County Sligo Golf Club (Rosses Point)

You are in Yeats country in and aroundSligo, for it is here that the brilliant Irish poet, William ButlerYeats, and his painter brother, Jack, spent their first twenty years.His influence here is everywhere, even on the golf course, where thosewith a literary bent will note that the first line of his famous epitaph("Cast a cold eye…") is the name of the ninth hole. It is alovely little par three, well protected by bunkers in the front, and acomely stone wall behind. For those who have forgotten their Yeats, theepitaph reads:

    Cast a cold eye
     On life, on death.
     Horseman, pass by!

The club was founded in 1894 by ColonelJames Campbell and other members of the Sligo militia, and wasoriginally a nine-hole course, nine more holes being added in 1907. H.S.Colt, of Sunningdale fame, reworked the course in 1927. His classic nineout and nine back design is more or less what one sees today.

The course can be divided into threedifferent topographical areas. The first four holes are on elevatedground around the clubhouse, far above the rest of the course. Theyafford sterling views of Sligo Bay and the surrounding countryside,including the massive Ben Bulben, one of the twelve Bens (mountains) inthe area. (Yeats wrote a poem about Ben Bulben, also. If you really wantto enter into the spirit of things, read his autobiography and takealong a copy of his poems. One of our members, nattily attired in boxershorts and cardigan, recited "The Second Coming" on the frontlawn of his hotel at 2:00 AM, much to the dismay of a wedding party whowere wrapping things up for the evening. Formerly a Commander, I bustedhim to Trooper forthwith.) The best holes of this lot are the downhillpar five third, named "Metal Man" for the famous channelmarker in the bay behind the tee, and the excellent fourth, a bunkerlesspar three. (Yeats once remarked that Metal Man was the only man in Sligowho did not lie.)

The course then descends to a flatplain (rather like the runways at LaGuardia Airport) wherein lie someregrettably uninteresting holes. In my opinion, the course begins inearnest with the wonderful par three ninth and the inward nine. Theseare the holes nearest the ocean that work their way through true linksterrain-though there is an absence of the usual bumps and hollows thatalways make for exciting approaches.

When the wind is blowing (which is mostof the time), the ocean (which is just over a small ridge on the right)stands up and makes quite a racket; hearing oneself think, much lesstalk, can be a challenge on these finishing holes. High drama can beexperienced here on the double dog leg (left, then right) 14th whichrequires a long second shot to a rather difficult green, and the hardy17th, a long par four dog leg left which begins the ascent back to theclubhouse. The green is cut into the hillside, is half hidden andrequires a shot beyond the skills of most.

After the round, I heartily recommendthe friendly bar in the Tudor clubhouse. Inspect the club's memorabiliawhile you are there as the club has an interesting history. It hashosted many tournaments, including the West of Ireland Amateur, whichhas been held at Eastertide at the club since 1923. We also like thebustling town of Sligo and never fail to stop at Hagedorn's, one of thegreat pubs of Ireland.

Directions for independent travellers:From the south, take the N4 to Sligo. Follow signs for the city centreand the N15. Sligo is a maze of one-way streets; if you get lost, stopat Hagedorn's for lunch. You want to go north out of town along thecauseway by the sea. Shortly after you cross the causeway, turn left onR281 or follow the signs for Rosses Point, whichever comes first. Thecourse is on the right hand side of the only road leading out to RossesPoint, so the club is unable to be missed.