimmering off the water down below the tee as we drove off the opening hole, a 493yard par five which dog-legged away to the right towards an elevated green sloping treacherously from back to front. As an index 17, it gave an appropriate foretaste of the challenge to come.

As one would expect on a hilly course, there is a lot of blindness off the tee at Esker Hills. But to his credit, O'Connor ensured that there were no nasty surprises on reaching the landing areas. Strategic positioning of white marking-stones and the natural contours of the land, proved to be excellent guides.

The only possible criticism in this regard was the blind second shot at the long sixth, where water awaits on the left. Still, as the great Tommy Armour once observed, there are no blind shots for a player with a memory.

As it happens, a clear view tee-to-green is offered at the 428-yard seventh, where a lake to the left and a line of trees closing in from the right, demand a controlled draw if the driver is to be used. The 396yard 12th, towards yet another elevated green, is also a fine par four, offering visibility all the way to the target.

The jewels of Esker Hills, however, are the four par threes which, collectively, would be extremely difficult to match. Off the back tees they measure 171, 181, 201 and 191 yards respectively and demand very precise striking to set up birdie putts.

The fifth, where water threatens to the right and the rear, is particularly appealing, but my favourite was the ninth, tucked into the side of a hill. Here, distance is devilishly deceptive while the line is as crucial as length to a green falling away punishingly to the right.

During my recent visit, the sandbased greens and tees were in excellent condition, especially for the time of year. Indeed, the overall quality of the course left little to be desired, allowing for the fact that some of the rough edges will disappear with maturity.

The launch earlier this year of Midland Golf Promotions reflects a serious attempt to market the game in a hitherto neglected area of the country. Understandably, Molloy has high hopes for the success of their venture and looking at the number of cranes punctuating the skyline over Tullamore, his optimism seemed to be well founded.

In common with more elaborate developments in the US, he believes that employing a high-profile architect can be a major marketing ploy. Given the quality of his work at Glasson, Galway Bay and Mount Wolseley, O'Connor can now be viewed in that light.

Meanwhile, with only 150 members, Esker Hills is clearly targeting the tourist market. In that context, attractive golfing/accommodation deals are available at the beautifully-appointed Tullamore Court Hotel, which was opened last November. General manager Joe O'Brien reports considerable success at generating business through conferences and similar activities.

Further top-quality accommodation will be coming on stream this summer, when the new Bridge House Hotel, also with 72 rooms, is due to open. These factors, allied to the established reputation of Tullamore GC and its recently up-graded layout, strengthen the package significantly.

Travel agents invariably emphasise location, when drawing up a menu of attractive golf deals. They also point to the need for greater promotion of the so-called hidden Ireland, away from the established links courses around our coastline.

Esker Hills is among those recent developments, anxious to bid for that business. Their objective was the creation of a quality facility that had something different to offer. With the help of O'Connor Jnr, they have succeeded admirably.