Golf's Camelot

If there is a golfing Camelot, it must surely be the Old Head of Kinsale, on the south-west coast of Ireland.

High cliffs? Yes. Enchanted caves and trails? Yes.
Celtic markings and ruins? Yes.
Centuries of history predating it? Yes.
But only 5 seasons old? Well, Camelot was that young, too in its heyday.

Smugglers' cove with carved steps
.
Already a historic site with a medieval battle against French invaders to its credit, the Old Head peninsula was thrust back into maritime history during the first World War when the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 drew the United States into action.

Geographically, Old Head is a peninsula in the shape of a dog's head, around 3km long, 80m high and 500m wide. Almost an island, but attached by a high, wide neck, itself a remarkable system of cliffs, caves and inlets. On its 'nose' stands a picture postcard lighthouse evoking all the same emotions as its more famous counterpart at Turnberry in Scotland.

.
Approaching Old Head, the imagination begins to run wild

 

To appreciate the majesty of the exquisite Old Head Golf Club, WA viewers should recall the first time they saw the quarries at Joondalup. Then add in all the intrigue of folklore and ghost stories.

The brainchild of the two local O'Connor brothers, the Old Head is a testament to the foresight which our own local environmentalists would never have entertained. In return, the developers have kept the clubhouse area tastefully low-key and yet still beautifully appointed with local stone and personalised wrought iron furniture and upholstery.

The cliffs have also remained a sanctuary to dozens of local bird species.

The clubhouse contains a photographic 'who's who' of world golf, such is the range of visitors to this remarkable place. Pride of place is held by a haunting picture of Payne Stewart enjoying a guiness in a director's chair on the terrace.
The course is strewn with traditional stone markings including a 'stone of accord' adopted as the club's emblem. Historically, hands were shaken through the hole in a 'stone of accord' to make an agreement binding.
Another typical taste of golfing Ireland is represented - bronze goats around the clubhouse reminiscent of the wild goats which predict each day's weather at the beautiful Lahinch links not so far away on the west coast of Ireland

.
There is no need to describe individual holes at Old Head. Every hole seems to take in the clifftop location, if only from the feeling of being surrounded by water way down below..

Holes on the neck of the peninsula invariably run along 70m cliffs, so players must make the most of the few holes which cross the head near the clubhouse. The greens are generously large and sensibly contoured to offer some consolation on windy days.

"Exposure to ocean winds makes par quite an achievement on any hole; to sustain it for
18 holes would be to cheat all the golfing demons on the same day".

 

.
The Old Head Golf Club is currently one of the most desirable destinations in world golf. To think that it can be enjoyed in association with the delightful harbour town of Kinsale, the famous Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry is almost too good to be true. Only three words remain to be said of it. Go there soon!

Visit www.oldheadgolflinks.com