Swinford (225)
When we arrived at Swinford last night and walked into the clubhouse we were greeted by Julie, Mary and Catherine (the lady Captain) who were hard at work sort out their 2008 calendar. What a fine trio of giggly ladies! We told them our usual yarn and in between swapping stories there was much laughter. They gave us the OK the park in the car park (we kept Catherine’s parking space warm for her under her orders) and since their bar was closed they recommended Mellett’s in the village, a mere hen’s run away. It was a chilly walk, but well worth it as the Guinness was amongst the nicest we have tasted in ages.
Swinford is 9 hole course in Co. Mayo. the weather wasn’t very overcast with a little bit of rain, but yesterday’s wind had died and we set off hoping the day would improve, which it more or less did by the time we on our way round for the second time.
This is a very smart little course. Plenty of hills, mounds and shapes making most of the holes different and memorable. They’ve made an effort with the layout – some different tee positions for the back 9 and, in the case of the par 3 8th/17th, a entirely different tee and green but still played in the same area. Very neatly done. The single par 5 on the course is a snaky uphill test as well. Tees and greens were in nice order – greens weren’t fast, but come summer I think they’d be in pretty good shape.
Swinford’s biggest problem is that it’s incredibly wet. Not with ponds and streams and such, it’s just WET. Practically every footstep was greeted with a squelch or an unexpectedly refreshing jet of water up your leg. There’s surface water all over the course and there’s no getting away from it. I lost count of the number of times I had to unplug my ball. Chipping and pitching shots invariably splatched their way to the green. A pair of gaiters wouldn’t go amiss on this course!
Thomas says:
Thoroughly enjoyed this course – a rough diamond for sure. It’s hard to pick a favourite hole but the par 4 6th is as good as any – a dog-leg to the right with a stream running down the right hand side and curving left with out of bounds also on the right also. Clear that and your second shot is to a raised, hidden green. Despite the wetness this course is definitely worth .
Clive says:
I thought I had a hole in 1 today! At the par 3 4th I hit a super straight 5 wood and couldn’t find it when I got up there. I looked in the hole and there was the ball – but, incredibly not mine. Better luck in the next decade! I’m glad we got up and played – Swinford was a fine course. I liked the 7th, though it was a long way back to the tee box (a shuttle bus would have come in handy!). It has a lovely hidden green and a tricky, sloping putting surface. Generally I putted well today which certainly saved a few high scores. You’ll like this track – we are now ticking off the last few courses in each county and they all seem to be 9 hole ones. But we have played some lovely 9 hole courses – and you will enjoy this one for sure.
Here’s the Google map (they don’t have high detail for this area)
