European Open Golf Course Guide: Palmer Course

European Open Golf Course Guide: The Front Nine

STRAFFAN, IRELAND - JULY 2 : A general view of the third green during the final round of the third round of The Smurfit European Open on The Palmer Course at The K Club on July 2, 2005 in Straffan, Ireland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

1. Bohereen - Par 4 (418 yards) – It presents a great chance for an early birdie even though it is protected by a lake on the left and trees down the right. Water does cut across the fairway but should only plague the longest of hitters.

2. The Tunnel - Par 4 (413 yards) – It is similar to Bohereen. A bunker on the left and trees on the right narrows the landing area. A short iron will get you to the green which is guarded by a deep bunker.

3. The Island Beach – Par 3 (170 yards) - It is all about club selection – you will need just enough to clear the lake and front bunker, but not too much to reach the back bunker. Beware - the green is a formidable challenge.

4. Arnold’s Pick – Par 5 (568 yards) – Palmer’s favourite on the front nine sports a double dogleg, a fairway curving left and then right with bunkers and trees, and a green with a tapered entrance.

5. Square Meadow – Par 4 (440 yards) – Best to drive left of the fairway - it offers the finest angle to the green. Although there are no bunkers around, the green is elevated with some foxy drop-offs.

6. The Liffey Stream – Par 4 (478 yards) – The fairway turns left to right and the more left you go, the more the water comes into play. Only a powerful, accurate drive will keep you out of the quagmire.

7. Michael’s Favourite – Par 4 (430 yards) – It is surrounded by water, but a good tee shot will set up a birdie chance.

8. Mayfly corner – Par 3 (173 yards) – A four or five iron will get you on the green, but beware of the River Liffey - it comes into play here, embracing the right edge of the hole. If you are tempted to play safe out left, watch out, a bunker lurks!

9. The Eye of the Needle – Par 4 (461 yards) – Attack the green from the left following the slope, but avoid the huge oak in the middle of the fairway.

European Open Golf Course Guide: The Back Nine

10. Mick Holly – Par 5 (584 yards) – There is out of bounds on the left and the tree-lined fairway is narrow. The entrance to the green snakes narrowly between two huge bunkers, and big hitters are at an advantage.

11. Lily Pond – Par 4 (415 yards) – Boasts a sharp dogleg right to left and the green slopes to the water on the left.

12. The Domain – Par 3 (182 yards) – A lake on the left comes into play and a stone wall separates the two-tiered green and the water.

13. Laurel Haven – Par 4 (428 yards) – Sports a dogleg left and a thick copse of trees on the inside of the angle.

14. Church Fields – Par 3 (213 yards) – Use a three iron and it should all be straightforward. The water shouldn’t trouble but watch out for the two deep bunkers front and right of the green.

15. Pheasant Run – Par 4 (446 yards) – The fairway slopes towards the water and the second shot is blind and uphill to the green.

16. Irish More – Par 5 (555 yards) – Sports a double dogleg and is known as “the greatest par 5 in Ireland”. The green is set across the river.

17. Half Moon – Par 4 (424 yards) – The River Liffey hugs the left side tee to green, and trees on the right make a bail-out drive less appealing.

18. The Hooker’s Graveyard – Par 5 (537 yards) – It is all uphill and into the wind and has a dogleg left with a cluster of bunkers. There is more sand on the right of the green, but it is the water on the left that guarantees plenty of anguish and action!

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