Ireland's Rosses Point: Inspirational golf in Yeats Country

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The great Irish poet and dramatist, W. B. Yeats was born in Dublin, educated in London and died in France, but always said he received more inspiration from Sligo, where he spent his younger years, than anywhere else. As was his wish, Yeats body was returned from France to Sligo to be buried in the churchyard of his choosing, the Protestant church at Drumcliff, on Rosses Point.

County Sligo's Rosses Point - a centenarian and one of the West Ireland's great championship links.

Rosses Point juts out defiantly into the Atlantic, creating an ideal links setting.

Magnificent sand dunes combine with dramatic elevation changes to complicate the test at Rosses Point.

Handsome good looks are never in short supply - neither is the challenge.

The views inspired one of Ireland's greatest poets and they will do the same for your golf game.

With sometimes bucolic vistas, Rosses Point can be misleading, so stay focused.

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The northwest of Ireland is Yeats Country, a beautiful and totally unspoiled part of the Emerald Isle with a dramatically rugged coastline, spectacular mountains and picturesque villages set in idyllic landscapes. This is the Ireland of old, untouched by the modern day world and practically void of tourists.

The few visitors who make their way to these parts fall into two groups, both with a purpose. There are those who are intrigued by Yeats' writings, looking to experience the countryside and places that inspired the country's poet laureate to such greatness. The second group is seeking inspiration of their own. They are the golfers, eager to play one of Ireland's greatest links courses, County Sligo Golf Club, better known as Rosses Point. Neither group ever leaves Sligo disappointed.

Yeats country is as well suited to golf as it is to writing poetry. The number of courses may not be as plentiful as in other parts of the country, but any lack of quantity is more than made up by the consistently high quality. Those who make the effort to travel here will be well rewarded with unique Irish experiences to be found nowhere else -- and golf that is out of this world.

The shining stars in this small galaxy of top quality links courses in the region are names less familiar -- Ballyliffin, Rosapenna, Enniscrone and perhaps the brightest star of all, Rosses Point.

County Sligo Golf Club was founded in 1894 starting out with a modest nine-hole layout located on a narrow finger of land called Rosses Point. Jutting defiantly out into the Atlantic Ocean with water on three sides, this was a piece of real estate ideally suited to a links course, where the elements would constantly come into play.

Within ten years the layout was extended to a full 18 holes and by the early 1920's the members had decided it was time to bring the course up to a true international standard and perhaps attract a few of the more important tournaments. The great golf architect, Harry S. Colt was brought in and assigned the task of re-designing the links - by 1927 the project was completed.

Colt's work remains very much as he left it and stands alongside his many other accomplishments including Royal Portrush, Royal Belfast, St. Andrews Eden Course, Royal St. Georges and Sunningdale. It's simply a masterful design from one of golf's all time architectural geniuses.

Measuring 6,611 yards from the back tees, the course sets out in the most gentlemanly way, allowing the player to build confidence over a couple of fairly straightforward opening holes. But by the time you reach the fourth tee, the real test is underway, and what a test it proves to be.

Accuracy is demanded every step of the way. Those who stray into the rough or the strategically placed bunkers will pay dearly for the mistake. The fairways that appeared flat and almost manicured from a distance are anything but and prove to be everything links fairways are supposed to be, with surprises aplenty.

A tricky stream meanders menacingly throughout the course, making its presence known on at least half a dozen holes. It pops up in every conceivable place -- off the tee to the left, then off the tee to the right, short and right of the green, then behind the green. Complicating matters further are the constant changes in hole and consequently wind direction, making the ever-present wind on this exposed layout, more of a factor than even a seasoned links veteran might anticipate. Elevation changes require tee shots first uphill and then down, adding even more complexity to the mix.

And as a final defense for the unsuspecting visitor, Rosses Point will beguile, flirt and distract with its good looks. The spectacular views throughout the course are truly awesome, but nowhere as breathtaking as from the third, fifth and tenth tees where 360-degree panoramas expose the truly astounding beauty of this layout. Overpowering Benbulben Mountain, the mighty Atlantic, the picturesque small harbor and a few white cottages dotting the landscape -- It's one of the most stunning vistas in Irish golf.

Perhaps there are two or three holes at Rosses Point that are not so strong, but each of them provides views that more than compensate. No course is perfect, but this one comes pretty close -- it invigorates and more often than not, it inspires. Arriving at the 19th hole there is a realization that you have been privileged to play one of Ireland's greatest courses and poetry lover or not, you'll be waxing lyrical over the experience.

For a few suggestions on how to include Rosses Point in your Irish golf trip, click here.

©2008 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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