Faldo adds new test to Ballyliffin

These are exciting times for Ballyliffin Golf Club with Nick Faldo expressing his delight with modifications made to the Old Links on a recent visit and the club now focused on attracting the Irish Open in the near future.

The alterations which Faldo has made to the Old Links added an extra dimension to Ballyliffin's Pro-Am which took place July 30/31. It was played over the Old Links and the equally spectacular Glashedy links, co-designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, which has hosted the North West of Ireland Open and the Ladies Irish Open. Ballyliffin is in Donegal, on the northern coast of Ireland.

Killarney can boast a national treasure in the enhanced Killeen

No golf course can be more beautifully situated than The Killeen at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, especially now that architect Tom McKenzie has brought it into even closer commune with Lough Leane. It's impossible to stand on the first tee there and not become entranced by the sound of the lake lapping at their feet and sight of the clustered peaks of the McGillicuddy Reeks towering to the right.

McKenzie's brief was to upgrade all the tee-boxes and putting surfaces to modern standards; redirect a stream or two; move a few bunkers and introduce a state-of-the-art irrigation system. His work is seen to best effect on the third and fourth holes, where his relocated greens hug the shore tighter than a clinging child.

Yet the Killeen course is just 100 yards longer than it was in 1991 and 1992 when Nick Faldo won back-to-back Irish Open titles there.

Stella Maris is Ireland’s 2006 Hideaway of the Year as well as Small Hotel of the Year 2006.

Stella Maris, which was named 2006 Hideaway of the Year by noted Irish food and hospitality critic Georgina Campbell, welcomes visitors to Ireland’s West Coast.
Located in Ballycastle, County Mayo, it reflects a charm not often found in hospitality. You will find Stella Maris rural, yet comfortable; familiar, yet another world; stimulating, yet relaxing; strong, yet delicate. The first-class service provided by the local staff punctuates their commitment to your comfort.

This commitment has led to Stella Maris Country House Hotel being named Small Hotel of the Year 2006 by the Irish Golf Tour Operators Association. With twelve rooms, an award-winning restaurant, top-shelf cocktail lounge and 100-foot conservatory overlooking Bunatrahir Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Stella Maris is unique. Members of Ireland’s Blue Book and Historic Hotels of Europe and recommended by most high-quality food and independent tour guides.

Carton House, Kildare, Ireland

Carton House opened as a luxury 165 bedroom hotel in June 2006
It was built in 1739 and designed by famous architect, Richard Castles. It was originally home to the 19th Earl of Kildare.  Carton is home to two magnificent golf courses, The O’Meara, a stunning parkland spread and The Montgomerie, a unique ‘inland links’ style creation. This magnificent course was home to the 2005 & 2006 Nissan Irish Open It was also winner of the 2004 Best New Design Award in Golf World Magazine and was ranked in the top 10 courses by US Golfers Digest Magazine.

Doonbeg Opens Lodge & Clubhouse

Doonbeg Golf Club in West Clare opened the Lodge and accommodation phase of this €150 million development in May, 2006. To date, the project has seen the construction of the Lodge, the clubhouse and the interconnected accommodation in the Garden, Norman and Courtyard Suites. The magnificent Lodge building which is the centrepiece of the entire development looks out over the first tee and the eighteenth green. It contains 15 luxury suites, dining and bar facilities and a state-of-the-art spa, White Horses.

John Daly Link Opened New Blarney Golf Resort
Daly’s First European Course
John Daly, one of world golf’s most colorful players officially opened the Blarney Golf Resort, Co Cork, Monday, 4 July, 2006. This is the first course to be designed by John Daly in Europe. A two time Major winner Daly has been one of golf’s great personalities since he burst on the world’s golf stage with victory in the 1991 US PGA Championship. He also won the 1995 British Open. The complex which has as its centrepiece a John Daly designed championship course also comprises a 62 bedroom Ramada Hotel, 56 luxury self catering golf lodges and the Sentosa Spa. The resort has been created on a magnificent 164 acre site in the beautiful Shornaugh Valley.

Dooks GC, Glenbeigh, Co Kerry

Dooks was a 9 hole course until the members themselves designed and built 9 extra holes which opened in 1970. In 2002 it was decided to invite Martin Hawtree, Golf Architect of international renown to enhance the layout of the course. In 2006 the project was completed and Dooks now has 16 redesigned holes, which have added to the golfing challenge and will test even the very best of players.

New Golf Course and Hotel Complex

DONALD Trump, the American billionaire, has proposed a major golf course and hotel complex on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire in northeast Scotland. It will be know as the Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, The project includes two championship links golf courses; a 450-room, five-star hotel; 650 holiday homes; a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse; a 10,000-square-foot conference center; and a spa. The property developer, whose mother was born on Stornoway in the Western Isles, expects that work will begin in September 2006 , with an official opening in spring 2008.

Course Number 7

The Links Trust is creating a new 18 hole course to join its portfolio of six courses. It will be a public course, open all year round and is hoped to be ready for play in 2007.

Following the coastline east of St Andrews, the seventh course is two miles from the town centre.Work on the ground began early in 2005.

The designer, David McLay Kidd, creator of Bandon Dunes on the West Coast of America, intends to create a typical Scottish golf experience. Each hole has a choice of five tees and the course will be playable between about 5300-7200 yards.

Plan of Course No.7 drawn by David McLay Kidd Golf Design. The clubhouse will be
situated at the point marked by the red circle.