Part II: The European Club – Wind, Fescue, and Twenty Holes of Magic

In Golf Courses by Alec, Zevy, and Jason Naft

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The European Club

First Impressions
The European Club looks like a countryside estate, but don’t let the charm fool you—it’s one of the toughest links in Ireland. Winds gusted to 30 mph that day, and my son Alec (a high-ball hitter) donated more than ten golf balls to the fescue.

Highlights of the Course

  • Bonus Holes: The European Club has 20 holes, including the quirky par-3 “7a,” a funneled green over a ravine.
  • Record Greens: Hole 12 features a 127-yard green—the site of the world’s longest recorded putt.
  • Tiger’s Course: Hole 13, a winding par-5, is a design masterpiece. No wonder Tiger Woods chose to play here, where he also holds the course record.

The People
Hospitality matched the golf. Jerry in the clubhouse had us laughing with stories (including a few about Golf Aficionado’s Rob Spellman), while Mary in the dining room made sure we didn’t leave hungry. Her vegetable soup and soda bread were Ireland in a bowl.

Verdict
If you want a rugged start to your Irish adventure, The European Club delivers.

👉 Coming up in Part III: Alec takes the reins at Ballybunion, where helicopters buzz overhead and the dunes never stop testing you.

👉 Bonus Content: Read more about the history of the European Club and its designer!