| Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1901 |
Release Date |
CRZ Filesize |
Par |
Course Length |
| 2009-08-22 |
186 bytes |
72 |
7178 yards |
| Type |
Style |
CRZ Filename |
|
REAL |
PARKLAND |
Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club Final_locked.crz.crz |
| Course ID |
Course Key |
| 8c1f123dc84f4001abefac8ff72c4a7d |
5e7d7c75afcb18b5352c9731a30130a8 |
| COURSE NOTES |
This course can now be downloaded free from Links Corner.
The golf course is set in 300 acres of breathtaking parklands in the former Hall-Dare Estate and the lift is provided as a convenience for weary golfers!
It is a feature that could be copied to good advantage at a number of other Irish courses which present a stern walking challenge to all and a near impossible test to their senior citizens.
Opulence and old world rural charm are being combined in a manner befitting the magnificent location here in the former Hall-Dare Estate. Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club is fast becoming another glittering jewel in Ireland's crown of fine golf courses.
This is a big golf course. It runs over 7,000 yards and is the highest point to date in the ascending design career of Jeff Howes.
It is set to be a worthy neighbour to Mount Juliet.
The town of Bunclody shares the Adare-style rustic charm and the luxurious Carlton Millrace Hotel is located just across from the entrance of Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club, Co. Wexford.
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CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg) |
Description
Real, estate course |
Location
TBC |
Conditions
TBC |
Concept 9/10
Bunclody has every reason for breaking the mould when it comes to the distribution of Links courses. Opening with a terrific trio of tough dogleg holes, the course's slightly unorthodox layout (37 out, 35 in, finishing on a Par 5) is understandable in the large scale as it circles the hilltop clubhouse. The hillside lies are very much played to their strength here, bunkers being for the large part placed below the greens and the course very much rewards the skilled shot-shaper (in the case of the 15th and 16th by rather unsubtly putting trees directly in the flight path). It's an exhilarating experience very much in the mould of other Irish championship courses. |
Appearance 10/10
Lovely high-resolution textures and planting (and underplanting) go hand-in-glove with the fascinating array of 3D work around the course, including a couple of rather unusual buildings. Terrific things have been done in the rough; courses with open swathes of rough often lend themselves to tiling, but there's no trace here. There's also a very clean look to the course: long grasses are reserved purely for the forest regions and riversides. |
Playability 9/10
It's difficult to take kindly to the opening half-dozen holes: they're long, half-blind and can be painfully difficult. Thankfully, the course soon gets into swing, mixing some genuine shot-shaping challenges with precise short holes and finishing with a terrific gambling Par 5. It's a course that rewards experience, too: knowing the fairways before going out will prevent those tricky side-hill lies. |
Challenge 7/10
The immaculate grooming evident in the presentation means there is little to be concerned about in the rough, and the greens - even at fastest pace - are barely a threat. The landscape and the neat array of bunkers are - from the first tee - most obviously your enemy, although water does come into play moderately along the back nine. I can't imagine it's any picnic in real life, but it should make a terrific championship course for the Links golfer. |
Technical 10/10
Perhaps my favourite aspect at Bunclody is the sheer underplaying of the APCD work that has gone into this; many other designers would rely on eye-catching features, but John has just let the course speak for itself. The subtle sound planting is the perfect complement to an unthreatening and distraction-free atmosphere. The net effect is to keep one's mind focussed on the golf, rather than the technicalities of the design process. And I can't think anyone would want otherwise. |
| Overall |
Delightful subtlety in the design and bold brashness in the golf, this is a course that requires more than one round to fully appreciate. |
45/50 |
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course. |
This course is available as a FREE download.
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