Local experts help rank courses for Backspin

I’M back again to one of my favourite topics, the golf course ratings and the latest to hit the scene are from the Irish golf magazine Backspin who have just published their third annual course ratings compiled by a panel of 55 Irish golfing experts from the professional game, the amateur game and the golfing media.

Among those featuring on the panel from the amateur game are Tralee’s Michael Coote and Paddy O’looney while Waterville’s David Higgins is also included from the professional game. I will hasten to add that there is no body from Kerry among those chosen from the media.

Rather like the recent ratings from Golf Digest Ireland, courses were rated on design, presentation, setting, challenge and personal enjoyment factor.

To the ratings but firstly I must applaud Backspin for being the only magazine to separate links and parkland, as I have been saying for years that you cannot compare both types of courses.

My particular favourite and home to this year’s Irish Open, Royal Portrush, came out on top in the links category followed by Portmarnock, Royal County Down, European Club, Waterville, Lahinch, Ballybunion ( Old), Baltray, Rosses Point and the Island in that order making up the top ten.

In the parkland category Mount Juliet came out on top followed by the Kclub ( Palmer course), Adare Manor Resort, Killarney ( Killeen), Druid’s Glen, Killeen Castle, the Heritage, Headford (new), Lough Erne and Carlow in that order for their top ten.

Over the years I have ranted and raved and disagreed with these type of rankings so for a change I won’t comment on them.

However, let’s take a look at the Kerry courses and their ratings, beginning with the links variety.

As stated, Waterville is the highest ranked at number five with Ballybunion (Old) at number seven as the only Kerry courses in the top ten. Tralee’s links at Barrow is next at number 13 and they are the only Kerry courses in the top 25 that were voted for.

Killarney’s Killeen course is the only one in the parkland ratings.

It is interesting to note that both Tralee and Ballybunion have not moved since the previous rankings in 2010 while Waterville has gone up one from sixth to fifth, while Killarney also moved up one from fifth to fourth.