| Although the country of Scotland has long been | | | | helicopter to play a round. |
| acknowledged as the birthplace of the game of golf, | | | | Faldo’s dramatics so impressed the British golfing |
| the Emerald Isle to its west has become a bastion of | | | | public that his golfing design company was hired to |
| golf in its own right. The rolling terrain, magnificent | | | | make improvements to the Old Course. One of the |
| ocean views, and pristine landscapes of Ireland have | | | | most impressive results of his efforts is the |
| made it a golfing vacation destination for millions of | | | | course’s fifth hole, were elevated green 190 |
| links lover from around the globe. | | | | yards off the tee is surrounded by massive sand |
| One of Ireland’s true golf magnets is the | | | | dunes. |
| Ballyliffin Golf Club, located on the northwest coast of | | | | The popularity of the Old Course at Ballyliffin became |
| Donegal. The Ballyliffin Golf Club is home to two | | | | such a demand for a second course led to the 1995 |
| distinct but equally remarkable golf courses, the older | | | | opening of neighboring Glashedy Links. The |
| of which was established as a nine hole course | | | | 7200-yard Glashedy Course at Ballyliffin possesses |
| shortly after the end of World War II. The Old | | | | enormous bunkers vast greens with slopes to |
| Course at Ballyliffin began as a labor of love, with its | | | | challenge the boldest of golfers. Both the Old |
| members themselves tending to its greens and | | | | Course and are whipped by north Atlantic winds |
| mowing its fairways. | | | | and blessed by panoramic views of the Inishowen |
| Their lack of resources, however, eventually forced | | | | Coast and Pollan Bay which make even the most |
| the members of the Old Course to reconsider their | | | | frustrated golfers feel blessed to play the game. |
| commitment. They had leased the lands on which the | | | | The par-3 7th hole at Glashedy requires a drive off a |
| course was built, and had the owners of the land not | | | | tee situated one hundred feet above the green, and |
| agreed to extend the lease, The Old Course at | | | | the course’s par-5 13th has already earned a |
| Ballyliffin might now be a housing development. | | | | reputation as one of the most challenging part five |
| But with their newly extended lease, and an | | | | this in all of Ireland. The Glashedy course is not only a |
| association with the Irish Christian Brotherhood which | | | | staggeringly beautiful piece of real estate, but a |
| help them attract a growing membership and a | | | | marvelous test of golfing skills. Its growing reputation |
| stronger revenue base, he members of the Old Club | | | | has earned the right to host both the 1998 Ladies |
| at Ballyliffin were close to owning the land outright by | | | | Irish Open and the 2002 North West of Ireland Open. |
| the early 1960s. The next decades saw many more | | | | Playing a round of golf at Ballyliffin may leave you |
| upset downs in the fortunes of the Old Club. During | | | | feeling as if you have transcended a normal golfing |
| the 1970s it was moved to a larger tracts of land | | | | experience and entered the realm of the surreal. No |
| and transformed into an 18 hole course. Its future | | | | golf vacation in Ireland is complete without a trip to |
| was secured in 1993 when the world’s top | | | | the Ballyliffin Golf Club. |
| player, Nick Faldo, dropped to the course from a | | | | |