Our final round as a foursome (M&M have one more before flying home next week) took place at Dooks. Golf has been played at Dooks since 1889 which makes it one of the oldest golf links in Ireland. For nearly 100 years the links remained a quirky, 9 holes monument to those early days as the members resisted all efforts at modernisation. It was extended to eighteen holes in the 1970s under the guidance of Eddie Hackett. The course was further renovated in 2002 by Martin Hawtree.
We would concur with the description that Dooks is infinitely easier compared to nearby Tralee and Ballybunion. Its front nine is set on links land with moderately high dunes while the back nine turns into a little more parkland terrain. There are some robust holes however including one 451 yard uphill into the wind par 4.
The sedate atmosphere after the commercialized bustle of Ballybunion was welcome given it was our 14th round in 19 days. The fairways were generous and the first few yards of rough allowed balls to be found AND played.
Well perhaps not always.
Yet again we had fabulous weather although the breeze off the water meant an extra layer at times. Other than our opening round three weeks ago we have avoided rain on every golf course. Even the locals are impressed.
Our day finished in the early evening as more cloud cover rolled in. Tomorrow we pack up early in Killarney and make the trek east to Kilkenny for our last group Pit Day.
The Bennetts On Tour 