Pat Ruddy built The European Club in County Wicklow, Ireland into a modern links marvel
BRITTAS BAY, County Wicklow, Ireland -- The European Club continues to be Pat Ruddy's opus.
Even with the club firmly established among the top 100 courses in the world, Ruddy continues to tinker with his beloved links in pursuit of perfection, much like Donald Ross and his love affair with Pinehurst No. 2.
Ruddy, the Irish golf writer-turned architect, said he'll find something to tweak in the fall of 2012, a hump here or a roll there, sometimes just on a whim.
Not that a facelift is needed. The European Club sits on a glorious site hugging the Irish Sea south of Dublin. Even the rolling inland views of Wicklow -- known as the Garden of Ireland -- are inspiring.
Ruddy's links might be easy on the eyes, but it's tough on the ego. All of his deep bunkers are lined with railroad ties (aka "sleepers") that make them even more intimidating. Ruddy couldn't resist adding two extra par 3s -- No. 7a and No. 12a -- into some dynamic dunes. It seems everywhere he looked he discovered more golf.
Playing bonus golf at The European Club? That's sweet music to any golfer's ears.
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Photo Gallery: Pat Ruddy built The European Club in County Wicklow, Ireland into a modern links marvel
Even though The European Club in Ireland is firmly established among the top 100 golf courses in the world, Pat Ruddy continues to tinker with his beloved links [...]
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