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Fota Island Golf Club
Fota Island, Carrigtwohill,
near Cork
City,
County Cork, Ireland
Fota Island G.C. is an inland resort course
of recent construction that’s already made a name for itself on the European Tour.
But Fota Island, despite its hosting of Murphy’s Irish Open in 2001 and 2002 does not
suffer from the exclusivity and extremely high prices of other Irish resort courses
courting the international golf market.
photos courtesy Fota Island G.C.
Length & Par:
Championship (Blue) Tees: 6927 yards, Par 71
Medal (White) Tees:
6488 yards, Par 71
Society (Green) Tees: 6111 yards,
Par 71
Ladies (Red) Tees:
5520 yards, Par 72
Open & Playable Year Round
Visitors welcome daily.
Some times may not be available due to scheduled club events.
Advance Booking of Tee Times Strongly Recommended
(book at least 48 hours in advance)
Greens Fees April through October:
Monday: €65 (about US$65) per round
Tuesday-Thursday: €77 (about US$77) per round
Friday-Sunday: €90 (about US$) per round
(Note: lower greens fees at other times of year.)
Facilities:
Golf Carts (Buggies) Rental: YES, €40 (about US$40)
Pull Cart (Trolley)
Rental: YES, €4 (about US$4)
Club Rental: YES, €28 (about US$28)
Changing Rooms: YES, men's and women's
Pro Shop: YES
Driving Range: YES
Practice Putting Green: YES
Restaurant & Bar: YES
Location: 10 miles east of Cork City on Fota Island.
Bookings: Tel: 011 353 21 488
3700 from the USA,
or e-mail reservations@fotaisland.ie
OR reserve a
round through HOME
AT FIRST as part of your
holiday in Ireland!
Minimum Handicap Required: NONE--OPEN TO PLAYERS OF ALL LEVELS
Other golf in the immediate area: at least 10 other courses are
within 31 miles of Fota Island, including 6 within 10 miles.
Nearest Home at First lodgings: 10 minutes southeast of
Fota Island on Great Island (same island as the port town of Cobh).
More information
about HOME AT FIRST's southern ireland travel program.
HISTORY OF FOTA ISLAND GOLF CLUB:
Although a few old references suggest that Fota Island may have been the site of one of
Ireland’s first golf courses, by the 1920’s golf had disappeared from the
island.
In 1993, a new course was developed at Fota
Island, designed by Irish Ryder Cup star Christy O'Connor, Jr., and double English Amateur
Champion Peter McEvoy. The new Fota Island Golf Club was designed to be a resort course
and to attract international guests. To help it gain an international reputation, the new
course courted and hosted several prominent tournaments, including the Irish Club
Professional Championship, the Irish PGA Championship and no fewer than three Irish
Amateur Opens. The club’s promotional success resulted in its takeover by the Killeen
Group in 1998, and the subsequent investment of about $2.5 million to upgrade the course
to European PGA Tour standards. The course reopened in September 1999, following an
18-month refurbishment that included the rebuilding of all 18 greens, the reseeding of all
tees and the complete redesign of eight holes.
Shortly after the grand re-opening, Fota Island
G.C. was selected as the site of Ireland’s premier golf event, the £1 million
Murphy’s Irish Open, for 2001 AND 2002. This promotional coup rocketed Fota Island
into the company of Ireland’s principal international courses, including such well
known courses and links as Ballybunion, Druid’s Glen, Mt. Juliet, Killarney and
Portmarnock. Recent Irish Open champions have included Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomery,
Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Seve Ballesteros. Record crowds of
about 90,000 attended the four-day events which also were televised around the world. Fota
Island was a spectacular success, earning a world wide reputation in just 3 years.
THE COURSE AND SOME NOTABLE HOLES:
The redesigned Fota Island course is set on a
property considered an environmental treasure of Ireland. The island—one of three
principal islands in the estuary of the River Lee that forms Cork’s famous harbor and
deepwater port at nearby Cobh.
Jeff Howes, the architect responsible
for the new design, is enthusiastic about the finished product:
"Fota is a truly beautiful piece of property and a wonderful site for a golf course. The key elements of our design approach were to bring the extensive water and the abundance of absolutely magnificent trees more into play. We have also rebuilt all of the greens using a more subtle approach to contouring to make them more receptive, yet they will be demanding and enjoyable to putt on. As part of the reconstruction we have incorporated and extensive drainage and sanding program throughout the course, which makes it particularly dry under foot and will allow for quality golf in both winter and summer."
Two holes rate
special mention for their scenic design: the par-4 6th with its grand tee box view of the
River Lee estuary, and the par-5 18th with its downhill approach to a green
surrounded on 3 sides by water.
Of special interest is the very real attempt to
make Fota Island playable to golfers of all levels, and within reach of most pocketbooks.
THE REGION:
County Cork, which includes the western half of
the south coast of Ireland, is home to some of Ireland’s great coastal
scenery—especially on Ireland’s southwestern corner at the Beara
Peninsula—as well as other attractions. Although it does not have the number of great
links courses found on the west, north and east coasts of the country, there are numerous
golf courses of every type in the county. The county also boasts the Irish Republic’s
second city, Cork, its most popular castle, Blarney, and some of its most colorful and
interesting villages, including Kinsale south of Cork city. Home at First offers
accommodations in four parts of coastal County Cork. All are close to golf courses and all
come with friendly, welcoming Irish hosts. Read more about the region and Home at
First’s travel program to County Cork here: southern ireland.
Want to learn about
other courses throughout the British Isles
including some of the greatest tests of golf in the world?
See our SCOTLAND, IRELAND, ENGLAND, and WALES Course Guides for more information.