Worlds Best Golf Destinations were invited out to play at Glasson Golf Club and stay at the fabulous Glasson Lakehouse by Lynn McCool, the Director of Golf.
Glasson is about a 90-minute drive from Dublin and it was a scorcher of a day as we headed west. In a first for us, even though there are Golf Club Members, there is no clubhouse. The Lakehouse serves as the hub for all activities, for members, hotel guests and families.
It’s thanks to the owner and all the staff that this works seamlessly. Glasson Golf Club and Glasson Lakehouse are like twins, two separate bodies but entwined in the best way possible. It has probably the best facilities and ambience we have seen anywhere for members and visitors to the course.
The Club is a renowned golfing resort situated on the shores of Lough Ree, which is the second-largest lake on the River Shannon, in County Westmeath. The golf course, designed by Ryder Cup star Christy O’Connor Jr., offers a challenging and scenic experience for golfers of all skill levels. It is known for its blend of parkland and lakeside holes, providing stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
The Championship Course
The course on the scorecard ranges from 5375 yards up to 6731 yards for professional competitions, with a par of 71. It was in fantastic condition and has manicured fairways, strategically placed bunkers, water hazards and undulating greens. The layout takes advantage of the natural landscape, incorporating the lake and the rolling hills to create a wonderful golfing experience. Glasson Golf Club has hosted numerous prestigious tournaments and should be a must-play stopover for anyone heading from Dublin to the west of Ireland.
We decided to play off the white tees at a friendly 6379 yards. Lynn joined us on our round and even though she is a PGA Professional, proceeded to cheekily ask how many shots she was getting! She got none and as it turned out, she didn’t need them anyway. Maybe I should have asked for shots instead…
Honour
Approach to the 1st green
The honour of the opening tee shot for our match went to Lynn. She didn’t disappoint and striped one down the middle on this 378-yard opening hole. We went with 3 wood off the tee and pulled it towards the bunkers on the left of this right-to-left hole. A wedge to the green and we have a chance to go one up after a mishit second from Lynn. That hope was immediately trampled as she followed her chip in with a whoop of delight. We missed our putt. One down!
The 3rd hole
After halving the 2nd in pars, we stepped onto the 3rd tee, a 191-yard par 3. Lynn’s tee shot missed the green left and we hit a sweet 6 iron into the middle of the green. Another chance we thought. Just as before, Lynn chipped in again!! Another whoop of delight and we missed the putt to half, again! Two Down!
A three-putt bogey on the 4th and we were 3 down after 4. This could get embarrassing! Perhaps at this point, we should concentrate on the holes rather than the scores. That was our thinking anyway…
The 5th hole
The 5th is a lovely par 3 of 177 yards. It was playing slightly downwind and downhill and we managed to dispatch a 7 iron onto the putting surface and made par. Bunkers left, right and short make it visually intimidating. Trust you clubbing and you will be fine.
Tough End to the Front Nine
Looking back down the 7th
The 7th hole is a dogleg left, It plays uphill and even though it’s only 383 yards, it is the 2nd hardest hole on the course. We hit 3 wood and then an 8 iron to a green you couldn’t see. Our judgement was out and we ended up on the back edge putting down to a pin near the front. Needless to say, it didn’t end well, another 3 putt bogey.
Approach to the 8th green
The 8th is a 400-yard par 4. It plays right to left with the second shot downhill. The ideal line off the tee is to the right of the bunkers. Unfortunately for us, we pulled our tee shot, which avoided the bunkers but was in the rough, blocked out by the trees. A wedge to the front edge and yet another 3 putts led to our fourth bogey of the round. The greens were excellent, it was our golf that was the problem.
Still Down at the Turn
We reached the turn, ahem, a few down and hoped for better on the back nine. It started promisingly with two pars and then fell apart with a no score at the 12th. Could the 13th provide the start of a comeback?
Approach to the 13th green
The first 12 holes are played around and above the Lakehouse. The walk to the 13th tee takes you past the hotel where it opens up to give wonderful views over the course to Lough Ree. The 13th is an uphill par 4 of only 341 yards. A decent tee shot left us 80 yards to the middle of the green. However, as we were a “few” holes down, we decided to take on the pin on the right. We missed the green, short and right with a sand wedge! Even though we managed an up and down, the writing was on the wall.
