| GOLFING IN COUNTY WICKLOW : “THE GARDEN OF IRELAND”
There are over 80 golf clubs in the East Coast and Midlands area. Lets propose in Co. Wicklow: The European Club, Links / Druids Glen, Parkland / Tulfarris GC, Parkland / Arklow, Links / Woodenbridge GC, Parkland and Wicklow Coastal course. If you like to play tough, the Championship courses and links featured on this proposal are well worth a place on your itinerary. All have proved their strength in the competitive cauldron of European Tour golf. These are thoroughbreds of the highest order and have the pedigree of past performance to claim their place in Irish Golf.
THE EUROPEAN CLUB, Links, Brittas Bay
Ranked 4th Course in Britain & Ireland for Golf Monthly Magazine and ranked 20th in the Top 100 courses in World.
This is a tumbling rolling rising helter-skelter golfers’ delight. Elevated tees, greens, sea side holes – definitely one for your enyoment. The European is a wonderful presentation of modern links with a truly traditional quality. As designer/owner Pat Ruddy advises, ‘one of the important principles odf design is that the handicap golfer is meant to use a handicap stroke to achieve par’. Heed should be taken of this advice for the Europeannis now rated among the top four in Ireland.
 DRUIDS GLEN, Parkland, Newtownmountkennedy
Druids Glen Golf Club you probably first heard of since the playing of the Murphys Irish Open there in 1996. Professional and spectator reaction was so strong that it was played there again in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Venue for Seve Trophy 2002. It has of course been getting raptutous reviews in both Irish and International golf circles. It is without doubt a very special golfing experience. Drawing for inspiration on some of the world’s finist, there are serious comparisons to Augusta National. So in some ways Druids Glen represents a New World reflection in the nidst of Ireland’s ancient Druidic past.
TULFARRIS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, Parkland, Blessington
Tulfarris is set along the Poulaphouka reservoir in the Wicklow Mountains. Delightful lake and mountains scenery accompany the golfer throughout a round on this magnificent Paddy Merrigan designed course. It has an undulating routing through mature woodlands and runs to 7172 yards off the Championship tees. Given its location water, not surprisingly, comes into play on a number of holes. The seventh, a par five, falls into the feature hole category .
ARKLOW GOLF CLUB, Links, Arklow
Tightly routed Links with fine coastal views. Water crosses seven holes and comes into play on a further three holes. It is short at 6000 yards, only par five is at 18, but is a test of accuracy, with 5 par threes. Like most Links it is playable throughout the year. Toughest hole is at 17, a 440 yard dog leg left requiring well placed drive and long second to make the green.
 WOODENBRIDGE, Parkland, Vale of Avoca, Arklow
Woodenbridge is an 18-hole course of parkland nature with a level terrain of play. It nestles in the world-renowned Vale of Avoca, overlooked by the stunning colours of sylvan Hills and traversed by two large rivers, which meander in tranquillitzy but occasionally roar in tumultuous spate. Truly a unique place. Golf here is easy on foot and easy on the eye but don’t let the splendour of its setting fool you, the golfer is faced with many challenging situations where skillful shot making is required. Originally built in 1884 it was subsequently upgraded and transformed in 1992 into its present status of 18 holes under the expert creation of Golf Architect Patrick Merrigan. The course is Always manicured to the finest standards and managed so as to deliver a good course to play the whole year round.
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