DOOKS

Posted by Michael on 24 September 2010 | 0 Comments | Tags: Kerry, Dooks, SWING,

DOOKS. Isn't it a fun word to say.  Today we're playing at Dooks. A good one for pronunciation classes.  JP and I found ourselves chanting the name of this gem all the way around the course..  The course where the natterjack toad famously graces the logo..

But firstly back to the start of the day and our awakening at Waterville House (back to my legal training it's best to work the way through the day in an orderly fashion).

Waterville House is one of the better places to wake up.  The fish flowing on the river outside �?? the rain drops falling peacefully on the window as the mountains climb from the ocean in the distance.   Bliss.  Having someone to share it with? Piriceless.  All three of us owe a huge thank you to Jay for taking us under his wing for 24 hours and showing us the �??Waterville Experience�?� (which might almost push the now world famous �??Westhampton Experience�?� �?? BTW congrats Andy on your recent arrival).  Rather than give another blow by blow of the Tom Fazio Waterville course and the 1775 Waterville House I�??ll keep it short and simply proffer a huge thank you to Jay for having us.  A true gentleman.  Obviously revered by many over the pond, Jay embodies the Irish virtues which have made us love this country so much�?? laidback, great craic, fun loving, a love of music (and Jamesons) and of course famous Irish hospitality.   

[M&G with Jay. Behind us are some old photographs of Waterville GC. These were found by Jay at Pebble Beach, unframed and disused and the Californians were not sure of where or what golf course they were of.  Jay instantly recognised the land as Waterville and as they say the rest is history]

Leaving Waterville House was almost quite sad �?? I could have happily stayed here for a week relaxing, learning to fish and soaking in the surrounds.  We took a few photographs with the big man and along the famous weir (which unfortunately it was too cold to have a cocktail on last night) and jumped in the Tank en route Dooks GC.  

[the 3 musketeers at Waterville House]

Before DOOKS we passed thru Caharsiveen where the Daniel O'Connell memorial church sits.  The only church in Ireland not named after a Saint, but instead the founding father of Ireland.  Gretta O'Connell was proud and so in we went for a gander and a couple of quick photographs..

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DOOKS Golf Club.  Let me start by painting the scene with this picture...

At Dooks things just started to get a bit overwhelming.  The golf course, the people and the scenery were just all too good. Day in day out overwhelming has to be the word for it�?� Waterville / Dooks / Killarney is the heart of the Kerry part of the South West Swing and now I can see why golfers the world over make the pilgrimage to travel this route golfing.

Let me start with the people that make this course tick.

Brian Hurley is the General Manager here and a top quality Irishman.  He is probably still in Irish heaven as well after his team won the All Ireland football at the weekend.  A huge Cork fan and on our day at Dooks the excitement was building in anticipation of the big game.  Brian made us very welcome helping with some local accommodation in the local township and then setting us on our way with the challenge of break 80 and dinner is on him...  He had also arranged for the President of Dooks, Helen Aherne, to come down and meet us for a quick chat and photograph before the round.  Another genuinely nice avid Irish golfing enthusiast.  

Golf was difficult today as the elements were out to ensure we had a fight on our hands.  The course record challenge of 2 under par off the tips was acknowledged and with optimism we played down the first hole straight into a 4 club wind.  Brian, watching on, must have thought to himself 'these boys are in for a long day' as we battled down the first hole making doubles.  His dinner was safe... Brian is a GM with a business background who is also a trained PGA professional so understands all aspects of the golf course.  A good combination.

The golf course was recently redesigned by the impressive Martin Hawtree (who also did Lahinch and in England, Royal Birkdale).  It has a simple charm to it - playable but ankle taps you.  Hawtree is also known as a bit of a Mackenzie doctor so generally his redesigned are very impressive.  Dooks is no exception - it's a fun course to play where you feel like your next birdie might not be too far away, yet stop paying attention and it all goes horribly wrong!  

[the 2nd green - wind hurtling in off the sea]

[G taking a cheeky shot on the par three 3rd.  She would have fared better than our two 5's!!]

The course was armed at its full defense today as the wind was hurtling in.  Creativity was to the fore - there was no such thing as a straight shot.  Everything is exposed too as the dunes are short.  It is a softer course than many of it's Irish counterparts which makes it fun, even from the tips in a gale.  Don't get me wrong it absolutely tore strips off JP and I and Brians dinner was safe as houses, but it strangely felt like we could go out and play again - despite being battered by one of the windiest days of the year. Perhaps this was because the course routing is such that the wind is always coming at you from a different angle, giving you a chance for much of the round before it slams the door shut on the final two holes which play straight into the teeth of it. An example of the wind - on the last I had 90 yards through the doorway like opening between the dunes to an elevated green.  My wedge I was holding all of a sudden felt like a toothpick and it went back in the bag.  The 9 iron did not look much better.  So out came the 8 iron, delofted and slammed under the wind onto the middle of the green. 

The course is one of the most picturesque in Ireland.  It is coated in heather, wild flower and wild gorse and as you play you can look across the small rolling sand dunes and out towards some of the best views of the year.  Gretta was on camera duty for the front nine so we picked up a couple of good action snaps:

Then she went for a stroll along the beach and returned to the clubhouse. For a Guinness with Helen.  

From the Dooks website: "The golf links is set out on one of the three stretches of sand dunes at the head of Dingle bay. In the immediate foreground are the sand dune peninsulas of Rossbeigh and Inch and just a few miles away the whitewashed houses of Cromane fishing village provide an eye catching distraction. South eastwards are the famed McGillycuddy's Reeks, to the Southwest are the lovely cooms and hills of Glenbeigh and across the bay to the north are the Slieve Mish and Dingle mountains. A truly magical location for a stunning golf course."

Before I go I will share with you the logo for the DOOKS GC - the natterjack toad.  I'm not sure the history behind this, but these toads spawn in a pond on the golf course by the 15th green / 16th tee pictured below.  They also feature on our new wet weather tops which I can report have come into great use since our day at DOOKS.

After our round we scooted up the road to meet up with Gav from BallyB after his day teaching to reminisce on our time up the road and so that he could meet Gret. We had planned on staying with Gav but it was to be some detour back in the opposite direction and Brian from Dooks had kindly arranged for us to stay at Glenbeigh. Brian had also caved on his bet and invited us for a meal at the clubhouse.  So after another farewell to Gav (who we will hopefully see in NZ some time soon) we headed back to Dooks for a smashing meal, a guinness and some great craic with Brian.

Dooks is one of those places that oozes charm.  And despite it being very much on the visitors circuit it retains a completely natural charm.  Over our day we'd bumped into the locals on the golf course, been looked after famously by Brian and Helen, met the greenkeepers, been tested by the course and definitely loved the views.  Thanks for having us guys and I think DOOKS is onto a good thing.