Family affair proves winning formula

The aroma from the converted outhouse, which acts as a reception-cum-dining area, is unquestionably that of a turf fire. It hints at the type of hospitality which awaits anyone who ventures through the doors of Highfield Golf Club, where Titleists-for-sale are housed in an old earthen stove and golfers can also purchase homemade jam and free-range eggs.

It's a different sort of place. Indeed, where else could you expect to see the very turkeys that are the prizes for the Christmas hampers wandering the first fairway, having jumped over from the adjoining organic farm? Or an offer to have your car washed, at an agreeable rate, while you are out playing golf?

Highfield doesn't have any pretensions about itself, which is part of its unique charm. There is a lovely family feel about the place, helped no doubt by the fact that the Duggans have lived here for 250 years. Yet, in the last six or seven years, much of the family farm has been transformed into a golf course and, given its location some 30 minutes from Lucan, it has proven exceedingly popular with commuters in the western suburbs of Dublin, many of them availing of the opportunity to become members of a club for the first time. The family grew up with golf, albeit in the nearby Edenderry club where, for years, they performed the course maintenance. The late Denis was an avid golfer - the popular Duggan Cup for over-50s is named after him - and the tradition has been carried on by his wife Phil, and their sons Ciaran, Alan and Denis Jnr. All have had a role to play in Highfield's development.

Alan, a single handicap golfer himself, who studied green-keeping in the Botanic Gardens and spent two years as the course superintendent at Nuremore, actually designed the course, a par 72 measuring a none-too-testing 6,231 yards. "It doesn't pretend to be a championship course," he says, "rather one that appeals to handicap golfers." It's a winning formula.

The first nine holes were opened in 1991 (with the first members being accepted the following year) and the course was extended to a full 18 in late 1992. "It all happened quite quickly," admits Alan. Indeed, his first action in designing the course was to work out exactly where to put the greens, cut out of the existing poa annua grass. As such, the family's knowledge of the land, and its drainage system, proved invaluable.

However, now that Highfield is firmly established, plans are afoot for improvement. A "Plan 2000" - effectively a five-year programme - will be discussed at the club's annual general meeting next month, with ambitions to build a brand new clubhouse (to be situated between the present 11th and 13th greens) and to alter the configuration of the holes.

"It won't be a huge clubhouse, the emphasis being on improving the changing and shower facilities. We're aware the present locker rooms need upgrading. We'd like to keep the atmosphere the club has at the moment," explains Alan.

Also, Alan is intent on gradually improving the course. More bunkers, more trees (although eight of the course's 120 acres have already been planted with young trees in recent years), additional mounding and new water hazards will - if the plan is accepted - be implemented to upgrade the course. But that is all in the future.

As things stand, Highfield has succeeded in establishing a special club atmosphere, and the course is very well-maintained.

"We've tried to be environmentally friendly. For instance, we don't use sprays on the greens," explains Alan. And it is a tribute to the greenstaff's work that they remain disease free and, if not of Valderrama speed, have incurred the wrath of more than one or two players who fell victim to them.

The opening five holes are situated on the house side of the course. After an easy enough, teaser of an opening hole - a par four measuring just 330 yards - you are confronted with two monster long holes, the second measuring 520 yards and the fourth a whopping 568 yards.

However, the seventh hole is really the first interesting proposition. It is a dog-leg par five which presents the player with a couple of options. Course management would suggest that three long irons would find the green in regulation, but a good drive off the tee is likely to offer the appetising alternative of cutting off the dog-leg and, possibly, reaching the green in two. But that is an option only for the brave or foolish.

The ninth, quite rightly, is the index one. Although not too punitive in length, measuring 440 yards, the drive over a rough area of land which, in time, will be changed into a water hazard must be kept to the right hand side. The drain which runs across the fairway is some 290 yards off the tee and doesn't really come into play, although Leinster interprovincial player Johnny Brady, on his first visit, was unaware of its presence and did manage to fly it.

In the main, the course has been designed for a player to enjoy a round but, also, to use as many clubs in the bag as possible. Perhaps the most testing hole of all, though, is the par three 14th which measures 225 yards and, although there is a bail-out option to the right, it still demands a mighty good hit.

There is a tale to the hole, too. The teak hole sign informs one that it is sponsored by Norbert Murphy, a public loss assessor and member of the club. Normally, you'd expect someone to offer to sponsor a hole if recording a hole-in-one or some such feat there. Not Norbert. His offer came after enduring a nightmare there.

With out-of-bounds to the left and rushes occupying a large area in front of the tee-box, it is indeed a frightening proposition. So it was that Norbert, a couple of years ago in the captain's prize, stood on the 14th and well in pursuit of the prize. One disaster followed another, however, and Norbert eventually ended up with an 18 on the hole.

The homeward run isn't as taxing - although the 18th is another fine par three, most interesting in that the tee-box is on the opposite side of the road to the green, making it essential that the green cross code is observed. In his laid-back manner, Alan says, "sure it's a quiet road anyway." All in all, the Highfield experience is a good one and, while it may have a largely Dublin-based membership with the development of the new motorway a decided asset, its feel is definitely that of a rural club.

Highfield

Location: Three miles from Carbury, Co Kildare, and three miles from Edenderry, Co Offaly, and 12 miles from Enfield, Co Meath. Signposted off the N4 through Broadford.

Contact: Telephone/Fax 040531021.

Opened: 1991 (9 holes), 1992 (full 18).

Course: Parkland - Men: Par 72 - 6,231 (medal), 5,467 (society). Women: Par 72 - 5,226.

Designer: Alan Duggan.

Green Fees: Monday to Friday - £10 (with member £6). Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays - £12 (with member £8).

Accommodation: Selection of B&Bs available locally (contact club office).

Catering: Home-made cooking on site.