Seven Irish courses in Golf Magazine’s top 100

SEVEN Irish courses, led by Royal Co Down, have been included in the world’s top 100 in the acclaimed Golf Magazine.

It’s a fairly impressive verdict by an American publication although the 100-strong voting panel came from 17 different countries and included Gary Player, the great South African; England’s Justin Rose and one of the game’s finest amateurs, Peter McEvoy, also from England.

Seven American venues, led at number one by Pine Valley in New Jersey and followed by Cypress Point in California and Augusta National in Georgia, make it to the top ten. The three from overseas are the Old Course at St Andrews (4th); Royal Co Down (5th) and Muirfield (9th).

The Co Down links at Newcastle is invariably ranked highly by these magazine panels, largely because of its glorious location at the foothills of the Mountains of Mourne and the severe golfing examination set by a lay-out originally designed by Old Tom Morris for the princely sum of 4 guineas!

When it comes to a contest between the better of the two links in the north many would opt for Royal Portrush, the only course on the island to have hosted the Open Championship won by Max Faulkner in 1951.

Portrush comes in 13th, followed by Ballybunion (18th), Lahinch (44th), Portmarnock (45th), the European Club (85th), and newcomers Waterville (91st). The nine courses currently on The Open rota are all on the list. After St Andrews and Muirfield come Turnberry (17th), Carnoustie (22nd), Royal Birkdale (29th), Sandwich (34th), Royal Troon (48th), Royal Lytham (53rd) and Hoylake (80th).