Adare Manor

Tom Fazio was commissioned for a complete redesign of the course, with the specific aim of attracting championship golf to this corner of Southwest Ireland. The layout was stripped bare and the entire site was capped with over 200,000 tons of sand to assist with drainage, while producing a sea of firm, pristine turf in the process. An untold number of trees and other overgrown areas were also removed, opening up width in the fairways and sweeping vistas across the grounds. The real masterstroke of the renovation, however, is found on the rather deceptive putting surfaces, which are both a challenge to read and to simply find thanks to their often elevated perch.

As with any championship course, the closing stretch of holes at Adare Manor is likely to leave a mark in the memory bank and scorecard. The approach to the par-4 14th is both daunting and picturesque, with a peninsula green surrounded by water and the remains of Desmond Castle standing as backdrop. Ahead on the 16th we find another exacting approach over water, though the enormous green may provide some relief to the errant golfer. By the time we reach the par-5 closing hole, where the manor house stands guard over a multi-tiered green, one thing will be abundantly clear: this course may have been built for the world’s best, but it’s an absolute joy for the traveling golfer as well.

Given the amount of investment which has poured into the property, it’s no surprise that the early returns from Adare Manor are overwhelmingly positive. The resort has already fulfilled its primary goal with the J.P. McManus Pro-Am headlined by the likes of Tiger, Rory, and Phil. And yet, for this course dubbed by many as the “Augusta of Ireland,” an even greater stage awaits in 2027, when Samuel Ryder’s cup arrives to Adare Manor.