Welcome to Destination Golf Ireland 2022
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After what felt like an endless 2020, we discovered that 2021 offered more of the same. Covid curtailed us across so many walks of life. The year 2022 will be a better and brighter one, but the shadow of Covid will remain. That said, Ireland’s links courses, from the world renowned to the little known, are heavily booked by golf travellers who have had to postpone trips over the past two years. The ripple effect will reach beyond links courses and Irish golf will – all fingers crossed – have a very positive year. That’s good news for golf and the Irish economy.
The big news for Ireland was the unveiling of St Patrick’s Links at Rosapenna, which opened in July, to global acclaim. You’ll find an article on the following pages which shows just how big an impact it had on me. To say I was blown away by the Tom Doak design is an understatement. The county of Donegal has superb links courses but they have always ranked behind those in the south west… St Patrick’s Links will change that because the name of Tom Doak will prove utterly intoxicating and because the course is every bit as brilliant as everyone hoped it would be.
It is also not far from Royal Portrush, which has been confirmed as The Open Championship venue for 2025. That’s a major coup when you consider the nine-course roster.
The course at Glasson enjoyed a big revamp to its final stretch of highly regarded holes and there was a lot of activity at golf clubs around the island. One in particular should be noted because the work at Druids Heath, by Peter McEvoy, has created such an improved and infinitely more playable course that it comfortably makes this Top 150 guide.
Despite the challenges of the past two years, Irish golf has a lot to look forward to in 2022.
Swing slow… because you don’t hit anything with your backswing.
Kevin Markham, Editor, Destination Golf Ireland 2022.
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