The Golf Digest Top 100 Irish courses has been announced and as always it has regurgitated up some controversial choices.
Royal County Down (have they put down yardage markers yet?) is the undisputed heavyweight champion of Ireland according to the judging panel. Indeed links courses dominate the top-10 in the rankings with Adare the only parkland course to squeeze in there at number 8.
Great to see new courses getting some recognition in the list. Barry O’ Connor from 
Killeen Castle (Solheim Cup 2011 venue) and Lynn McCool’s Lough Erne are the top two New courses coming in at 14 and 22 respectively. Mick Fee in Concra Wood in Castleblayney also has reason to crack open the champers with a deserving 39th place listing.
Further down the rankings the controversial choices appear. It seems like the Old Head have been rolled out the two fingers again by the panel with 47th on the list. Is Baltray 39 places better than the Kinsale venue? Jaysus lads, not to sure about that one!
Pic: Harsh red cards for Dromoland, Slieve Russell and Old Head.
And what about Dromoland Castle who many regard as giving Adare a run for its money only making 65th on the list? Dave Foley and his team need to take this one to the European Court of Justice after getting the hump.
Bet hey its a hard job picking Ireland’s Top Courses and at the end of the day its all a bit of fun. Its not as if millions of people are going to read the list and just head for the top courses on the list. And sure the employment prospects of the countless staff of brilliant courses like the Slieve Russell who have been given a kick up the arse ranking of 42nd wont really be affected by the list. Or will they?
Here’s The Top 25 Irish Courses according to the 2011 Golf Digest Rankings
| Rank | Course |
| 1 | Royal County Down |
| 2 | Portmarnock GC |
| 3 | Royal Portrush |
| 4 | European Club |
| 5 | Ballybunion |
| 6 | Waterville |
| 7 | Lahinch |
| 8 | Adare |
| 9 | Baltray |
| 10 | Tralee |
| 11 | Rosses Point |
| 12 | The Island |
| 13 | Mount Juliet |
| 14 | Killeen Castle |
| 15 | K Club Palmer |
| 16 | Ballyliffin - Glasheedy |
| 17 | Enniscrone |
| 18 | Royal Dublin |
| 19 | Murvagh |
| 20 | Portstewart -Strand |
| 21 | Rossapenna- sandy Hills |
| 22 | Lough Erne |
| 23 | Killarney-Killeen |
| 24 | Carlow |
| 25 | Belmullet |
3 comments:
Hi Donal, some fairly strong comments in there but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine would be slightly different from yours and while personally I would have some courses in different positions (as you mentioned) you have to say that for the most part the Top 100 is fairly sound. I think overall the list is getting fairer and better as each year goes by but as the old saying goes "you'll never please everyone" and I don't think it's possible to produce something that everyone will agree with. John.
Thanks John. I just wish the awards were broken down down into several categories so that the smaller gems could feature and have something to smile about too. there's too many jobs at stake here and one big list just doesnt seem right at this time. A more sensitive approach is in order. I'd love to see a greater representation of judges also. Starting with me!
Congratulations to the forward thinking, hard working greenstaff at Portsalon Golf Club who have ben rewarded with a Digest upgrade in their rankings. It's a pleasure to play the course and things can only get better under Paul McGinley's supervision and Head greenkeeper Johnnie Shiels' dedication. Keep up the great work.
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