mount juliet & royal portrush top our 2012 polls - Backspin Golf ...

Irish Course RankingsIrish golf is blessed with several of thefinest links creations in the world.Indeed, each and every one of our linkscourses has a magical quality.There are, of course, standouts and itis significant that Royal County Down,Portmarnock, Royal Portrush and TheEuropean Club have filled the top-4 slotsin our 2008, 2010 and 2012 polls.Each poll has been closely contestedwith Royal County Down topping our firstlinks poll and Portmarnock taking top spottwo years ago.A mere 70-points separates the top-2in our latest links rankings with RoyalPortrush’s Dunluce course claiming topspot for the first time. It was placed 3rd inour two previous polls.The panel on the next page shows howthe Dunluce course topped the poll thistime.The European Club in Brittas Bayretains 4th spot for a third time whileWaterville, Lahinch, Ballybunion, Baltray,Rosses Point and The Island all retaintheir elite top-10 ranking.Killarney (Killeen)Our poll is fair and transparentBACKSPIN’s biennial poll is the essential guide to Irish golf course rankings. Wepioneered the concept of treating Irish links and parkland courses separatelyback in 2008 and vital elements of our poll are fairness and transparency.In fairness to all clubs we provide our voting panellists with a complete directoryof links and parkland courses in the 32 counties. The two lists are set-out inalphabetical order on a county by county basis for easy reference.Voters are asked to nominate, in order of preference, the fifteen courses in bothcategories that impress and delight them most. Special emphasis is placed ondesign, presentation, setting, challenge and the personal enjoyment factor.Our voting system awards points to golf clubs as follows...1st - 2502nd - 2253rd - 2004th - 1755th - 1506th - 140Mount Juliet’s status as Ireland’spremier parkland course has beenendorsed for a third time by Backspin’svoting panel.Indeed, the Jack Nicklaus designedmasterpiece has topped the parklandcategory by a convincing points margin inall three polls conducted by this magazine(2008, 2010 and 2012).Mount Juliet hosted the Irish Openfrom 1993 to 1995, the Shell WonderfulWorld of Golf in 1998 and the WGC AmExChampionship in 2002 and 2004.When informed about Mount Juliet’sthree-in-a-row feat in Backspin’s biennialpoll, course designer Jack Nicklausremarked, "We are honored that MountJuliet was named the top parkland golfcourse in Ireland for a third straight time.7th - 1308th - 1209th - 110The vote counting procedure is meticulous.10th - 10011th - 9012th - 8013th - 7014th - 6015th - 50We appreciate the editors of BACKSPIN,as well as those who made up the votingpanel, for recognizing the late TimMahony's contribution to golf and tourismin Ireland. Tim was a wonderful man whoworked tirelessly to do things the rightway. I am delighted that in Tim's honor andas a tribute to him Mount Juliet hasreceived this recognition again.”The Golden Bear’s other signaturecourse in Ireland, Killeen Castle, polledstrongly for 6th place.Killarney’s magnificent Killeen course(below) continues an impressive upwardgraph, rising from 7th in 2008 and 5th in2010 to 4th on this occasion.continued ➞Special thanks to our voting panellists and to clubs thatsupplied images for this feature.Photo by Don MacMonagleBACKSPIN | 13