The European Club scores top marks in latest rankings
THE European Club has been rated the top course in the Republic of Ireland in the latest ranking of the 100 Greatest Golf Courses in the UK & Ireland for 2019/2020.
Rated by Golf Monthly, the list features 22 clubs north and south of the border with venerable Royal County Down falling one spot to fourth and Royal Portrush’s redesigned Dunluce links up five places to eighth as it prepares to host The Open next year.
It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of The European Club that it has attained such a vaunted position.
The mowing back of the once treacherous rough has transformed the links at Brittas Bay in Co. Wicklow and with lost balls now a rarity, it is arguably one of the most pleasurable games you can have anywhere in these islands.
The course promises to be even better next year as plans to increase the number of fine grass pathways from tees to fairways and from greens to tees enters Phase 2.
Following intensive overseeding this autumn (with more to follow in spring) coupled with a fairway sodding programme and the importation of the finest fescue and dwarf rye mixes from a renowned nursery in Lincolnshire, the links will shine even brighter in 2019.
As for the Top 100 list, there will be much headscratching in Munster, where Waterville fell three places to 21st, Ballybunion slipped seven places to 22nd, Lahinch dropped four spots to 32nd and Trump Doonbeg slipped three places to 35th.
On the credit side, Tom Fazio’s radical and sumptuous renovation of the Robert Trent Jones Snr designed parkland at Adare Manor sees it return to the list at 25th, while the Old Head of Kinsale rises four places to 31st and Tralee goes up one spot to 48th.
The top 10 in UK & Ireland
are: 1. Trump Turnberry; 2. St. Andrews Old; 3. Muirfield; 4. Royal Co. Down; 5. Carnoustie; 6. Royal Birkdale; 7. Royal Dornoch; 8. Royal Portrush; 9. Sunningdale New; 10. Trump Aberdeen.
Other Irish: 18. The European Club (Up 1); 21 Waterville (down 3); 22. Ballybunion Old (down 7); 25. Adare Manor (returns); 26. Portmarnock (up 1); 31. Old Head (up
4); 32. Lahinch (down 4); 35. Doonbeg (down 3); 44. Rosapenna Sandy Hills (up 1); 48. Tralee (up 1); 53. County Louth (up 2); 68. Ballyliffin Glashedy (up 1); 75. The Island (down 3); 77. Druids Glen (down 4); 81. Mount Juliet (down 4); 89. County Sligo (down 2); 91. Lough Erne (down 11); 93. Enniscrone (up 1); 97. Portstewart (new); 100. Ballyliffin Old (new).