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| Course Guide | |||
| Overview | |||
The current Lucan course was laid out by Martin Monaghan in 1963. While the course has seen a few slight changes over the years, it is essentially the same now as it was then, which is a great tribute to the original design. Depending on various conditions it can play easy and low scores are possible, on the other hand when conditions are tough a really good senior player will be delighted to break par. The one constant factor is the pace of the greens which are usually very fast and three putting is a common occurrence across all the grades. | |||
| Hole 1 | |||
 Video | The first hole offers players a great opportunity to make a good start. A short pitch to a huge green which is guarded at both the front and back by bunkers, however, neither bunker really comes into play unless you hit a poor pitch. A good pitch to this hole gives the player an excellent opportunity for a birdie start. Difficulty Rating: 4/10 | ||
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| Hole 2 | |||
 Video | A very good pitch is required to this green, which is quite wide but not very long. The green is well protected by a large bunker and bank at the front, while a smaller bank sits in wait to punish anything long and right. The ability to stop the ball quickly is a great asset at this hole. Difficulty Rating: 7/10 | ||
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| Hole 3 | |||
 Video | The third hole offers the player a good chance to make birdie. From the tee it is a straightforward pitch to a green which is usually very receptive. While there is a mound to the left of the green, it rarely comes into play. The only real danger is anything hit to the right runs the risk of brining the tree into play. Difficulty Rating: 5/10 | ||
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| Hole 4 | |||
 Video | The fourth hole is the first of a three hole stretch that is likely to make or break your round. A large banked bunker guards a large but unreceptive green. The green itself slopes away from the player before finally levelling out, meaning any shot that barely clears the bunker is likely to kick through the green. Most players will happily take their three here and move on. Difficulty Rating: 9/10 | ||
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| Hole 5 | |||
 Video | Another really tough pitch to a small green which slopes from front to back. The green is protected by a large unforgiving mound at the front, meaning anything left short of this hole leaves the player with a chip which can be unstoppable under certain conditions. A less severe mound guards the right side of the green and bringing it into play isn't advised. Difficulty Rating: 8/10 | ||
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| Hole 6 | |||
 Video | A longish pitch to a notoriously difficult elevated green, which slopes dramatically from back to front. A small mound sits about ten feet before the green. The safest option from the tee is to try pitch towards the front centre of the green as anything hit left, right or big can be in serious trouble. Even when you reach the putting surface there may still be trouble in store as even the best players will happily take a two putt should the pin be in the infamous back left position. Difficulty Rating: 9/10 | ||
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| Hole 7 | |||
 Video | The "bottom field" consists of five holes and this is where good players will expect to pick up a number of birdies. The seventh is the first hole in this stretch and should offer the first chance at a birdie. The pitch to a large flat green, plays shorter than its distance and a small bank in front of the green is the hole's only defence. Difficulty Rating: 4/10 | ||
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| Hole 8 | |||
 Video | The eight hole is one that looks difficult from the tee, but the green is quite large and slopes gently from back to front, making it very receptive. The green is protected by a small banked bunker which is the only real no go area on this hole. Overall this hole tends to yield more birdies than bogeys. Difficulty Rating: 5/10 | ||
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| Hole 9 | |||
 Video | The water behind this hole often frightens players lacking confidence, but this hole is one that should really be attacked. The large downward slope between the boundary wall and the green means players have plenty of room for error. The green, which is the widest on the course, is flat for the most part with just a small incline on the front right hand side. Difficulty Rating: 6/10 | ||
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| Hole 10 | |||
 Video | A tree lined pitch awaits players on the opening hole of the back nine, which makes accuracy paramount off the tee. Like the ninth there is a wall and out of bounds only a few feet behind the green, while anything short of the green leaves a very tough chip. The hole's best defence is the green, which is one of the hardest to read and many an "easy putt" is missed here. This hole regularly makes a mockery of its index, especially when the pin is in the "Scratch Cup" position. Difficulty Rating: 7/10 | ||
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| Hole 11 | |||
 Video | The final hole in the "bottom field" is a very similar hole to the eighth. The major difference between the two holes is that the green on this hole is a good bit smaller. A straight pitch is vital, with out of bounds waiting left and an unforgiving mound to the right. Like the eighth, once the player manages to clear the front bunker a two is as likely a result as a par three. Difficulty Rating: 6/10 | ||
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| Hole 12 | |||
 Video | A tall hedge makes the tee shot to the twelfth virtually blind. Despite its daunting appearance, it's an easy enough hole for home players who play it most weeks and know the distance. To the outsider, the hole tends to pose more problems. There is a small bank in front of the green and a devilish bunker to the back left. Difficulty Rating: 6/10 | ||
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| Hole 13 | |||
 Video | The thirteenth offers a rare pitch to an elevated green which is guarded at the front by a small bunker. The green is large and flat and usually receptive to a well struck shot. Many players see this as one of the few real chances for a birdie over the very tough final six holes. Difficulty Rating: 6/10 | ||
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| Hole 14 | |||
 Video | This hole doesn't look too difficult from the tee, but the front bunker has been known to spoil many a card. This is normally one of the most unreceptive greens on the course and any ball not struck with lots of backspin will usually take a big hop and end up out the back of the green. The green itself is small and narrow with a gentle slope on the right hand side. Difficulty Rating: 7/10 | ||
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| Hole 15 | |||
 Video | The fifteenth is the longest hole on the course and measures the maximum permitted distance of seventy metres. The pitch is from an elevated tee and normally into the breeze. The long green which has bunkers to the front and large mounds on both sides, slopes steadily from back to front, which makes for some deceptively fast putts for anybody beyond the hole. As "Index 1", a three is an excellent result here. Difficulty Rating: 9/10 | ||
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| Hole 16 | |||
 Video | The sixteenth green has undergone many transformations over the last fifteen years. While the current layout, flatter and with a much less severe slope, is by far the easiest, accuracy remains paramount on this hole. Hit the green and you'll have a great chance to make birdie, however, anything left, right or long leaves a tough chip and a par suddenly becomes a great score. Difficulty Rating: 6/10 | ||
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| Hole 17 | |||
 Video | The penultimate hole plays just under sixty metres and, like the fifteenth, usually into the wind. The sloping green is guarded at the front by a large bunker, while a smaller bunker nestles against the right hand side. A good pitch here is usually rewarded as the green tends to be very receptive, however a flat putt on this green is practically unheard of. Difficulty Rating: 8/10 | ||
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| Hole 18 | |||
 Video | A classic finishing hole which applies pressure to any player coming down the last with a lead. There is no real safe shot from the tee, with a large bunker at the front waiting to gobble up anything even slightly short. The small green is slightly raised which hampers chipping from either side of the green while making chipping from the back a frightening experience. Any pitch that does make it safely to the putting surface will usually result in a shortish putt and a chance for a closing birdie. Difficulty Rating: 8/10 | ||
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