We had a cloudburst and used the shelter behind No 8 tee to stay dry. Within 20 minutes the deep and narrow channel twisting through the course had become a torrent of rushing water. The course was unaffected and dried out quickly. I found early on that Killarney is tight and off-line drives are punished in the pretty parkland environment. There’s an attractive symmetry to the design, and pleasingly shaped large greens enhance the putting experience. The greens are in excellent condition, and it was evident how pacy they must be in tournament mode. The bunkering is minimal yet effective. Having 12 par 4s, two 5s, and four strong 3s, makes for a challenging day out. There are three daunting long par 4s from 7 to 10 where the round can suddenly go pear-shaped. No 8 is a breather at 350, yet this dogleg right has one of the trickiest and interesting tee shots of them all.
