Carrick-on-Shannon Golf Club

Carrick-on-Shannon’s eighteen holes provide a sweet taste of Irish golf in County Roscommon, set upon what was once farmland, with the course’s “new” nine holes (from 2003) situated next to Lough Drumharlow as well as the Boyle River, one of the Shannon River’s tributaries. Now, a large percentage of the course is bounded by lush farmland; when I drove in, sheep were grazing near the parking lot fence.

Here, three architects produced eighteen holes as two different, non-consecutive nines that have their own personalities–and were created within two different eras. The prominent John McAllister laid out the “old nine” in 1944, fashioning good holes that sport some interesting twists over an undulating terrain. Along with his associate Marc Westenborg, the accomplished British architect Martin Hawtree inserted a “new nine” which is somewhat more artful but clearly more dramatic. The Hawtree-designed holes begin at the sixth and run through the fourteenth.

COURSE OVERVIEW:

COS is demanding but not grueling. Several of the holes on the original or “old nine” put value on well-placed tee shots. The greens here are often tilted, but they are not too complex otherwise. While the newer nine has what are arguably the three toughest holes (9, 12, and 13), the older half also carries its weight with three difficult par-4s.

Much of the new nine plays up and down a large and steep hill situated virtually in the middle of the course. One might expect the new holes to have a linkslike feel, given that they are open and set by the water. Perhaps so, but they are essentially parkland: fairways are smooth and plush, and they run through scattered trees and by woods; greens are receptive, giving a stronger nod to aerial golf over running shots in most cases. As a group, these newer holes test the full measure of your golfing smarts and skills, and their hilly topography makes for a good walk.

To its credit, this new nine does not go overboard with watery holes (no pun intended). The par-3s, the eighth and tenth, do have significant forced carries, and the marshland runs along the side of nine, but otherwise water plays a minor, complementary role (and only on a couple of other holes).

Both old and new nines were laid out naturally over the terrain, without the kind of manipulation often seen in lavishly over-built, and as a result, over-priced golf courses. There are a few doglegs, but most of the fairways–typically straight but still relatively open–will reward precise shots but forgive the (modestly) errant. The true rigor comes instead from challenging greens, the five genuinely tough par-4s, and several hard or awkward uphill shots on both par-3s and 4s. As such, the course rating from the blue tees is respectable: 70.9 versus scratch of 70. This course will suit a wide range of golfers, but it will also challenge a single-digit or scratch golfer. Through the eighteen, greens generally break as the eye predicts, but they are more difficult to put on the new nine.

NOTEWORTHY HOLES…

The three openers–all par 4s–make for a positive opening to the round. Among them, the second stands out: it is long (440 yards) and its gently rolling fairway gives way to a fierce upslope to a table green. Eighteen is also a solid closer on which a well-positioned drive may set up a birdie.

An Array of Par-3s:

The course sports five par-3s that range from good to outstanding. Hole eight, situated next to Lough Dumbarlow, plays as long as 202 yards. I much prefer a hole like this to an island green, as here the tee shot must fly over water, but there is still some room around the green–mainly on the right–to miss. The ideal shot seems to be a draw; the green is beautifully contoured.

Among the Strongest Holes:

–The 7th: Given the steeply downhill tee shot of this par-5, the atypically long hitter can give this a go in two shots, especially because the green is open in front. The second will likely have to be flown onto the surface when the ground is wet. Enjoy the spectacular views (some eighty feet high) from the tee, but beware of the pond well below you, to the right.

–The ninth: Long par-4 with water pestering the entire left side. Combine this with the trees on the right, and you have a risk-reward aspect on the drive. A hard GIR.

–The fourteenth, a 470-yard par-5 with both uphill and downward movement, features a gracefully curving fairway. The hole concludes on a downhill slope into green that is tilted back to front. A nicely strategic hole, it may be played as a two-shotter, but the fairway broadens before the green to allow for a well-placed layup on the second.

–The 16th is a first-rate, 394-yard par-4 with a steeply uphill approach that plays blindly into a long green (its opening is narrow and flanked by bunkers) set at thirty degrees to the fairway,

Most Challenging:

…and also the most original hole, the 207-yard, uphill thirteenth (index 1) draws protection from its steep slope, making a run-on shot nearly impossible. Given its small, two-tiered green, its shape, and its eerily imposing, monstrous height–it looms above you, even when viewed from the tee–thirteen carries a Gothic-like menace.

A final comment: Although the new nine is the superior one and is finely laid out, Hawtree seemed to have missed an opportunity by omitting what could have been strategic fairway bunkering at the 11th, along with the par-5s.

CONDITIONING:

Everything was basically good, but the smooth and well-groomed bunkers proved excellent. Fairways and greens were, unsurprisingly, a bit waterlogged from the onset of Ireland’s ‘most rainy’ season.

SERVICE/ OTHER:

I paid the reasonable rate online (this course is a great value!), but check-in was self-service, so I could not rate customer service. I met two insightful and friendly members, Carmel and Delores, near the fourteenth tee, and had the great pleasure of chatting with both of them for a while.

SOME CONCLUSIONS:

What may be most impressive about this club is the sheer bang for the buck derived from playing a sound layout amidst this incredibly beautiful setting. I enjoyed it immensely. If you’re a reasonable drive from Carrick-on-Shannon, this is a must-play.