Strandhill Golf Course

I played Strandhill for the first time in the middle of October and found the course to be of a high standard. The opening half a dozen holes are probably the best set of the 18, with the opener a long drive into the breeze followed by some cracking holes along the seashore. The course tends to lose its appeal a little as you head towards the town itself, but picks up again towards the end. The weather was super for the time of year and I managed to better my handicap and take the fiver off my opponent so a good day all round. I can imagine, like all links, that this course is a beast when its blowing a hooley! The club house is still not rebuilt, which spoiled the day little, but we recommend the food and drink in the `Strand` bar in the town.

This is a real fun links course and well worth a visit. I thought some of the sand dunes at St Enodoc in Cornwall were big but you should see the ones at Strandhill. The 5th is a great par 5 - cut the corner off with a drive but still no idea where to hit the ball to for the second as there are so many humps and hollows on the fairway. The green could have some impossible flag placements, we had an easish placement but just missed birdie putt. The 13th has a tiny hidden green between dunes. The 18th is justifiably stroke index 1 and I was glad my match was won before this hole. The clubhouse was being redeveloped when I visited and the pro shop was in a cabin near first tee.