Enniscrone Dunes, Eire

www.enniscronegolf.com

White tees par 73 SSS 73
Red tees par 73 SSS 73



Golf started in Enniscrone at the end of the first World War but the first written record was in 1922 when the local newspaper announced that medal competitions were being played at Enniscrone Golf Links but it was not until 1930 that nine holes were laid out and the course was formally opened a year later when the annual membership fee was £1.  During and after the second World War the
fortunes of the club foundered and it wasn't until the late 1950s that the club revived because of an influx of labour into the area.  In 1974 a new 18 hole course designed by Eddie Hackett, the great Irish golf course designer, was opened.  Donald Steel was commissioned in 1999 and added six new holes in the dunes to the main course and three more on the flat land to make the smaller Scurmore course and these were opened in 2001.



The second shot at the 1st hole enters the dunes

Enniscrone Dunes can be summed up as towering dunes, tight lines, difficult greens and a number of blind shots.  This is definitely a course which rewards the straight hitter as even a shot slightly off line will be punished with heavy rough at most of the holes.  We were lucky to play it on a day with little wind - add strong winds and it must be almost impossible.

The tenth hole is in the flat section of the course

After the first drive along flat land the hole doglegs into the dunes with the green, like many, cut into the slopes.  The next three holes wind between the dunes and are picturesque but tricky.  The course then opens out onto flatter land which is the weakest part of the course but has some Eddie Hackett holes with interesting green complexes.  The ninth and tenth run along Scurmore beach and then the next ascent into the dunes begins.  The next stretch is particularly attractive starting with a lovely par 3 with a two tier green.  The 13th is a short par 4 with a blind shot from the tee with an unusual traffic light system which lets the golfer know when to play. 

The fourteenth hole from behind the green
The Knoc na gCorp dune can be seen in the background

The 14th ('Valley of Diamonds') is a tough par 5 with a double dogleg up to a green nestled in the dunes.  It is dominated by the Knoc na gCorp (or Hill of the Dead) dune on the left which legends says was formed by the locals piling up bodies of defeated Viking raiders!  The next three holes follow the Atlantic Ocean with the 15th a difficult par 4 with the green cut into the side of the dunes - anything short or right ends up in a deep swale.  The 17th is a delightful par 3 only marred by an ugly caravan park behind the green.


The view from behind the 16th green, a most attractive par 5

Worth playing?  Yes for the beauty of the dunes but only if you don't mind blind shots and tight lines.