Rounding off the complete package

FANTASY GOLF THE PERFECT PARKLAND COURSE: PHILIP REIDdescribes the challenging back nine worthy of inclusion in our ideal Irish parkland course

FORGIVE US if the eclectic 18-hole course which has found its way onto a blueprint to represent the ultimate parkland fantasy lay-out is top heavy with more recent designs. It’s just how it has turned out. Yet, the dream course is one which offers proof, if needed, of the great diversity in the Irish landscape and how it has produced an array of great golf holes.

The holes are a mix of those that are carved through woodland, or created – with the help of earth-moving machinery – on old farmland. Or they are holes which have given new life to old country estates, or even – as in the case of the 11th at Rathcore – a hole that has been built on land which contains fairy forts.

In contrast to the front nine which featured just one par five and one par three, our back nine has three par threes, three par fours and three par fives. It includes back-to-back par threes. And to prove length is not king, our course – with a par of 72 – measures a bit less than 7,000 yards.

We have no doubt this lay-out will change in time, as the likes of Killeen Castle – which plays host to the Solheim Cup in two years’ time – and Lough Erne mature and come more into our golfing consciousness. However, with the input of readers, the 18-holes here represents a serious challenge for golfers of all levels.

10th Headfort (New)

415 Yards Par 4

Not for those who get wobbly knees at the mere sight of a drive over water, this quite stunning hole requires a long and accurate carry off the tee over a waterway to find the fairway (200 yards off the back tee, over 90 yards from the women’s). If you think that’s the hard part, think again: the hole doglegs to the right and is tree-lined on the approach to a green guarded by bunkers.

Close Call: Rathsallagh

11th Rathcore

165 Yards Par 3

Furze, hillocks, marsh and trees . . . all have been sensitively used in creating a hole which fits magically into the surrounding countryside. The tee shot is one that asks so many questions for a short hole, from an elevated tee over furze to a raised green with the marsh and reeds left awaiting any pulled shot and a giant tree dominating the right aspect.

Close Call: Woodenbridge

12th Coollattin

122 Yards Par 3

Set in the walled garden of the old estate, this wonderful short hole is tougher than its picture postcard setting: the green is small and resembles an upturned saucer with a roll-off over the back towards the wall for any over-hit shot. There are also cleverly positioned bunkers guarding the front of the putting surface.

Close Call: Druids Glen.

13th Druids Glen

471 Yards Par 4

Tough? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. This hole ticks so many boxes. The tee box is elevated and the first task on this long dogleg right is to find the fairway, which curves around a rock face with a hidden stream running all the way down the right. The second ask is to hit an approach shot to a long, narrow green – with water lurking left and trees right – and, all in all, quite possibly the toughest parkland hole in the country.

Close Call: Tramore.

14th Woodenbridge

295 Yards Par 4

The notion that the driveable par 4 is a recent phenomenon is debunked by this fabulous hole. This is the ultimate in risk and reward for those tempted to reach the green off the tee: the Avoca – out-of-bounds – runs all the way down the right and behind the green, while a strategically positioned fairway bunker and a magnificent tree present dry if challenging hazards down the left.

Close Call: Druids Heath.

15th Westport

560 Yards Par 5

The drive is all-important, with the player required to carry an inlet of Clew Bay. For good measure, there is out-of-bounds down the left. The fairway is undulating, especially around the second shot lay-up landing area, and the raised green has lovely roll-offs and a number of bunkers on the left to make the player think carefully.

Close Call: Glasson.

16th The K Club (Palmer)

570 Yards Par 5

As we discovered in the 2006 Ryder Cup match, this hole – only reachable in two if forward tee boxes are used – is a classic matchplay hole. Although it is important to find the fairway off the tee, the really difficult questions are asked in attempting to reach the long green which requires an approach shot over the river Liffey. There are also well-placed bunkers left of the green, requiring anyone unfortunate enough to find sand to play back towards the river.

Close Call: Rathcore.

17th Carton House (Montgomerie)

176 Yards Par 3

The tee shot is played from an elevated teeing ground to a green guarded to the front – left and right – by the course’s trademark cavernous bunkers. The river Rye is a lovely backdrop but shouldn’t be in play, unless the tee shot is horrendously overhit.

Close Call: Portumna.

18th Adare Manor

548 Yards Par 5

The river Maigue flows down the left-hand side of the fairway but the fairway is generous, although anyone erring on the side of caution and pushing their shot down the right will encounter heavy rough and find a number of tall trees blocking their route back to the lay-up area. The most difficult part of this hole, though, is the approach shot over the river to a wonderfully undulating green that has a cluster of evergreens on the left and an old Cedar of Lebanon standing regally to the green’s right.

Close Call: Killarney (Mahony’s Point).

Front Nine

1st Carton House (Montgomerie)456 Yards Par 4

2nd Mount Juliet429 Yards Par 4

3rd Killarney (Killeen)183 Yards Par 3

4th Clandeboye (Dufferin)403 Yards Par 4

5th Adare Manor421 Yards Par 4

6th Rathsallagh502 Yards Par 5

7th The K Club (Palmer)430 Yards Par 4

8th Headfort (New)422 Yards Par 4

9th The Heritage421 Yards Par 4

OUT: 3,667 Yards Par 36

Back Nine

10th Headfort (New)415 Yards Par 4

11th Rathcore165 Yards Par 3

12th Coollattin122 Yards Par 3

13th Druids Glen471 Yards Par 4 .

14th Woodenbridge295 Yards Par 4

15th Westport560 Yards Par 5

16th The K Club (Palmer)570 Yards Par 5

17th Carton House(Montgomerie) 176 Yards Par 3

18th Adare Manor548 Yards Par 5

IN: 3,322 Yards Par 36, TOTAL: 6,989 Yards Par 72 *