Clubs' survey: The Palmer Course at The K Club, which next year plays host to the Ryder Cup, has been named as Ireland's top course, in a comprehensive survey conducted by Golf Digest Ireland magazine.
The findings of the poll - which had over 3,000 respondents - turns tradition on its head, with parkland courses occupying two of the top-three places. Mount Juliet came in at number three, with The European emerging as the top links course in second place.
If it comes as something of a surprise that a links course should fail to claim the number-one position, given the historical records of similarly conducted polls, it is a major shock that neither Royal Portrush (11th) or Royal County Down (12th) can even make the top 10 in the findings, which are made known in the latest edition of the magazine.
Readers were asked to judge the golf course only. Such items as the amenities, the resort, and the clubhouse were not to be taken into consideration.
"We asked them to consider, shot values, resistance to scoring, design variety, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning, and ambiance," said publisher Linton Walsh. After the readers' choices were weighed with those of a selection panel of golf writers, just one vote separated The K Club (Palmer Course) and The European.
1, The K Club (Palmer)
2, The European
3, Mount Juliet
4, Portmarnock (Old)
5, Ballybunion (Old)
6, Ballyliffin (Glashedy)
7, Co Louth
8, Druids Glen
9, Co Sligo
10, Lahinch (Old)
11, Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
12, Royal Co Down
13, The Heritage
14, Old Head
15, Waterville
16, The Island
17, Royal Dublin
18, Adare Manor (Resort)
19, Tralee
20, Carton House (Montgomerie)
21, Portstewart (Strand)
22, Doonbeg
23, Killarney (Killeen)
24, Donegal
25, Headfort (New)
26, Rosapenna (Sandy Hills)
27, Fota Island
28, Carlow
29, Slieve Russell
30, Ballyliffin (Old)
31, Enniscrone
32, PGA National
33, Tramore
34, Westport
35, Mullingar
36, Rosslare
37, Glasson
38, Rathsallagh
39, Tullamore
40, Malone
41, Tulfarris
42, The K Club (Smurfit)
43, Powerscourt (East)
44, St Margaret's
45, Carne
46, Laytown and Bettystown
47, Hermitage
48, Druids Heath
49, Portmarnock Hotel and Links
50, Cork (Little Island)
51, Esker Hills
52, Connemara
53, Carton House (O'Meara)
54, Dooks
55, Seapoint
56, Faithlegg
57, Rosapenna (Old)
58, Killarney (Mahonys Point)
59, Woodenbridge
60, Galway Bay
61, Dundalk
62, Limerick County
63, Grange
64, Portsalon
65, Castlerock
66, Killarney (Lackabane)
67, Dromoland Castle
68, Ring of Kerry
69, South County
70, Gowran Park
71, Clandeboye
72, Athlone
73, Woodbrook
74, Mount Wolseley
75, Belvoir Park
76, Curragh
77, Glen of the Downs
78, Seafield
79, Birr
80, Waterford Castle
81, Ceann Sibeal
82, Athenry
83, Malahide
84, Arklow
85, Nenagh
86, Royal Belfast
87, Portumna
88, Kilkenny
89, Ballyclare
90, Castle
91, Forrest Little
92, Castlecomer
93, Co Longford
94, Hollywood Lakes
95, St Helen's Bay
96, Co Tipperary
97, Lee Valley
98, Millicent
99, Newlands
100, City West