The 14th green
The 14th hole is a 433-yard par 4 and is statistically the hardest hole of the course. It plays massively downhill and doglegs to the right. We hit one of our best tee shots of the day, caught the downslope and finished at the bottom of the slope, only 100 yards from the green. Aha, we thought fleetingly. A pulled sand wedge and a bad bounce off the slope and we were in the deep rough, left of the green. Another bogey from a great position.
Game Over
The 16th hole
It’s probably a toss-up whether the 16th or 17th hole is the signature hole at Glasson. Even Lynn wouldn’t offer an opinion. Both are stunning holes. The 16th played 385 yards for us and as you can see from the photo, there is no future left off the tee or on your second shot. This hole is where our game ended. Officially it was 3&2, unofficially, it could have been a lot more if Lynn had wanted to demoralise me.
The 17th hole
The 17th is another stunning hole. Playing 172 yards over water, this hole really summed up how our golf was the day we played. After shaking hands on the 16th, we stood on the 17th tee and confidently hit a 6 iron onto the green. It took one bounce and went off the back edge. When we got up there, it was nowhere to be seen. What was a decent shot had ended in disaster. A wee par on the last was little consolation and we headed to the bar for lunch and a post-mortem on my game.
Glasson Course Summary
We thoroughly enjoyed playing at Glasson and Lynn and her team were wonderful hosts. They say that the guest should never beat the host, well there was no chance of that after the chip-ins at the first and third holes. Glasson has some cracking holes and can be very tricky. The course really comes into its own from the 13th to the last. With fantastic views and danger lurking on every hole, if you need 6 pars for a score, good luck to you!
The Hotel
Glasson Lakehouse is a luxury hotel and resort that provides accommodation and a range of amenities for visitors. It offers a relaxing retreat with stunning views of Lough Ree and the golf course. It’s a blend of modern architecture and natural surroundings, creating a serene and relaxing atmosphere with a distinctive Californian vibe. We absolutely loved it here.
Our room
Guests can enjoy amenities such as spa facilities, fitness suites, an outdoor heated swimming pool and hot tubs as well as a covered BBQ area. It also has other outdoor activities like a play park for the kids, fishing, boating, kayaking and walking trails. It’s very family-friendly and they have lots for the kids to do.
Bonnie’s
The main restaurant, Bonnie’s, serves delicious food, with locally sourced ingredients, and has a circular bar in the centre of the room. We had a late dinner after our drive from Dublin. There is another bar, an Irish Shebeen called Tom’s Fish and Tackle, which is a great place for a Guinness or two.
When Sunny, Outside is Best
The BBQ area
Just outside Bonnie’s is the outside BBQ area with comfy sofas and chairs and a covered area. When we say BBQ, it doesn’t mean guests have to cook, it’s all manned by the staff. You just have to sit there with a cold drink and choose what you want to eat. Perfect on a sunny day! Glasson has so much to offer that we would have loads more to talk about and photos to show you. We have put some of our highlights into a short video to give you a flavour of whats on offer!
Wonderful Food and Facilities
Glasson Lakehouse is outstanding. Maybe it was the sunny weather, but we absolutely loved it here. If we lived in Ireland, we would be a member here. It’s just perfect, especially in great weather. If all golf clubs looked and acted like this, they would be full, with waiting lists. It’s that good! The Lakehouse also caters for weddings, conferences, and other events, providing a range of facilities and personalised services.
Overall, Glasson Golf Club and Glasson Lakehouse together offer a unique blend of golfing excellence, natural beauty, and luxurious accommodations, making it an outstanding destination for golf enthusiasts and tourists seeking a peaceful retreat in the heart of Ireland.
We can’t wait to go back!!
Jim Callaghan has been a Category One Golfer for over 45 years. Recently retired from Club Management, he now walks the fairways of some of the best golf courses in the UK, Ireland and Europe and writes about the experience of playing and staying at them for worldsbestgolfdestinations.com
Now in his 60’s, he is still carrying his bag, although maybe not for much longer!
If you would like Jim to write about your venue, email him at [email protected] or call him on 0044 (0) 78522 88732
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