Changes at Dooks

[Bill Gayne]

I know that there are a good number of Dooks fans (myself included) that might be interested in the article below from the Irish Independent website.


Brenda excels at delightful Dooks
Monday October 18th 2004  


THERE are few more charming places to play golf than on the Dooks links set near Glenbeigh on the Ring of Kerry between the MacGillicuddy Reeks and Dingle Bay.

The course was established in 1889 and has stood the test of time with few alterations. Now it's time to upgrade both the course and clubhouse. Martin Hawtree has started work on the course with five holes already completed and the next phase will be finished by the start of May 2005.

The famed signature hole, the par three 13th with the saucer green, will also be dug up but traditionalists need not fear it will lose its character. The plan is for it to be extended to allow more pin placements. Course and clubhouse renovations will involve an investment of around €3.4m.

Lady member Brenda Brick, meanwhile, hasn't featured among the prizes at Dooks for quite a while but she made up for some lost time by winning the men's club prize to the ladies recently.

Brenda posted a splendid 67 off 23 to win by four and drop her handicap by two shots. Runner-up Joan Harmon (13) secured the Golfer of the Year Award with a score of 71.

Eileen Breen, who took up the game only four years ago but has already reduced her handicap from 45 to 24, filled third place. Class winners were Else Stern, Agnes Burns and Frankie Bickel.

[Doug Wright]

Thanks for this Bill. Dooks is indeed a unique and special place. I'm glad that "traditionalists need not fear..." May it be so when this is done.  I'm wondering what the other "upgrades" are, and if anyone's seen the complete work to date. What's Martin Hawtree's rep over there?

Best,

[Tim_Weiman]

Bill,

I'll keep my fingers crossed. Dooks is one of the great places in all of golf.....almost prefectly imperfect. Or as a friend from Ballybunion put it: "Dooks is cool....it doesn't deserve to be...it just is".

Hopefully Hawtree understands that before he starts screwing with things like the famous 13th green.

Tim

[Doug Wright]

I visited Dooks in 1994, and really loved it for its quirk and fun. Has anyone visited Dooks since the Hawtree changes were completed in 2006?

[From the Dooks website: "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 renound 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."]

I really hope they didn't screw up the unique par 3 13th, which has (had?) one of the most bizarre and most fun greens anywhere.

[Bart Bradley]

Thought I'd post a couple pics of my trip to the Dooks






Bart

[Ally Mcintosh]

Before and after photos of the 13th green is what I'm searching for here... A long shot I realise...

Or just information in general...

Thanks...