Macreddin

Macreddin Golf Club is different to most, thanks in part to the way it is set out across both sides of Macreddin Village.

The front nine sits to the east of the village, with the back half of the course then on the west side, and a 500-metre walk between the 9th green and the 10th tee.

The layout was Paul McGinley’s first ever course design, and only opened in 2008. It is a great parkland layout, and can reach nearly 7,200 yards from the tips.

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Macreddin is one of the newest venues that you will find throughout Ireland, having only opened its doors in 2008.

Macreddin was Paul McGinley’s first ever course design, and it opened six years before he captained the winning Team Europe at the 2014 Ryder Cup.

McGinley’s first ever design is a cracker, and one that winds its way through mature trees on the front nine, before seeing the Bal Brook come into play throughout the final stretch. It is a course that is very much played in two loops. The first loop sits on the eastern side of the village, before the 500-metre walk through the village to get to the second loop, which is situated to the west of the village. From the back tees, Macreddin plays to 7,175 yards, making it a proper challenge for all golfers!

It begins with a 415-yard par 4 that moves slightly to the left, around the short game area. Avoid the trees on both sides and you’ll have a relatively simple shot to the green. At 550 yards, the 2nd is very much a three-shot par 5 for all bar the longest of hitters. A narrow funnel takes you from the tee to the fairway, where it does widen slightly. OOB runs down the left side throughout thanks to the boundary of the property. That continues down the 3rd, which is 435 yards from the tips. It is a hole that moves slightly left to right, and does play from an elevated tee box.

The green on the par 3 4th sits some 45 yards below the tee box, meaning you need to try and work out what club to hit. It is carded at 219 yards, but it does not play that long... The 5th plays somewhat back up the slope and often into the prevailing wind, making it much longer than its 420 yards on the card. The 6th is more than 100 yards shorter, and one of the good scoring opportunities at Macreddin. Find the fairway and you will be left with a short approach into this green, one surrounded by trees. The 7th is the next par 3, and another of more than 200 yards in length. It plays over a small water hazard to a green that is relatively large.

From the tips, the 8th pushes to 600 yards, making it a brutal par 5. It moves from left to right after the tee shot, so find the right area with your second to give yourself a good view for your third. The last hole on the eastern side of the property is also the hardest on the front nine. A long dog-leg left par 4 winding around the trees. Find the fairway before then trying to avoid the five bunkers in play by the green.

After the walk from one side of the village to the other, you come to the birdieable 10th. A par 4 of just 315 yards, and one that has a generous fairway, you can start the closing half well here. 11 is a dog-leg left that features OOB down its right side thanks to the property boundary, with the 12th being the Stroke Index 1 at Macreddin. It is a sharp dog-leg right, and the tee shot has to carry the Bal Brook to find the fairway. From there, it is a narrow funnel through the trees to the green. The 13th is a great par 5, one that plays through the trees, before opening out at the green. The putting surface is guarded by no fewer than six bunkers, all of which are at the front.

The closing stretch starts with the par 3 14th. Another tee shot played over the Bal Brook, this time to try and find the green. 15 then plays in the opposite direction to 13. Also a par 5, but playing back north and moving from left to right. Aim at the bunker on the corner off the tee to give yourself the best line. 16 then comes back south, and moves to the left like the 13th. It is a long par 4, and one where par is a very good score. The penultimate hole is the last of the par 3s at Macreddin. Playing downhill, the approach must carry the Bal Brook and the bunker, both of which sit in front of the putting surface. The 18th is a cracking dog-leg right par 4 to bring you home. Two bunkers tighten the fairway in the landing zone, before your final approach crosses the Bal Brook once more to end your day.

Where is Macreddin Golf Club located?

Macreddin Golf Club is situated to the south of the nation’s capital, in the heart of County Wicklow. It sits to the south of the Wicklow Mountains National Park, in Macreddin Village. Both Arklow and Wicklow are within a 20-mile drive and are the two nearest towns. The centre of Dublin is around 55 miles north of Macreddin via the M11.

Rathdrum, which is seven miles from the golf club, is home to the nearest train station. The station sits on the line that operates services between the nation’s capital and Rosslare Europort – in the southeastern corner of the country. For international travellers, Dublin Airport is 65 miles north of Macreddin, via the M11 and M50 around the city. Dublin is the biggest and busiest airport in all of Ireland.

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

The newly renamed Brittas Bay Club is 15 miles to the east of Macreddin, while the likes of Carlow, Druids Glen, Royal Curragh and the West Course at Powerscourt are also all within 35 miles of the venue.

What golf facilities does Macreddin Golf Club offer?

Next to the 1st tee is the driving range, which is open air and has both matted and grass teeing areas to hit from. There is also a putting green by the clubhouse as well, along with a short game area between the driving range and the opening fairway.

What are the green fees at Macreddin Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Macreddin Golf 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 Macreddin, visit their booking website here.

Visit Macreddin’s website here.

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.