European Renaissance

Over the past decade, Europe has thrived from a golf course architecture point of view, with a number of high quality layouts coming online. The well-travelled Andrew Marshall picks six of the best

Doonbeg

Eyes are Smiling

DoonbegStanding on the elevated tee of the 567-yard par-five first, eyes are drawn down a fairway that bucks and plunges like a raging river towards a large green protected on three sides by soaring dunes. This is the start to a classic round of golf at Doonbeg in County Clare, a links designed by Greg Norman less than a decade ago but one that looks and plays like it’s been part of the landscape for a hundred. Holes play, up, down, beside, around, and seemingly into the towering sand hills. Bunkers are dug by hand, some edged by tall layers of stacked sod, others by shaggy tufts of native grass.

Depending on the ocean breezes, Doonbeg's knowledgeable caddies may suggest taking anything from a four-iron to a sand wedge at the tiny signature hole - the spectacular 111-yard par-three fourteenth, arguably the best short one-shotter in Irish golf. The par-four 18th is a fitting finale to a memorable course, with the ocean stretching the length of the 440-yard hole and the magnificent granite Lodge providing a grand backdrop.

Contact: doonbeglodge.com

Pages

Written by Andrew Marshall

Click here to see the published article.

The Charm of Fanling
How can you not enjoy playing at the Hong Kong Golf Club? It’s got a bit of everything and more: 54 holes routed over sweeping terrain bounded by dense vegetation and cityscape - some contrast...
Chambers Bay - My Verdict
I have never been to Chambers Bay in person but I have seen enough pictures and read enough articles to know what I would expect if and when I do pay a visit. Admittedly I watched bits and pieces of...
The 19th Holes of St Andrews
A game of golf just isn’t complete without a post-round tipple at the 19th hole. Discussing the highs and lows of the round - a snaking downhill putt holed from long range or a topped drive...
Less is More
A few years back I was ask to deliver some thoughts on the state of golf and golf course design for The Campaign for Real Golf - a noble initiative geared towards making the game more attractive...
Golf on the Wild Side
"Slow your swing down mzungu, there’s no need to rush,” urges Nathaniel, my caddie, as I watch my third drive of the morning at Nairobi’s Muthaiga Golf Club assume an unfortunate leftward...
Green Havens
Most of us live in a concrete jungle - by that I mean we live in a place surrounded by high-rise buildings, overcrowded transport systems, busy roadways and a lot of smog and pollution. Just...
Raising the Bar
Asian Tour players are in for quite the treat when they tee it up at the Ho Tram Open in December. The reason? Allow me to explain. It’s an ill-kept secret that professional tournaments aren...
Close Encounters
From an early age I’ve had the fortune (or perhaps misfortune) of coming in close contact with a variety of different arachnids and creatures of the reptilian sort. In particular I have...
Tee Time in Tehran
The bumpy fairways and patchy putting surfaces - more burnt-out browns than grassy greens - are not much to look at. In Iran however, this is golf at its finest. In the same way that the streets...
The Good Doctor
"I have been reduced to playing golf with four clubs," Alister MacKenzie wrote in a letter to Augusta National. "I am at the end of my tether, no-one has paid me a cent since last June, we have...

Pages