Course History:
Dromoland Golf & Country Club has undergone a
transformation over the past two years, thanks to an
investment of €5-million by the owners. The project,
undertaken by the late world renowned J.B. Carr and one of
golf's great course architects, Ron Kirby, has produced
dramatic results, placing Dromoland at the vanguard of "must
play" golf destinations on the island of Ireland. Already
the course has earned a reputation equal to that of Adare
and Mount Juliet and the quality of the greens and tees is
compared very favorably to the very best worldwide.
Dromoland is one of Europe's finest estates & now has a golf
course to equal the splendor of the setting. Visitors to the
course have described it eloquently as "the Augusta of
Ireland".
Dromoland Castle Golf and Country Club has been in existence
since 1962 and golf has been played for 43 years over the
lush rolling tree lined landscape that drains into Dromoland
Lough with the Castle as a backdrop.
Dromoland was named “Number 2 In Best New European Courses,
2004” – The Golfer Magazine
Dromoland Castle
Dromoland, one of Ireland's finest castle hotels, offers
guests the experience of living like landed gentry,
surrounded by luxury, beauty and service. Dromoland is one
of the few estates tracing its history to native Gaelic
Irish families of royal heritage.
The castle, a magnificent Renaissance structure built in the
16th century, was once the royal seat of the O'Brien clan,
direct descendants of Irish King Brian Boru. Refurbished and
transformed into a luxury hotel in 1962, it retains
priceless reminders of the castle's historic past.
Today, blending old world elegance with modern day comforts,
the castle serves as one of the most desired destinations in
Europe. Here, the vitality of the castle lifestyle endures.
Recent awards include:
- “2005 Travel + Leisure 500” – Voted No. 1 in Ireland
- Conde Nast Traveller “2005 Gold List” – Voted No. 2
in Europe
- Awarded AA “2005 Hotel of the Year”
Course Description:
HOLE 1 - 378 Yards - Par 4: From the first tee you
are looking at Orchard Woods to your right. You will be
playing uphill with the fairway sloping sharply to the
right. The green has been placed at the top of the hill and
is very receptive to run up shots or high lofted shots. The
green shape provides for friendly pin placements and the
back right putting surfaces will provide the challenge to
this hole. This hole has no bunkers as hazards - the sloping
fairway and uphill grade gives Dromoland a nice opening
hole.
HOLE 5 - 412 Yards - Par 4: A nest of short fairway
bunkers on the right side set up the Tee shot for this hole.
A 200 yard carry will open up a receptive second shot to a
well bunkered green. The right side of the green is the
friendly entrance.
The fairway slopes right to left so that tee shots on the
left side have the difficult approach. A well defended green
and tight pin positions will provide the challenge to par on
this hole.
HOLE 6 - 593 Yards - Par 5: Fairway mounds and a
bunker on the left side approximately 250 Yards out, set up
the landing area to the right along the trees. A second
fairway bunker and low valley on the right side direct the
player to the left side trees. The Tee shot rises slightly
and then the hole is down hill all the way to a very
sculptured green. Three green side bunkers set up a
difficult angle of approach. The green is framed by forest
affording the perfect target shot, or some searching moments
in sylvan settings!! The back right pin position will be the
tough one and test all approach shots.
HOLE 9 - 323 Yards - Par 4: "This is Dromoland's
Belfry No.10." The short Par 4 has the choice of two
options. You may play it as a two shot hole; This approach
makes for a sharp dogleg right over a feature pond
protecting the small green. Otherwise, take a gamble and
choose the option of going for the green from the Tee shot.
(A 300 yard carry from the back Tee) A 275 yard carry from
the middle tee. The pond is the feature that sets up the
challenge on this hole. The green is small but shaped to
hold the approach shots.
HOLE 10 - 355 Yards - Par 4: A short but intimidating
hole. The play is over a part of the lake from the back tee.
The visitor's tee box is set just off the lake and the
fairway runs along the water edge to the green which has
been moved more to the right to accentuate the difficulty of
the hole. The green is gentle and friendly and should give
the player a comfort hole to start the inward nine holes.
The marsh area has been extended across and in front of the
green. This is the major feature of the second and third
shots. A large greenside bunker is located on the left to
penalize the bailout shots away from the marsh.
HOLE 11 - 543 Yards - Par 5: The Tee shot for this
Par 5 is a risk and reward type decision. The player that
bites off more carry to the right over the marsh area will
be rewarded with a much shorter second and third shot. The
challenge off the Tee is from 150 Yards of carry to 300
Yards of carry. The average second shot will play just short
of the marsh area in front of the green. A bunker is located
on the fairway side to contain running balls from entering
the marsh. A large contoured green awaits the player and two
putts will be a good result on this green. A Par 5 with
choice and challenge.
HOLE 15 - 273 Yards - Par 4: This short Par four has
qualities like the ninth hole where the player has the
option to go for the green and have a putt for eagle. The
length of carry to the putting surface is only 250 Yards.
However the green is not easy to land on and stay from the
angle of the trees to the green. A much safer two shot hole
is to play out to the left 200 Yards and then pitch into the
green using the long open approach. A fun hole, and a chance
for eagle before the strong last 3 holes.
HOLE 18 - 563 Yards - Par 5: With the Lake and Castle
as given features the eighteenth hole was developed into one
of the finest Par 5 finish holes in golf. A tee shot from
the marsh along the lake to a generous fairway is the start
of this long Par 5. The second shot is long and scenic. The
large sycamore tree is the line on the castle. The carry to
the big sequoia tree is 240 Yards from the prime landing
area. From the large sycamore tree the player has 100 Yards
left to the very contoured green, which protrudes to the
front left with a deep bunker. A definite three shot hole
for most players and as with holes 16 & 17, a Par here will
be earned and remembered.
|
Tee |
Par |
Yardage |
|
Championship |
72 |
6824 |
|
Men's |
72 |
6294 |
|
Ladies' |
72 |
5242 |
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