Eddie Hackett Golf Tour Through the West & North West of Ireland
This is a Hackett trail in the West and North West of Ireland that you can follow in the footsteps of Ireland’s foremost golf architect. He was often called the father or godfather of Irish golf course architecture. In the 1960’s he worked for the Golfing Union of Ireland giving golf clinics, one club asked him for help on design, then demand for his services grew by word of mouth. Ireland was a very poor country then.
Eddie was paid fees closer to those paid to Old Tom Morris than the most modestly successful architects of today. It is hard to characterise Eddie's design philosophy given the wide variety of assignments he took on, from the fine-tuning of basic village courses to the creation of highly ranked modern links.
He was very humble about his life work, giving credit for his courses to the natural world and its creator. 'Greatness' didn't seem to matter to him, just the golf and its place in our existence, but many thousands of the people he has touched through his work would seem to disagree.
The Tour:
The West – Counties Galway, Mayo and Sligo
County Galway
Athenry Golf Club (5859 yards, Par 70)
Athenry Golf Club is located between Athenry and Oranmore at the townland of Palmerstown, just 5 minutes off the M6 Dublin to Galway Motorway. The course is part parkland with some heathland. The limestone base gives good drainage and the setting has a backdrop of a large forest. The club was formed in 1902 and had a typical small club history playing at various locations until they settled at Palmerstown. Finally in 1991 the course was extended to eighteen holes under the guidance of renowned golf architect Eddie Hackett. Feature holes are the three par threes in the woodland. From the signature twelfth hole you drive from an elevated tee through a scenic and challenging corridor of beech and pine trees. Athenry is 16 miles east of Galway City and is a mediaeval town. Features are its town wall, Athenry Castle, a Priory and its 13th century Anglo-Norman street-plan. The town is also well known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry". The modern clubhouse has a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. It has superb views over much of the course and the neighbouring, famous "Fields of Athenry.
Loughrea Golf Club (5825 yards, Par 71)
Loughrea Golf Club is a parkland course set in 130 acres of rolling hills and undulating valleys, with a backdrop of the Sliabh Aughty Mountains. It is located just over a mile north of Loughrea and about 5 miles from the M6 Motorway. The club originally played at a few locations with the actual formation date lost in time. An extract from the club rules will take you back to the cost of golf in 1914 and the local rules to the primitive playing conditions:
Rules of the Loughrea Golf Club – 1914
• The name of the club shall be THE LOUGHREA GOLF CLUB.
• The Annual Subscription: Family 30s.; Gentlemen £1; Ladies 10s. No member shall be considered a member until his or her annual subscription has been paid.
• Any visitor on being introduced by a Member, can have the use of the links at the rate of 1s. per day; 2. 6d. per week; and 5s. per month.
Local rules
• If a ball lodges in a cart track, cow track or well-defined hoof-mark, or sheep track or within six inches of animal droppings, it may be lifted and dropped within one club length behind without penalty.
The club struggled to survive through WW2, but in 1954 settled with a nine hole course at Graigue. In 1992 the course was redesigned by Eddie Hackett, one of the most creative course designers in Irish golf history. Loughrea is a classic rolling Irish parkland course, with little to identify rough and fairway. However, the holes are designed beautifully and with challenge. The fairways are generous but offset by strategic tree plantations and fast greens. You may see the odd Irish Hare cross the fairway. The layout is short by modern standards but needing accuracy with your approach shots to undulating, tough greens that are often difficult to read. Typical of Eddie Hackett the front nine eases you into the round and then the back nine tests your golf and stamina.
Dunmore Demesne Golf Club (5850 yards, Par 70)
It is probably quite unusual for a golf club to evolve from a golf society. However in 1988 Dunmore Golfing Society was formed when there were only 12 golfers in the Dunmore Parish. They normally played at Ballyhaunis Golf Club who assisted them in providing playing facilities for the Golf Society. This popular society grew to over 100 members and introduced many golfers to formal golf. The Society played throughout Connacht and went on tours. The Dunmore Demesne Golf Club eventually evolved from the society and opened in 1998. It is located In the centre of Dunmore, 9 miles north of Tuam, 12 miles from Ballyhaunis and Claremorris. The nine hole course was designed by the late, highly respected golf course architect Eddie Hackett who died in 1996. He described it as a 'little gem' and it must have been one of his last designs.
