Par 3s are tough, the fucking finish is v tough, 16/17/18 are whores and you’d be wreaked at that stage. You’d love to start on the 10th actually when you’re fresh. Though you couldn’t finish on the 9th. I flick a 6 iron or a soft 5 wood and then a wedge in
1 Like
The 14th in Dundrum or the 6th in Portumna. I haven’t enough experience to have played the more top end courses
My favourite par 5 would be the 15th in Carton House (O Meara) I eagled it on a work outing in 2008. Hit a great drive and decided to go for it hit the best 3 iron of my life in to about 10 feet and drained the putt. Was on 34 points at that stage and finished with 35 but we won’t go there🤣
1 Like
Par 3 12th is a flick of a 7. Straightforward. 16th is straightaway. Drive and wedge.
17th is an evil, evil hole alright. I had 39 points standing on the 17th. Bombed a drive. Middle of fairway. Flushed an iron. Was walking down cock of the walk thinking, par, 3 points, tournament won. I was buried inside in that cunt of a bunker, pure fried egg. Slashed it out into the gorse, scratch. Scratched 18 out of pure temper. Lost by a point
3 Likes
The 17th on the monty is my favorite par 3, its relatively easy if you land on, in fairness a quicker sloping green than most places, but if the pin is on the left and is invariably you have to stare down a lethal bunker, one that leaves you probably a sheer 8 foot face to negotiate. Not a hard hole but good luck if youre in there.
The 12th in the European club is my favorite par 4, you run parallel to the nuclear irish sea so theres danger that side, great views the whole way to arklow and then you have to negotiate whats reputedly the longest green in the world. The European club is my favorite course so i had to get one in there.
Ill have to think about a par 5
2 Likes
My favourite par 5 would be the 1st at Doonbeg. As fine an opening hole as there is in Ireland.
Elevated tee box with a big landing area. Green guarded by mile high dunes. Great chance to start a round with a par or better and sets you up for the rest.
1 Like
I’m not too fond of opening par 5s or par 3s. Don’t ask me why, maybe its cause my main course is par 5, par 5, par 3, par 5. 
1 Like
Yeah that would not suit me as it usually takes me 4 or 5 holes to play my way into a round. Where is your home course?
The barryscourt 9 in fota. I’ve academy membership, you get access to that 9 holes. The practice facilities and more range balls than you could use in a week
Lot of those courses are as easy to play as more local courses. Tend not to be as tight and in better condition
2 Likes
By the time this yoke is over I’ll be a scratch player in no time with the amount of target chipping I’m doing out the back🤣
1 Like
Portumna is as hard as any course in ireland tbh.
Well way harder than most anyway.
2 Likes
And finally to round off. Par 4 15th at Carne is the perfect par 4. Index 3 and is only 360 odd yards. But it is whether to take an iron off the tee and leave a full club in or take a driver and leave yourself 60 yards and half a club. If you leave yourself a full club you have a better sight of the elevated green but if you go with driver you are blind sighted and aiming at a cloud which is tricky for even best of short games. It seems like a no brainer to go with an iron and a longer approach but it’s such a narrow approach to the green that sometimes you are better off to get as far up as possible. It can often depend on wind how you play it.
3 Likes
Sounds intriguing never played it but on my list now
1 Like
Get your drive any way over the height of the dunes on a windy day and your in the right rough.
Your always under several pairs of eyes teeing off there, not for beginners.
Ah very nice. Played that a few times. Theres 2 par 5s to begin with is there? And theres a tricky short uphill par 4 at the end.
1 Like
Favourite par 5.
Has to be the 18th in fota. Not long. Trees up the left and right, narrow landing area. If you can get to the Crest of the hill off drive you’re looking down at an island green, probably 220 left. Big risk for a small reward. Slopey fairway so hard to gauge lie. Hard to lay up to any yardage as it’s all downhill.
I eagled it recently. Hit 3 wood. 3 wood and chipped in
I seen about 12 pros put it in the water during the Irish open
2 Likes
That’s the one. It’s very long. I play off the blues and when I go elsewhere they’re like pitch and putt courses
Yeah funny you should mention that. Had a fine gallery there one time. My wife came to see me off and was nervous for me. She still goes on about it and compares it to like seeing a child off for his first day at school.
2 Likes
I get fierce nervous if anyone I don’t know is watching a shot. I’m better now but it stopped me playing in tournaments for ages