(Photo: 11th tee, 495 yard par 4)
Simply put, Ballybunion is certainly one of the wildest pieces of golfing terrain I have ever seen. With its humps and bumps through the dunes off of Ballybunion beach, it demands imaginative shotmaking and creativity, the sign of a great links course.
As described to me prior, the first 4-5 holes are quite plain - a good warm up. Note: Avoid the graveyard off to the right of the first tee. One of my playing partners plopped one in there off the first tee, surely a bad omen to any round. However, once one hits the 6th green, the adventure begins. The 7th is along the water, with the 8th being a fantastic short par 3. The 9th is a very difficult par 4 with 10 being a shortish par 4 to start the backside. And then you stand on the 11th tee. Wow. One of the greatest holes in golf. 470ish yards from the new "Tom Watson" tee, with the beach all along the right side. One of Tom Watson's favourite holes in the world, and justifiably so. The back nine continues through the dunes, and continues to amaze with views of the Irish sea and a course demanding all kinds of creative shotmaking - especially with a wind as we had that day.
One drawback is that the 18th is a strange hole. It is a rare hole that plays away from the ocean and lacks any real dramatics, other than being the final hole. 3 of us almost drove the green that day downwind. Then a strangely cramped green that demands a lofted approach when spin was completely negated by the wind. An awkward finish to an otherwise first class golf course.
As someone once said, "Man made parkland courses, and the golf gods made links courses." This statement rings very true after playing Ballybunion. If you are ever in SW Ireland, it is a must play.
Hit 'em well.
- MG
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