Ireland: Irish golf's crown jewels

Alan Hedley, Golf North East

Few places can match South West Ireland for the quality of its golf courses and Cork and Kerry claim to be the jewel in the crown and you can't blame them. Ballybunion, Killarney, The Ring of Kerry, Tralee - golf just doesn't get any better than this. There isn't just one course at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, but three and the flagship is the Killeen, a magnificent test which hosted the Carroll's Irish Open twice in the 1990s. It's recently been revamped and re-opened last June after £2m redevelopment and the course is now slightly longer by 100 yards and it's simply superb. The 10th is possibly amongst the most scenic holes but the 18th has been toughened up to make it a signature finish. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT The Killeen is superb, but many argue Mahoney's Point, situated beside the famous lakes of Killarney, is just as good a test although the shortest of the three courses and again the 18th, a stunning par three over the lake is most definitely the signature hole. The third course, Lackabane is also quite a challenge with lakes and streams running throughout and it's a thoroughly good test of golf. The Ring of Kerry has also undergone a makeover, reshaping 14 greens under the supervision of American designer Ron Kirby and the course boasts panoramic views across Kenmare Bay combined with the spectacular Kerry mountains as a backdrop - the 13th tee has been voted second in "Ten of the best views in Golf" in Today's Golfer - if you don't believe them or me...go and have a look. Spectacular is a word you use a lot in this part of the world and none more so than at Tralee where Arnold Palmer has designed a wonderful lay-out with great views of the Atlantic. Be advised this is a long course at 6,975 yards, but it can be played shorter at 6,678 and 6,247 and it's worth it for the breathtaking views from the seventh onwards and of Fenit Island and the Kerry coast from the magnificent clubhouse. You really can't go to Kerry and not play Ballybunion's two courses - the Old and the Cashen. I can't really sing the praises of the Old course more than Tom Watson who said: "A man might think the game of golf originated here." It's an experience punctuated with delights including the 11th, arguably one of the toughest par fours anywhere and the 212-yard par three 15th, while the Cashen is beyond doubt one of Robert Trent Jones Snr's finest... you only have to play the stunning 324-yard par four 10th and the short 11th to realise that. There are many special deals available where you can play a course in different combinations from around 99 euros to 150 euros at the time of my visit - including the Ring of Kerry, Lee Valley, Kenmare, Castleisland and Skellig Bay, while there is a package available involving Killarney and Ballybunion. And there are always individual green fees which are more than reasonable such as the likes of Beaufort, a course well worth playing. There are also many, many hotels in the area ranging from Randles Court Hotel, the Gleneagle Hotel and the Brehon in Killarney and the very well appointed Killarney Valley Hotel (just minutes from Killarney Golf and Fishing Club) and within easy reach of Killarney town itself, which is well worth a visit. Contacting the Cork and Kerry Tourist Board to check on course, hotels and packages is a great starting point if you decide to visit the area. --------------------------------------------------------- Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, Co Kerry, Ireland. Tel: +353 64 31034 Fax: +353 64 33065 Email: reservations@killarney-golf.com Website: www.killarney-golf.com Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club, Templenoe, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. Tel: +353 64 42000 Fax: +353 64 42533 Email: reservations@ringofkerrygolf.com Website: www.ringofkerrygolf.com Tralee Golf Club, West Barrow, Adfert County Kerry, Ireland Tel: +353 66 7136379 and 66 7136355 Fax: +353 66 7136008 Email: info@traleegolfclub.com Website: www.traleegolfclub.com Ballybunion Golf Club, Sandhills Road, Ballybunion, County Kerry, Ireland Tel: +353 68 27146 Fax: +353 68 27387 Email: bbgolfc@iol.ie Website: www.ballybuniongolfclub.ie Beaufort Golf Club, Churchtown, Beaufort, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. Tel: +353 064 44440 Fax: +353 064 44752 Email: beaufortgc@eircom.net; Killarney Valley Hotel, Fossa, Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland. Tel: +353 64 23600 Fax: +353 64 23601 Email: killarneyvalley@eircom.net Website: www.killarneyvalley.com Randles Court Hotel, Muckross Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland Tel: +353 64 35333 Fax: +353 64 35206 Email: info@randlescourt.com Website: www.randlescourt.com The Gleneagle Hotel, Muckross Road, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland Tel: +353 64 36000 Email: gleneagle@iol.ie Website: www.gleneagle-hotel.com The Brehon, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. Tel: +353 64 30700 Fax: +353 64 30701 Email: info@thebrehon.com Website: www.thebrehon.com Cork and Kerry Tourism: Tel: +353 21 4255100 Email: info@corkkerrytourism.ie website: www.corkkerrytourism.ie

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