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Tony_Muldoon

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The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« on: August 27, 2008, 03:46:36 PM »
I recently visited Arklow about an hour south of Dublin, with no golfing expectations and nothing more to recommend it than a nod from fellow GCA’er Jack Marrinan.   I was staying locally during their Open week and firstly I must say it’s a great club to visit, with a lovely modest clubhouse situated looking down over the course and the sea.  The staff and members are very welcoming and to see Harrington win the PGA surrounded by them made for a great evening.

The course started as a 9 hole links but was later expanded into 18 and is currently being up graded with a couple of new holes and 18 new greens by Eddie Conaughton who was previously unknown to me.  I’m not sure if it’s a proverb or just something my friend Adam likes to say but “only a fool or a wife criticises a job before it’s finished.”  So consider this an interim report. However I’m confident that in years to come Arklow will become better known, as a good and interesting test of golf and for having one of the wildest sets of greens I’ve ever seen.   About 15 have been finished so far and the rest will be done this winter. The starter said to me “if you like what we’ve done so far just comeback next year.”

From the blue tees the first opens with a really inviting shot with a fall of 30’ to the fairway.



If the first is gentle the second is great.  Into the wind  419 yards, stay left off the tee or face a blind second shot to what you suddenly realise is another large and heavily contoured green.



Next a corking par 3 where the flanks of the greens are hidden by low dunes.  (I'm not 100% sure the two half hidden bunkers are needed)



The course now runs back along the sea with the two most attractive holes

4,  368 yards (45 of which are Green)


And my favourite the 5th.   Put you ball as close as you can to that bunker on the right for 451 yards of fun and one of the most beautifully rippled fairway ever.



6, huge dogleg round a Dune 420 yards first shot from behind and then the green which has to be 40 yards wide by 28 deep, great fun.





7
Short (139 yards) but troubling.   Green is 17 yards deep and raked to receive a shot. But take out the risk and go long and  you’ll risk getting wet with your chip back.  Not very subtle but it’s amazing how many members choose to lay up even at this distance.




8, only 306 but straight into the wind, big bunker to the front and green 43 yards long.
From an elevated tee




9  194 yards, Jack Marr tells me all this shaping is new but after only one season it sits well.



There’s a ditch to the right of this and it gives a clue that the dunes land is running out.

To be continued
« Last Edit: August 27, 2008, 05:34:26 PM by Tony_Muldoon »
Let's make GCA grate again!

Jack_Marr

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Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2008, 03:55:39 PM »
I had the pleasure of playing here with Tony last week. I've always liked this course. There's a few holes that GCAers won't like, I'm sure, but overall it is a fun course. The recent improvements are the best. Reshaping greens and adding some mounding and bunkers. Well worth a visit, in my opinion.
John Marr(inan)

Scott Witter

Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2008, 04:50:50 PM »
I have never visited this course, but from the pictures, the title of the thread seems appropriate ;)

So it goes that a great set of putting surfaces can really make a course interesting to play and enhance the overall experience worth the visit.

Brent Hutto

Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2008, 04:56:01 PM »
Quote
And as we walked
Through the streets of Arklow
And gay perfusion
In god's green land
And the gypsy's rode
With their hearts on fire
They say "We love to wander,"
"Lord we love,"
"Lord we love to roam..."

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2008, 05:10:39 PM »
Aren't we all so lucky that there are so many courses, both sides of the Atlantic, under the radar, that are so charming? Great or good is not an issue. What matters is that they give pleasure to the golfer. Thanks, as always, for the chance to visit via photos.

Tony_Muldoon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2008, 05:31:08 PM »
In the second half you move out of the dunes land.  However the land drains well and links lover that I am, I’ll reluctantly admit that the standard of golf holes might even move up a notch or two.  This was the second wettest summer on record in Ireland and yet the ball ran on the fairways pretty much throughout.    Although the character of the course changes (visually) it plays as one course.

10 dogleg right 408 yards, you know there’s a ditch the far side of the fairway but as you can’t see it the doubts start to creep in. This green will change this year but even today it features a big back to front slope.




11  - OK I will criticise. One thing that will stop this course rising too far in the rating is that holes 3, 9 and 11 are all par 3’s  facing in the same direction and don’t have enough difference to make all 3 very good.




