The Old Course & The Pollan, Ballyliffin
The original course was laid out by members across rented land in a very traditional method, though unusually, this was staked out, not in the 1890s, but in the late 1940s. This concept was reiterated by the great Eddie Hackett and others. These men knew their land very well to direct a course that, in part, has the advantages of running along the top of the strand. One can imagine early members picking their way through these surrounding humps and hollows in an almost Askernishian vein before the course became formalised. No wasted effort ironing out the undulations be they on the fairway or in the rough. Pure links golf. Further adaptations were made when the Glashedy was accommodated and Faldo upgraded the links in 2005-6. A lot of history and experience compressed into 60 years but the desire to fiddle has not compromised what feels to me to be pure links golfing country.
The front nine leans towards the landward side and seamlessly follows the contours yet gives them character until the rather abrupt par 3 fifth hole which requires a towering tee shot to a green some 25 yards above the tee if only 150 yards away. Drama at short notice to quote my favourite Saki short story.
As is my wont I trampled through all sorts of wild country beyond those areas more regularly enjoyed by golfers and found mossy banks of marram grass that gave way like snow drifts as you waded thigh deep through them in perennial hope of the prodigal ball being found, and found in a playable lie. These margins are fine for wildlife and bring majesty to the course. Little in the way of that usurper gorse. Terrific country.
Nearing the fourteenth tee the sound builds and I was as thrilled as I was as a child to hear the roar of the sea. The temptation is to spread your arms in awe at the sea and the wind but you need to turn your head to concentrate on keeping your ball off the beach. However it was the head of my seven iron that went whirling away. No stone or unyielding tussock just exhaustion and despair at the unused middle. And then I had the creeping anxiety that if one has gone when will the next go?
I can’t say that it affected my card; no balls were lost in the fifth column sabotage of the scorecard and the shredding of my partner’s hopes of a win. Holes 13 to 16 are a fairly merciless run of high stroke index holes; 5,3,1 & 7 just at the moment when matches are decided. Tough but fair and a really good closing hole beneath the clubhouse.
There was something about this course that would bring me back in a way that the Glashedy doesn’t. It is more natural, more irregular without being perniciously quirky, somehow more genuine. A modern classic. Thank you to the club for letting me pay my green fees to Alzheimer’s Society. After a cash squeeze from Covid your generosity is hugely appreciated
Pollan Links
We couldn't help but play the 9 hole course designed by Pat Ruddy. At 1075 yards it displays all the characteristics of links golf with swales and bunkers and mounds protecting greens. This is no better place to learn your golf. The longest hole is 146 yards. In almost every case you can play a shot along the ground or through the air albeit the wind is just as capricious here.
Oh that I had been given a putter and a 7 iron at the age of 6 and left for the summer holidays on this course, I could have become a golfer...
