Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2018 - 26

Exploring the Emerald Isle
12TH HOLE AT ENNISCRONE
wilder Kilmore Nine to add to the fun.
Less than an hour's drive to the east
is Enniscrone, another underappreciated
seaside gem. The fl at, featureless
Scurmore Nine in plain view from the
clubhouse can't prepare you for the
invigorating hike through the dunes to
the shores of the North Atlantic on the
championship 18. The stretch of holes
from 12 to 14 through the heart of the
heaving dunes is a nearly perfect summation
of everything that makes links
golf so challenging and inspiring.
At Lahinch, you will thank the golf
gods that no one has changed the crazy
quirks found there. On the fourth hole,
Klondyke, you must thread the needle
between dunes off the tee, then hoist a
second shot over the head of a ranger who
stands atop another dune directly in front
of you. He's there to make sure you don't
hit the golfers crossing the fairway on the
other side of the dune. The fi fth hole is
a short par 3 where you must parachute
your tee shot over the surrounding dunes
to an almost totally hidden green. This is
truly golf 'craic' at its best.
Our golf itinerary ended at
Ballybunion, seemingly the prototype
for all the new links-style courses built in
the past 20 years. Although Ballybunion
gets off to a mundane start, once the
sixth hole carries you out to the ocean
the course hits a crescendo that never
seems to let up. Seaside holes seven, 11,
16 and 17 are the stuff golf dreams are
26
MINNESOTAGOLFER Directory 2018
BALLYBUNION
made of-tests to see whether you can
execute the necessary strategic shots
while the breathtaking views are trying
to destroy your concentration.
By the time we put the clubs away and
drove back to Dublin, we couldn't have
been happier that we booked our own
trip. We left ourselves one more night
to go downtown, have a nice meal, buy
some souvenirs and hoist a couple of
fi nal pints of Guinness to a golf destination
that is simply not to be missed.
Rick Shefchik spent 30 years in journalism,
mostly at the St. Paul Pioneer Press,
before becoming a freelance writer. He has
written four novels and fi ve works of nonfi
ction, including From Fields to Fairways:
Classic Golf Clubs of Minnesota, and
histories of Hazeltine,
and Minneapolis golf clubs. He lives in
Stillwater, Minnesota. MG
Budget Breakdown
Golden Valley
LENGTH OF TRIP
17 days (August 25-September 10)
TOTAL GREEN FEES .........................$2,142
Two people @ 7 rounds each
Six courses (Royal County Down,
Royal Portrush, Carne, Enniscrone,
Ballybunion, Lahinch)
CADDIE FEES ..........................................$275
Four rounds, one caddie each round
ACCOMMODATIONS .......................$1,934
AirBnBs, hotels, bed and breakfasts
MEALS .......................................................$1,608
CAR RENTAL ..............................................$950
AIRFARE ..................................................$2,070
Round-trip airfare for two (Delta, MSP-
Chicago; Aer Lingus, Chicago-Dublin)
DRINK ...........................................................$142
Two pints of Guinness apiece per day
TOTAL ...............................................$9,121
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2018

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