The Endless European & The Longest Putt Ever

Views back down the 16th (tee to the left)

There's a part of me that says if you're going to play The European Club, at Brittas Bay, you should be doing it with a Frenchman, a German and an Englishman... but I guess a Scot and a Northern Irishman are more than sufficient.

This is the links that Pat built. That's Pat Ruddy, in case you've been living under

Modern Links Masterpieces on the Emerald Isle

From Guest Blogger, Rory, a review of five of Ireland's most modern links.

The 8th at Ballyliffin. Photo by Aidan Bradley
www.golfcoursephotography.com

As we all know golf is an ancient game, rooted in tradition and history, played on courses that have remained largely unchanged over the centuries. While the age old courses are a great reminder of where the game came from, like all things, golf must move forward. Over the last couple of decades we have seen the arrival of some world class, modern golf courses. 

€1,000 for a hole in one – at The European

[Photo: the par three 6th - from the front tees]

Under the new rules of golf, amateurs are no longer limited to the value of prize they can receive for a hole in one… so Pat Ruddy at The European Club has taken that to heart and decided to offer amateurs (and professionals) the chance to win €1,000 cash for a hole in one at the club’s par three 6th hole. It is quite probably the first such offer of its type in Europe.

The Good News

The competition (open singles) is open every day from now until the end of March. You can enter as often as you like. The green fee is €60… a third of the summer peak rate.

The Bad News

It’s links, it’s winter and the hole, for the purposes of the competition, measures 200 yards. There’s sand in front and on the right of the green, and a deep stream to the left… then again, that’s not where you’re supposed to be aiming, is it!

The prize will be divided if there is more than one hole in one.

It’s not as if you need an extra reason to play one of the top five links in the country, but every little helps.

Good luck.

The European Club 0404 47415

[Photo: the par five 13th, from the 15th tee box]