I played this course several years ago in the annual Northern Ireland Open ProAm and it’s a course that matures well with age, unfortunately the weather today isn’t as nice as yesterday but I crash my driver down the fairway on this 437-yard dogleg right hole it is certainly a testing opener for both amateurs and professionals. The 2nd is another dogleg right played to a long thin green.
Water comes into play on the next three holes, but is more apparent on the 4th where you play over the water with your tee shot with water running down both sides of the fairway and comes into play again protecting the front of the green as you play your approach shot. It may only be 323-yards but it can certainly ruin a scorecard if you take it too lightly.
Top: Looking back down the 18th hole. Above LtoR: 3rd, 8th and 10th holes
The 5th is the first of the par 3s on the front nine and again is played over a stream to a green that is protected by two bunkers. The other par 3 on this nine comes at the 7th and again water comes into play and anything short and right will be wet, the stonewall behind the pond gives the hole a visual appeal.
The front nine comes to a close with the 513-yard par 5 which is certainly reachable in two because I am standing over an eagle putt that I leave short by two rolls and like Bevoir yesterday with the back nine opening up with a par 5 that I again have an eagle putt on you can certainly make up any dropped shots on these holes. Oh yes, I missed that eagle putt, as well as the one I also had on the 18th another reachable par 5.
A great start to the day and after a wonderful lunch in the restaurant which I highly recommend you try their cheeseburger we are onto our coach and off to Portstewart to play our second 18 of the day.
