Golf Ireland: Athenry Golf Club

Athenry boasts an excellent clubhouse and a picturesque tree-lined course which is very good value for money.

The clubhouse was revamped in 2007 and has a modern bar and restaurant, pro shop, meeting rooms and both ladies and gents locker rooms and there are great views of the 18th hole from the bar and restaurant.

Athenry also has a link with Raheen Woods Hotel with weekend special including stay and play and it's a course a family could play with real enjoyment as it's a lovely parkland course with most holes tree-lined.

It displays elements of old and new following its extension to 18 holes in 1991 and designer Eddie Hackett has used the woodlands and heathland with real sympathy.

Athenry Golf Club

The feature holes are the three par 3s in the woods with the 12th the pick of them as it's played from an elevated tee through a corridor of beech and pine trees.

Having said that, there are a couple of shortish quirky par 4s which are real fun and there's a good finish.