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Golf Digest Ireland Top 100 for 2009
Brian KeoghPortmarnock has replaced Royal County Down as Ireland’s top course in the 2009 Golf Digest Ireland poll.
Just two parkland courses made the top 10 with Adare Manor the top ranked course at No 7.
The European Club, which opened less than 17 years ago, is now third ahead of Royal Portrush and Ballybunion Old. Kilkenny is the top new entry at 57th with the biggest movers in terms of their ranking being Rosapenna (Sandy Hills) up 27 places to 17th and Seapoint, which leapt 23 spots to 27th. Tramore is up 37 places to 54th, the biggest leap of any club in the top 100.
Top-100 for 2008 and 2010
“Portmarnock’s promotion was based on key, course improvements, especially to run-off areas on several greens,” said Dermot Gilleece, editor of Golf Digest Ireland, and one of the eight-person selection panel.
This year’s panel was modified with the addition of Garth McGimpsey, winner of 14 championships in a glittering career, and Declan Branigan, who won six championships and is now acknowledged as a leading agronomist and course-designer.
The panel: Declan Branigan (agronomist and course-designer), Mark Gannon (Royal and Ancient selector), Michael McCumiskey (Secretary, PGA Irish Region), Garth McGimpsey (former Walker Cup captain), Ada O’Sullivan (former Curtis Cup captain), John Quigley (Association of Irish Golf Club Secretaries), Dermot Gilleece (Editor, Golf Digest Ireland). Chairman: Padraig O hUiginn.
Golf Digest Ireland Top 100 for 2009
Portmarnock GC Aidan Bradley www.golfcoursephotography.com
Position – Up 1
Where – Co. Dublin
Royal County Down2 Royal County Down
Position – Down 1
Where – Co. Down
The European Club3 The European Club
Position – Up 2
Where – Co. Wicklow
;)
Royal Portrush4 Royal Portrush
Position – Up 5
Where – Co. Antrim
;)
Ballybunion Golf Club5 Ballybunion (Old)
Position – Down 2
Where – Co. Kerry
;)
Waterville Golf Links6 Waterville
Position – Same
Where – Co. Kerry
;)
Adare Golf Club7 Adare Manor
Position – Down 3
Where – Co. Limerick
;)
Lahinch Golf Club8 Lahinch
Position – Same
Where – Co. Clare
County Louth Golf Club9 County Louth (Baltray)
Position –Down 2
Where – Co. Louth
The K Club10 The K Club (Palmer Course)
Position – Same
Where – Co. Kildare
11 Tralee
Position – Up 2
Where – Co. Kerry
12 Mount Juliet
Position – Down 1
Where – Co. Kilkenny
13 Royal Dublin
Position – Up 1
Where – Co. Dublin
14 Killarney (Killeen Course)
Position – Down 2
Where – Co. Kerry
15 Ballyliffin (Glashedy Links)
Position – Up 2
Where – Co. Donegal
16 County Sligo (Rosses Point)
Position – Same
Where – Co. Sligo
17 Rosapenna (Sandy Hills)
Position – Up 27
Where – Co. Donegal
18 The Island
Position – Up 1
Where – Co. Dublin
19 The Heritage
Position – Down 4
Where – Co. Laois
20. Enniscrone
Position – Up 14
Where – Co. Sligo
21 Belmullet (Carne)
Position – Same
Where – Co. Mayo
22 Druids Glen
Position – Down 2
Where – Co. Wicklow
23 Fota Island
Position – Down 1
Where – Co. Cork
24 Portstewart (Strand)
Position – Down 1
Where – Derry
Position – Same
Where – Co. Dublin
26 Carton House (Montgomerie Course)
Position – Down 8
Where – Co. Kildare
27 Seapoint
Position – Up 23
Where – Co. Louth
28 Castlerock
Position – Up 3
Where – Co. Londonderry
Position – Down 5
Where – Co. Cork
30. Headfort (New)
Position – Down 4
Where – Co. Meath
31 PGA National
Position – Down 4
Where – Co. Kildare
32 Carlow
Position – Down 2
Where – Co. Carlow
33 Malone
Position – Up 2
Where – Co Antrim
Position – Down 5
Where – Co. Clare
35 Belvoir Park
Position – Up 1
Where – Co. Antrim
Position – Up 4
Where – Co. Cavan
37 Cork
Position – Same
Where – Co. Cork
38 Ballyliffin (Old Links)
Position – Up 7
Where – Co. Donegal
Position – Up 17
Where – Co. Wicklow
40 The K Club (Smurfit Course)
Position – Up 1
Where – Co. Kildare
Position – Up 2
Where – Co. Wicklow
Position – Up 4
Where – Co. Carlow
43 Westport
Position – Up 5
Where – Co. Mayo
44 Knightsbrook
Position – Up 8
Where – Co. Meath
45 Portsalon
Position – Up 25
Where – Co. Donegal
46 Glasson
Position – Down 14
Where – Co. Westmeath
47 Carton House (O’Meara Course)
Position – Down 5
Where – Co. Kildare
48 Dundalk
Position – Down 10
Where – Co. Louth
Position – Down 10
Where – Co. Donegal
50 Rathsallagh
Position – Down 1
Where – Co. Wicklow
Position – Up 4
Where – Co. Tipperary
52 Hermitage
Position – Down 1
Where – Co. Dublin
Position – Same
Where – Co. Clare
54 Tramore
Position – Up 37
Where – Co. Waterford
55 Bantry Bay
Position – Up 20
Where – Co. Cork
56 Mullingar
Position – Down 23
Where – Co. Westmeath
