Putting for par on the first hole, I was pretty impressed with my start on the Championship golf course at Castle Dargan.
Then it all went wrong. I had received prior warning by the club professional that the greens were rolled earlier that morning; so putting downhill, 30 feet from the flag, I really only had myself to blame as the ball careered past the hole, off the green and 20 yards further back down the fairway. I eventually settled for a nine.
So the card was spoiled after the first hole but thankfully that didn't prevent a thoroughly enjoyable, if very challenging, maiden round at the Co Sligo course.
Darren Clarke designed the golf course, carving through the estate grounds at Castle Dargan, using majestic trees, natural lakes, tracts of gnarled ground and rocky seams, all accompanied by the ancient ruins of the castle.
And playing the course is a joy, with lots of water adding to both the challenge and the amazing aesthetics throughout. Any golfer will enjoy the tough-but-fair design, but it will help if you are hitting the ball well to really appreciate what the course has to offer.
It might be an idea to play a second round, where you can really have a go at a course designed for a player who will take a risk or two.
The PGA EuroPro Tour comes to Castle Dargan in early June and it will be very interesting to see how the professionals cope with this tidy-but-tricky parkland course.
I have to say, considering the course is still very much in its infancy, there is already a very settled feel to the place and it is no wonder that it made it into Golf Digest's 2009 list of Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland. Expect it to be a permanent fixture over the coming years.
The golf course is part of the luxurious Castle Dargan hotel, which is set on 170 acres of rolling parkland in a magnificent country setting in the famous Yeats County.
Accommodation is also top notch, with a variety of options available. I stayed in a suite in the charming, old Castle Dargan House, located across the courtyard. There was a delightful 'Lord of the Manor' feel to the place, and while the flat screen television and wi-fi were probably out of character for such dwellings, I must admit they were appreciated and utilised.
The extensive grounds around Castle Dargan are steeped in history. Archaeological remains date back to the Stone Age with burial sites on the heights of Sliabh Daeane to the north, a possible henge ritual site, and Bronze Age cooking and washing sites.
Souterrain structures, underground refuge and food-stores of early medieval farmers, have also been identified, as well as ring forts beside the fifth fairway and on the high ground above the 18th hole.
The land surrounding Castle Dargan was once ruled by the MacDonagh Clan before the submission to Queen Elizabeth in 1585, after which, the MacDonaghs found themselves paying fees to the Crown.
Throughout the Cromwellian Wars, the MacDonaghs withdrew into modest circumstances or returned to a tradition of military service in continental armies. And the following century it was taken over by the Ormsbys who controlled the land until the 20th century.
The undeniable beauty may not have inspired my own golf game but it did provide inspiration for a certain WB Yeats who liked the place for the romance of its two castles facing one another across a little lake, apparently.
So inspired by the great craic that the Castle was renowned for, Yeats penned this little ditty: "O, but I saw a solemn sight; Said the rambling, shambling travelling-man; Castle Dargan's ruin all lit, Lovely ladies dancing in it."
So with the golf break coming to a close, there was only one thing left to do, and that was to pay a visit to the Icon Spa for a bit of relaxation and rejuvenation.
The Spa is a real hidden gem, with an extensive range of good value treatments on offer. The real star of the show was the huge Eucalyptus Balneotherapy Bath, which proved to be 15 minutes of sheer pleasure despite the fact that I kept thinking I was going to fall asleep and drown.
The relaxation area is equipped with massage chairs, loungers and a fantastic panoramic view of the golf course where you can ponder your game and work out exactly what went wrong, or right, out there.
Play and Stay Golf Breaks
Castle Dargan proved to be the perfect place to finish my mini-golf break and with 347 golf courses to choose from around Ireland, the 'Play and Stay' golf getaway will definitely become a regular feature on my holidaying schedule.
Most of the top clubs in the country are offering great deals at the moment, especially the places that are located in hotel grounds or have offers with nearby hotels. There is also a variety of golf passes available in different regions of the country which allow you to play three or four top courses over the space of a few days for a very competitive price.
Food and Drink at Castle Dargan
The Middleton Bar has great views over the first tee and the 18th green and also does a very tasty lunch menu. Castle Dargan's main restaurant, The Hall Door, is renowned for its fine dining. Sunday lunch is very popular in the hotel and Afternoon Tea is served Monday to Friday between 2-5pm.
Castle Dargan and Surrounds
The lively town of Sligo is a 10-minute drive from the hotel, and there is so much to do in the area with surfing, hiking, cycling and equestrian options all within easy reach. Catch a wave out in Strandhill, climb the majestic Benbulben, which overlooks the town and Atlantic Ocean, or take on the renowned old golf course at Rosses Point, another of the top courses in the country, just 8km from Sligo Town. Find out more at: www.castledargan.com or call: +353 (0)71 911 8080.
Ed Leahy
For more information on golfing trips in Ireland, or to check out some great value accommodation, visit: www.discoverireland.ie.
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