Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort has implemented a series of changes to the course, further enhancing the layout of a world-class venue for the 2007 Irish Open.
The changes, undertaken in association with Robert Trent Jones Snr’s associate, Roger Rulewish, cost some €600,000. The course has been stretched by approximately 300 yards to a daunting 7,453 yards while all the bunkers have been relined and a first-class short game practice facility and practice range has been developed.
The key changes are as follows:-
• 1st hole:The fairway has been tightened and shifted a little left to accentuate the dog leg and bring the bunkers on the left closer to play
• 2nd hole:New tee adding 54 yards to this hole. Already a tight drive this will be much tougher off the tee
• 3rd hole:New tee adding 39 yards and increasing the angle from the tee making it harder to cut off the corner. This will now be a very tough green to hit and hold with the extra distance for the second shot.
• 8th hole:New tee adding 62 yards as well as a new bunker on the right hand side at the driving distance has now made the tee shot much tighter as well as obviously the additional length of the hole
• 9th hole: New tee adding 62 yards taking it to 631 yards. A real three shot hole now as always intended by Trent Jones.
• 10th hole:New tee on other side of the river. The hole only measures one yard longer but the change in angle presents a better challenge for the tee shot
• 11th hole:New tee built that may be used subject to weather taking this already demanding par 3 hole from 179 to 235 yards, adding 56 yards.
• 12th hole:Fairway tightened considerably to accentuate the dog-leg.
• 14th hole:New tee adding 23 yards and a tightened fairway
• 15th hole:This fairway has had some extensive reshaping to challenge the tee shot
• 17th hole:New tee adding 44 yards which will make the closing stretch even harder.
• 18th hole:Drive zone and second shot landing area tightened up.