12 has some interesting fairway ridges and a 41 yard green with nice fall offs.





13 is also set to change.  But having a lake in front is cool. It’s not really in play but visually it takes you further from the idea you're playing in dunesland. Generally you're concentrating so much on the shots you don't realise you've left the sea behind.



14 I think this will be lengthened from 374, but it’s a nice idea having the green fall away to the back right on a downwind hole. Of course the right place for the bunker is front left. this shot is form behind.




15

451 yards with wind assisting will tempt many to try and clear the pond.  But even if you do the green is severely raised and you’ll often, still have work to do.




16 MMMM....
This mis one of the most imposing tee shots I know of. There’s miles of fairway right but you are intimidated into playing left.




Apparently the hole used to be a straight on, with a green near those trees, and into the wind it must have been a mighty 4(and a better hole according to a few I talked to).  But now it’s 509 yards and blind for the 3rd shot unless you hit your second towards the stream on the left. You are then left with this.  (Let’s just say 14 of the 15 new holes are pretty great so hopefully this one will be revised.)




17 Good par 4. 447 yards with the stream all along the left and then crossing over 20 yards in front of the green



18 great 5 finisher, with a green that looks extraordinary and must be 60 yards by 25, doglegging away from you.  There’s a huge grass fall off to the front right.



Arklow reminded me a little of Portsalon the way it moved out of the dunes to become another course. I’ll wager it will be the better course of the two when finished.

6383 yards. Par 69 and with the most fun set of new greens around.   In order to have those contours it probably stimps rather slow.  But as any long putt will have to move across severe slopes the actual stimp readings would change from about 3 to 12 on the same putt.  Praise to Eddie Conaughton and the members for giving us these great greens. They played well this summer but with time I believe they’ll improve further.

Well worth a detour if your heading south from Dublin and only  15 mins from the European Club.   Play before 10am (!? This IS Ireland) and it’s only 30 euro’s – even Bunkerman would approve of that!


« Last Edit: August 27, 2008, 05:40:40 PM by Tony_Muldoon »
Let's make GCA grate again!

Tony_Muldoon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2008, 05:42:44 PM »
Quote
And as we walked
Through the streets of Arklow
And gay perfusion
In god's green land
And the gypsy's rode
With their hearts on fire
They say "We love to wander,"
"Lord we love,"
"Lord we love to roam..."

Thank you Brent, I can rest knowing that evenif I have never persuaded someone on here to part with a green fee for an unknown course, at least one person has bought a CD on my recommendation.  ;D
Let's make GCA grate again!

Jon Nolan

Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2008, 05:57:32 PM »
I believe my uncle actually lives on that course.  I was home in January and went by his house three days in a row.  Nobody there.  Come to find out he was chasing a little white ball about that place all three days.

He's never invited me to play though.  Looks like I might have to press the issue next time.  ;-)

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2008, 06:09:10 PM »
Yo Tony

Thanks for posting.  I have long wanted to see pix of Arklow and these don't disappoint.  There are a few wierd things happening on the back, but overall the course looks very fine. 

Ciao

Bunkerman?
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Richard Boult

Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2008, 06:12:36 PM »
added to our GCA Photo Tour directory at:

http://delicious.com/golfclubatlas/Ireland

Tony_Muldoon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2008, 06:16:21 PM »
I believe my uncle actually lives on that course.  I was home in January and went by his house three days in a row.  Nobody there.  Come to find out he was chasing a little white ball about that place all three days.

He's never invited me to play though.  Looks like I might have to press the issue next time.  ;-)

On or next to the course?  I only ask because half hidden y the trees at the end of the tarmac in this picture you can see there is a house by the 18th.



I spoke with the owner who is an ex fisherman who sells buckets of found balls at excellent rates.  I asked him how long he'd lived there?


"All my life, and my family 200 years before that".


Thanks Art.
Let's make GCA grate again!

Jon Nolan

Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #11 on: August 27, 2008, 08:21:18 PM »
Hi Tony. 

Tongue in cheek.  He lives across town.  But he might as well move in with your fisherman and save himself the walk down.

