Killarney Killeen Golf Course
Killarney, County Kerry
The Killeen course is Killarney Golf Club's flagship course and is undoubtedly the sterner test. The challenge is salved by the spectacular location with the opening stretch of holes being some of the most memorable anywhere.
Long hitting through tree lined fairways and accurate approach play are required. Water, both in the form of the Lough Leane - the largest of the Lakes of Killarney - and the many streams running into it provide hazard on nearly every hole. Finally the large undulating greens are equally demanding.
Killarney Killeen Course Description
Despite the proximity of the mountains, the Killeen golf course is set on relatively flat ground. Lough Leane, the largest freshwater lake in the southwest, comes in to play immediately with the lake defining the right hand boundary of the first fairway from where an approach is played across an inlet. After another par-4 the first par-3 is simply stunning, a tee-shot across the lake to a magnificently set green 185 yards away. The fourth is a relatively short par-4 with the lake again flanking the right hand side and the green almost falling into the water -- one of Ireland's most picturesque putting surfaces.
The course then turns inland with tree lined fairways and small streams until the end of the front nine turns back towards the lake with the par-3 eighth hole and par-4 ninth closing the easier of the two nines.
The par-3 tenth is another par 3 playing to a more or less island green with the larger lake providing a stunning backdrop. This is spot to put the camera away and concentrate on straight hitting.
The final 8 holes comprise 6 par 4's and two par 5's. Perhaps less memorable than the preceding holes they all are testing holes. Fitting the round ends with the seventeenth green and eighteenth tee perched on a hill giving an overall perspective of the site. The eighteenth then plays with a large water hazard to the left of the fairway and an approach to a raised green right in front of the clubhouse
