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| Fota Island's 18th |
It's becoming a tradition.
In 2019, St Patrick’s Day falls beautifully on a Sunday. As if we needed more of an excuse to celebrate our Irishness we are presented with a long weekend to relax and enjoy ourselves.
And many of us will be doing that on the golf course. It’s the start of Spring, when the fairweather golfer tentatively comes out of hibernation and golf clubs nationwide open their doors and embrace the masses. That three day weekend ensures it will be all the more embracing.
Golf clubs up and down the country are running Open events so there’s no shortage of choice. Your only challenge is choosing the course to play and the companions you want to bring with you. With luck, we won’t have to endure a snow storm like the one that arrived last year and cancelled almost every St Patrick’s Day golf event. No, this year we deserve some cool sunshine and a light breeze.
Here is a selection of events at over 30 courses... but this is by no means an exhaustive list.
Ballyneety
A parkland outside Limerick that continues to improve and return to its best, Ballyneety has
many entertaining holes which are smartly routed around and over a gentle hill.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Champagne Scramble, teams of three, any combination
Price: €15pp
Entry: Book online or phone 061 351 881
Castlegregory
A sweet and exciting 9-hole links on the northern edges of the Dingle Peninsula. Several excellent holes give this course an unsurprisingly big reputation.
Date: Mon 18
Format: 18-hole Champagne Classic, Teams of four, any combination
Price: €20pp
Entry: Phone 066 713 9444
Clonmel
Up in the hills, Clonmel has slopes sliding in every direction and a back nine of thoroughly entertaining holes.
Date: Sat 16
Format: Open 4-ball better ball, Stableford
Price: €12
Date: Sun 17 & Mon 18
Format: Open Singles, Stableford
Price: £12pp
Entry: Phone 052 612 4050
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| Fermoy's brilliant 13th |
Fermoy
A charismatic hillside course that has stood defiantly against recent storms with holes coursing between avenues of trees in a variety of shapes and thrills.
Date: Sat 16
Format: Gents Open Singles
Price: €20
Date: Sun 17
Format: Open two-ball Scramble, any combination
Price: €20, including meal
Date: Mon 18
Format: Champagne Scramble,any combination
Price: €15 (magnums of champagne for winning team)
Entry: Phone 025 31472
Fota Island
The Irish Open-hosting Fota Island is always a great place to play golf with its idyllic setting, its wildlife, its noisy neighbours (Fota Wildlife Park) and its thoroughly engaging layout.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Open Singles, Ladies & Gents
Price: €40
Entry: Book online at fotaisland.ie or phone 021 488 3700
Killarney
The upgrading work on Mahony’s Point continues and you can get to see it first hand with Killarney hosting an Open Day on the 18th. This has an old-school classic parkland feel and it glides across deer and tree-drenched terrain as it heads for the shores of Lough Leane.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Open Day, Singles Stableford
Price: €30
Entry: Call 064 6631034 or email reservations@killarneygolfclub.ie
Newcastle West
Newcastle West Golf Club, in Co. Limerick, is running an Open Festival of Golf over St. Patrick’s weekend.
Date: Sat 16
Format: Open 14 Hole team of three, any combination, one score to count.
Price: €20pp (includes Burger & Fries)
Date: Sun 17
Format: Open Three Ball Scramble, any combination.
Price: €20pp
Date: Mon 18
Format: Open Three Ball Scramble, any combination.
Price: €20pp
Price: €20pp
Date: Mon 18
Format: Open Three Ball Scramble, any combination.
Price: €20pp
Entry: Book online at newcastlewestgolf.com
Tralee
With some of the best views in Ireland and what are widely considered to be the best and most adventurous back nine in the country, Tralee’s reputation precedes it. This is a links of never-ending thrills.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Golf Classic, team of four, any combination (two score to count)
Price: €50pp
Entry: Book online at traleegolfclub.com
Format: Golf Classic, team of four, any combination (two score to count)
Price: €50pp
Entry: Book online at traleegolfclub.com
West Waterford
West Waterford is one of Ireland’s most peaceful parkland courses, moving over an undulating terrain that opens up views of mountains and the calm serenity of coasting alongside the River Brickey.
Date: Sat 16, Sun 17, Mon 18
Format: Open Singles, Ladies & Gents,Stableford
Price: €20
Entry: Phone 058 43216 or book online at westwaterfordgolf.com
CONNACHT
Galway
The Alister MacKenzie designed Galway Golf Club slides down pine tree-drenched slopes, under a road and out onto a more open section before tumbling into the bay. It is smart and well maintained and it is renowned for its greens.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Stableford, Open Team of four, any combination
Price: €30pp
Entry: 091 522033 or info@galwaygolf.com
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| Portumna's 17th |
Portumna
A brilliant parkland in the midst of a deep wood where deer roam and oak trees tumble across the landscape.
Date: Sat 16, Sun 17, Mon 18
Format: Gents Open Singles, Stableford
Price: €20
Entry: Phone 0909-741059 or book online at portumnagolfclub.ie
LEINSTER
Bunclody
One of Ireland’s youngest courses, Bunclody possesses two distinct nines: the more open holes which continue to mature rapidly; and the more shapely holes which glide through mature trees and alongside the River Slaney.
