Fairway to golfing heaven

Apr 26 2009 by Gordon Barr, Sunday Sun

TREVOR PEAKE follows in Greg Norman’s footsteps and spends “tee time” in Ireland . . .

Holes two and three were played with the strong wind behind, the second needing an accurate tee shot avoiding the imposing dunes on the left.

The fourth is the second par five of 536 yards and the fifth is a 331 yard par four with the green in a sort of bowl.

Eighty yards from the green stretching right across the fairway is a ravine full of deep rough.

At the sixth, placement off the tee is again vital to get a good wedge shot in to a long narrow green with bunkers right and left.

There are 10 bunkers all the way up this dog-leg left to another long sloping green with the stream just to the left of the putting surface.

The 11th at 136 yards is the second shortest hole on the course, but an errant shot into the cavernously deep bunker to the front right of the green could be a card wrecker.

The 13th is the shortest par five at 451 yards and the 14th is the shortest par three, at just 106 yards a mere flick.

Hole 14 is deemed the easiest hole on the course, but miss the long, narrow, plateau green and you’re in deep strife, as it’s surrounded by trouble.

The 397yard 15th is played to a plateau green and I hit a five-iron to six inches from the hole for a tap in birdie – a very satisfying if somewhat rare occurrence.

The 16th is the fifth and final par three at 186 yards to a banana shaped green, which slopes from back to front and has two pot bunkers at the left edge. The final two par fours are both over 400 yards.

The 17th has a cluster of bunkers down the right at around the 200 yard mark and another two to the front right of the green, while the 18th, at 437 yards, is a spectacular finishing hole. It needs a decent drive to reach the narrow fairway and then a good iron to a large green with three bunkers front and left.

Bedraggled but unbowed we repaired to the bar, myself and my playing partner 71-year-old Canadian Ed Tovey, having taken the money. Tovey, a Doonbeg vice-president in charge of marketing accommodation, played one below his nine handicap despite the conditions.

Five things to do
1 - SURFING:  Doughmore Strand and Spanish Point are renowned for surfing. More info at Surfing Ireland.

2 - SCUBA DIVING:  West Clare is famous for the quality of its diving. Nearby Kilkee has a first class scuba diving centre with excellent classes for beginners.  Equipment is provided. Visit www.oceanlife.ie

3 - SAILING:  Kilrush Marina (10 minutes out of Doonbeg) provides boats for charter and docking facilities.

4 - DOLPHIN WATCH:  Kilrush and Carrigaholt (20 minutes from Doonbeg) offer boat trips for dolphin watching.

5 - MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC: The local pubs are the place for the real Seisiúns. But be prepared, the music doesn’t start until late 10 or 11pm!

Fact file
DOUBLE rooms at Doonbeg (www.doonbeggolfclub.com, 00 353 659 055600) from £239, two sharing.

TREVOR flew from Liverpool to Shannon with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com). Fares from £5 one way plus taxes and charges.