Yourcaddy #6 | Page 51

Riba Golf Course Arriving at the venue can be a little puzzling, the mind’s eye expects to be greeted by the typical visual treat of manicured lawns adorned with swish villas and apartments, but the 2 courses sit on a protected belt of land for the conservation of the regions cork trees. The land was due to undergo huge development through the 00’s including a hotel and country club but a change in local government and the intervention of conservation groups scuppered those plans to leave two magnificent courses in the tranquillity of the countryside. We played Riba 1, a Peter Townsend designed course aimed at tournament standard golf, it’s a good venue for any competition but from the forward tees is still very playable and enjoyable for the club golfer. The first course is tighter than the second at Riba and this promotes accurate shot making decisions from the very first tee. The front 9 is about staying calm and picking your spots, taking a driver on a number of the tees is the wrong decision, a well struck long iron or hybrid allows you to get the ball in play and find the angles to approach each. YOURCADDY MAG - ISSUE 06 | 51