Offaly man Shane Lowry is the proud winner of the BMW PGA Championship, following his flawless performance at Wentworth over the weekend and Offaly County is rightly proud of Shane. For those who would like some of Shane’s success to rub off them and help up their golf game, Offaly has a number of stunning golf courses throughout the county and looks forward welcoming you for a visit.
Esker Hills Golf Club
First up is Esker Hills Golf club, home to Shane Lowry. Esker Hills, Tullamore, Co. Offaly is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading inland golf courses. It is a challenging championship golf course where no two holes are remotely alike. It is noted for its distinct links feel, superb sand-based greens, all-year playability and warm welcome. “Designing Esker Hills gave me enormous satisfaction, plotting the course through nature’s own sand-hills and valleys. Esker Hills is the only inland links type course I know of, which makes golf a pleasure all year round.” – Christy O’ Connor Jnr
Portarlington Golf Club
Portarlington Golf Club was founded in 1908, set in the town’s land of Garryhinch about 2.5 miles from Portarlington. Another golf course was designed by Eddie Hackett. In the early 1990s the course was converted from 9 holes to 18 holes which brought the River Barrow and the woodland areas adjoining the river into play. The magnificent old trees and the wildlife, mallard ducks, swans and red squirrel that roam the fairways and woods made the course an enchanting venue. The golf course is a serious challenge to all golfers and hazards lurk around every corner.
Tullamore Golf Club
Tullamore Gold Club has consistently been rated among the top 30 parkland courses in Ireland. This James Braid designed course opened in 1926 and was upgraded in 1996 by the highly regarded golf-course architect, Patrick Merrigan. Tullamore Golf Club is a championship parkland golf course located at Brookfield, just on the outskirts of the thriving town of Tullamore and is open to visitors.
Birr Golf Club
Visitors are very welcome to Birr Golf Club, Offaly in the midlands of Ireland. The club was founded in 1893 and the course has been carved out of natural woodland and eskers and provides a strong challenge for even the most accomplished golfers. Undulating fairways, ridges, hills and hollows represent the nearest inland equivalent to the links courses around our coast. The club is particularly welcoming of golf societies.
Edenderry Golf Club
Edenderry Golf Club has been in existence since 1910 having moved from several locations to its present location where Eddie Hackett designed a magnificent golf course built on the natural peat that is synonymous with this part of the country. Eddie used the natural terrain to create a superb golf course that is playable all year round. The course is particularly long at 6,011 metres with a Par of 72 including 4 very good Par 5 holes. There are four Par-3 at Edenderry each of which has its own challenge. The course has an abundance of mature trees and strategically placed bunkers making it a challenging, but fair test of golf for the experienced and beginner alike.
