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 Twelfth
a hole of pure class at Water Rock
by Mark Woods, Evening Echo
You've heard of two halves. It's a term which also applies to Water
Rock Golf Course, on the outskirts if Midleton in east Cork.
The opening nine holes should yield a bountiful of stableford points
given its relative ease compared to the inward track. Anyone trying
to rescue a card on the back nine, though, has their work cut out,
because it's longer, tougher and far more challenging.
Water Rock is a rare breed in this part of the golfing world. It's
a pay-per-play course and not affiliated to the Golfing Union of
Ireland.
What Water Rock has proven is that you don't need to be a club
with members and committees to maintain an 18 hole course in top
condition. The standard is indeed quite remarkable.
Despite heavy traffic, which in itself is testimony to its popularity,
Water Rock can boast lush green fairways, manageable rough and greens
that would be the envy of most other clubs.
There's no dispute over its signature hole, the par three 12th,
measuring 240 yards off the championship tees, index one. You'd
imagine the length would be the biggest problem, but it's a shot
that calls for accuracy first and foremost. It looks simple enough
in that there's no ball out to the side and calls for a straight
shot. And yet for the middle range golfers striking the ball to
take a direct route is the hardest of all to play. A watery grave
awaits anything under hit. A line of trees guards the left and out-of-bounds
operates along the right.
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There's no escape. You must hit long and straight to have any chance
of making the putting surface. Imagine so, a freshening breeze blowing
against and a bit of moisture on the club grip. What a test! And
that's after the 10th and 11th, two formidable holes in their own
right.
The back nine begins with a long 539 yard (white) par five, downhill,
but invariably into the wind. Getting home in two is out of the
question. Indeed having a birdie putt is almost an achievement in
itself, given the degree of difficulty on this index five hole.
Walking off with par represents an encouraging start and the same
goes for the 383 yard next. This requires accuracy off the tee,
because there's water on the left and any shot sliced risks out
of bounds. The approach is equally at risk, because of a narrow
entrance with no value at all in ending right, though there's some
room on the opposite side.
After negotiating those three tough holes, there's simply no respite
as the 13th is another daunting par five, 500 yards long with a
treacherous sloping green at the end of it all. It falls steeply
from top to bottom. It's two-tiered to add to the problem and surrounded
by bunkers in front and to the right.
The closing couple of holes also pose stiff examinations. The 17th,
a 195 yard par three, is often into the wind with another sloping
green to contend with. The last is 382 yards uphill and once more
a putting surface fraught with danger looms, especially if the hole
is cut in the lower half.
And so a journey that began with high expectation ends with probably
mixed fortunes, no doubt cursing yourself for taking full advantage
on the outer leg.
After a gentle opening quartet, Water Rock's fifth hole, 410 yards,
par four, index two, gives a foretaste of what's on offer at the
turn. Trees along both sides of a generous enough fairway represent
the main danger with the drive, requiring a long second shot to
a well protected green. A four here represents a good score as it
does at the seventh, 354 yards, index six, to a long, narrow green
which runs down back to front.
The eighth and ninth are gentle holes compared to what's lurking
around the corner.
It should come as no surprise that the green fee range is
very attractive at €30.00 from Monday-Friday with an
early bird €27.00 before 10.20 am and at weekends and
bank holidays it's €36.00. For value it's as good as
it gets!
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 Affordable
Golf in Ireland
by Peter Ricketts, Birmingham Mail
It was so easy. Drive to Birmingham Airport, catch the 11.30 am
Aer Arann Express plane to Cork, and we tee off amid the green hills
of Ireland by mid-afternoon.
I'd challenged Paul Harris of the Irish Tourist Board to show me
courses that did not cost an arm and a leg - because, I told him,
the popular image of golf in the Emerald Isle was that it was expensive.
So here we were at Water Rock, at Midleton, 10 miles east of Cork
and it's a corker of a course, set in parkland with spectacular
views on the high land and some great water features.
The 12th here is as attractive a short hole as you will find. It's
a challenge, too, off the back tee at 240 yards with a longish carry
over a tranquil lake where a family of swans added a nice touch.
The green fee gave me a shock - all this lovely golf for €25.00
or €34.00 at weekends. The Journey back to Brum was trouble-free
and Paul Harris had met the challenge. Superb but inexpensive golf
in Ireland, and only an hour or so away!
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 Golf
Focus
by Eleanor Noonan, Cork Independent
One of my favourite pay as you play courses in Cork is Waterrock
in Midleton. Waterrock is five minutes from Midleton on the banks
of the Owenacurra River, with the beautiful parkland setting, commanding
spectacular views of East Cork.
The 18 hole, par 70, course comprises 5 par threes and 3 par fives
in two loops. The unforgettable 240 yard 12th par 3, plays over
“Swan Lake” to a bunker less green.
A very enjoyable golf course with lovely views of rolling countryside
with all kinds of wildlife. Par 3's are excellent and very challenging!
Changes of elevation on most holes.
The 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, and the last four are particularly good.
The water comes into play mainly on the last few holes. There are
extremely fine views from clubhouse. Overall it’s a course
well worth a visit.
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