The European Club *****

Brittas Bay, Wicklow, County Wicklow

Nearest main town: Wicklow

 

You may never have the pleasure of meeting Pat Ruddy, which is something of a shame. The man is a character in the truest sense of the word. He is a writer, a designer of courses, the father of five children and a man capable of turning down £22.5 million in cash. Is he mad? Well, some might say quite possibly. Those who have visited the European Club, however, might begin to understand how money can fade into obscurity in the face of a proud and rugged links.

Ruddy was offered that money to part with the European, an inspirational place that was designed and built by him on the east coast of Ireland some 30 miles south of Dublin. A new traditional links is a rare animal indeed, but it has been achieved here with fabulous results. The course is right up there with the best of Ireland's many majestic seaside tests.

There are some cracking holes both for aesthetic appeal and for pure shot-making ability. The 7th, for example, which sneaks along the lowland at the bottom edge of the course and is sandwiched between the dunes and the fluffy tops of the reeds in the marshland. Anything right here and you're dead.

When Golf World first visited the site in the shape of our reporter at that time, Dominic Pedler, Ruddy was so pleased with the publicity that he offered to name a part of the course after him. So the huge dune to the left of the 12th has been christened 'Pedler's White Knuckle'.

 

Secretary: Mr 5. Ruddy

Tel: 0404 47415 Fax: 0404 47449

Professional: None

Playing: Midweek: round €125 (any day Apr-Oct), €75 (any day Nov-Mar); day n/a. Weekend: round n/a; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: Wine bar open all day. Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner from 9am-9pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Each hole a classic... Very difficult links... What a place! ... Easy to get a game on 0 beautiful links... Outstanding welcome, manager even joined us for lunch... Very demanding and exciting... 7th and 17th are great holes. . . Tough course with excellent greens. . . Wonderful charm and hospitality.

 

The K Club (South) ****

Kildare Hotel & Country Club, Straffan, County Kildare

Nearest main town: Dublin

 

The legendary Arnold Palmer has created a spectacular layout that is destined for great things, quickly being pencilled in to stage the 2004 Smurfit European Open. The 7277 -yard, par-72 (off the back tees) layout opened last July and superbly complements the existing North course, the two courses combining to make the K Club one of the hottest golfing properties in Europe.

Veteran Palmer is justifiably thrilled to bits with his latest work of art, saying: 'It's a very unique course in Europe. The large undulating fairways and greens, with numerous well-placed bunkers, make for a truly exciting challenge.' That just about hits the nail bang on the head, especially as far as the par-5 signature 7th hole is concerned. Aesthetically it's a stunner, with a man-made rockface, featuring water­falls and cascades, rising 60 feet out of the lake bordering the right side of the fairway.

Obviously it's a championship-standard course, so you expect a severe test of golf, and make no mistake: that's exactly what you get­there's rough, bunkers and water galore. And if you're fortunate enough to get the chance to play it, you really do need to concentrate until the bitter end, because the last six holes all feature water, culminating at the 578-yard, par-5 18th complete with island green. A dramatic finale to a memorable round.

 

Secretary: Mr P. Crowe (Director of Golf)

Tel: 01 601 7362 Fax: 01 601 7399

Professional: Mr J. McHenry

 Tel: 01 601 7321

Playing: Midweek: round €265 all week; day n/a. Weekend: round n/a; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11am-11.30pm. Food: 12pm-9.45pm.

Comments: A golfer's paradise...A once-in-a-lifetime golfing experience. It was expensive but it is a special course and a special venue. . . If and when I can afford it, I'll be back... Not quite as good as the older North course, but give it time.