Paul_Turner

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2008, 09:10:32 PM »
I'm going to be a bit of a grump. 

I'm looking at the photos in Larry Lambrecht's "Emerald Links", comparing with Tony's photos and wondering why the 6th green was altered and those dumb mounds added at the back ???

It obvious that green of that quality shouldn't have been changed.
can't get to heaven with a three chord song

Mark Bourgeois

Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2008, 12:51:15 AM »
Paul or Tony who did the original nine?

Those are some greens on the front!

Thanks for posting, Tony.

Mark

Tony_Muldoon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2008, 01:28:34 AM »
http://www.arklowgolflinks.com/

Details are scarce but the C&W version would be Hawtree & Taylor 9 holes, later extended to 18 others who worked on the course would be Hackett and Conaughton ( who seems to be pritching for remoddeling without rerouting see http://www.eddiebconnaughtonltd.ie/ContentBuilder/DisplayPage.aspx?DataId=DA000019 ).

Can Paul or anyone post a picture of the old 6th?   For the most part the "humps" areound the greens are well done, and being new will soften in effect.   I was expecting some to ask if any of the work was overdone, as it's certainly extreme to the point where the danger of leaving one or two old greens was that they would have stood out. As you have guessed, overall I'm in favour and they do tie the holes into one course accross a variety of terrain.
Let's make GCA grate again!

Paul Nash

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Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #15 on: August 28, 2008, 04:04:29 AM »
I have just started a new job and will be based in Dublin 3 days/ week from next week - so hopefully a bit of golf will follow when I get settled - this course looks an absolute bargain at €30 compared to the prices I have heard about for others in the area.

Jeff Johnston

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #16 on: May 06, 2014, 05:45:59 AM »
on the basis of giving credit where its due, I thought I'd give this thread a bump.

I played an open comp at Arklow GC Sunday past and am still wondering over the job they have done with the greens. I'd played the place a couple of times casually last summer, but it was only on Sunday that I really appreciated how good they are (likely because of the comp pin positions, which tended towards the back of the green in a lot of cases - giving opportunity to play over / assess the full extent of the green) . Big greens, lots of interesting movement (without being OTT) and, in a lot of cases, open green fronts so the Texas wedge is often the sensible option (for me anyway) and is a LOT of fun to play. The club should be proud of what they've done here IMO.

One gripe - I'm really not a fan of the 16th. Wonder if there are any plans to chnage it at all?

Ally Mcintosh

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Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #17 on: May 06, 2014, 05:55:30 AM »
Jeff,

I think these greens by Eddie Connaughton and DAR construction are one of the best modern sets in Ireland... Not all 18 were remodelled. The excellent fall away 14th was one of the two or three left untouched.... Unfortunately I didn't know the original 6th that Paul is referring to but love the new green aside from the two artificial mounds at the rear - The green works really well for the approach angles though.

Martin Lipsett is the head green keeper and is a real architecture fan and I think is doing wonderful work there.

I'm sure those trees round 18 have been removed.

I don't know of any plans at the moment (with 16 or the rest of the course) but I'm sure they are not resting on their laurels...

Jeff Johnston

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #18 on: May 06, 2014, 12:53:48 PM »
Ally, pretty sure you're right those trees are gone on 18 - now a nice view from the car park straight down the last.

I agree with you that the 6th green is beautifully angled, and putts very nicely. The mounding could maybe be turned down a tad though. I didnt have the pleasure of seeing the former 6th green either. With the length of that green, if the pin is back (as it was on Sunday) it plays a nice mental trick on the golfer. As you're looking at it on approach you almost cant believe the flag can be the one you're playing to - it looks so far right that you almost think its on a different hole (though know it cant be).

All credit to Mr Lipsett, his team and the club.

Tony_Muldoon

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Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #19 on: July 03, 2014, 05:07:31 PM »
Jeff I missed your bump this year glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. Can you identify any changes since my visit in 2008?


IN this months Through the Green there's a fascinating profile of EB Tipping 1888-1979, a fine golfer and a pilot in WWW1. Amongst the many interesting facts we learn that he played amateur Golf for Ireland against England in 1906 and then in 1930 for England against Ireland.

