It's been described as Europe's answer to Augusta, such is the beauty that is, a vast garden that my mother would love to have as a back garden. Druids Glen is rather different to Augusta for playability, Carton House (O'Meara) probably is a little closer around the back 9 where it has its very own Amen corner, but I like this course, I like it a lot. Thank you Pat Ruddy of the European club and Tom Craddock for designing it. I've now had the priviledge to play it twice, and for the porpuse of this blog, i'll concentrate on the 2nd attempt, as the first is a little blurred in my hazy memory.
First 9,
You start of with a relatively straight forward par 4 and par 3, I got a par on each, and this really set the tone for my putting for the day, it became lethal at times. These first few holes wouldn't count among my favourites, but they are quite nice.
The 4th is the first hole i have a lot of feelings for, Dog leg right par 4. Absale that drive over the bunkers on the inner corner of the turn, and you set yourself up for a nice approach. Its about 230yards to clear, so only attempt it if you can carry it confortably, getting into a bunker here as my buddy did makes par a struggle, in his case, making a double bogey became the struggle, thats what these bunkers can do. My approach swung left, i think im resolving this pull these days, but it certainly has been a hindrence in the past, and was so here.. my ball landed beside a big tree in the rough, I played a full swing flop shot, and gave myself an opportunity for a par. putt sank, im happy.
The 5th will be your first par 5, I belted a drive down the middle, and screamed a 3w to the green, bad kick and a left turn at the lights, and im in the rough. chip n putt, and i pocketed a birdie. I'd imagine if i were to play this hole again in a competition, or with a couple of pennies on the line, id probably lay up short of the bunkers in front of and lef of the green. But with bragging rights, and romantic ideas of seeking out eagles, I was happy to take a pot at the green with the fairway wood, and it nearly paid off.
Number 7 requires a drive from heaven, thats what i wanted anyway, my first drop shot(s) came here, A shambles of an attempt to play a safe 3 wood down the middle resulted in a pulled drive into the trees. This hole is a wonderful dogleg left, The drive is very important, and you should be aiming left of the 3 sister bunkers to open up the green for your 2nd. I always know how to play a hole, i just dont often send the ball where my brain says it should go! to be fair though, on my backswing the base of my club bounced off an uneven surface, but i was commited to the shot, i wish i was able to pull out, but i couldn't. I got a 6, and i was not happy.
Wow, the 8th!! This is a lovely par 3, very Americanised, very much the 16th at Augusta, not traditional Irish Golf architecture, but having something thats quite rare can be a thing of beauty, and this hole is dazzling. Hold on your britches though, This is not my favourite par 3, there are 2 others that make this course a delight for your short game. This green is about 140 yards from the Tee, and its all over water to the smooth putting surface, If there is any room for error here, its on the right, and thats where i found laid my ball to rest. My short game is my strength, so a chip and a putt again, a scrambled par. you have a bit of a hike ahead to the next tee box, but dont worry, you can take a deep breath when you get to the top! :)
Back 9,
I always seem to favour the back 9 in courses, in many places the back 9 can be more fascinating, sometimes more challenging, and often more beautiful, perhaps course architects are aware that its the last few holes you will remember the most, and want you to finish on a high. I tend to play a better back 9 than a front, I play to a handicap of 9, and its often 7 over on the turn and a further 2 over heading to the 19th.
This is without doubt Druids Glens signature hole, and without doubt its best par 3. I'm talking about the 12th here, Everything about this hole is mesmerising, steeped in history and wonder. I first set eyes upon it with my dad when we attended the Murphys Irish open in the mid 90's, from seeing the 12th that day, it has been a dream to play it ever since. The Tee box is embedded near the top of a hill, surrounded by towering trees and above a remarkable flowerbed designed as and insignia of a Celtic cross. At the foot of the hill is a river, and beyond this the green which slopes forward. You have 168 yards downhill to think about, and let me tell you that you will feel magical on the Teebox. There is a pre christian Alter that overlooks the green from the right, the course/resort takes its name from this historical relic.
Walking up to the 13th is a bit of a treck, and you will need a short rest. If only the 13th wasn't such an epic hole you might be still thinking about the 12th that preceeded it. Where do i begin to describe this? In simple terms, its a dog leg right with a lot of water, I'll expand a little and say you will have to drive your ball alongside a cliff, cross over a river which lines the entire right side of the fairway, this river then expands before and left of the green. There is quite a bit of fairway before the green, so pack plenty of club. From the Teebox, big hitters can probably avoid the driver, as there is a danger of driving too far and running out of fairway. Everytime i play this hole, I really wreck a scorecard, I think ive carded a 5 and a 6 if my memory is right. There are some lovely bridges that span the river, and a nice little waterfall under the first bridge.. This is a beautiful hole, and its the only other one I remember from the Irish Open many years ago.
The 14th and 15th are really good holes, but I want to fastrack up to the 17th, the 3rd of the epic par 3's, this one isnt designed like the approach to the road hole at St Andrews like the 2nd hole on this course, I guess its pretty similar to its respective number at TPC Sawgrass. The Tee is almost in the front garden of a little cottage, and the green appears to be floating inside the small lake with one long continues bunker protecting the front, left and right like a big white beard beard, and the rear ispropped up by a smaller specimen of the sand variety. Quick note, the strokesaver is not accurate for this hole, you can clearly see the layout of the Teeboxes is not as it appears on print. This proved to be a confusing few moments, we chose to allow whoever hits first the opportunity to hit again if the distance distance we estimated was way off.. It turned out we didnt need to use this option, but maybe its something to consider.
And Finally, the 18th.. A lovely closing hole, thought a little tiring on the legs to be walking up to the last green, and then onwards and upwards to the clubhouse. But as golf holes go, its challenging and visually very appealing as most are at the Glen. I dont think the drive is too important on the last, as I would assume most people choose to layup short of the fabulous water feature. I layed up, and pitched a 56 degree to within 2foot, walked away a happy man with a strategicly earned par.
If you ever get the chance to play the Glen, I can assure you that you will not be dissapointed. I dont find it particularly difficult if you can hit the ball consistantly and straight, the greens I find are accessible and not baraccaded behind a frontline of bunkers, the greens tend not to be raised like other American orientated parkland courses in Ireland. I really believe this course is one of the finest places you could wish to enjoy a round of golf.
website:
Druids Glen Website/
Location:
Right between Kilcoole and Newtown Mount Kennedy, which is in Wicklow, just south of County Dublin.
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