Best golf courses in Dublin

When it comes to colour, variety and pure intrigue no Irish parkland can compare with Druid’s Glen. This is exhilarating golf and the club possesses the best collection of par threes on the island. Three of them are beautifully drenched in water: the 8th, 12th and 17th.

Much of the back nine is laced with water but, despite the challenges that it entails, this is never anything but an adventure. The 18th is a tough but magnificent closing par four, which climbs all the way to a green with the stunning 1770s Woodstock House (now the clubhouse) as the backdrop.

The Druid’s Glen Resort also boasts a second course: Druid’s Heath.

There are two courses at the five star Carton House resort, 15 miles west of Dublin. The Montgomerie course opened in 2002 and was designed as an inland links. It certainly possesses links features with tumbling and deceptive fairways, deep bunkers and glorious greens. And a few trees.

This is one of Ireland’s toughest courses, especially when the golden rough is up… which also happens to be when the course looks its best, as it did when the Irish Open was hosted here.

Choose the right tee and try not to be heroic: the gentle doglegs can be deceptive and the bunkering is always punishing.

The impressive second course was designed by Mark O’Meara.