CARLOW GC - Classic Design in the Irish midlands - PHOTO tour

[Sean_A]

Speaking of Carlow...I brought this old tour back because of Ally's comments on another thread.

I think you are right about reverse doglegs...or the landing zone needs to be very wide...or cheatable on the inside.  These holes must be hard to pull off because I see many bad examples.

Ciao

[Keith Durrant]

Thanks for posting the photos - thoroughly enjoyed my round there, 20 years ago. Holes 7, 16 and 17  stick in the mind, with great movement in the land giving a links-like feel.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Surprised that I missed this photo tour the first time around. Great photos that bring back memories.


Played it way back in 1985 and have never forgotten the 16th. I also remember a very good hole on the top of the hill early in the second nine; it looks like the 12th in your pictures. Was a tough course, but also a good one. I'd put it in the same league as Malone and Belvoir Park. Definitely worth playing.


Had a quick look in the book titled "The Pocket Guide to Golf Courses Ireland" (which is a really nice book by William Fforde, Peter Millhouse and the former pro Greg Turner) and they mention Cecil Barcroft (1922), Hawtree & Taylor, then some changes in 1931 from discussions with Alistair Mackenzie, Simpson & Gourlay (1936), some more minor changes in 1940 possibly on recommendations by John Morrison and finally Donald Steele (1984) with modifications to holes 10 & 18. According to William Gibson's book (taken from The Irish Golfer's Blue Book 1939), Simpson (no mention of Gourlay) re-designed ten greens in 1937.


Padraig: did you break 70? According to Frank Pennink "few of the cream of amateur golfers in Ireland manage to break 70 in the Midland Scratch Cup."


PS. Just found (had a hunch I had something on Carlow, but couldn't remember) that I have a book on Carlow titled "The Captain's Table - Carlow Golf Club 1899-2004" by Séamus Connellan. Will have a look in it and report back.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Which would be other older Irish inland courses of note, ie not modern generation big-name/big-money/resort ventures?
atb

Thomas,


I've played Carlow, Malone (from the 1960s; not the Mackenzie course), Belvoir Park (Colt), Lisburn, and Mullingar (Braid). I think Lisburn is from the 1970s by one of the Hawtrees, but the others are old. I enjoyed Mullingar, especially the par 3 second hole. I've heard that the Castle (can't remember if it's a Colt design or not) in Dublin city is also quite good.


I haven't played Birr, but I've seen a few photos and it looks quite interesting as it's hilly in spots.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Tom Doak and Tommy Williamson asking about Carlow on another thread so I’ll bump this one as a reminder.