Douglas
Douglas
Set on a hilltop in Cork city ’ s suburbia , Douglas is well over 100 years old . More recently it has acquired a reputation for two things : the social activities of the members which emphasise how important clubs can be to a community ; and the quality of the greens . Douglas slides gently down a hillside so holes can leave you with tilted lies or downhill / uphill shots … but it ’ s never severe and when the flags come in to view they make delicious targets . It is a shortish par 72 , but you need to avoid the trees , putt extremely well and overcome the excellent late charge of holes from 13 to 17 .
Charleville
The trees wrap around you all day long at Charleville . Hundreds were lost during the 2014 storms but that has only improved this Co . Cork parkland . Holes now have more air without losing any of the challenges . And of those there are plenty , with gently sliding doglegs greeting you on many tee boxes and fairways that put a premium on positioning off the tee . It is not a long course ( par 71 , 6,467 yards , back tees ) with half the holes falling between 350 and 380 yards , but the doglegs come in different sizes , calling for smart golf . Peaceful , embracing and rewarding .
Mallow
Established in 1947 , Mallow is a gentle hillside parkland poised above the town . Trees dominate , many of them ancient and majestic , and it is these that help to define the course . But beware the many sloping and often narrow fairways which will lure your ball towards the rough . It will also leave challenging approach shots to greens in enchanting settings . The Galty Mountains provide the backdrop on a curvaceous , surprisingly challenging course which calls for accuracy off the tee .
Muskerry
The River Shournagh brushes up against this old parkland course , coming in to play on the final three holes and ensuring that there is a sedate and colourful end to a round flowing over a wooded , gorse-laden hillside . It is wild and natural and rarely is a flat lie to be found … save for those final three holes . Alister MacKenzie was involved here , but even without his reputable name this is an adventure worth taking on . Some of those tee shots are absolute beauties and the greens will really test you . In all , there are 23 holes . The main course is a par 71 .
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