Poll finds K Club top course

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