122 Golf WorldAugust 2017
TOP 100 COURSES IN IRELAND
MY DREAM 18 IN IRELAND
By former European No.1 & Ryder Cup player Ronan Rafferty
QRonan won the European Order of Merit in
1989 and now plays onthe Senior Tour. He has a
deep interest in golf course architecture.T
here are two very distinct themes to
my selection: links courses, and
Royal County Down. I know Ireland
has some well-known parklands,
but links have always been my passion... and
always will be. And of the many great links in
Ireland, RCD is my clear No.1.
Apologies for choosing so many of its
holes, but this is simply the course beyond all
others that gets my juices flowing. On another
day I could easily have made it even more
boring and chosen as many as 14 from RCD!1st at Arglass
It could have been RCD, just for the
anticipation factor of what is to come, and it
could have been the par 5 at Doonbeg, but I’ll
start with this exciting hole at Ardglass. If the
drive over the cliff edge off the back tee
doesn’t get your heart rate going, nothing will.2nd at Royal County Down
There’s a great 2nd at Portsalon – with a
brilliant drive from an elevated tee round the
edge of the bay – but this beachside tee shot
and classic links par 4 gets the nod.3rd at Royal County Down
One of my favourite places in golf. There is a
bench by the beachside tee box and I could
while away many afternoons just sitting there.
And it’s a very strong two-shotter, too.4th at Royal County Down
One of the world’s great par 3s, up there for
me with anything at Pebble Beach, Cypress
Point and Augusta National. The old 4th on
Ballybunion’s Cashen course was brilliant too,
until they changed it!5th at Royal Portrush
A wonderful short par 4 that you can have a
go at driving or lay back and have the intrigue
of an approach to a green teetering on the
edge of the cliffs.6th at Rosapenna (Sandy Hills)
A beautiful par 4 with Sheephaven Bay
coming into view as you walk over the crest.7th at The European Club
This strong par 4 flanked by imposing reeds
sums up the challenge at this modern links.
I also really like the 7th at Narin & Portnoo, a
chasm-crossing par 3 to a tiered green, and
the short par-4 7th on the Cashen – a lower-
profile course I enjoy – next to the beach.8th at Portmarnock
This course doesn’t suit my taste as it does toothers,butthiswell-bunkereddog-legandits
pimplegreenwithalargechippingbowlto
therightofisahighlight.9th at Royal County Down
Back to RCD for this classic two-shotter to
end the front nine. The mountains in the
background, the blindness, the natural
setting... can I go there now please?!10th at Ceann Sibéal
Par 3s should in my view be tests of accuracy,
not length, and while this is not quite Postage
Stamp in distance, it is still beautifully sited in
the natural landscape. ‘Dingle’ is one of the
most unspoiled courses in Ireland.11th at Royal County Down
I know it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but how
can’t you get a tingle of excitement at the
blind drive over a huge dune? And it’s a
brilliant second shot too.12th at Royal County Down
Fortune favours the brave on the second shot
at this enjoyably awkward par 5.13th at Royal Portrush
It will be the 15th for The Open and might
offer the best scenic shot of the course on the
approach to a green with fabulous contouring
on and around. It’s well bunkered throughout.14th at Trump Doonbeg
Iknowsomepeopleweren’tbigfansofit,but
Ilovedtheoriginalpar3here;itreallydidfit
my ‘accuracy over distance’ mantra on short
holes! The new one isn’t a bad alternative...15th at Portsalon
I really like this par 3 at a Donegal links that
not many will know too well. A ring of bunkers
and a beautifully sloping green make me think
of St Andrews and of golf as an art form.16th Royal Portrush
Will be the last hole in The Open, a swinging
left-to-right dog-leg through the dunes to
a well-protected long but narrow green.17th at Ballybunion
This hole on the Old has a beautiful tee shot
towards the sea. A little dog-leg with a nasty
pot bunker hidden on the corner, it’s not the
longest hole... but is beautifully framed.18th at Royal County Down
Where else to end? I’d alter where the tee is
located, but it’s still brilliant. It’s been
transformed into a super, tough hole... with
golf’s hardest 100-yard chip!‘Not many will know Portsalon well, but its 15th green
makes me think of St Andrews and golf as an art form’Royal County Down’s
4th is one of the world’s
great par-3 holes.