Just when you thought you?d driven as far west as possible, out on the long, lonely road between Galway city and the seaboard town of Clifden, there?s another few miles to go. Keep heading for the Atlantic and there, set among the sand dunes along the shore, is the classic links course of the Connemara golf club.
The course is among the most beautiful ? and testing ? in Ireland. Achieving the par 72 at the 7,229 yards long Ballyconneely is a considerable achievement, nerves of steel are needed to tackle the long final six holes. The famous par 3, 200 yds 13th a severe test, while the greens on the 14th and 15th, set up high on the hillside, have been known to cause palpitations among the most gifted of approach players.
If your game is not up to scratch, then you can take solace from enjoying some of the most spectacular of scenery: the Twelve Bens mountains of Connemara form a dramatic backdrop to the course on one side, the swirling Atlantic is on the other.
Best Hole 13th, 200 yards long you'll need to take plenty of club to reach the green
Address 10 miles south of Clifden
Green Fees: £31 wd, £34 we
Tel: 003539523502
Web www.westcoastlinks.com
