THE BEST WATERFORD GOLF COURSES
For golf holidays around Waterford, Mount Juliet &
Rosslare.
Mount Juliet Architect: J. Nicklaus (1991). 18 holes: 7,111m: Par 72.
Mount Juliet is huge course and, unusually for a Jack Nicklaus design it has a lot of relief to the land that Mr. Nicklaus has sensibly worked with (as opposed to against). The heavily wooded estate has had Fairways carved through its centennial oaks and a few water features added here and there but, pleasingly, the latter is not overdone. Greens are well proportioned, fast and with some devilish borrows. As part of a five-star resort the course is maintained to five-star standards. Worthy of four Irish Opens so far.
Faithlegg Architect: P. Merrigan (1992). 18 holes: 6,057m: Par 72.
Faithlegg could possibly be thought of as a four-star version of Mount Juliet! It has a similar peaceful, verdant landscape with long-established trees, gentle rolling hills and a little water too: adding up to 18-holes of classic inland Irish golf. Faithlegg offers a gentle round of golf in the old walled estate.
Waterford Castle Architects: Smyth & Brannigan (1988). 18 holes: 6,209m: Par 72.
A rarity anywhere and unique in Ireland: a golf resort on an island! In the middle of the river suir and accessed by the shortest car-ferry ride in the western world, Waterford Castle sits in splendid isolation surrounded by water on all sides. This makes it a lovely peaceful place to play amidst the lush greenery of the island. Staying at the castle makes Waterford Castle a wonderful place for an escapist golfbreak.
Tramore Architect: C. Tippett (1927). 18 holes: 6,055m: Par 72.
Down near the coast but not in sight of the water, Tramore is the oldest Club in the area and has the most traditional set-up with plenty of members, giving it quite a different feel from the surrounding resort-style Golf Clubs in Waterford. Tramore is a strong and natural test of golf that winds its away through copses of oaks and thickets of pines and dances back and forth over the wee stream that crosses the course. A course with a few tricky corners that need a little familiarisation (maybe a second round?) and fittingly ranked in Ireland's top thirty.
Waterford Architects: Park & Braid. 18 holes: 5,722m: Par 71.
On a hill above the town, an elevated Clubhouse and starting/finishing holes afford views over Waterford and the river. Tree-lined Fairways delineate the holes and rise and fall across the sloping hillside. Lots of members, so busy at weekeneds but a lovely spot for a quiet midweek round.
Rosslare Architects: Hawtree/Taylor/O‘Connor Jnr.(1905) 18 + 9 holes: 5,920m: Par 72.
Strictly speaking, Rosslare is not at all in County Waterford (it's in Wexford) but, as many visiting golfers will be travelling through Rosslare harbour it makes sense to stop off for a game at the only links course in the deep Southeast of Ireland. And Rosslare is every inch a pure traditional links on a short peninsula that juts out into the Irish Sea. The dunes are not enormous, but the soil is sandy providing fast running golfing conditions so you will need all of your links skills to master it. There is a good hotel and quite a few simple Guesthouses just only minutes from the First Tee so a late arriving/departing ferry can easily be accommodated.
Other courses to consider
St. Helen‘s Bay Architect: P. Walton. 18 holes: 6,091m: Par 72.A 1980s development with self-catering apartments on-site and a golf course that winds through the countryside before the finishing flourish alongside the Irish Sea.