The European Club, Ireland   

A golf course is generally the result of a combination of efforts from the developer, the architect, his crew and the superintendent through to the usual army of investors, bankers, and lawyers. The European Club is fortunate not to have pandered to so many mixed interests; rather, it is the creation of one man.

Pat Ruddy, an accomplished golf writer, had dabbled in architecture before with St. Margaret's, just north of Dublin. However, in the back of his mind he had a dream of building his own course. And despite the awarding of the 2005 Ryder Cup to the K-Club, any Irishman worth his salt is going to want to build a links course. This time, Ruddy was going to do everything his way.

The inspiring dunesland setting.

Of course, building a golf course can be overwhelming, financially and otherwise, to one person. He has to find the land, purchase it, often haggle with the government over environmental concerns, design the course and then build it. The clubhouse, etc. follows from there.

There are two ways to tackle such a project: (1) to build the course quickly through the investment of a lot of money or (2) to take your time. The first option is desirable for financial reasons: the sooner the course opens, the sooner players will be paying to play it. However, such a course of action often leaves the end result not quite 'right.' With The European Club, located on a terrific dunesland stretch on the Irish Sea some 45 minutes south of Dublin, Ruddy took the latter tact.

Going into the project Ruddy had no false expectations -- he knew that the course would not be perfect the day it opened. His goal from the beginning has always been long term. He wanted a near-ideal course in twenty years, knowing that he had time to help the course 'evolve,' just as every notable links course in the British Isles has done. As Donald Ross spent much of the latter part of his life tinkering with his beloved Pinehurst No. 2, so plans Ruddy with The European Club.

The two most photographed holes are the 8^th and 17^th. They truly look, to borrow the worn out expression, like they have always been there. However, many architects could have found these holes. A greater compliment to Ruddy is the other holes. Unlike every other links course in Ireland, this one lacks an indifferent stretch of holes. Ruddy's time of wandering the course for several years until the routing was just right is what guarantees the long standing success of The European Club. There is a great lesson to be learned there.

Holes to Note:

3^rd hole, 470 yards: A downhill par five with a stunning panorama from the tee. The hole fits the eye perfectly and plays equally well into or downwind. The hole gets progressively narrow until the golfer arrives at the green complex, which is the most interesting one on the course. It has a left-to-right slope that is the natural effect of being cut into the hillside. The smartly placed bunkers at the front corners of the green are enough to the side to allow for the player to bounce the ball into the green. Finally, there is a sinister one hidden from view on the right side where the ball seems to want to finish.

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