Doonbeg Golf Club

40 minutes west of Shannon Airport on the coast and part of a resort/spa development, set amongst some of the highest and ranging sandhills on the Irish coast. Even though it opened in 2002, and was designed by Greg Norman, the design features follow the ancient masters, is an out and in routing, with an unusual combination of 5 par 3's and five par 5's, playing to an overall length of 6,885, par 72. The course never gets its routing into the mountainous sand hills of the area, due to the environmentalist's regulations, and is a bit of a letdown, especially for the price and the slick advertising and website. On my second time there, housing and cottages are starting to be constructed, further ruining, for me, the true links experience. Well conditioned, and excellent service, but for my money, Lahinch or Ballybunion are a cut above.