GolfTraxx: A fusion of Golf, GPS, Database, Mapping, and FUN technologies
Athlone Golf Club Golf Course Map /Athlone Golf Club Golf Holes Map
Athlone Golf Club Golf Course Review in Athlone, IR in ROSCOMMON
ATHLONE WEATHER
Hole MAP
Hole 1
Hole Name
From The Tee A terrific and tough opening hole. The elevated tee gives a commanding view of
From The Fairway the fairway some 30ft below, intimidating to some, inviting to others. A slight dog-leg right to left, the ideal drive would be to hit the angle of the dog-leg leaving about 150m to the pin.
On The Green Stray from the generous fairway and you will prO-Bably have to negotiate the mature trees that line either side. The green is at the same elevation as the tee so one or two clubs extra is required for the approach, land short and you will find your ball rolling back down the hill to meet you.
Hole 2
Hole Name
From The Tee All duck or no dinner with this little tester. Go left from the tee and you will face blind lO-B shot to
From The Fairway the green 20ft above, possibly hampered by tree trunks or overhanging branches. On the right hand side,
On The Green two sand-bunkers, a cart path and out of bounds await depending on how wayward you are. Smart play is not to chase the pin and aim for the centre of the green, make par and run to the next tee.
Hole 3
Hole Name
From The Tee A strong par 4 that turns from left to right. The drive needs to be guided between
From The Fairway trees on the left hand side and a large much frequented land bunker on the right. If you are lucky enough to find the main landing area you are looking at about 160m to the flag. The fairway dips 140m out to rise again just before a two tiered green.
On The Green Land short or right of the green and your ball will invariably kick away from the target, but those favouring the left hand side could well get a members bounce to feed the ball onto the putting surface.
Hole 4
Hole Name
From The Tee Another stiff par 4 that faces due north. As straight as a die,
From The Fairway the target can be seen enticingly some 400m in the distance form the elevated tee. Bigger hitters need to avoid the water hazard in clear view on the right hand side.
On The Green A wood or long iron is usually needed to get to the green for the second. Accuracy required, a bunker guards the front right and the green is slightly elevated so anything short, long or left get carried away from the pin.
Hole 5
Hole Name
From The Tee A brute of a par 5 and the first of Athlone’s three holes Amen Corner.
From The Fairway A three shotter where each shot gets progressively more testing. The only real trouble from the tee is to avoid being blocked out by the small evergreen copse at 200m from the tee.
On The Green The second shot is all about positioning for the third, a bunker lies in wait on the right with 150m to go, trees can hamper wider shots. A water-hazard runs from the front right of the green all the way around that will play on the mind of even the most seasoned golfer. Front to middle of the green is the sensible play.
Hole 6
Hole Name
From The Tee Not for the faint hearted, this par 3 has shades of the 17th at Sawgrass about it.
From The Fairway All carry over water into the prevailing wind for those who take the direct route to the flag. Anything short or right is in the hazard while those bailing out left face getting caught by the bunker.
On The Green Getting up and down from anything long is far from easy. Choosing the right club and committing to it is the key part here, trying to manufacture a safe, half shot up the left will wreck your head and your card.
Hole 7
Hole Name
From The Tee A left to right par 5 and the exit of Amen Corner with trouble every step of the way.
From The Fairway Off the tee, out of bounds is ever-present by the lake all the way up the right hand side while a sand bunker is a danger for those playing safe to the left.
On The Green For the second, a line of trees needs to be negotiated along the left hand side and a large deep sand bunker some 10m in front of the green swallows many a ball. Should you find the green in regulation, a two tier sloping green can see a birdie opportunity end in bogey.
Hole 8
Hole Name
From The Tee A cracking par 4 that runs straight and gently down hill. It can play drive,
From The Fairway short iron with a stiff wind off the north or be unreachable in two if blowing in the opposite direction. Most shots are lost greenside.
On The Green Sand bunkers guard the approach from left and right. The green slopes from right to left and a straight putt is nigh impossible unless you are directly below the hole left of the flag.
Hole 9
Hole Name
From The Tee The 9th hole has once again returned to its previous life as a par 5 a wonderful golf hole to finish the front nine.
From The Fairway From the elevated tee the left hand side of the fairway is favoured to avoid being blocked by a sprawling ash tree some 140m from the green on the right hand side.
On The Green A good drive will leave you with 200m up the hill to the green which is just out of view. Sand guards the green left and right but the real challenge is to be able to read putts on a green with subtle borrows and breaks that seem to defy the laws of gravity.
