My last golf outing here in beautiful Ireland before driving back to Belfast & commencing the homeward journey. I was a little worried because a couple of people were not overly impressed at the condition of the course. Tried to tell myself that there is a difference between a good course in bad condition, and a bad course, so was never going to bail, and in hindsight glad I didn’t – this is a very good course. No golfer could get tired of this view below …
Just by myself today, and I was the first dew tramper, but in a way didn’t mind because I was hoping to play 18 holes on Mussenden and then try sneak in the Bann 9 holes as well thanks to several recommendations.
No warm up & by sheer chance spanked a drive into a small landing zone that, with the wisdom of hindsight I would not have attempted even if I was playing well. Next shot brought me back to earth like the pork chop sized divot I carved (behind the ball!). Nice view back down the 1st fairway towards the clubhouse.
2nd also climbs up the hill to the right, but a very sharp right. Luckily, again, my faded driver lands in a good spot, but this time I got my par. Then a deceptively tricky straight par 5 with a wicked little green, and death right. Then the testing 200y par 3 Leg o’ Mutton over a burn (well not over in my case!). This began a nice stretch of holes. Along a rail way track for a bit with a par 5 playing up a hill with well placed bunkers protecting left side. 7 & 8, whilst not long, are tough par 4’s, that latter of which is called Bulldozer with a big hump in the middle of the fairway that will kick away any drive that fails to carry it. Then another long’ish par 3 (Quarry) of 200y+, luckily it was still in the early morning otherwise it would be a tough shot with a quite slope/mound front right to smack away any low shot. Then making the turn on 10 is a tough par 4 into a 2-tiered green after negotiating a fairway that wants to throw left, making your approach that much harder.
The next few holes are a bit more forgiving but then you get to 15 (Homewards) which is a great par 5. Straight but the right to left slope all the way plus a diagonal triplet of bunkers, plus a raised green make you think about whether you flirt with attacking the green but risk running off down the hill leaving a tough 3rd, or whether you lay up short of those bunkers & then have a longer tricky shot. Good test.
16th (Summit) is a short-mid length par 3 but a narrow green, and a very significant drop off right, and bunkers left of the green but elevated. Inoshowen is a short par 5 but with an obscured drive – smart play would have been to use a rescue or 3w off the tee. Similar story for 18th (Mussenden) where length is secondary to placement.
I could see what people were referring to about the greens not being as smooth as the other courses thus far, but they were consistent, and in another month would be great. Furthermore the layout & range of holes on offer is great, and in a good way has something different to offer than the other courses. I was done in 3 hrs and that is including frequent chats with ground staff as we leap frogged each other around between them green mowing, divot filling & bunker maintenance.
With those staff also telling me the same thing about the views, I was immediately off to the Bann course
First hole was a short little par 4 – the Milky Bar kids would probably drive it with a rescue. Looked longer than it was – which was a recurring theme. 2nd took you onto a shared tee with numbers indicating which fairway you should aim down. 2nd had a dip then uphill to a corner (Everest) then down left to the hole. Stupidly took driver, and paid the price with endless thrashing in long wet grass like a man in a phone booth clubbing a snake.
Then a tiny par 3 (92 y) but don’t go left, right, or long … geez this course was tight as a fish’s bum. 4th was a short par 3 but tricky picking the right club with such a severe drop & a 2 tiered greed. 5th offered some beautiful panoramic views of the ocean & Bann river, and birdie chance on a short par 5 (tick).
6 was back to the shared tee but a hit over the hill to a dogleg left – miss the fairway at your peril (which I did). Then a short par 4 requiring a layup to a very tight opening to then have a downhill approach to a tricky green over a chasm. Then another tight little dogleg left to a downhill green with a pond left. Lastly, and sadly, all too soon, was a wonderful little par 3 9th. Mostly tucked behind a big dune forcing you to carry the correct distance. That was so much fun & again so unaffected & natural
And so ended my Ireland golfing adventure … this time, because I have to come back. So many beautiful courses, and the people seriously make the place what it is. For those thinking of going over & playing – do it, do it now!