Waterville, Ireland

Mulcahy's Peak, one of the great one-shotters at Waterville.

Links typically fall into one of two categories.

The more famous is the big links that stretch close to or over 7,000 yards and are capable of handling such tournaments as the Open. Carnoustie or Royal Birkdale are examples but rarely do such courses produce lasting passion. You respect them and a well played round there is gratifying indeed but you don't reflect upon them on your deathbed.

The other category is often referred to as holiday courses and includes such gems as North Berwick, Machrihanish, and Cruden Bay. What they lack in length they make up for in charm. Indeed, these courses often produce more passionate comments from overseas visitors than their bigger counterparts.

Well, what if you were to combine the two type courses? Have a course that both required broad shoulder hitting but also featured exhilarating moments as well? You would have a St. Andrews or a Turnberry, courses that endlessly appeal to all level golfers.

Such a course is Waterville, located in a remote fishing village in southern Ireland. This course has long been known as a stern test and has been called the longest course in Europe. It is also one of the windier spots as well, so the challenge is already evident.

However, what is not nearly as well known or appreciated is the variety found within the course. It contains three superb one shot holes as well as another three excellent three shot holes. No other course in Ireland or the United Kingdom can make the same claim. In between, there is not a single indifferent two shot hole, which prompted Henry Cotton to remark, 'I have never seen a more consistent succession of really strong and beautiful golf holes than here.'

Eddie Hackett deserves most of the credit and first laid out the course in 1973 at the request of John Mulcahy, who had returned from America to pursue his dream course. Mulcahy fell in love at first sight with the sand hills that are bordered by Ballinskelligs Bay on one side and the River Inny on the other. The course is spread over these sand hills on a 220 acre peninsula and never feels cramped.

In 1987, nine Wall Street executives with Irish/American backgrounds purchased the property from Mulcahy. They hired American architect Tom Doak to present them with a several year master plan so that any refinements would be done in a consistent manner. Over a decade later, their patience has been handsomely rewarded. For instance, the recently completed new 4^th and 18^th tees are located on the top of their respective dune lines, as opposed to their more sheltered prior position. The tees provide great theatre and help instill a sense of drama rarely found on courses of such length. Yet, the new tee placements are completely consistent with how Hackett intended the holes to play.

The 4th green, as seen from the new tee.

Christie O'Connor Jr. once selected his favourite 18 holes in Ireland and famously selected two holes only from one course: Waterville. He chose the 2^nd and the 16^th and such is the merit of the course that numerous other holes could have likely been selected.

Holes to Note

3^rd hole, 415 yards; An example of Mulcahy's helping Hackett to produce his finest course. Originally, Hackett had the green placed in a natural amphitheater framed by dunes. During one round, Deane Beman suggested to Mulcahy that the hole would be even better if the green was moved some fifty yards to the right and placed within several yards of the River Inny. The infectious Mulcahy was overseeing that very change the next day and one of Ireland's finest holes emerged.

The distant golfers mark the 3rd green, now close to
the bank of the River Inny.

5^th hole, 595 yards; A type hole sadly missing from most links courses, these genuine three shotter doglegs to the left at a pair of bunkers on either side of the fairway at the 130 mark from the green. Unfortunately, the golfer has to hit three well thought out and placed shots to have any chance of a par.

The long dogleg to the left 5th.

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