| Ballybunion Golf Club in Ireland was founded in | | | | the oddest of hazards down the right hand side - |
| 1893 and for many it is considered to be one of | | | | a cemetery. Challenges on the front nine include |
| the most beautiful links style courses in the world, | | | | the 4th, 5th and 6th holes which all play in the |
| perhaps even the best. It is regularly included in | | | | same direction into the prevailing wind. This makes |
| the top twenty courses in the world by most golf | | | | 1,400 yards into the wind that can prove a real |
| magazine rankings (it was placed at number 7 by | | | | challenge on the opening nine holes. |
| Golf Digest in 2005). | | | | The 4th is a beautiful par 5 with a blind second |
| There are two championship golf courses to play | | | | shot. A white stone is placed on a large mound |
| at Ballybunion Golf Club, both served by the same | | | | that rises 20 ft above the fairway. Thankfully |
| modern club house. The first is the Old Course, | | | | there are informative place markers, such as the |
| which was established in 1893. The second is the | | | | 'white stone' upon the mound at the fourth, that |
| Cashen Course which was established in 1984, | | | | are there to aid on blind shots at Ballybunion Golf |
| although it has bedded in extremely quickly so | | | | Club. |
| hardly looks like the newer of the two courses. | | | | The 5th hole known as "The Dell" is a 185 yard |
| To clarify, it is the Old Course which normally | | | | par 3 with a blind tee shot - a real rarity in on a |
| ranks highly, although The Cashen Course can | | | | par 3! The hole has a banking green that funnels |
| provide an equally challenging and enjoyable a | | | | stray shots back to the green. Just as on the |
| round of golf. | | | | fourth, the location of the flag is indicated from |
| Both courses are traditional links with their own | | | | the tee box with a white stone on the obstructing |
| character that trace a winding path alongside the | | | | mound. |
| sea, receiving strong Atlantic winds and providing | | | | The back 9 at the Old Course has just as many |
| a variety of dunes, dog-legs and pristine greens | | | | intricate holes to play. But I won't spoil the |
| and fairways. Both Ballybunion courses are played | | | | surprise for you in this article, just in case you |
| from a single club house which shares a driving | | | | plan to play the course. The Cashen Course at |
| range, a chipping green with bunkers and practice | | | | Ballybunion Golf Club is less famous than the Old |
| putting greens. | | | | Course but equally worth the visit. It is a new |
| On the Old Course, the first hole is a good | | | | course designed by Robert Trent Jones but plays |
| starting hole that eases you into the round with | | | | like it has been there a long time. |