Fazio’s Adare on a par with Augusta

When The Golf Course at Adare Manor opened last year it quickly acquired the mantle of ‘Ireland’s Augusta’. Indeed, many went further and described it as ‘Europe’s Augusta’. (Writes Kevin Markham of the Irish Examiner).

The quality, the greens, the level of conditioning and even the technology are of such a standard that comparisons with the mighty jewel of Georgia were inevitable, but the name of golf architect Tom Fazio was undoubtedly the strongest link of all, given that he worked on both courses.

Comparisons, however, are always difficult. A course has to stand on its own merits and, ultimately, Adare will want to be known for the five-star offering it provides, both on and off the course.

That said, comparisons with one of the world’s most famous courses will do it no harm at all and, with its five-star hotel, it will be a popular destination for bucket-list hunting golfers.

When The Golf Course at Adare Manor opened last year it quickly acquired the mantle of ‘Ireland’s Augusta’. Indeed, many went further and described it as ‘Europe’s Augusta’.

The quality, the greens, the level of conditioning and even the technology are of such a standard that comparisons with the mighty jewel of Georgia were inevitable, but the name of golf architect Tom Fazio was undoubtedly the strongest link of all, given that he worked on both courses.

What Adare offers is truly remarkable. The ‘old’ course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior and opened in 1995. It was widely regarded as Ireland’s best parkland. Then, along came JP McManus, in 2014, and a huge overhaul of the entire resort began.

Work on the golf course began in March 2016, and two years later it re-opened with a splash. In April 2018, Pádraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy played a fourball match in the most glorious of conditions. It was a show-stopper, as images of the beauty of the resort and the course were beamed across the world.

Talk of hosting the Ryder Cup turned from casual aspiration to calm confidence: “As an Irishman, I would be one 100% behind this as a venue to stage the Ryder Cup,” said McGinley.

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