Grace and glory go out Citywest

ON APPROACHING the splendid clubhouse at Citywest, one is confronted by the unmistakable "Three Graces, set into a stone alcove at a turning in the driveway. Referring to the world-famous sculpture, owner Jim Mansfield remarked with a wicked grin: "It's not the original, you know. I bought it at an auction in England."

The charming piece, and how the owner came by it, characterises the entrepreneurial spirit which gave life to this outstanding complex three years ago. Set in 200 acres of rolling pasture and majestic woodland, Citywest Country House Hotel and Golf Club is certain to be a worthy home for this week's Guardian Irish Open.

As the name suggests, it is situated to the west of Dublin, just off the Naas dual carriageway and close to the picturesque village of Saggart. In a competitive context, the course was officially launched in June 1994, with the staging of the Irish Masters Tournament, carrying a prize fund of £100,000. Included in a top-quality field of Irish professionals was Christy O'Connor Jnr, the designer of the course. Early construction work on the project was marred by a potentially serious helicopter accident from which O'Connor considered himself extremely fortunate to emerge unscathed in May 1992. He was so shaken that he felt obliged to withdraw at an early stage of the PGA Championship a week later.

It was a cloud which most certainly contained a silver lining in that O'Connor went on from there to capture the Dunhill Masters at Woburn - his last victory on the European Tour.

At that time, O'Connor couldn't foresee the staging of the country's leading women's event. Citywest's status as a worthy championship was illustrated by competition in the Irish Masters. The maturity achieved during the last two years has made it all the more attractive.

As might be expected from O'Connor, who has earned rich praise for his work in golf-course layout throughout the country, it contains some admirable design concepts, with a liberal use of inter-connected lakes which serve as hazards on at least eight holes. The most forbidding of these has to be negotiated at the 18th.

This is a formidably testing hole, particularly with the wind against. Combined with the equally menacing short 17th, it presents a daunting climax to the round and will make for fascinating viewing in the event of a tight finish on Sunday.

The middle holes of the course are dominated by the eighth and ninth, both of which are severe dog-legs to the right. O'Connor can feel proud of the quality of the four par-threes which offer a delightfully balanced challenge, starting with the second hole, which is unquestionably the toughest of them.

Not surprisingly, it is included among the designer's favourite holes. "I am particularly pleased with the spectacular, double green which meets with the fifth," he says.

Looking further along the layout, O'Connor says: "The sixth is a super par four, one of the key holes on the course. Water to the left and right presents a tight entrance to the green and I reckon even the best players will be happy with a par.

The ninth: "The dog-leg configuration offers the possibility of cutting the corner. But it could be at your peril given the location of the palm tree at the approach bunker. Only the finest approach will deliver a birdie chance."

The 12th: "A drive placed to the left sets the player up for a second shot between mature oak trees. Longer hitters will need to be wary of the threat of water, to the right and off the back."

The 16th: "Driving accuracy is crucial here given the bunkers down the left side of the fairway and water to the right. Then, the approach has to be hit through a narrow gap in pine trees to a well-guarded green."

The 18th: "I am particularly proud of this. It could be described as my signature hole. It offers a stunning challenge, with the fear of water on the left off the tee. I planned it so that the lake fronting the green would achieve maximum impact."

The success of O'Connor's design was reflected in some excellent competition over the four days of the Irish Masters. In capturing the title, Smyth carded rounds of 71, 71, 68, 68 for a six-under-par aggregate of 278 and a five-stroke winning margin over second-placed David Jones.

It provided a memorable baptism for a championship stretch which is now to be challenged by the cream of Europe's women professionals. Indeed its potential for golfing grief belies its origins as a tranquil, fifth-century monastic settlement.

The clubhouse/hotel incorporates 39 bedrooms and suites and the structure is a fascinating amalgam of auctioned and discarded items from stately homes throughout these islands. Mansfield might have had this week's tournament in mind when he purchased the "Three Graces." Not the original, of course.