Getting off the plane and driving to Doonbeg on the left side of very tight roads got me prepared for the types of hazards Ireland has to offer. I declined the extra car insurance and I’m really second guessing that decision. Keep in mind the car is 200 Euro for 5 days and they wanted 350 Euro for insurance. The roads aren’t too bad until a semi-truck is going the opposite direction and it feels like you’ve got inches between you and certain death. Ok, I’ve taken a deep breath, on with the golf.
Doonbeg is a premier resort with everything you could want and a centralized location for golf on the Southwest coast of Ireland. Many people stay here while they play at Ballybunion (tomorrow’s course) and Lahinch among others. We got a villa overlooking the 17th green and fairway and it’s the lap of luxury. I give it a 5 out of 5 for accommodations.
Make sure, when you travel to this part of the world you’ve got a really good wind beanie cap for your head that will cover your ears. The wind is your enemy so forget the traditional hat and take care of your ears. You’ll be amazed how taking care of your ears will keep you in balance and also help you from over hitting because that wind is whistling through them. The course is a links style that goes out and comes back. The front nine the wind was right to the left and the back nine it was left to right. I met my caddie Sam and off we went.
Hole 1: When you hit your approach shot to the green you feel like you need more than 1 extra club because of the wind. Just make sure you stay short of the back of the green. I went long because my caddie told me to play two extra clubs and of course it was only one extra, that put me in the waste brush behind the hole and got me a bogey.
Hole 5: My caddie tried to talk me into laying up on this 331 yard hole. I had laid up on hole 3 which was 327 yards and I was not going to do it again, even though I did shoot par. I hit a perfect draw that split the fairway rolled up the green and then off to the side. Now we’re having some fun….
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| 1st Hole looking back to resort |
Hole 8: The number one handicap hole lived up to its billing. From the tee… no big deal, long par five and pretty straight forward. I was in the right rough off the tee and now this is where you get the beginner lesson… I lay up a well 10-15 yards from the cross bunker and guess what… the ground drops off. So... even though your ball lands safely it kicks forward and of course rolls into a very difficult bunker. Several shots later I settle for a quadruple bogey.
Hole 9: My caddie tried to get me to lay up (??? You have number 9's) way left and with the wind blowing left it’s hard to hit that shot. I’d do it all different of course and I think I would get four shots back.
Hole 9: My favorite scenic hole. There’s a peninsula of land that sticks out and it would be a great spot for an incredible par 3. Instead the peninsula is covered with cows grazing and it just makes a great back drop for this short little par 3. My caddie says the golf course has tried and tried to acquire the little piece of land but to no avail the cows have it. Front 9 out with 44. Should have been a 39.
Hole 11: Make sure you take enough club. I was short and my ball rolled all the way back down the hill.
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| Hole 12 |
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| 14 Hole |
Hole 14: Just a sliver of a green. Reminds me of the par 3 number five at Pebble Beach. Just 106 yards and I played it for 80 yards. I was pin high but it rolled off. I chipped up and took my par.
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| 17th Fairway with villa on left side |
Back 9 in at 38 for a total of 82. Not bad for my first round in Ireland and fresh off the plane.
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| 18th hole in background with infinity edge. |
Joy makes the hole look much nicer. What a great course and good time. Thanks for puttin’ up with me Sam and I hope we can play it again.
Location: Doonbeg, County Claire, Ireland
Played: July 2012
Public
Tags: Bellybunion, Summer, 2012, July, Public, Ireland, Golf
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