Hole 10
Hole Name
From The Tee A long iron or small wood is usually required to negotiate the 176m that plays longer than it looks.
From The Fairway If you do not hit the target in one, and up and down is a tough challenge with sand bunkers and roll offs both left and right.
On The Green Golden evergreens to the left of the green are a ball magnet and seldom come into play without doing damage to a card. Members will tell you par is a good result and bogey no embarrassment.
Hole 11
Hole Name
From The Tee A hole to crank the heartbeat up a few notches as trouble abounds from tee to green.
From The Fairway One of the tightest driving holes on the course, out of bounds all along the right hand side, on the left a valley that will leave you a blind second from a side hill lie.
On The Green For some, a hole where it is best to leave the driver in the bag and opt to surrender length for accuracy with a three wood. A water-hazard sticks its tongue out at the front right of the green and wraps itself all the way around the back. Anything veering right or long of the green is almost certain to make a splash.
Hole 12
Hole Name
From The Tee The final par 5 of the round that brings you back up under the shadow of the clubhouse.
From The Fairway Out of reach in two, the drive and second shots are pretty uncomplicated as long as you avoid the out of bounds on the right off the tee. The approach shot requires a little more finesse as the green is quite narrow as you play up and into it.
On The Green Miss left and you have an impossible chip from a downhill lie to a green that runs away from you, a miss to the right leaves a reasonable chance of salvaging par. The green is notorious, three putts from three feet is not uncommon. Leave the ball below the hole if at all possible.
Hole 13
Hole Name
From The Tee Love it or loathe it, the 13th is part of the fabric and folklore of Athlone Golf Club.
From The Fairway You are faced with the most daunting tee shot you are likely to face on any course. Forest to your left, the infamous scrub covered hill middle left that rolls down to ‘the saddle’ 140m directly in front of the tee.
On The Green The line you choose depends on the state of your card, experience, naivety, wind, confidence, bravado, and canniness. If undecided, try hitting one right of the brow of the hill and pray. Should you reach the valley beyond the hill, a mid iron blind approach beckons over a gentler hill and down to the green.
Hole 14
Hole Name
From The Tee A classic old school golf hole that illustrates that you do not need 440m to make an interesting and challenging par 4.
From The Fairway At driving distance the hole breaks sharp left to an elevated green, just make sure you don’t go left of centre and risk being blocked out by the large ash that sits on the corner of the dogleg.
On The Green From there a short iron will see most golfers home to a green that is protected by three deep sand bunkers on the left and one to the right for good measure. A sleeping beauty.
Hole 15
Hole Name
From The Tee From the same stable as the 14th, a short par 4 where brain rather than brawn will produce the best results.
From The Fairway A rescue club from the tee is a real option and should leave 140m to the target. Three large trees guard the left hand side approach and one to the right.
On The Green It is seldom enough you will find the gap between these sentries so flying over them is the more popular option while a few will hit a canny chaser along the ground. Two bunkers will swallow pulled approaches and two putts is no guarantee on the split level sloping green.
Hole 16
Hole Name
From The Tee Across the road to one of the best par 4s you are likely to play anywhere.
From The Fairway A long par 4 into that gently curves from right to left with the shores of Lough Ree. The drive is all important on this hole. The fairway falls to the lake on the left, too far left and you are likely to kick left into trees,
On The Green too far right more trees or worse, out of bounds on the road. If you get the drive away, it's decision time, lay up or go for it. Trees line the fairway all along the left and a copse of tall mature trees 60m short of the green can limit approach options. Enjoy the views of the lake from the green. This is index 1 for no idle reason, take 5 and move on.
Hole 17
Hole Name
From The Tee Underestimate this 107m par 3 at your peril. A short iron for most,
From The Fairway hitting the dance floor is the only option. As the green is elevated, shots just missing the target are likely to find one of the
On The Green three greenside bunkers or get kicked off the slope into trouble under trees or up against the boundary fence. Some putts can be a little short of evil given the speed and break generated by a green that slopes from back to front and right to left.
Hole 18
Hole Name
From The Tee A fitting closing hole for this fine golf course.
From The Fairway One of the tightest driving holes with little room for error from the elevated tee to the tree lined fairway. From the landing area the fairway rises 30 feet over the remaining 150m to narrow fronted
On The Green green protected by bunkers left and right. An extra club or two is required to get the ball all the way home up the hill. Overlooked by the clubhouse, the elevated green with its many undulations, it is a stage where the unexpected is bound to happen and no card is safe until the final putt hits the bottom of the cup.
