 Opened
for limited play in the summer of 2001, Doonbeg Golf Links opens
for general play in 2002 and will quickly take its place among
the great courses of the Irish southwest. Within the parish of
Doonbeg in County Clare, the links land that remains untouched
by time sits astride a rugged piece of Atlantic coastline and
will soon rank with Ballybunion and Lahinch as one of the finest
golf courses in Ireland.
The rolling
seaside dunes of Doonbeg were first identified by the founding
fathers of Lahinch as having potential for a golf course, as
early as 1892. The officers of the Scottish Black Watch Regiment
had searched far and wide for the perfect coastal site and as
legend has it, the dramatic links land of Doonbeg was their
first choice. Lahinch was chosen due to transportation issues
and rail services of the time and so was born Lahinch. Due to
19th century economics, Doonbeg would have to wait for another
100 years for its potential to be tapped.
Doonbeg Golf Links is the creation of Kiawah
Resort Associates in association with Landmark International.
They have presented legendary designer and twice Open Champion,
Greg Norman with a true links site of soaring, grassy dunes
rising almost 100 feet above the crashing shoreline of the Atlantic
Ocean. In much the same way that Kingsbarns Golf Links in Scotland
and the Old Head Golf Links have burst onto the list of the
world's finest links courses, Doonbeg will soon be recognised
as being in the same category.
Of the many lines written about Doonbeg Golf
Links in the past and the countless words yet to be penned,
there exists one simple verse written by an unknown author that
best describes the scene:
"You have heard in song and story of
the beauties of all lands,
Of their hills and dales and mountains, and their rivers, lakes
and strands,
But of all those wondrous places you can read of, hear and see,
There are none of them to rival Old Doonbeg by the sea."
Such is what awaits you at Doonbeg Golf Links. |
