Best 1st Hole in Ireland

Hole 1 ‘Giant’s Chair’

Scrabo Golf Club

Par 4 404 yards.

[Photo: Scrabo's 1st. Beautiful views to your right and a beautiful hole straight ahead]

Wherever you go there’s a certain expectation when you walk up to the 1st tee. You want to be amazed and thrilled. For many, Portstewart ranks as the best opening hole in Ireland, with its stunning views out to sea, Mussenden Temple in the distance and the amazing dunes into which you're about to head. Portstewart promises the most delicious opening drive in Irish golf, from a high tee down to a flat fairway that whips right (Sorry, no photo!).

But it is not, in my opinion, the best 1st hole.

Scrabo's 1st is awe-inspiring and terrifying. You get to see the entire hole rising above you and to fully appreciate the hole play from (or at least walk back to) the back tee. There are glorious views (better than Portstewart's) and your drive rifles up a hill flanked by razor-sharp gorse. At the top sits Scrabo Tower and the green. It’s Index 1 and it’s a brutal start that introduces you to one of the toughest inland challenges Ireland has to offer. Two mighty shots required... beware golfers firing over you from your right as you approach the green (they're playing the 3rd)

[Photo: Doonbeg's 1st on a wet day]

Other excellent opening holes:

Doonbeg's straight par five, from right in front of the bar/clubhouse, with the ocean to your left, has a green sitting dwarfed beneath a giant dune. You'll receive some very friendly (and very useful) advice from one of the Doonbeg boys as you're standing on the tee.

Ardglass's par four tees off in front of a line of canons and heads up into a pulpit of rocks beside the sea. You almost drive over the sea (to your left), so if the wind's coming in you need to have some serious guts to aim out over the water.

Links to:

Scrabo Golf Club

Scrabo photographs

Doonbeg photographs

Ardglass photographs

Best 18 holes in Ireland

Liam Kelly in today's Irish Independent did a small piece on the best 18 holes in Ireland - as taken from Hooked.

Irish Independent Article

[Photo: Druid's Glen and the famous 13th. Finding the fairway is a beautiful thing... cutting the corner and finding the fairway is even better]

I won't deny that it's an interesting combination of holes that has no room for Royal Portrush's famous par three 14th (Calamity) or Druid's Glen magnificent and terrifying par four 13th, but I was creating a par of 72, in the correct order, with four par threes and fives, and a good mix of parkland and landscape. Oh, and only one hole from any course, otherwise some courses would have two or three holes on the list - like Tralee, Adare, Druid's, Ballybunion, Narin & Portnoo.

[Photo: Waterville's par five 11th - one of the only places on the course where you're protected from the wind]

It proved a remarkably difficult task. I had to add and then swap holes around to get what I wanted. As a result there are a few 'weak' holes - the par five 13th at Naas most obviously. That's not to say it's a weak hole, but there are several par fives out there that would be better: the 4th at Concra Wood, the 18th at Adare, the 16th at the K Club, the 11th (Tranquility) at Waterville, the 16th at Lough Erne... but it was all about getting the right fit, and that's what I did.

[Photo: Narin & Portnoo's 9th hole. You don't get closer to the ocean anywhere in Ireland]

Over the next weeks I'll be blogging about each 'best hole', why I picked it and what other holes were in the running.

The best 1st hole is in Northern Ireland, and it's not the famous opener at Portstewart.

Links debates: Waterville v. Ballybunion

[Photo: the thrilling par three 12th at Waterville: 'Mass Hole']

It makes no difference where you are or who you are, you will always have opinions about why one course is better than another. The most common debates I have encountered are:

Ballybunion v. Lahinch

Royal County Down v. Royal Portrush

Portmarnock v. The Island

K Club v. Mount Juliet

But realistically, once you've played some of the greats you will find reasons to compare and contrast.

A recent thread on the golf forum of www.boards.ie pitched Waterville against Ballybunion. To my mind that is an interesting pairing because they are very different links experiences. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that there are few similarities between the two, other than the links trademarks of dunes, wind, views and sheer class.

