Dublin City Golf Club
We arrived at Dublin City yesterday a lot earlier that we had planned so with loads of time to kill we sat in the bar and drank a couple of pints while we caught up on the happenings in the US Open. It was also there where we discovered ‘Hooked’ - the book by an amateur golfer who played and reviewed all of Ireland’s 18 hole courses (349 of them); we seemed to agree on a lot of them. After our tea we returned to the bar for another go at the Guinness before deciding enough was enough.
We were hooked up to play with two other guys and they both turned out to be excellent company so our thanks to Dave and Colin (good luck on your wedding to the Tyrone girl!) for their craic on what turned out to be mainly a poor golf day.
Dublin City is an 18 hole parkland course in Co. Dublin and what a trickster of a course it is. It might not look like much going by the course map on the card but it is one serious challenge. Barring a couple of non-descript (but long) par 3s the course is a total gem that will keep you thinking on your toes the whole way round. The short par 4 6th is an eye opener. It’s a downhill drive, but don’t go too far or you’re in big trouble because when you get to your second shot you have to hit over a gaping ravine to the green, which is much closer than you think. It’s a real treat to see. Also worth mentioning are holes 11 and 12 set across the road into a valley. The 11th in particular in a great hole and yes, the green is behind those trees.
Overall the course was in great condition and all credit to the design and layout of some of the greens - they were super fast and a few of them so roly poly that a four putt is completely forgivable.
Thomas says:
The weather held back today and that’s kind of what happened to my golf too. Feeling confident after yesterday’s good play I was ready to go for it today - but this course got the better of me more or less the whole way round. Couldn’t keep my concentration at all. Thank goodness for the great views of the Dublin hills and down into Dublin and for the company of Dave and Colin to keep my spirits up as I proceeded to lose 5 balls! Despite the awful standard of golf I really enjoyed this course. The 6th just has to be seen to be appreciated and the 11th and 12th were two of the best holes on the course - the 11th on particular reminded me of our par 3 7th at Bright as to the reach the green you have to get over several very high mature trees.
A great course - bring extra balls!
Clive says:
I agree with Thomas that this course is a real gem. It’s certainly not a long track but you do have to be on your toes. The 2nd and 3rd holes are a bit odd with the par 3 2nd criss crossing the par 4 dogleg 3rd. But I really enjoyed the 6th - it’s as well I forgot about the water and the ravine. I wisely took a 6 iron off the tee and settled down with a 7 to play to the green. Had I remembered about all the obstacles I doubt if I would have done so well - a cracker of a shot just left of the green. I think it’s nearly the best and most tricky hole I have ever played - pat on the back for Dublin City!! There were lots of quite short holes where you would assume that a par was on the cards - but beware - short does not mean easy. The greens were crazy and a real test. On the 11th I was on the green in regulation 2 shots and then 4 putted, actually very nearly 5 putted. What a green - as hard as I’ve ever played.
My solitary par came at the 18th which will, as they say, bring me back. I seriously enjoyed this course and the company of Dave and Colin (Colin, remember how to pronounce Tyrone or you’ll never be invited back to our lovely Northern Ireland!!) made our day.
For sheer difficulty, when you never thought it would be there, I give Dublin City 8 and a half out of 10.
Anyone venturing here will surely love the course.
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