Doonbeg Golf Club

My friends and I bought a fourball at Doonbeg in a Rotary Club auction last year and recently incoprorated that game into a golf tour of Ireland. We had heard good things abour Greg Norman's design but until you experience it for yourself there is no way to describe just how good it is. Every hole is a real gem but when you arrive on the 14th tee you know you are bout to play something very special. This hole is proof that you don't need 250 yard par 3s to combat modern technology...this hole measures 111 yards and all four of us were shaking in our boots on the tee! If the 14th wasn't enough then the very next hole is equally as good. Not only is the layout outstanding but so was the condition of the course. Also in the area is Lahinch which was almost as good and if anyone is embarking on a golf tour of Ireland you would be mad to miss either of these world class golf courses. PS - I never expected to find a bunker in the middle of a green!

I echo the previous reports. We played in remarkable benign sunshine conditions on 29 December. The course obviously played long in the wet ground and chill air, but you could not fail to see the magical creation that Greg Norman has crafted at Doonbeg. The first hole sets the scene beautifully playing away from the gargantuan, sumptious clubhouse / lodge into the dunes. There are definitely some weak holes in there, especially on the flatter land at the end of the course which lies below the dunes - like 8, 10, 12 and 17 (which is beside the road where there is now a lot of development of remarkably ugly houses which look like a housing estate rather than million euro houses) - but those minor complaints are in comparison to the standard of the stronger holes and they would have normally held their own on many other courses. The par 3s are as good a collection as you will get, with 9 and 14 being unbelievably stunning in their situation and aspects over the crashing surf on the beuatiful crescent beach. 13, 14 and 15 are as dramatic a three hole stretch as anwyhere you will find. If you can hold your nerve on these three you should be able to hold your score togteher over the last three holes. 18 is a fantastic finishing hole back to the massive lodge, demanding a blind drive into the wind. We hurried the last hole to avoid the rain and adjourned to sum up the round in the gorgeous clubhouse. On the whole you will probably reminisce how the whole exepreience was a bit better than the sum of its individual parts. Add in the scenery and with the American levels of service and the sumptuous surroundings of the lodge your day at Doonbeg will be memorable though.

Played in June 05. Absolutely wonderful course. Spectacular scenery, hideous dunes, blind drives, vicious winds, roller coaster fairways and excellent greens (albeit one with a bunker in the middle!). Temporary clubhouse is small but well decorated with a good Pro Shop and bar - typical Irish hospitality! Changing rooms a bit basic. Stay in Galway for the craic. Can't wait to return.

Played in September 03. Course was in fine shape, and was the first we played on a SW swing. All 8 of us thoroughly enjoyed it, some great scenery, nice people. Couple of negatives - significantly more expensive than other courses in the region, and what's with the bunker in the middle of a green on the back 9? Big positive was the appearance of a beverage cart midway through the round. Overall, I'm not sure we'd return - the price was too high for what it offers.