If, as it so often does, the wind is whipping in off the Irish Sea, then there are few tougher short holes than the 15th at Portmarnock. "I remember playing so many Irish Opens there," recalled Bernrard Gallacher, "and that hole always caused us so many problems."

The difficulty is not just the wind, but also the requirement of a shot that must be close to perfect if it is to stay on the putting surface.

A bench offers time for reflection before or after the shot is struck - and such consideration is perhaps born out of necessity, for the 190 yards (off the back) par three has been the ruin of many a golfer, although Ben Crenshaw said it was "one of the greatest short holes on Earth".

The hole runs alongside and overlooks the beach. And, if the wind is stiff and coming in off the sea, then there is the alarming prospect of starting your tee-shot right of the palm trees or even further out over the beach and allowing it to come back in to a green that is raised like an upturned saucer and protected to the front by three bunkers.

The devious sand traps are not the only protection. Anyone who bails out too much is likely to suffer the prospect of finishing up in the huge hollow to the left with an extremely difficult chip shot to a green that is invariably hard to hold.

Bernard Gallacher played in eight Ryder Cup matches and was non-playing captain on three occasions (1991, 1993 and 1995).