Athlone Golf Course
Hodson Bay, County Roscommon
Athlone is a long-established parkland course, surrounded on three sides by Lough Ree. Early 21st century renovations altered the course to maximise the magnificent views across the lake from several points. But the golf course is also a star, mixing a variety of holes both old and new on a free draining site that makes it playable year round. Athlone's first hole is one of the best opening tee-shot in Ireland, reminiscent of the first tee at Portstewart.
Athlone Course Description
With so many good holes on the course it is difficult to choose the best. The first is daunting, an elevated tee overlooking a fairway lined on both sides by mature trees. It will take another good strike to hit the elevated green. The 2nd can be heart-breaking, only 160 yards but yet so testy. The green falls away with a huge drop to the left, anything on this side leaves you contending with heavy rough, overhanging trees and a very awkward stance. The redesigned 5th is a tough, dogleg par-5 that now features a large water hazard to guard the green. The 6th is an a brand new par-3 and what a gem - all carry across water from tee to with no shelter from any breeze that might blow across the lake. Not for the faint hearted!
Love it or loath it, the 13th is a hole the few visitors to Athlone will forget. A blind tee shot over a hill into a valley, the more you dare to cut off the hill on the drive the shorter the approach to the green, a classic risk reward scenario. Once in the valley you have a blind approach to the green that is guarded by a sand bunker on the left and grass bunker on the right.
The long par-4 16th is a hole that would enhance any parkland course. OB on the right and a fairway that slopes to mature trees on the left intimidates all but the stoutest of hearts. A long iron or fairway wood will have to negotiate the grove of five mature sycamores on the right hand side before getting near the target. A falloff to the left and a sand bunker guarding the right of the green compound the difficulty and justify the hole's #1 stroke index.
The 18th is a terrific finishing hole with a drive from an elevated tee straight into a tree-lined valley below. Only the straightest of hits will allow a straightforward but blind approach to an elevated green where the line is taken from the tall trees behind the green.
The welcoming clubhouse boasts one of the best views in the country sitting on top of an esker with panoramic views of Lough Ree below. The clubhouse has all the conveniences one expects from a club of this standing.