Date: Sat 16 & Sun 17
Format: Open Classic, team of four, any combination
Price: €25pp
Date: Mon 18
Format: Open Singles, Ladies & Gents
Price: €25
Entry: Phone 053 937 4444or book online at bunclodygfc.ie
Courtown
This Co. Wexford parkland offers so much with its especially strong par threes and its location beside the sea. Accurate driving is required and there is a surprising amount of movement to holes.
Date: Sun 17
Format: Open Singles
Price: €25
Date: Mon 18
Format: Open Scramble, team of four, any combination
Price: €25pp
Entry: Book online at courtowngolfclub.com or phone 053 94 25860
Enniscorthy
The perfect country parkland with entertaining holes and a peaceful and friendly atmosphere.
Date: Sat 16, Sun 17
Format: Open fourball, ladies and gents
Price: €20pp
Entry: Book online at enniscorthygc.ie or phone 057 9233 191
Esker Hills
A wonderfully entertaining parkland rollercoaster, flowing over endless eskers and keeping you guessing endlessly.
Date: Sat 16, Sun 17, Mon 18
Format: Open Team of four, any combination
Price: €25pp
Entry: Phone 057 93 55999
Killeen
Not far from Dublin, Killeen (not Killeen Castle) is a smooth, level parkland with lots of water features protecting an open course.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Open Shambles, team of four, any combination
Price: €18pp
Entry: Book online at killeengolf.com or phone 045 866 003
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| Mount Juliet |
Mount Juliet
No introduction needed for this idyllic, lazy parkland designed by Jack Nicklaus. The facilities, however, are ever-improving with a new hotel and the Paul McGinley Academy.
Date: Sun 17 & Mon 18
Format: Shamrock Open Singles, Stableford
Price: €45pp
Entry: Phone 056 7773000
Portarlington
A sweet, under-appreciated parkland that rolls through woodland and alongside a river. Several exceptional holes raise this course up and keep an eye out for the red squirrels.
Date: Sat 16 & Sun 17
Format: Open 18 Holes v Par
Price: €15pp
Date: Mon 18
Format: Scramble, Open Team of four, any combination
Price: €15pp
Entry: Book online or phone 057 8623115
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| Views over Wicklow's 4th green |
Wicklow
A thoroughly entertaining seaside course that is devious, often unfair but utterly absorbing. It’s not long but you’ll want to put your approaches close to pins on devilishly slippy greens.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Open Singles
Price: €15pp
Entry: Book online at wicklowgolfclub.ie or phone 0404 67379
ULSTER
Belvoir Park
A classic parkland designed by Harry Colt, Belvoir Park curls down to Belfast Lough via curvaceous holes and smart bunkering… and a very impressive clubhouse.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Ladies & Gents Open Singles Stableford
Price: £10pp
Entry: Phone 048 9049 1693
Concra Wood
The magical Concra Wood wraps around the shores of Lough Muckno in the Co. Monaghan countryside. Designed by Irish golfing legends, Christy O’Connor Junior and Senior, this is an experience to remember with some wonderful driving holes and cleverly sited greens next to the water.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Ladies & Gents Open Singles Stableford
Price: €35 (includes €7 meal voucher)
Entry: Book online at concrawood.ie or phone 042 974 9485
Dunmurry
This youngish parkland moves over a mostly level landscape between endless trees and across a road. Where mature trees exist (e.g. the signature 15th) golfers will find the strongest holes.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Ladies & Gents Open Singles Stableford
Price: £18pp
Entry: Book online (dunmurrygolfclub.com) or phone 048 9062 1314
Galgorm Castle
One of Northern Ireland’s premier parklands and it is such a gentle, elegant affair routed over smooth terrain with two rivers playing a key role.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Ladies & Gents Singles Stableford
Price: £17pp
Entry: Book on golf@galgormcastle.com or phone 048 256 46161
Massereene
Situated on the shores of Lough Neagh, this is a strong parkland where holes curve through the trees and over ridges, ensuring an accurate driver is required.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Ladies & Gents Singles Stableford
Price: £18pp
Entry: Book online at massereenegc.co.uk or phone 048 9442 8096
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| Slieve Russell's par three 11th |
Slieve Russell
Paddy Merrigan’s most high profile and impressive design flows over heaving drumlins and around two lakes in a colourful explosion of parkland golf. One of Ireland’s best.
Date: Sun 17
Format: Open Team of four, any combination
Price: €30pp
Entry: 049 952 6444
Entry: 049 952 6444
Spa
Few will have heard of it outside Ulster, but this is a gem of a parkland. Peaceful and elegant with a constantly cavorting landscape, Spa packs in a lot of beautiful holes.
Date: Mon 18
Format: Ladies & Gents Singles Stableford
Price: £15pp
Entry: Book online at spagolfclub.net or phone 048 9756 2365
All you have to do is look at club’s websites or the dreaded Facebook, or other social media channels and you’ll find events for this weekend.
Rathdowney has a three person Open Scramble on Sat/Sun/Mon for €15, Mullingar has a three person team event on the 18th for €20, Laytown & Bettystown has a four person Open team event on the 17th, and Athy has an Open Singles on both the Sat and Sun for €18. For €20 you can play at Balbriggan in an Open singles on the 18 th, while the brilliant Enniscrone is also hosting an Open event on the Monday.
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