Concra Wood

The Concra Wood Golf & Country Club is one of the prettiest inland courses on the isle, overlooking the glorious Lough Muckno.

The layout, which only opened in 2008, was designed by the family duo of Christy O’Connor Sr and Christy O’Connor Jr, who used the landscape to its full escape.

A number of holes run along the edge of Lough Muckno, bringing the hazard into play plenty of times throughout a round.

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The history of Concra Wood Golf & Country Club dates all the way back to the early 1900s, when a 9-hole course was constructed.

Back then, it was known as Castleblayney Golf Club, and it was situated just down the road from the venue’s current location.

The idea for the Concra Wood Golf & Country Club dates to the turn of the 21st Century, and the duo of Christy O’Connor Jr and Christy O’Connor Sr were drafted in to create a new design. The venue, which now sits on the banks of Lough Muckno, was formally opened in 2008.

Thanks to the O’Connor partnership, the golf course at the Concra Wood Golf & Country Club is a work of art. It takes in Lough Muckno and uses it to its advantage. There are championship tees which push the layout past the 7,100-yard mark, but for us mere mortals, Concra Wood plays at 6,650 yards as a maximum. There is enough water around, plus the forest holes as well, to cause the regular player enough danger throughout a round.

The two par 5s on the front nine both come in the opening four holes. Concra Wood starts with a 500-yard par 5, which winds its way round from left to right around a cluster of bunkers. The 2nd is a 400-yard par 4 where avoiding the two fairway bunkers – one on either side of the fairway – is the key. The 3rd takes you down to the water, with Lough Muckno situated behind the green on this 350-yard par 4. The 4th – the second of the par 5s – is also the signature hole of this O’Connor duo design. It is a shar double dog-leg, with the hole looking somewhat like a ‘Z’ from above. It moves right first, before then turning back to the left, around the water, by the green. At 540 yards, this is a definite three-shotter!

The Stroke Index 1 comes at the 5th. A 410-yard par 4, running along the water’s edge, and with thick trees on the opposite side – it is not difficult to understand why this is the hardest hole on the property. The 6th is the first short hole at Concra Wood, and again, there is no room for error. Sand and water sit to the right, while a path and more trouble at behind and to the right. You simply have to get the approach right on 6. You move back inland with the 7th, a medium-length par 4 which has a generous landing zone off the tee. There is no sand by the green, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is an easy approach shot.

Next to the tee box on the 8th stands the ruins of McMahon’s Castle, which was built by Lord Blayney. 8, like the previous hole, moves slightly round to the right, and has a nice fairway to aim for. The final hole on the front nine is a 180-yard par 3 which brings you back to the clubhouse. The green is one of the deepest on the property, so work out where the flag is before selecting your club. A pair of tricky par 4s kicks off the back nine. 10 is 430 yards and has five bunkers surrounding the green. The 11th, while being 65 yards shorter, has one of the narrowest fairways on the course, and it is one that has to be found as well.

The run through the middle of the back nine sees a pair of par 3s and a pair of par 5s. 12 and 14 are the short holes with the former bringing you back down to the Lough. Anything left here will find its way into the water. The 14th is the shortest hole at Concra Wood at 160 yards and also plays alongside the water. This time, right will see you in trouble. 13 is arguably the best par 5 on the course, thanks to its tee shot. You have to tee off across the corner of the water – akin to the opening hole at Machrihanish – while avoiding the pond on the opposite side of the fairway. Lay up short of the bunkers that are around 50 yards shy of the green, before then attacking the flag. The last hole of this run is the 15th, which also sees your tee shot played across water. From there though, it is a slightly easier route to the putting surface.

The closing stretch at the Concra Wood Golf & Country Club puts up the challenge of a trio of par 4s. 16 features another water-bound tee shot, and shows you why it is the Stroke Index 2. There is a wide fairway to find once you’ve crossed the water with your tee shot, though, before then aiming your approach at a narrow green. 17 sees the climb back inland, and plays as a slight dog-leg left. Another par 4 of more than 400 yards from the tips, it requires two solid shots. The final hole is 370 yards, and offers one final birdie chance, if you can avoid the lengthy bunker that looms on the right side of the fairway. Two more traps guard the front of the green, but this is certainly a hole where you can come away celebrating a birdie on the card to finish your day’s golf!

Mike Hyde: Some might find the altitude changes a bit much, but I enjoyed them. Holes around the water are lovely and challenging. Some of the slopes take some getting used to and would benefit repeat outings.

Dove Jones: Love the setting - a treat when you get up the hill.

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Where is the Concra Wood Golf & Country Club located?

The Concra Wood Golf & Country Club is situated on the banks of Lough Muckno, and is possibly the closest venue to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on any of our lists. It is just four miles by road from the border between the two nations, along with N53. Dundalk is 20 miles from Concra Wood, while the two capital cities of the island - Belfast and Dublin - are both within 70 miles of the venue.

Dundalk is home to the closest train station to the golf club, while Belfast and Dublin are the sites of the nearest major airports. Both are a similar distance from Concra Wood Golf & Country Club, with Dublin Airport having a wide range of flights and destinations.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?

The closest venue to Concra Wood that has a spot on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list is the Championship Course at Headfort, which is 35 miles away. Seapoint and County Louth are also within 40 miles. Across the border, Royal County Down – home to the Championship Links and the Annesley Links – is just over 50 miles from the Concra Wood Golf & Country Club.

What golf facilities does the Concra Wood Golf & Country Club offer?

Along with the sublime 18-hole layout on the banks of Lough Muckno, the Concra Wood Golf & Country Club is also home to a full-length driving range and a short game area. The latter has a putting green and a chipping green, which has three practice bunkers around it as well.

What are the green fees at Concra Wood?

The price of a green fee at the Concra Wood Golf & Country Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Concra Wood, visit their website here.

Visit Concra Wood’s website here.

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.