Course Guides

Mullingar Golf Club in Ireland

And while there is little doubt that in common with other creations of the time, Mullingar has suffered somewhat from the frenzied advances in golf equipment, it has survived better than most due to its location in the heavily wooded Belvedere demesne. All bunkers have been enlarged in recent years and some new strategically placed ones have been incorporated into the course. The par four 11th and 17th holes have been extended, while the short 2nd hole, rated by Christy O'Connor Sr. as one of the finest inland par threes in Ireland, probably remains the signature hole.

On hitting a short iron approach to the first green at Mullingar and having heard that the par four 6th hole is almost driveable, you could be forgiven for believing that you were in for a gentle test. All notions of this however, are quickly dispelled when surveying your tee shot to a small target at the long par three 2nd hole. Upon first viewing the site, course designer James Braid, was convinced of its potential as a golf course and wrote: "Practically every hole would be different in character, the contour being sufficiently undulating to provide some splendid positions for green, whilst the turf is excellent for fairways." Rest assured that Braid's prophesies have proved correct.

The course plays annual host to the highly regarded Mullingar Scratch Cup and over the years, the cream of amateur talent throughout Ireland and Britain has each discovered the menace that lurks beyond the gentle opening hole. It is said that every great course produces great champions and if this is the case, then Mullingar is right up there with the very best. Past winners have included Joe Carr, Peter Townsend, Philip Walton (when he shot a course record final round of 63 in 1982), Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington.


NEARBY COURSES:
Birr (1 hr, 15 min); Carlow (1 hr, 55 min); Esker Hills (40 min); Glasson (55 min); Island (1 hr, 55 min); K Club (1 hr, 15 min); Luttrellstown (1 hr, 50 min); Mount Wolseley (2 hrs, 10 min); Portmarnock (1 hr, 50 min); Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (1 hr, 55 min); Royal Dublin (1 hr, 45 min); Slieve Russell (1 hr, 40 min); St. Margaret's (1 hr, 50 min)


RECOMMENDED NEARBY ACCOMMODATION:
Bloomfield House Hotel (5 min); Crookedwood House (25 min); Hodson Bay Hotel (60 min); Kildare Hotel & Country Club (1 hr, 15 min); Kinnitty Castle (1 hr, 10 min); Slieve Russell Hotel (1 hr, 40 min)


LOCATION:
Situated approximately 55 miles west of Dublin and just over three miles south of Mullingar Town, off the main N52 route from Mullingar to Tullamore.