DISPLAYING his renowned hand-action to delightful effect, Christy O'Connor Snr pitched a variety of shots, onto the beautifully-contoured 18th green at, Powerscourt yesterday. "It's a wonderfully-designed green but the quality of the surface is really special - magnificent," he said.
Peter McEvoy, the designer of this stunning course, which had its official opening yesterday, was more specific. "There are no better putting surfaces anywhere in the world," he said, emphatically. That is a measure of the quality which has been achieved in the latest addition to the country's growing range of outstanding parkland courses.
As it happened, O'Connor performed the opening ceremony prior to departing for the British Senior Open, which starts at Royal Port rush tomorrow. "Playing with Arnold Palmer and Neil Coles, I got among the qualifiers last year and that's my target again this week," said the 71-year-old.
While at Powerscourt, he provided a highly entertaining clinic in the company of woman professional Tracy Eakin, whose competitive activities this week will centre on the Guardian Irish Open at Citywest, also starting tomorrow. And with elements of her short-game matching the master, her prospects looked to be particularly bright.
The timing of the occasion allowed McEvoy and O'Connor to recall their own, special memories of Royal Lytham and St Annes, where Tom Lehman captured the British Open last Sunday. The 1979 staging marked McEvoy's finest performance in the event. Not only did he capture the amateur medal, but he did so by a country mile, finishing in a share of 17th place with Lee Trevino.
In fact he was actually fourth behind Seve Ballesteros at one stage of the final round before "I was shocked back into reality." O'Connor, meanwhile, is doomed to be remembered for having hunkered his drive at the 72nd hole, so missing out on the chance of a play-off with Dave Thomas and the eventual winner Peter Thomson.
The new course, measuring 7,051 yards off the back tees, is laid out on delightfully rolling terrain in the Powerscourt Estate 12 miles south of Dublin, just off the N11.
It is not long ago since concern was being expressed about the proliferation of new courses here, some of which were clearly ill-conceived. Such an observation would be decidedly inappropriate, however, for this latest addition, insofar as the membership was full before the course was actually completed.
McEvoy, who was responsible for Fota Island and Rathsallagh in collaboration with Christy O'Connor Jnr, did the Powerscourt design on his own. And the owner, Michael Slazenger, thinks so highly of it that he views the course as a future venue for the Murphy's Irish Open.
It is a free draining course on which several of the holes have links characteristics. But an abundance of mature trees, some of which are more than 200 years old, ensure that the overall flavour is decidedly parkland.
Water features at only two holes, one of which is the short 16th, played over a lake. Arguably the most dramatic hole on the course, McEvoy concedes that it is "a slight copy" of the short 12th at Augusta National.
The overall quality of the layout is in keeping with the generally high standard of McEvoy's work. But the most impressive aspect of the course is the contoured design and surface quality of the greens, which are 100 per cent Penncross Bent, with not a blade of meadowgrass in sight.
Course superintendent John Clarkin, who studied his craft in America, ensured that the greens were developed to USGA specifications.
Meanwhile, the course is complemented by a fine, new clubhouse, constructed in Georgian style so as to be in keeping with Powerscourt House. The upstairs function room can seat up to 120 and there is a balcony overlooking the ninth and 18th greens.
The facilities also include a golf academy and studio apartment accommodation which can be rented by the night or for longer periods. Green-fees are £40 on weekdays and £50 at weekends.
