Top Ten Irish Golf Photos of 2015

Views over the 17th tee at Shannon Golf Club.

My Flickr page of Irish golf courses recently passed 12,000 images. They're not all of Ireland, I hasten to add - there are photos from Portugal, Poland, Turkey and Great Britain, too - but the bulk are of the many beautiful parkland and links courses on this island.

I've added another couple of thousand images this year. Here's a 'ten of the best' selection, from the
small clubs to the world-renowned.

1. Arklow
Views from the 1st tee across the 7th, 6th and 8th greens and out to sea.

2. Athy
A great little course and cheap-as-chips to play, this is a view back down the 13th. I love the fairway lines combine and look as if they're disappearing into a hole.

3. Druid's Glen
Little explanation needed for this beast of a par three. The 17th is one of Ireland's toughest short holes. If you're only playing it for fun (i.e. not in a comp), take an old ball and go have a lash from the back tee. Find the green and you'll remember the shot for a very long time.

4. Galgorm Castle
Sun setting over this lazy parkland in Northern Ireland. This is the 4th hole and the tee boxes are nicely lit, straight back down the fairway.

5. Galway
The 4th and 2nd greens at Galway Golf Club, with The Burren in the distance. Full set of photos, here.

6. K Club
A nicely framed shot taken in Autumn, down the 6th on the Palmer course.

7. Rathcore
One of my favourite 'hidden gems' this is a side shot of the 6th green, taken in March - hence the bare trees.

8. Royal County Down
This is not the best shot that I took of Royal County Down, but it sums up its challenges rather well. This is the intimidating tee shot on the 11th hole. There are many more photos on my Flickr page.

9. Slieve Russell
Introducing my dad... he's 84 and still knocking the stuffing out of the ball. This is the approach to the 13th at Slieve Russell - a par five that just keeps doglegging around the lough. Full set of photos here.

10. St Margarets
The 8th green... all rather idyllic with the swan and the still lake. Full set of photos here.

If you would like to purchase any of these as prints, let me know.  And one final one to sum up the passion and dedication... and never-say-die attitude... that makes golf such a great game to play. Thank you Dermot!