[Photo: the dogleg par four 17th at Ballybunion. Pick your club wisely]

In fairness to the OP (that's 'Original Poster' if you're wondering... which I did for many months) he was asking which course people preferred. That's a far easier task than comparing them. The results, if you want to call them that, firmly went in Waterville's favour. Words like 'magical', 'pure' and 'true but fair' were splashed about, indicating the course's popularity. Add in some of the most beautiful views from a golf course and it is an experience anyone who calls themselves a golfer should be enthralled by. It is picture-perfect golf, utterly elegant and the course in its entirety is beautifully balanced.

I was lucky enough to play Waterville on a perfect sunny day, with great marshmallow clouds sprinkled overhead and a soft wind that did just enough. The dunes and grasses looked golden, the fairways mowed in rich green streaks and the greens offering enticing approaches. It really was a slice of heaven if links is your thing.

[Photo: the 12th at Waterville shows off the course's elegance]

If you want to check it our for yourself, then there are Open Weekends coming up in mid-June when you can play it for €50. If not, you're looking at €75 and upwards. Tel: 00353 669474102.

Ballybunion? Well, I have written plenty about Ballybunion and I love the place. The ups and downs of the dunes, the patience you need, the surprises thrown at you, the mental agility you need on every part of the course... it is a more challenging golf experience and, for me, a touch more exciting, so if I only had one round left to play, I would pick Ballybunion. Just.

Asking me to pick between the two would be like putting bowls of my mother-in-law's apple crumble and sticky toffee pudding in front of me and asking me to choose. Somehow, some way, I'd have both. So, truth be told, even if I was on my death bed, I'd make damn sure I got to play both courses... the elegance and perfection of Waterville, and the dynamism and elusiveness of Ballybunion would demand it.

Golf deals - using the new 'bargain' sites

[Photo: the par three 15th at Dunmurry Springs, with views for miles]

Golf is getting it in the neck at the moment. People simply aren't prepare to fork out green fees, especially when they're paying an annual sub at their home club/s. But there are ways to get good deals that don't involve phoning the club and haggling... sign up to the 'deal' websites. These offer special discounts, often on a daily basis, and if you're fast enough you can grab one and feel rather smug.

[Photo: Par three 4th hole at Hollywood Lakes]

The websites that I've come across recently include:

www.livingsocial.com

www.citydeal.ie

www.beddeals.ie

Recent deals offered on golf included:

Dunmurry Springs

Mount Wolseley

Tulfarris

Nuremore

Hollywood Lakes

The deals varied from straight green fees, to green fees with lunch, to green fees and bed & breakfast... but the discounts ranged from 50% - 70%. I booked the Tulfarris deal which was one night's B&B at the hotel, for two people, with free golf. How much? €79 TOTAL, to be taken between May and August. Even if the other person (i.e. my wife) doesn't play golf, it's a bargain... even if it goes against the grain as it's a 'zombie' hotel/course.

[Photo: 18th hole at Nuremore]

And the offers aren't exclusively golf... they cover everything from restaurants to beauty treatments to flying lessons. You never know what might tweak your interest.

Farewell to a Legend: Seve Ballesteros

Seve was a legend. It's as simple as that. He will be sorely missed, even though he was no longer playing and was rarely seen in public. The mention of his name was enough to inspire many... indeed, many of the current crop of Spanish players were probably inspired to play golf on the back of his great victories and his devil-may-care approach that made him such a joy to watch.

I was lucky enough to meet him twice: once as a youngster at the Irish Open and then again when I interviewed him during the Special Olympics when it was held in Ireland. On both occasions it was an honour, although the first time I just stood there with my mouth open in awe.

In today's Sunday Independent there is an article that quotes his brother. It brought tears to my eyes...

"He knew he was dying and he did so with total integrity," said his older brother, Baldomero. "Seve said goodbye to each of us, one by one. We clenched hands and he whispered to us. I moved very close and told him 'I love you' and Seve replied 'I love you too'." His voice cracking with emotion, Baldomero added: "He's much more than a brother, a son or a father. He's a glory."

