Enniscrone Golf Club
Co. Sligo, Ireland
If you ever have thought what playing on the moon might look like, make the Dunes Championship Links Course at Enniscrone Golf Club a ‘must play’ on your North West Golf trip. Often described as a ‘moonscape’ the towering dunes the layout plays amidst are some of the tallest in the world.
Located on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, the course sits on a promontory that juts out into Killala Bay. Framed by the Ox Mountains and Nephin Beg Range backdrops from the the mouth of the Moy Estuary
The Enniscrone Championship Links, playing over 7,000 yards from the tips and to a par of 73, utilizes the natural landscape for its elevated tees and plateau greens. Protected by ravines and valleys on approach.
The Club began in 1918 with a modest nine holes on the flatter land besides the dunes. In 1974 the great Eddie Hackett was brought in to work his magic and extend the design to 18 holes. Then Donald Steel was engaged to make further improvements. His greatest contribution was to eliminate the opening two flat par 5s and instead turn the new links directly into the magnificent dunes.
Enniscrone now boasts 27 holes, the original opening was incorporated into a new nine holes. Called Scurmore, after the stunning beach that borders the layout.
Course Details
The Black Pig of Enniscrone
Irish folklore is legendary and the town of Enniscrone is synonymous with ‘The Black Pig.’ In ancient times, according to legend, an evil spirit turned a wild boar into a killer. Covered with poisonous burrs the pig attacked and killed anyone in his path. A group of town’s people finally were able to trap the killer on Scurmore beach and kill it with long spears. Due to the poisonous burrs, it couldn’t be eaten, so the townsfolk buried it where it lay.
Today that mound still stands on the beach and is immortalized by a sculpture of the pig in town. If you are visiting in July, stop by the popular Enniscrone Black Pig Festival.
The story of The Black Pig is entwined with the course as the 18th is called ‘Muckduff’ (Black Pig in Irish). The 465-yard hole is a strategically challenging par 4 requiring an accurate drive. 255 yards to reach the menacing bunkers or at least 290 in the wind to clear them, with OB lurking down the left side. A carefully crafted approach is needed to get near the pin, a mishit will require a deft touch back up the mounded runoff areas.
After a day on the links and in the wind, make time for a rejuvenating trip to the Kilcullen Seaweed baths in town. You might not be familiar with Enniscrone, but it is one course you will never forget on your Ireland golf trip.
Location
Take a North West Ireland Golf Tour
North West Ireland is a hidden gem of a golfing destination. In comparison to better know tours of Northern Ireland or the South West, unearth some of the finest links on the emerald Isle.
7 nights accommodation and 5 rounds of golf
Prices starting from $4,750
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