Arklow Golf Links - September Sunshine

Views over the 7th, 6th and on to the distant 8th
at Arklow Golf Club.

Yesterday was the last day of September, and the sun was out to show us what a late burst of Indian Summer sunshine feels like... once again proving the beauty of Irish weather late in the golfing season.

I was at Arklow Golf Club, playing with Dermot Synnott, of Destination Golf and Top Golfer acclaim, and at 3.10pm we had the course pretty much to ourselves. This is a sweet links course and one of only three on the east coast, south of Dublin (The European and Rosslare being the other two).  It is well worth the trip down from Dublin, as it now takes little more than 30 minutes following the opening of the new section of the M11.

As you can see from yesterday's photos, it is well worth a visit and the course was in wonderful condition. Over-seeding has been completed so the greens (with all their big swings and interesting shapes) are a touch slower than you might expect on a links - although they are not slow and the roll is perfect.

I'll let the pics do the talking but if you're interested in joining a club, Arklow have an annual membership offer of €599, and, if you're prepared to commit for three years, they may even give it to you for less than that.

As for the golf, well, nothing says commitment like this image. All square on the 18th, €2 on the line...

Bunker shot from one of the notorious bunkers on Arklow's 18th.

And here's a video of how you play a bunker shot... watch where it ends up... and, yes, he still made par.

Tee shot on the par four 8th at Arklow Golf Club

Late sun on the 8th green, Irish Sea beyond.

The opening hole at Arklow Golf Links, hitting towards the sea
and the Arklow Bank of wind turbines. 

Views from the 12th fairway towards the 17th green and the clubhouse.