57 Kilkenny
Position - NEW
Where – Co. Kilkenny
58 Connemara
Position – Same
Where – Co. Galway
59 Tullamore
Position – Down 12
Where – Co. Offaly
Position – Down 3
Where – Co. Down
61 New Forest
Position – Up 1
Where – Co. Westmeath
62 Clandeboye
Position –Up 11
Where – Co. Down
63 Castleknock
Position – Up 11
Where – Dublin
Position – Down 4
Where – Co. Dublin
65 Grange
Position – Up 4
Where – Dublin
66 Castle
Position – Up 12
Where – Dublin
67 Dooks
Position – Down 13
Where – Co. Kerry
68 Shannon
Position – Down 1
Where – Co. Clare
69 Woodbrook
Position – Down 1
Where – Co. Wicklow
70 South County
Position - NEW
Where - Dublin
Position – Up 5
Where – Co. Down
72 Killarney (Mahony’s Point)
Position – Down 9
Where – Co. Kerry
73 Roganstown
Position – Down 7
Where – Co. Dublin
74 Skellig Bay
Position – Down 3
Where – Co. Kerry
75 Esker Hills
Position – Down 10
Where – Co. Offaly
76 Athlone
Position – Down 12
Where – Co. Roscommon
77 Rosslare
Position – Down 16
Where – Co. Wexford
78 Gowran Park
Position – Up 6
Where – Co. Kilkenny
Position – Down 7
Where – Co. Kerry
Position – Same
Where – Co. Donegal
Position - NEW
Where – Co. Sligo
82 Galway
Position – Up 7
Where – Galway
83 Arklow
Position – Up 16
Where – Co. Wicklow
Position – Down 3
Where – Co. Meath
85 Ashbourne
Position - NEW
Where – Co. Meath
86 Moyvalley
Position – Down 7
Where – Co. Kildare
Position – Down 10
Where – Co. Kerry
88 Castlecomer
Position - NEW
Where – Co. Kilkenny
89 Castletroy
Position - NEW
Where – Co. Limerick
Position – Down 2
Where – Co. Antrim
91 Monkstown
Position – Down 6
Where – Co. Cork
92 Curragh
Position – Down 2
Where – Co. Kildare
93 Rathcore
Position – Down 10
Where – Co. Meath
Position - NEW
Where – Co. Limerick
95 Blainroe
Position – Up 1
Where – Co. Wicklow
96 Ballinrobe
Position – Up 1
Where – Co. Mayo
97 Malahide
Position – Up 3
Where – Co. Dublin
Position – NEW
Where – Co Laois
99 Lee Valley
Position – Down 4
Where – Co. Cork
100 Waterford
Position – Down 13
Where – Co. Waterford
Reader Comments (32)
interesting list, OK with Portmarnock being #1 for a year, K Club at 10th ruins the validity of the list, it should be around 99.
Played Portmarnock twice this year and it's in poor condition as is Royal Dublin, this list is based on reputation only and as such is pointless.
Very Interesting to see Declan Branigan on voting committee and Seapoint moving up 23 spots. I wonder abut the legitimacy of the list. Would also like to know how many of the 100 courses the panel actually visited this year
These rankings are useless - Mount Juliet should be way up the list, I played there yesterday in the Summer Series and the course was amazing. I don't think Golf Digest did any favours there.
Portmarnock not in good condition at present,surprised to hear its no.1.Why not let the playing,paying public,vote !
I reckon this poll gave attention to top 30 courses, after that it looses all credibility very surprised by some of the decisions really dont want to mention any of the results in detail surprised to see golf digest continue to put their name to this poll.
The highest mover is Tramore, which is Up 37 places. As opposed to Sandy Hills' 27 places. I played Kilkenny recently for the first time in years & it well deserves it's position in the table. Regards
im not a huge golfer but i play a little bit. played druids glen recently and didnt think that much of it to be honest. I thought arklow golf club was slightly better but seafield golf club i thought was in really good nick. had to listen to the pro shop attendant for about 20 mins telling me about drainage and all that but other wise thought it was better the druids. as im a complete amateur tho its prob not relevant but if seapoint is even in the top 30 golf courses it doesnt say much for irish golf courses
Once you get out of the top 20 the list clearly becomes arbitrary and pointless. While I like Seapoint, jumping 23 places is highly questionable. Not much of significance has changed there to my knowledge. The continuing absence of Druids Heath from this list (let alone from the top 50 where it should comfortably be) absolutely baffles me. Too many courses are in here on past reputation and no other reason (I'm looking at you Woodbrook). Castle Dargan is little more than ordinary when compared to a similar style course like Dunmurry Springs (also very harshly overlooked)
this list is ridiculous, woodbrook, dun laoighre etc ahead of other courses in co. wicklow alone. bet the panle hasn't even seen let alone played most of the courses outside the top50
Where is Druid's heath!!
