| Links golf is played on the natural terrain of | | | | single-figure handicaps. Any professional golf |
| seaside dunes and land banks and requires | | | | course reviewer is by nature a fairly handy golfer |
| different playing techniques than when playing on | | | | and being so can perhaps make it difficult for |
| the more common parkland course. Ireland has | | | | them to view the course from the higher |
| the highest ratio of links courses in the world per | | | | handicapper's perspective. That is not to say that |
| head of population, even more than the "home of | | | | they don't try - I have no doubt they do - but if |
| golf" that is Scotland. Links golf introduces more | | | | you play of a handicap of 4, you don't encounter |
| of the element of chance into the game rather | | | | the obstacles that a 20 handicapper will come |
| than the "target" golf you find on some manicured | | | | across. |
| parkland courses. Even a slight breeze can utterly | | | | As a hacker playing off 12 with a love of links golf |
| transform a links course from a benign creature | | | | in particular, the following are my Top 10 Irish links |
| to a monster. | | | | courses. It may not necessarily agree with the |
| Arguments will always abound as to the best golf | | | | glossy magazine reviewers but they reflect my |
| course in any country or region and the matter is | | | | own experiences and I think any golfer of any |
| by nature subjective. Every year dozens of well | | | | handicap low or high will find these fantastic |
| known magazines that review golf courses to a | | | | courses. I did not rate courses I haven't played |
| broad range of criteria course publish their Top | | | | which may explain some obvious omissions |
| 100 or a Top 10 links and parkland courses in a | | | | compared to a professional reviewer list. But here |
| particular country or region. They review links and | | | | goes anyway, and let the arguments begin! |
| parkland courses throughout the country but | | | | 1. BALLYBUNION (Old Course), Ballybunion, Co. |
| sometimes you wonder with what eyes are they | | | | Kerry |
| are they looking at these courses. | | | | 2. PORTMARNOCK, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin |
| Is their view that of the expert low single-figure | | | | 3. ROYAL COUNTY DOWN, Newcastle, Co. Down |
| handicap amateur or even the tour professional? | | | | 4. THE EUROPEAN CLUB, Brittas, Co. Wicklow |
| Sometimes I would query the terms of reference | | | | 5. DOONBEG, Doonbeg, Kilrush, Co. Clare |
| that these reviews are based upon. I feel lack of | | | | 6. BALLYLIFFIN, Ballyliffin, Buncrana, Co. Donegal |
| consideration is given to what might make a great | | | | 7. ROYAL DUBLIN, Dollymount, Clontarf, Dublin 5 |
| golf course from the point of view of players | | | | 8. THE ISLAND, Corballis, Donabate Co. Dublin. |
| with handicaps from, say 10 to 24. An interesting | | | | 9. DONEGAL (MURVAGH) Murvagh Co. Donegal |
| statistic is that 95% of the world's amateur | | | | 10. COUNTY LOUTH (BALTRAY) Baltray, |
| golfers have a handicap of 15 or over and only | | | | Drogheda, Co. |
| 1% of the golfing population of the world have | | | | |