Ranking Ireland’s top 100 golf courses

Another Ranking? Yes, but with a difference, writes Kevin Markham

The view from behind the third green towards the Mourne Mountains at Royal County Down.

In a break from traditional ranking methodologies, I asked three passionate golfers to join me in devising a top 100 Irish courses list that uses a very different set of ranking criteria.

Each of the four contributors has provided a list of their Top 25 favourite courses in Ireland, including a small rationale as to what makes the course special. These are personal favourites (and not ‘best’ courses) and each of us undoubtedly looks at golf courses in different ways. So, for example, I regard Portmarnock as one of the top three best courses in Ireland, but it doesn’t make my list of favourites.