Muskerry
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.
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.
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.
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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