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Tralee Golf Club at Barrow, IRELAND 3rd hole, 200 yards; How to judge this hole? When in play, it is one of the greats, with the rocky cliff in between the tee and green. The golfer aims over the ocean in hopes that the usual westerly will blow the ball back onto the well defended green. However, the rub is that this cliffside green is out of play more times than not and the inland substitute hole is of no great merit. Still, given the once in a lifetime chance to create such a hole, the authors are glad that the Club and the architect took the risk, even though it only periodically pays off. 8th hole, 375 yards; The architecture is as good as the setting, no small feat. Seay used the curvature of the coastline to great effect on this dogleg left and the medium size green contours are among the best anywhere.
12th hole, 440 yards; A love it or hate it hole, but based on the fact it is the same for everyone, the authors love it. The match play mentality of the membership ensures they love it as well. Others say an eighty foot chasm in front of a hole of this length is a bit much, but they are generally the same people who play stroke play. The right half of the green is open in front and the green accepts a running shot as it is heavily sloped toward the golfer and from the right.
16th hole, 200 yards; A thrilling hole, this all or nothing one shotter plays across a chasm to a green on the ocean's edge. When questioned of its difficulty and told that a driver might still result in a score of 12 on some days, a board member once famously responded, 'It beats a 13.'
17th hole, 355 yards; Similar in length to the 17th at Pine Valley but more exacting with the fairway narrower and the wind ever present. This non-formulaic hole captures both the uniqueness and challenge of Tralee.Long after an initial visit, the golfer will reflect on any of these six holes described above and think of a return visit to conquer them. As for the remaining twelve holes, the golfer continually finds that there is always a preferred type shot (e.g. a fade into the 5th green as it angles away, a fade off the 14th tee to hold the sloping right to left fairway) or exact spots that open up a clear view of the green (e.g. left center on the 15th fairway) or areas around the green that make an up and down unlikely (e.g., the right of the 4th, short on the 13th). Golf instruction books talk about 'thinking your way around a course' and in the case of Tralee, there is no prettier spot to do so. Though Ed Seay deserves full credit for this original course, he admits he took chances that he normally wouldn't. This boldness of the design created turf care issues (as indeed Seay had predicted) and Tralee took a lengthy period to reach a sense of maturity. However, sixteen years after opening, the conditioning of the course has virtually caught up with the design. The Club's conviction and patience was most admirable during this period and today's result is a course unlike any other in the world. The uniqueness of its holes in an incomparable setting makes Tralee a must-see. Just remember - don't take a scorecard and pencil!
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