Luttrellstown Castle Resort - ***** 5 STAR HOTEL

“Luttrellstown offers the best of all worlds. It has an idyllic setting, fairy tale castle, stately park, majestic trees, an air of tranquil retreat and a sense of escape that all golfers relish. The golf course encompasses all these attributes to provide an exercise that stretches the few without tormenting the many. Challenge and enjoyment go hand in hand, a few miles from O’Connell Street and the magic of Dublin.” Donald Steel – Golf Course Architect

1st Hole. A challenging start, this tight par four narrows at the fairway bunkers, which are set at the relevant yardages to swallow up any errand tee shots. The undulating green complex and front right bunker have a foreshortening effect, so club selection for the approach is vital.

2nd Hole. This is a long par five meandering through sets of fairway bunkers designed to punish both stray tee and lay-up shots. It moves steadily uphill to its challenging green, have a little peep at putting surface before playing your pitch, the pin position will be pivotal.

3rd Hole. A risk/reward driving hole, the brave player might take on the fairway trap on the left and get the big shoot forward, leaving a much shorter approach. The cautious play is short of the bunker, taking a gamble on a longer club for the second shot to a mellow green surrounded by water, take a deep breath.

4th Hole. This beautiful par three is guarded by water on the right side, but don’t think you can chase one in, everything short will feed left to right. The clever play is the left of the green avoiding the deep traps on the right, your reward is a gentle putting surface.

5th Hole. Keep it just inside the bunker on the right off the tee and hope for the kick down to the flat, anything left will likely result in a lost ball. The approach is complicated by the winding stream and gorse, making this a target you cannot afford to miss. The tactical player will see this as a lay-up hole.

6th Hole. From the tee it looks like there is no green to land the ball on, and with a steep drop and gorse all along the left, this is a daunting hole. The green itself sits up with a severe fall away to the right, and is backed by stunning beech trees. Take one club extra, par is a very good score here.

7th Hole. This may be the most attractive hole on the front nine with a downhill tee shot inviting you to open the shoulders. Trees left and deep traps right wait for any crooked drives, while the second shot sees water front and left of the green. This approach requires a high accurate shot to be successful.

8th Hole. A superbly set up tee shot sees deep traps plotted all over the landing area. Take on the left-hand bunker to get the best result and put the green in range of two shots. The target sits high in the distance, and is guarded well by bunkers and trees, so once again, only a towering approach shot will get the job done.

9th Hole. A faders delight, this fitting end to the front nine is a demanding par four. Once you have negotiated the bunkers from the downhill tee shot, enjoy one of the courses simpler approach shots before stopping off at the clubhouse for a well earned snack.

10th Hole. The back nine winds through the historic park of the demesne and the 10th immediately sets the scene. Once the water is cleared from the tee, the glorious lime avenue borders the right of the hole perfectly. The bunkering left of the green will trick the less astute into taking too little club, as your attention is grabbed by the elegant background.

11th Hole. One of the courses tightest tee shots is found on number eleven, with water all along the left, and two deep traps on the right, a short and conservative drive is best. The tiny green offers no comfort for the long second shot and water waits for you left and over the back. Take the opportunity to view the stunning 13th Century Castle to your left.

12th Hole. There is no margin for error on this thought-provoking par five. A long, accurate drive down the right leaves the green in range, but with the carry all water and the shallow green backed by gorse, this approach requires perfection. Played conservatively in three shorter shots, the traps and water are easier avoided, so don’t be fooled by the short yardage of this hole.

13th Hole. This hole plays back over the lake which dominated the 12th. Bunkers are strategically placed to catch any trying to bail out left. The green is disected by a long diagonal ridge making back right pin positions even more difficult. Thirteen is the perfect matchplay hole where bravery is rewarded and possibly punished in equal measure.

14th Hole. An intimidating teeshot skirts the lake and plays uphill between a large horse chestnut and a pine. Huge purple beeches hug the left and three ancient oaks in the fairway make the approach one for the shot-shapers. This long, natural hole seems like it has been there forever and will require two of your very best shots to reach the shallow diagonal green. Par here feels like a birdie.

15th Hole. The setting for this last par three give it an instant feeling of maturity, but don’t let the ancient surroundings distract you from the task ahead. The ever undulating and rolling green lends itself to an easy three putt, whilst its tabletop layout and deep bunkers make recovery shots so difficult. Make sure you have enough club.

16th Hole. As we enter Kelly’s Field number sixteen has a classic old American Parkland style, with a tight tee shot down the tree hugged fairway and large green, which is split by shelves into four quarters. Keep in the left half off the tee to open up the green for your second.

17th Hole. With no bunkers this hole appears straightforward, but the stately trees on the right to left dogleg overhang the fairway, making it very tight indeed. Similarly at the green the landing area is halved by interference from the old timbers. Only two perfectly struck shots will find the green on this menacing penultimate hole.

18th Hole. Another great matchplay hole awaits you on the eighteenth tee. Make your mind up here and stick to your strategy, indecision will end in tears. A big drive over the trees on the right sees a second shot between guarding trees, over the pond, to a shallow green. That’s the all or nothing play, but a shorter tee shot down the left leaves a mid-iron second to lay up, followed by a pitch over the pond. The decision is yours!