More pertinently he retired to the Arklow area after WWW11 and was involved in  the general layout of the current 18. The article reveals that the course as designed by Hawtree and Taylor 1927, was all much closer to the sea. In 1936 the southern end was washed away and by 1943 only 9 holes remained. IN 1966 the land to the south was sold and became a quarry and that meant the 4th and 5th holes were lost to a road allowing access.  IN 1990 the Club bought an adjoining farm inland but still the sea kept hammering way. It wasn't until the early 1990's that Roadstone built a rampart to protect the road that runs adjacent to the course.  According to a past captain “He had a decisive influence  on remodelling the course at Arklow”.


Given that the original course was most likely all true links land, was it ever written up? How good was it?



Let's make GCA grate again!

Ally Mcintosh

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Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #20 on: July 04, 2014, 03:57:54 AM »
Jeff I missed your bump this year glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. Can you identify any changes since my visit in 2008?


IN this months Through the Green there's a fascinating profile of EB Tipping 1888-1979, a fine golfer and a pilot in WWW1. Amongst the many interesting facts we learn that he played amateur Golf for Ireland against England in 1906 and then in 1930 for England against Ireland.

More pertinently he retired to the Arklow area after WWW11 and was involved in  the general layout of the current 18. The article reveals that the course as designed by Hawtree and Taylor 1927, was all much closer to the sea. In 1936 the southern end was washed away and by 1943 only 9 holes remained. IN 1966 the land to the south was sold and became a quarry and that meant the 4th and 5th holes were lost to a road allowing access.  IN 1990 the Club bought an adjoining farm inland but still the sea kept hammering way. It wasn't until the early 1990's that Roadstone built a rampart to protect the road that runs adjacent to the course.  According to a past captain “He had a decisive influence  on remodelling the course at Arklow”.


Given that the original course was most likely all true links land, was it ever written up? How good was it?





My father-in-law was a member back in 1960 and can certainly remember a few of the holes that were washed away and lost to the quarry...

I'm not sure it was ever a great course though, Tony... If so, surely someone would have written up more about it?... For instance, Rosslare to the south has more about it in the annals... That said, history is always written about courses that hold championships.... And if Arklow was too short / small for this then maybe it flew just under the radar...

Thomas Dai

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #21 on: July 04, 2014, 04:13:30 AM »
I hadn't spotted this tour before but Arklow looks thoroughly pleasant golf to me so thanks for highlighting it Tony. Many of the green complexes appear very interesting with seemingly demanding up-n-downs if you miss in the wrong spot.

I also looked at the clubs website - the course is 6,000 yds from the yellow tees but 6,500 yds from the back/blue tees. The front-9 being much shorter than the back-9. Par-69 from both sets of tees. I'd be interested to play Arklow as par-69's at 6,500 yds are usually far from easy for normal hcp folk.

atb

Jeff Johnston

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Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #22 on: July 04, 2014, 04:33:37 AM »
Interesting to read that history Tony. While I agree with you in general that the club has done well with the less linksy land on the back 9 (subject to one caveat below), a full 18 on linksy terrain, with the benefit of the reshaping highlighted in this thread, would be a real treat to play. The caveat is the 16th - I have played the course again since posting above, and was confirmed in my view that that hole is a bit unsatisfactory (the only one on the course you could say that about IMO, so not a big quibble).

As for other changes....on 10 the clump of trees to the right on approach have gone, and the green is possibly a little to the left of the position shown.

Other main changes are on 12/13. 12 fairway now sits closer to the flanking dune in the left of your pic of 12 green, with the new 12 green consequently sitting more underneath that flanking dune than before. Green is also slightly more raised now, so approach needs to be well struck to be up. A solid hole. You now leave the 12th green to the right for 13 tee (looks like the opposite was previously the case in your pic Tony) - so the previous partial blindness on 13 tee (going by the pic) is now gone. Just going on the pics, my guess would be that these 2 holes are much improved now.

Jim Eder

Re: The Rolling Greens of Arklow. Pictures
« Reply #23 on: December 17, 2014, 05:47:07 PM »
Tony,

Thank you for the photo tour. This is a course that came to my attention from the top 100 courses thread/site. Was nice to get this validation. Looking forward to playing the course. Thanks again for the post.

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