St. Margaret's Golf & Country Club is acknowledged as one of Ireland's finest new parkland golf courses. The course designers took a couple of hundred acres of farmland and moulded it into a magnificent expanse of parkland with rolling hills and huge undulating greens. The modern design makes wide use of water hazards and this adds to the picturesque rural setting. Given the quality of St. Margaret's, it is no surprise that the course has already hosted three international golfing events. The Ladies Irish Open was played here in 1994 and '95 and was a favourite haunt of then world number one, Laura Davies, who won on both occasions. The Irish Seniors Open has also been hosted here and it has drawn high praise from many quarters, with Sam Torrance indicating: "That eighteenth hole is the best finishing hole I have ever seen and possibly the strongest and most exciting in the world".
The course offers a great variety of holes. As well as awesome struggles, there are broad forgiving fairways, neat par 3's and greens which play true at all times. Two of the best holes on the front nine include the long par four, 4th hole, rated the most difficult on the course and the par five 8th, which offers all sorts of options. The 4th hole measures over 450 yards from the championship stakes, while the fairway is lined with gorse on the right and bunkers to the left. The advice here is to be as long and straight as possible. The 8th is an excellent par five with water to the left from the tee and along the right side and front of the green. While the longer hitters may be tempted to strike for home in two, discretion is often the better part of valour.
The homeward journey is equally as testing, with the 12th, 16th and certainly the 18th standing out. The par five 12th is a birdie opportunity for the longer hitter but having found the fairway with your drive, water awaits a badly struck or short approach. The 16th is a sweeping par 4 with trouble lurking both sides of the fairway. A well hit tee shot will leave a long iron or wood to a huge green so be very aware of the pin position. The 18th is one of the most respected par four closing holes in Irish golf. A good tee shot is essential if you intend to threaten the green in two, while a large lake protects the green to the right. Make par and hold your head high.
The Irish PGA Championship was held here in 2004 and it saw a terrific finish with two Ryder Cup stars, one past and one present, Padraig Harrington and Philip Walton battling it out to the death. Having posted consecutive birdies on 16 & 17, Harrington pulled one shot clear of Walton but standing on the 18th tee, Harrington still had to par one of the most difficult par fours in golf. He said later: "At 18 I hit the perfect drive, as tight as you could to the apex of the corner and still I had to nut a three iron from 205 yards". Two putts later and Harrington was crowned champion.
Situated to the west of Dublin Airport, just off the M50 and one mile north of the village of St. Margaret's off the R122 route.
NEARBY RESTAURANTS:
King Sitric Fish Restaurant, East Pier, Howth, Co. Dublin. Tel: (353) 1 8325235. Email: info@kingsitric.ie. Highly recommended restaurant beautifully located on Howth Harbour with panoramic views.
Wong's Chinese Restaurant, 436 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3. Tel: (353) 1 8334400. Quite simply the finest Chinese restaurant in Dublin, serving fantastic, authentic cuisine with superb service.
Bon Appetit, 9 James Terrace, Malahide, Co. Dublin. Tel: (353) 1 8450314. Located in lovely village of Malahide and specialising in wide range of seafood, meat dishes and game when in season. Excellent cuisine.
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, 21 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2. Tel: (353) 1 6764192. Classical dining experience based on the best of Irish produce. Winner of all major worldwide awards.
Chapter One, The Dublin Writers Museum, Parnell Square, Dublin 1. Tel: (353) 1 8732266. Email: chapter.one.restaurant@oceanfree.net. Elegant Georgian basement restaurant with a friendly service and excellent food.
St. Margaret's Golf & Country Club is acknowledged as one of Ireland's finest new parkland golf courses. The course designers took a couple of hundred acres of farmland and moulded it into a magnificent expanse of parkland with rolling hills and huge undulating greens. The modern design makes wide use of water hazards and this adds to the picturesque rural setting. Given the quality of St. Margaret's, it is no surprise that the course has already hosted three international golfing events. The Ladies Irish Open was played here in 1994 and '95 and was a favourite haunt of then world number one, Laura Davies, who won on both occasions. The Irish Seniors Open has also been hosted here and it has drawn high praise from many quarters, with Sam Torrance indicating: "That eighteenth hole is the best finishing hole I have ever seen and possibly the strongest and most exciting in the world".