What drugs was the panel on when they rated Hilton Templepatrick 60
Ardglass Golf club should also be in the top 50
Druids Heath got a tough press and the day I played, it was lashing rain. Luckily, I was playing with Leslie Walker, so it could have been a lot worse.
As for Ardglass, I can't comment as I haven't been there. It's on my to do list.
Disappointed to see that the new course at Concra Wood, Castleblayney, Co. monaghan is not on the list. Have any of the panel played it?
Good question. I hear Concra is a fine course.
Unless the panel played, or at least personally inspected, all the courses, this year, the list is pointless. They would need to play many times 100 to select the top 100.
I played at Concra Wood (Castleblaney Golf Club) last year and this magnificent new course is not even mentioned.
Royal Dublin, despite many great improvements, is a course overtaken by time and is rated on its bygone reputation.
Ronan, I agree wholeheartedly with you on the need to visit all 400 odd courses in Ireland on a yearly basis. It would require a large budget and a great deal of time and resources to do it. Who is willing to put up the money these days?
i find this hard to believe.
the check list of those selecting courses mustn't be what the golfing public want and if tourists base their golfing holidays on this list theyll play some poor courses, experience culture and welcomes that would shock us all!!!!!!
Monkstown can hardly be rated anything other than a very average golf course. so featuring in the top 100 is a bit of a laugh. Also to be featured above Lee Valley golf course is a total farce. Im not a member of lee valley but to be rated behind monkstown is a joke. Maybe rank the top fifty and cut it off there.
Totally agree with most of above. I'm not even sure Portmarnock is the best course in Portmarnock, let alone Ireland.I've played it a few times and never felt welcome. Rankings purely on reputation. Likewise the Palmer Course at 10? Seems like a bit of pally assistance to get the travelling Yanks to play them. IMO the best and most natural links course is Murvagh. How is it at 49? Where is Concra Wood which should be top 20 at worst, and how is Moyvalley down in the 80s? And Mullingar shouldn't be anywhere near a top 100 list, it is there purely because of it's reputation last century or maybe the one before. These rankings are done solely on hearsay or similar and not on actual playing, amenities, value and/or welcome/friendliness. We need a more impartial and reliable list.
I played most of the Wicklow courses last year. I thought the new Dun Laoghaire course was beautiful and was very impressed with Arklow, but I honestly cannot understand Woodbrook's rating. Think it may be selected because of its history, I found it old,dated and just ok.
This list is similar everyyear its more about the old boys school than proper grading of courses - I would like to see an indepedent review of the top 100 golf courses with 20 criteria from Practice facilities to performance of greens and some where on a social netowrk to voting and evaluation could happen.... maybe it will.....
Obviously Concra was not even worthy of a visit by such so called experts as it now shows how flawed they were as it is the talk of Ulster and much of Ireland as it is constantly booked out every weekend!!!
Sandy Hills in Donegal is the best course in Ireland, the ultimate test of golf with stunning scenery. Lough Erne is the best inland course. The scenery there too is almost as beautiful as Killarney. You might think I have an Ulster bias, but I am actually a member of Ballybunion.
As a practising golf course architect with Jeff Howes Golf Design in Kilkenny I always treat these listings with a healthy dose of cynicism. Quite often the list (as many of the other contributors above have indicated) contains courses which are trading off reputations of old, or they are compiled by panels who may not have for some time played or even visited the courses they are grading and finally they often contain courses which have contributed to the magazine publishing company by advertising in the very edition featuring the Top 100 Courses article.
In saying all that it has never prevented me buying said magazine and discretely identifying where my clients have come! In Austria they conduct an online poll of registered golfers to determine the ranking of their courses and this is done by a magazine called GolfRevue (the Golf Digest of Austria essentially).
As with phone polls online polls can be manipulated with members being coerced to vote for their own club without any regard to reality. All I can say is knowing the calibre of courses in Austria as I do the final ranking appears to be accurate (or put another way I tend to agree with it).
Personally I would love to see more of an input from the general Irish golfing public in the compilation of these rankings - how this could be acheived I would respectfully suggest should be left to those in a position of influence to decide.
Whilst universal agreement for such a ranking will never be possible since golf course architecture is such a subjective & personal topic I would be of the opinion these rankings are important because they influence where many of our overseas golfing vistors will play. And if the list does not accurately reflect the reality on the ground then we may be harming the golf tourist industry in the long run.