Severiano Ballesteros

April 1957 - May 2011.

He was far too young to be playing the fairways of the sky.

It's no secret... Druid's Glen special offer

It's no secret that Druid's Glen is one of my favourite courses. I love the place, so when they bring out a great offer I'm going to be shouting about it as much as I can... even if it does proclaim "Golf Madness"!

[Photo: the impressive par three 12th, from behind the green and back to the tee]

On the back of the Irish Times today they have an offer of 1 night's B&B plus golf for just €75 per person sharing, midweek. Oh, and it's UNLIMITED golf. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but here's my itinerary: I'd arrive at 3pm, get out on the course for a round, then back to the hotel (or may I recommend the downstairs restaurant at The Hungry Monk, in Greystones - but you'll need to book). Up in the morning, breakfast, then straight to the course for the second round. Into the clubhouse, have lunch, then get back on the course for the third FREE round.

[Photo: the par four 3rd, a short par four but a dogleg left that fools many]

How much better does it get. The whole thing about Druid's that trumps Mount Juliet and the K Club is the pure vibe of the place, the different pace of the holes and the thrills at every turn. It's a real thinker's course. And the greens are in superb shape right now.

The offer is subject to availability of course, and much will depend on how you plan to put up with your golfing partner's snoring (or maybe it's your wife's... or your husband's), but if you fancy sneaking away midweek for some quality golf, then it doesn't get much better than this.

Who knows, Druid's Heath may even be part of the deal, but that's a tough course.

Check out www.druidsglenresort.com or call 01 287 0847.

Our Rory

There's been a lot of hand-wringing over Rory's final round collapse on Sunday night. Alot of sympathy too. More worryingly, though, there's been a fair bit of criticism!

People have objected to his level of tweeting when he should have, they imply, been out practising. Or, they say, he's been a professional long enough that he should have the mental fortitude to overcome such pressure. I find such arguments cruel and baseless.

I'm not actually fussed by his age and the argument that he has plenty of more time and that eventually he will realise his enormous potential. My argument is that every golfer has a weakness... and the truly great golfers tackle these head-on and overcome them.

Jack Nicklaus had one: back in 1972 he struggled during the third round of the Masters (although he still led by three shots), failing to find the ball flight he needed on his iron shots. He couldn't achieve the height that Augusta's greens demanded. He walked off the 54th hole, went to the practice tee, and practised and practised until he got it right. He went out the next day and won.

I don't have similar stories about Ben Hogan or Arnold Palmer - but they'll be out there - but Tom Watson was known for his failings on short putts... even though he was regarded highly for his putting. He won 8 majors and was number one in the world between 1978-1982. Rory can take heart from that.

And, needless to say, not all weaknesses are on the course... need I mention Tiger's?

Rory will get better. Everybody knows it. Perhaps what he did on Sunday at the Masters, was to scare the bejaysus out of us, and himself, and prove that youth, exuberance and bundles of talent can have their limitations when the pressure is on. Footballers miss penalties, rugby players drop the ball, tennis players blast it long... and golfers have so much precision in their swing that the tiniest, microscopic bit of self doubt can produce an unravelling of gargantuan proportions in front of millions of viewers on a Sunday night.

And a congratulations to Schwartzel for a stunning finish and a deserved win.

A good article I found:

http://www.setanta.com/ie/Blogs/Malachy-Clerkin/2011/March/Rorys-Story-More-Sad-Than-Bad/

Rats in my golf bag

Now that winter has finally passed, I went out to the shed to drag out the big golf bag. It had been gathering dust since I swapped it for the light carry bag in October. In that time it had gathered something else as well: turns out, a rat had beaten me to it.

He'd clearly spent some time in the ball pocket, sampling the different delights of Taylormade, Titleist and Nike... although he turned his nose up at the Precept. It's good to know that rats have good taste in golf balls.