Ireland
Narin & Portnoo Links ReviewCounty Donegal, Ireland
|
Narin & Portnoo Links Overview:
Located along the Atlantic coast of Ireland, this golf course is not as well known as many others, but I believe should be. The most recent design was headed up by Gil Hanse and the Links boasts one of the strongest stretches of oceanside golf holes (6 through 10) on the planet. The rest of the golf course is a combination of either very long and difficult golf holes (2,3,12,13,14,16,18) or somewhat quirky golf holes that add to the variety (1,4,5,11,15). Only the 17th (a par three with a trailer park right behind it) feels like a let down. However, the overall feeling is one of a truly unique golf course in a stunning setting, that requires a lot of good shot making to score well. The best golf holes are reviewed below:
Located along the Atlantic coast of Ireland, this golf course is not as well known as many others, but I believe should be. The most recent design was headed up by Gil Hanse and the Links boasts one of the strongest stretches of oceanside golf holes (6 through 10) on the planet. The rest of the golf course is a combination of either very long and difficult golf holes (2,3,12,13,14,16,18) or somewhat quirky golf holes that add to the variety (1,4,5,11,15). Only the 17th (a par three with a trailer park right behind it) feels like a let down. However, the overall feeling is one of a truly unique golf course in a stunning setting, that requires a lot of good shot making to score well. The best golf holes are reviewed below:
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 1: The first hole is a short par four, but there is OB right, a massive bunker near the fairway and a hidden burn to the left. So, the player can warm up with a couple of mid to short irons or try to start the day with aggression. The green is uphill and going left or short will bound down a hill, making that up and down quite tough. Going right will leave a test chip as well.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 2: After the short first hole, the picturesque second jumps right into a 450+ yard par four. Although downwind, it's a long golf hole and also has three central bunkers to avoid.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 3: The only par five on the front is downwind but very long. There is OB right and a creek that runs the length of the golf hole on that side as well. The hole doglegs slightly to the right, so it plays shorter down the dangerous right side. However, staying left is a fine option from tee to green in order to avoid a big number.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 6: The first par three of the day is a treat as it requires a well struck shot to get over the cavernous valley between the player and the putting surface. The green has a tier separating front from back pins, which can also make a three-putt show up. The view to the right of hte green is one of most stunning Irish bays with a sweeping horseshoe beach.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 7: This par four, even among great links holes, is unusual and great. Not long, and downwind, the player does not need to hit driver, but can. The fairway is tight and undulating. The drive crushed down the left side can catch a hill and roll all the way down to the green. However, going right will cause trouble. The green site is really unusual as the entire right side sits behind a dune and is sandwiched between that dune and the Ocean right behind. Thus, only a spinney wedge will hold on that line. However, the player can run up a shot to the left and trust their flat stick to give them the birdie or par they desire.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 8: This par four is truly unique. It harkens back to #9 at Royal County Down, but this one plays on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The tee shot is uphill and blind with the hazard down the right, but the actual best line is over the very right side of the fairway. The golf hole then hits a massive drop off to the fairway below, revealing one of the most stunning views in golf, and doglegs to the right, meaning shots were hit left of center will likely be in the left rough. The green is fairly wide open but will likely be into the wind, making it a relatively tough one.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 9: Another short par three, this one is flat and the green is shallow and angled. Thus, distance control must be matched up with alignment. The wind can also play a big role, so a punched iron toward the left side of the green is a safe option as well. Views again are amazing.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 10: Like the 8th, the tee shot, if struck well, can fly over a precipice. However, this undulating par five requires a bigger drive to achieve that, which will make going for the green in two a possibility if achieved. If not, the 2nd shot can be played from on top of the hill and the view for the second shot, which has a wide landing area, is beautiful. The green is set uphill and pins set to the right side of the green are much more difficult, bringing the heavy grasses more into play.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 11: A little par three, this one has a quirky green with distinct sections. There is a large dune to the left and devilish little pot bunkers ready to gobble up shots that are just a little bit offline. The view is also beatiful once again.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 14: Another really tough par four, this one is long and tight with no bailout on either side, with heavy rough and/or deep bunkers to contend with. It also plays decidedly uphill with a green that is nestled near the base of a couple of dunes as well.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 15: Normally, uphill par threes are not that memorable, at least for good reasons. However, this one might be the best of its type in the world. Played strongly uphill between two massive dunes (picture 1), the tee shot is daunting as one knows going short or way left or right will be very bad. The green complex, however, shows that the best shot is actually a little right of center (picture 2) as the green is much bigger than it looks from the tee and slopes from right to left. Going left of the visible walking path short of the green will actually miss the green to the left and go way down a hill. The best part, however, is the ultimate reveal when walking up to the green site, which has a stunning 180 plus degree view of the surrounding coastline and Atlantic Ocean.
Narin & Portnoo Links Hole 16: This stunning par four plays into the prevailing wind and is long. From the elevated tee box, the view is outrageously great, but the fairway is narrow with nothing but penalty strokes to the right. Going left will make the golfer contend with high grasses and mounds, making this one of the toughest tee shots of the day. The green is also snuggles along the beach and offers little bailout for the golfer, other than leaving it short and trying to get up and down.
