Moyvalley Golf Club Ireland
Moyvalley Golf Course
Co. Kildare
18 Holes 7370 Yards Par 72
Less than one hour from Dublin, Moyvalley is set over 500 acres. This exciting new championship course has been designed by Irish Ryder Cup star, Darren Clarke, and represents his first foray into golf course design. The project is bold in its approach with large lakes and bunkers strategically placed to catch the wayward golfer.
The par 72 course, at 7370 yards, is very challenging from the back tees, and is certainly destined to stage major championships in the near future. However, Darren's design philosophy was to ensure that the average golfer will find the course both an eminently playable and enjoyable golfing experience from the forward tees.
Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke has hailed the Champions Course at Moyvalley, County Kildare, as the latest jewel in Ireland's golfing crown. (20 April 2007)
Moyvalley incorporates a new concept in golf course design, maintenance and membership. The Champions Club is the prototype of an exciting initiative from International Sports Management which is expected to involve some of their top stars including Ernie Els, Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood.
Hole by Hole description of the course:
1st Hole.
While not an overly long home with plenty of room on the right
side, the ideal line for the green is close to the fairway bunker on the
left. The shot into the green needs to be accurate both in terms of distance
and length with anything landing short of the green catching the swale
and feeding off to the right.
2nd Hole.
The Par 3 green sits at an angle to the line of play, protected on the
left side by bunkering. The slightly elevated green, itself, is gently
pitched from right to left and back to front.
3rd Hole.
Placing the tee shot is fundamental to this hole with the large
hollow in the centre of the fairway and the bunker on the left creating
a very tight driving hole. Anything landing short of the subtly contoured
green that sits at an angle will run back off towards the player.
4th Hole.
This dogleg left features a generous fairway with the ideal line
hugging the bunkering on the left hand side. The second shot needs to
be played across bumps and hollows to a long and narrow elevated green
that sits at an angle to the line of play.
5th Hole.
This is a medium length Par 3 with ample bailout on the left.
The green is large and contoured with the surface falling off to the rear.
6th Hole.
The first of the par 5's requires thought as to the placement
of both the tee shot and then the second. Trying to reach the green in
two shots brings the greenside water and the bunkering into play. With
water running down the right side of the hole and then crossing the fairway,
accuracy and distance control is vital.
7th Hole.
The angle of the green presents the challenge here. The safe
tee shot is over the bunker splitting down the middle of the fairway,
but creates difficulties with the approach. Playing down the left hand
side from the tee can create a better angle to the green.
8th Hole.
Care needs to be taken to avoid the bunkering on both sides of
the fairway. The lake protecting the left and centre of the green is only
visible from the right side of the fairway. A strategic bunker on the
right is position to grab an overly cautious second shot.
9th Hole.
With no greenside bunkering, this hole is deceptively difficult. Both
sides of the narrow fairway are heavily bunkered and the smaller then
normal green is shaped to move the ball away from the putting surface.
10th Hole.
A magnificent oak tree stands sentry to block the right hand side of this
green. Bunkers protect both sides of the fairway and the left side of
the green.
11th Hole.
Thread the drive between the fairway bunkering and a medium length second
awaits to a green strongly bunkered on the front and right sides.
12th Hole.
Another mature tree features prominently on this hole. The right
side of the green can be difficult to get at following a poorly positioned
tee shot.
13th Hole.
The premium is on length rather then accuracy on this long Par
5. The tee shot must contend with pot bunkering on either side of the
fairway with further heavy bunkering on the right guarding the second
shot. The long narrow green sits across the line of play, with the rear
third of the green on the left side falling slightly away from the fairway.
14th Hole.
This is a downhill Par 3 with everything in full view. Bunkering
on the left makes the pin difficult to attack on that side. There is plenty
of room on the right for a safe tee shot.
15th Hole.
At all costs the bunkering and slopes on the right on this "driveable"
uphill Par 4 must be avoided. If not, there is a nearby blind shot to
a green with a great deal of movement in places.
16th Hole.
A lake guards the entire left hand side of this feature hole. The second
shot needs to negotiate both a lake and a narrowing fairway as the approach
to the green starts. The green is one of the largest on the course and
can easily lead to three putts.
17th Hole.
The penultimate hole is all about accuracy. Bunkering in the front of
the green ensures that the tee shot must be long enough to reach the surface;
water to the rear of this undulating green ensures that it cannot be too
long.
18th Hole.
Water is the main issue on this hole. It protects both sides
of the fairway from the tee and then crosses the fairway short of the
green. A decision is needed as to either play short, leaving a longer
approach, or take on the carry in the hop of a short pitch to the long,
narrow green.
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Champions Course at Moyvalley