Dunmore has a scenic landscape with mature parklands, trees and water coming into play. It is a short course, but it is challenging and rewards accuracy. It is unusual in that local GAA pitch (for Gaelic Football and Hurling) is in the middle of the golf course demonstrating a closeness between the national games and golf.
Other courses in Galway that have been attributed to Eddie Hackett are Tuam and Oughterard
County Mayo
Ashford Castle Golf Course (2996 yards, Par 35)
Five star Ashford Castle at Cong is the oldest Castle Hotel in Ireland dating to 1228, and was once the home of the Guinness family. In 1970 John Mulcahy purchased the Castle and arranged for the deer park to become a golf course. No surprise that he chose Eddie Hackett to design the course as Eddie had designed the Waterville Golf course for Mulcahy. The layout runs through woodland of Oak, Beech and Chestnut trees and creatively includes a variety of natural hazards and features. The Ashford Castle Golf Course is immaculately maintained and has been played by many leading golfers including Tom Watson who has been honoured with the name “Watsons Way” given to the 391 yards par four third hole. The fifth is named “The Island” as it is said that you can see 365 island on nearby Lough Corrib. Green fees are complementary to hotel residents and the latest Titleist clubs are provided.
Ballinrobe Golf Club (7300 yards, Par 73 )
The Ballinrobe Golf Club was formed in 1895 making it one of the oldest in Ireland. It moved to the 300 acre Cloonacastle Estate in 1995, its centenary year. It is located just outside of the town of Ballinrobe which also has a rich and fascinating history. The estate dates to 1238 and the clubhouse is the former grand Estate House. Within the grounds are a historic Castle, a Lime Kiln and Stone Monuments. The course was designed by the late renowned Irish golf architect Eddie Hackett and was one of his last creations. It is a true challenging championship test and quickly made its way into the top 100 Irish courses.
This lovely parkland course has mature trees to contend with, also lakes forming cleverly placed water features on many of the holes and traditional stone walls. With its Castle ruins and Ancient Farm buildings the course has the feel of a bygone age that in some way can generate a sense of privileged golf. The contoured, sand based greens are excellent and the fairways and tee boxes are well maintained. The par threes are especially challenging. The signature hole is the 401 yards par four tenth which has a 13th-century tower house next to the tee. There is OOB all down the left side of the fairway and a good second shot is needed to the green protected by water and is almost an island green.
County Sligo
Tubbercurry Golf Club (6097 yards, par 71)
Tubbercurry golf club was founded in 1991 and is a thought-provoking nine-hole golf course. The scenic parkland course was designed by the legendary golf course architect Eddie Hackett. It is situated less than 1km from the town centre. Despite its small size Tubbercurry is a bustling, vibrant and friendly Irish town well known for its night time entertainment. Several bars, restaurants, and traditional Irish pubs are the main attraction. It is just 15 minutes from Knock Airport and 30 minutes from Sligo town. The course lies at the foot of the Ox Mountains with a beautiful landscape and there are excellent views of Croagh Patrick on a clear day. There are many sobering hazards liberally and cleverly spread throughout the tough layout. However, it is typical Hackett, fairly designed to ensure that a good shot is justly rewarded and a poor one punished. Most approach shots need care with plenty of bunkers protecting the well kept greens. A feature hole is the par three sixth / fifteenth where your tee shot is from an elevated green to a challenging green below.
Ballina Golf Club (6175 yards, Par 71)
The Ballina Golf Club was founded in 1910 and had a roving stop-start existence. In 1924 it moved to its present site at Mossgrove, which had been part of the Jones Estate. The course was expanded to 18 holes in 1995. This parkland course takes full advantage of its natural features due to the excellent layout designed by veteran course architect Eddie Hackett. Eddie said about the course "Ballina has created an interesting, testing and fair golf course. The eighteen hole course is in an ideal setting offering the golfer variety, challenge, interest and above all, enjoyable golf." The club is in stunningly scenic, rolling parkland in the heart of the unspoilt Moy Valley. It is close to Ballina town centre and has the majestic Ox Mountains and the grand dome of Nephin as a backdrop. There are lush fairways, carefully manicured greens and strategically placed water hazards. The fairways are well maintained with scenic views including gorse clad hills and wooded acres. The manicured greens are protected by water hazards and clever bunkers creating a challenging but fair golf course. This club in its ideal setting offers the golfer variety, challenge, interest and just enjoyable golf.
County Donegal
On route to your base in the North West for which Letterkenny would be suitable, you could play Gweedore links on route. Eddie Hackett laid out 9 holes for this enjoyable seaside links golf course. It has since been extended to 14 holes and the club's ambition is to acquire land for a further 4 holes.
