Avis de Leonard de Howth Golf Club.

Howth is a hidden gem on the verge of being discovered. Located on a peninsula about a half hours drive of Dublin airport it's a real find. When driving up there you don't realise that the course is located on top of the hill with amazing views all over Dublin including at least 5 other courses worthwhile playing as well. The staff is extremely friendly and so are the members we met. When you go to the driving range you pass a puttinggreen that looks like an upside down saucer plate. Is elevated with a steep incline of about a meter. I thought what a crazy practice green is this but my tip use it to practice because you will have to conquer these greens in the course. The course was designed by the famous architect James Braid (5 times British Open winner in the early 1900's) and it's quite an interesting layout. Due to the steep terrain there are a lot of holes where greens and teeboxes are quite close. Several times you actually hit over a green to the fairway. Obviously the members are used to this and if you take a good look before teeing off your fine. On the 11 and 17th you share the same fairway again good following off the local rule (17 has the right of way) prevents dangerous situations. What I really like about the course is the way it's meandering through the natural hilly terrain with rocky patches, gorse bushes and the fairways that sometimes feel like and fashioned washboard. The length of most holes is not very long but considering the height differences and at some places there fairways are pretty tight a straight tee shot is very important. Also the approach to most greens is a shot where you can lose a lot of strokes. When we played the greens were very firm and quick so any shot (even sometimes puts) not executed well would run off there green. So although the course is directly on the water it requires links golf to shoot par. The par 3's are really nice all 3 of them from elevated tee boxes to the excellent greens. Hole 18 is exciting finishing hole were a 3 wood is enough to almost drive the green, stay on the right side though. And one more time, the views are absolutely amazing from almost every hole you see there inlets and the nice area surrounding the peninsula.

23