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Waterville may be the most Irish of golf courses, but it’s also a creature of American ingenuity. Irish-American Jack Mulcahy, Masters winner Claude Harmon (Butch’s dad) and Ireland’s pre-eminent golf architect Eddie Hackett created 18 magnificent holes along a promontory surrounded by the sea, overlooked by magnificent sand dunes.
It only opened for play in 1973, but within a few years it played as if it had been here for centuries. Tom Fazio – the only person allowed to touch Augusta – has since given the course a makeover that has made it even better.
Every course has one or two signature holes, but Waterville has six – three par 3s and three spellbinding par 5s. The view from the 17th – an elevated par 3 called Mulcahy’s Peak – is enough to make the angels weep.
The club is a mile north of the village of Waterville. Request tee times via the form on the website, at least 48 hours in advance (though the earlier the better).
The course is available to play all year round, seven days a week. April to October is best for weather, pluys in winter you’re playing off winter mats.
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Spectacular landscapes, impeccable fairways and greens, brilliantly-designed holes and plenty of golfing folklore – we asked golf expert and journalist Fionn Davenport to recommend his top 30 golf courses from around the world.
