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18 Hole Parkland Course - 5728 Metre
Carrick-On-Shannon expanded from a nine-hole course to an eighteen-hole course, in August 2003.
The quest for a new acreage began in the mid 1990’s when the club identified the need to grow. The old nine holes were set in mature parkland and under the revised layout constitute the first five holes and last four holes of the new course. The location of the new nine holes is magnificent. This golfing land winding its way to the water edged through wetland and over hillocks that give immediate definition and charm to the new layout. The old nine holes were constructed on land bought by the club from Major Kirkwood, who lived in Woodbrook House. The club purchased 65 acres of land in 1995 to extend to an 18 hole course from a landowner involved in mixed farming of dry stock and sheep. Martin Hawtree, a well –respected British architect who has been responsible for the radical and highly successive alterations carried out on the Old Course at Lahinch, undertook the task of constructing the additional holes. Work commenced in February 2002 by S.O.L Golf Construction Ltd and the new holes were open for play on August 1st, 2003.The course is constructed to the highest USGA specifications and in time it is expected that the old greens will force to change too.
From the highest point, the view is close to breathtaking. The Boyle River and Drumharlow Lake – integral parts of the Shannon water system – touch the land of the new golf holes, and there are also views of the Arigna mountains.
The old holes are built on land rich in history. The fourth hole is called “Grainne” because it is the reputed burial ground of the Irish mythical figure (Diarmuid agus Grainne of Irish folklore). The fifth, know as “Usna”, the name given to the town land, has a green that is actually built on an old fairy ring fort. Another fairy ring is located on the new land (close to what will be the ninth green) but conservation changes dictate that it cannot be touched in the current situation.Apart from the historical connections, there is a strong equine influence on the names of some existing holes, which is not surprising considering that the Kirkwood family were noted horse people. The first hole is named “Woodbrook”, after the horse of that name which was trained on this land. It won the Grand National in 1881, a victory that apparently sustained the family throughout a decade of agricultural depression and saved the tenants from eviction.
The seventh hole on the existing course, which will become the 16th under the new layout, is called “White Knight”, again after a champion racehorse. In the book "Woodbrook" by the award-winning author David Thomson, “White Knight” is described as a “ rather ugly foal”. However, the horse developed into one of some renown, and went on to win the Ascot Gold Vase, the Ascot Gold Cup, the Goodwood Cup, the Epsom Coronation Cup and the Newmarket March Stakes.
It is said Carrick will be one of those parkland courses that you can recommend to all your friends knowing that they will not leave disappointed. Maybe gob-smacked and shell-shocked, but not disappointed
