THE COURSE
Up until 1971 all nine holes in Sutton were located on the clubhouse side of the railway line. New members and visitors shake their heads when they hear this. They are usually told a story that has become embedded in Sutton history. Legend has it that when someone shouted “fore” everyone on the course ducked!
The club had spent some time negotiating with Dublin City Council for a large plot of reclaimed land, that had been a dump previously. Eventually the club received a lease and the three new holes that were developed opened in 1971. They have been developed over subsequent years to become three excellent and challenging holes.
As might be expected this allowed development of 6 basically new holes on the original footprint of the club. The challenge has remained the same for golfers down through the years. Accuracy is all important - which is why Sutton continues to develop many fine golfers.
The club had spent some time negotiating with Dublin City Council for a large plot of reclaimed land, that had been a dump previously. Eventually the club received a lease and the three new holes that were developed opened in 1971. They have been developed over subsequent years to become three excellent and challenging holes.
As might be expected this allowed development of 6 basically new holes on the original footprint of the club. The challenge has remained the same for golfers down through the years. Accuracy is all important - which is why Sutton continues to develop many fine golfers.
Hole 1/10 - Par 4 - Index 15/16 13/14This classic par 4 hasn’t changed much in well over 130 years. It is a relatively short par 4 but it can play much longer into the wind. A wayward drive can find the sea but a crisp drive leaves a short or mid iron to a two-level green. Be sure to know the pin position – upstairs or downstairs and beware of the well-placed bunkers.
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Hole 2/11 - Par 4 - Index 15/16 13/14Very long hitters can take on the hidden lake behind the first green but the great Padraig Harrington failed and you most likely will too. Play for the fairway left and note the long, fast green that is hard to hold and be very aware of the four nasty pot bunkers protecting it on each side.
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Hole 3/12 - Par 5 - Index 7/8 5/6A great par 5 that seems to get narrower and narrower as you approach the green. Wayward drives can find the railway tracks left or the bunkers or water right but a long straight drive opens up the chance of a birdie. As you approach the green, beware of a series of bunkers and note the out of bounds through the back. The green is long and falls from back to front.
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Hole 4/13 - Par 4 - Index 1/2 3/4A potential card wrecker in stroke play, this is a short and dangerous par 4. From the tunnel-like tee, it is a daunting first shot with out-of-bounds and a haw-haw tight to the left. However, a well struck long iron or wood will find a wide, flat fairway. The ideal drive is tight down the left. The further right you are, the more water you will need to carry with your approach. Now you face one of Suttons key shots. Select your club carefully - most likely a mid-iron or wedge over water to a very well protected, island-like green. Be mindful of the blood-red lake behind the green which welcomes many a thinly struck shot. If the pin is at the front of the green, an agressive putt can also find water because this green can be fast. A par here is generally a winning score.
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Hole 5/14 - Par 3 - Index 9/10 15/16A par 3 than can vary from 140 to 195 yards.A series of newly created bunkers protect this fast green. The Colonel always advises the crafty player to leave your tee shot and bump your approach on - but few pay heed, to their peril. Statistics show the majority of players miss the green short right into the bunker, or well right leaving a pitch over the bunkers.
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Hole 6/15 - Par 3 - Index 17/18 17/18Recent changes have made this a great links par 3. The green at Suttons postage stamp is huge for such a short hole and runs 45 degrees to the tee. There is no easy par here. Long is often wet, short could find two death-trap bunkers. 3-putts are common. Be very aware of wind direction and pin position because you will most likely want to come in high and stop it fast.
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Hole 7/16 - Par 4 - Index 11/12 7/8From the tee, this picturesque par 4 looks like a welcome relief, but be very careful not to go too far right. A long tee shot leaves a mid-iron to a green that is like an upturned bowl. Pars are often made from the valley of sin short left of the green.
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Hole 8/17 - Par 4 - Index 5/4 1/2The 8th Tee in Sutton offers one of golfs most beautiful views over Burrow Beach along the North Dublin coastline taking in Irelands Eye. The Mourne Mountains are visible on crystal clear days. This is a world-class par 4. The Tiger line is down the right side but you need to be very long to avoid the 5 pot bunkers. Most people favour the longer and safer route left to a classic undulating links fairway. You now face a tough approach to a well-protected green. Beware of Thompsons bunker short of the green which means you cant run it in. The beach is very close to the green, which slopes right to left.
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Hole 9/18 - Par 4 - Index 3/6 9/10A seriously daunting drive faces you on this great par 4. A faded drive down the left could be the wisest route which sets up a very challenging approach, generally with a long iron or hybrid club. Crunch one and it will run and run leaving a wedge in. The deep bunker short left is notoriously difficult. A pushed approach is on the beach and long approach can easily be out of bounds through the green. Be very careful here, take a par and run for the hills.
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