Letterkenny Golf Club (6550 yards, par 72)
The Letterkenny Golf Club was formed in 1913 with 9 holes on 16 acres at Crievesmith. There is evidence in surviving papers associated with the Stewart estate at Rockhill that golf was played in 1894. The land was referred to as “splendid golfing ground” and consisted of “six pots” with the possibility to “extend it to ten pots”. This was the beginning of competitive golf in Letterkenny.
In 1967 the club purchased land at Barnhill. This included Barnhill house and 146 acres of arable and woodland. There were problems of drainage, tree felling and course planning. The popular golf architect Eddie Hackett was engaged to design the course. A temporary nine holes was laid out at Barnhill to allow the club to vacate Crievesmith and competitive golf was played for the first time at Barnhill in 1967. The course took 3 years to complete and then Letterkenny Golf Club at Barnhill was fully up and running.
The course is mature parkland on the outskirts of the town and four holes play around the banks of the Swilly Estuary. It is an undulating layout with magnificent lakes and mature trees. The front nine is relatively flat. From the eleventh it is played on a plateau with panoramic views of picturesque wooded countryside. It is a magnificent natural wildlife habitat that has a great mixture of birdlife. The fairways are tree lined with a winding stream in play on many holes. It is a fine test of golf for any level of Golfer.
City of Derry Golf Club – Prehen Course ( 6527 yards, Par 71)
The City of Derry Golf Club was formed in 1912 and first called “City of Londonderry Golf Club”. This was changed by 1914 to "City of Derry Golf Club”. The course was initially nine holes at Prehen, two miles from Londonderry, laid out by Willie Park. Extra land was purchased and in 1930 the course was extended to 18 holes by Mr Siller from North West club. The leading golf architect Harry Colt provided a plan to add sand bunkers. In the early seventies further land was acquired and the course was re-designed by Eddie Hackett and the resident professional Ted Pope.
The Prehen Course has panoramic views over the River Foyle and to the West the ‘Hills of Donegal’ can be seen. The course is really well wooded with big mature trees, new plantations and wild Irish hedges. It is known for its main feature being the variety of hole design. The lush green fairways wander through mature woods whilst offering a protective habitat for many wild creatures. There are impressive views of the River Foyle with a backdrop of distant hills in an imposing picturesque setting. The greens are big, sometimes on two steps but fair. The fairways start out generous but tight approaches to protected greens seems to be a repeating feature. This makes straight play essential. The 8th at 148 yards is locally known as "The Crow's Nest" and requires an accurate tee shot. Miss the heavily protected green and a par is most unlikely.
Greencastle Golf Club (5972 yards, Par70)
Greencastle Golf Club has a beautiful 18 hole links/ parkland course in the tranquil surroundings of the North of the Inishowen Peninsula and on the banks of Lough Foyle. Founded in 1892 as a nine hole links course, during its centenary year a further nine very challenging holes of parkland were added, as further links land was not available. The course was redesigned by the late leading golf architect Eddie Hackett and offers an interesting and varied challenge from start to finish. It is a tough test with a number of challenging holes especially on a really windy day, which happens quite often. Many of the holes are played along the coast of Lough Foyle while a stream running through the course comes into play on three holes. The club has an idyllic setting bordered by Lough Foyle on one side with panoramic views over the Lough to Magilligan Strand and the mountains of North Derry. On the other side there are equally spectacular views towards the Inishowen hills.
The par four 2nd is stroke index 1. Your tee-shot needs to avoid the fairway bunkers. A bunker sits on the right just short of the green. Your approach to the raised green is best aimed right. Once on the green you will probably have a challenging putt.
The par three 6th runs along the coast with the beach in play. On a windy day you might have to hit the driver to reach this tricky par 3. Hit too far and you could be OOB.
The par four 12th is a dogleg right with a challenging tee-shot over the beach. The safe line is over the 150 marker sitting in the middle of the fairway. The green is blind hidden in a hollow and slopes severely from back to front. If you play long to the green there is severe trouble from the rocky coastline behind and to the right of the green.
Eddie Hackett Golf Tours:
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The Best Eddie Hackett Golf Courses of Dublin and the Southwest of Ireland
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Eddie Hackett Golf Tour Through the West and North West of Ireland
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Eddie Hackett Golf Tour – Around lively Cork City and County Cork
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