The par three pictured from Portmarnock doesn't get the pub of the famous #15 (?) by the water but I believe it is a better hole. The green is just fabulous.
That's the 12th hole Mike and it was chosen by Ken Moodie of Creative Golf Design as his favourite in Ireland when asked for Golf Digest Ireland. These are his words:
"Although there are many wonderful golf courses in Ireland, and I have played only a relatively small number of them, the hole which has inspired me most is the par 3 12th hole at Portmarnock Golf Club. At 156 yards from the back tee it has all the trade-marks of a great par 3 including foreground interest, an attractive backdrop in the form of dunes, a well defined (and well bunkered) target, a green surface which is largely visible from the tee, and it provides reward for a well struck tee shot while remaining playable for all.
Martin Hawtree has improved this hole further by extending the green some 8-10 yards to the back-right, adding a bunker to cover the new flag position and introducing hollows at the rear of the green to catch a long ball which might otherwise roll back off the dunes and on to the green, thereby providing some stronger championship pin positions. The right edge of the original green finished behind a small knoll which made it invisible from the tee but the green extension provides a glimpse of green to the right of it which entices the golfer to have a go for the flag. Play too far right and the ball will run down the bank and leave you with a very tricky chip back. A gentle ridge was also introduced on the back edge of the green which runs into the putting surface to separate the new portion of green from the remainder. It therefore presents a tricky long putt from the left side, when the flag is on the right, which places a greater emphasis on finding the correct area of the green with the tee shot for a good birdie chance or certain par. The false-front which was retained at the entrance to the green provides an enticing line for the less courageous golfer to the left portion of the putting surface, but if he leaves his tee shot short he will find that the ball will trickle back down the bank, ending some 20-30 yards short of where it landed!"