County Clare
Doonbeg
Standing on the elevated tee of Doonbeg’s par-5 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. The opening hole is a memorable start to this classic links, one that was designed by Greg Norman only a decade ago, but looks and plays like it’s been part of the landscape for over a hundred. www.doonbeglodge.com
Lahinch
A legend among links courses this tough west coast gem boasts a character all of its own. It’s a wonderfully quirky mix of dunes, rollercoaster greens and blind shots. This is perfectly illustrated by the short par-3 sixth, known as the “The Dell”, where the green is wedged between two hills. It’s only 140 yards in length, but it requires a blind tee shot over one of the hills to the putting surface all but hidden on the other side. www.lahinchgolf.com
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