January 2020

Douglas, Ireland

Founded in 1955, Douglas is one of the longest established courses in Ireland. The initial nine hole course was started by a small dedicated group of enthusiasts in the mid-1950s. Since then, Douglas has grown into a hugely successful club and one of the few to own its fantastic course and impressive clubhouse outright.

Gradually extended from the original nine holes to a full eighteen, the course is short (less than 800 metres) and tight, featuring slopes from top to bottom and from left to right. This allows for some raised greens and tricky putting surfaces. Trees and shrubs abound in this superb layout in Cork's southen suburbs. Out of Bounds walls and hedges along with well-positioned sand bunkers add to the course's challenges.  

Toughest hole on the course is the 56 metre 6th where the pitch must fly steeply uphill to a green guarded by two fiendish little front sand traps. The equal length 56 metre 5th is index 5 and calls for a teeshot played sharply downhill over a grass bank.

A hugely attractive feature is the stream that forms the bottom boundary of the course. The Index 2 17th plays 52 metres uphill from beside the stream before the 44 metre 18th stretches uphill towards the imposing clubhouse. Only the flagstick is visible from either tee with the surface of the greens largely hidden from view.

The Index 18 8th hole measures just 29 metres while the shortest is the little 14th (Index 17) at 28 metres. There's a hedge to be carried on the 8th while the 14th green presents a tiny target.

Numerous championships have been held at Douglas over the years. The club has produced some highy-respected officials and many top-class players in its storied history. Former Irish Matchplay and Strokeplay champion Liam O'Brien captained the Irish team on the first Catalonia trip back in 1997 and still (2019) plays to a high level.