Lough Erne
The lakes of Co. Fermanagh make this entire region dazzle like diamonds. And, around one such diamond, Nick Faldo created a glorious and exuberant parkland course with water always in view and often in play.
Lough Erne is the plushest of Ireland’s golf resorts, with five star quality every inch of the way – in the hotel, the spa and on the golf course… where no expense has been spared. It’s the full package and even the walk over the bridge to reach the 1st tee oozes quality.
The course starts beside Castle Hume Lough, before sliding quickly into the forest where you’ll fully appreciate the size and scale of the greens and green complexes. When the course reaches the par five 6th, high up between hotel and water, you will discover the biggest charms of Lough Erne: generous, languid fairways flowing over ever moving terrain. For lakeside golf there are far more elevation changes than you’d expect. Far more colour, too, with swans gliding through the waters, mature trees and woods drenching the landscape, and the many natural wetland areas (often beside fairways) humming with activity. It gives the course such a big feel that competitors in next year’s Irish Open may be overwhelmed by the beauty around them.
Favourite Hole: the par five 16th, with its towering drive (play from behind the 15th green) make this a beauty beside the lake.
What's in the Bag? Avoid taking on the water where possible. That way madness lies.
Click link to view full list of “DG Ireland Top 150 Courses 2016”:
http://www.destinationgolf.travel/dgireland-16/