I was obviously really reminiscing on golf courses from the past this year because another course I revisited a few weeks back after 15 years, was Sligo Golf Club more fondly know as Rosses Point. I played in the West of Ireland here for over two different decades as an amateur and even though we predominantly played in extreme weather conditions I always loved returning every year. There truly is something special about the links courses around Ireland, they all have so many great memorable holes and they are all so unique in their layouts.
Rosses Point is another links course that has several strong holes in particular the following eleven holes come to mind Par 5’s 3rd, 5th & 12th, Par 3’s 4th, 9th, 13th & 16th, Par 4’s 6th, 7th, 14th & 17th. The course doesn’t have a weak hole it is just those eleven holes in particular are some of the best holes around our Island. The following three holes though are so unique in layout and are so spectacular I hope I can do them justice as I try to describe them to anyone who has or hasn’t played the course.
Hole 4 : This incredible Par 3 is unique due to the greens location because it sits on top of a hill top and any shot that lands on the front of this green or short will roll back some twenty-five yards back down the fairway, leaving you about 15ft below the green surface leaving you a very tricky chip shot or severe long putt. To add to the difficulty of this hole it is on the highest section of the golf course and it is always exposed to a strong wind so choosing the right club is always the challenge. Not only is it an extremely difficult if you are short, if you are long on this green there is very heavy rough awaiting any ball that flies over the back. I would suggest choosing your club and ball flight wisely from this tee because distance control is the most important attribute if you are to find this green surface.
Hole 7 : This is a fantastic golf hole although from the tee box it is very generous the rough is mainly light on both sides of the fairway but the second shot is extremely daunting. There is a huge deep ravine with a stream that runs across the green front that hugs the front edge of this green. After a good 300-yard drive you would still be left with anything from a 7 iron to a PW depending on the wind direction. The green is very wide but narrow front to back making the second shot again all about having good distance control. If the flag is on the front left edge the pin can be over 40 yards closer to you than if it is located at the back right. So, depending a lot on the pin location and the wind direction this hole never plays the same, which is what I feel is an attribute that turns a good golf hole into a great golf hole.
Hole 17 : What can I say about the 17th hole at Rosses Point easily one of the strongest, most difficult, most memorable holes of golf I have or will ever play anywhere. This hole for me alone is alone worth the three-hour drive to Sligo. This golf hole has broken many of the biggest names in golf’s heart over the years. I think anyone who has played this hole has a love hate relationship with it. You love it for being one of the toughest holes in golf the same reason you fear it because you can easily have a double bogie or worse on this truly magnificent golf hole.
Like every links hole the wind direction can really play havoc on this hole especially if this hole plays into the wind. The tee shot is to a tight fairway that runs out at about 280 yards from the back tee. You can’t afford to run through this fairway because not only will you get a tough lie in the rough but you will be left with a very awkward lie on the numerous of hills that feature beyond this fairway. The difficult part is you do need to get as close as you can to the end of this fairway if you have any hope of reaching the green in two. If you do hit the perfect tee shot towards the end of the fairway you have between 220-180 yards left to the green that is situated some 80ft above the fairway and rests at the end of a very steep fairway. Not only is the fairway steep, the front third of this green is so steep any ball that lands on the front section will roll off the front false edge and it will continue to roll up to 60 yards back down the fairway leaving you an awkward wedge shot depending on the pins location. To give you an idea of how difficult this second shot is, in the past I have been around 180 yards from the green after my drive which is usually a strong 7 iron or a smooth 6 iron for me and I have had to use my 2 iron to just about reach the centre of this green. I have often walked out to this hole in the past also after playing in the west of Ireland tournament just to watch other competitors playing the 17th. In fact, a lot of the competitors would do the same which indicates how truly amazing the 17th at Rosses Point is. When the pin was often located on the front third of this green it was often chaos watching golfers attempting to play it. I have witnessed some plus handicap golfers having up to five putts on this green as well as seeing others hit a putt that barely pasted the hole continue to roll off the green front continuing down the fairway and leaving themselves a 60-yard wedge shot back to the hole location. This hole has to be one of the greatest holes I have ever played and I have no doubt will remain in my top five best holes of golf even if I live several lifetimes.
“Rosses Point was the first links course that I ever saw as a young professional starting out on the Tour circuit. I went to play one round and stayed for two weeks.”
(Bernhard Langer)
“A magnificent links! The stretch of holes from the 14th to the 17th that run adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean are one the best finishing stretches in golf.”
(Tom Watson)
On top of been one of Irelands best links courses the View’s Restaurant in the clubhouse has both spectacular sceneries, along with the great food and welcoming hospitality from both staff and members which helps to make Rosses Point a destination everyone should do at least once annually. The course has two incredible hotels I have stayed in over the years, on site the Yeats Country Hotel is an old school styled hotel with incredibly comfortable rooms and amazing food. Then about 15 minutes away is the modern Radisson Blu & Spa Hotel which is a very modern hotel with very fresh modern decor and has an amazing menu in both the restaurant and bar. Along with these facilities it has one of Irelands best Spa destinations and an amazing pool area for all ages. Rosses Point truly is a great destination for any golfer or even non golfer, whether you are with a golf society, looking for a venue to catch up with old friends or just looking to chill with family.
