Golf writer and course designer extraordinaire Pat Ruddy was in fine form at the recent Irish Golf Writers’ Association annual Championship at magnificent Woodbrook Golf Club.

It wasn’t that the creator of The European Club landed the Mary McKenna Trophy as the top dog amongst the scribes at this year’s Tipperary Crystal sponsored event but the presence of so many of his creations or renovations in the latest Golf Monthly course rankings clearly added a spring to his step.

No fewer than 19 Irish courses made the magazine’s list of the Top-100 Courses in Great Britain and Ireland with The European Club at No 20 behind Royal County Down (No 2), Royal Portrush (No 11), Waterville (No 15) and Ballybunion Old (No 16) but ahead of venerable Portmarnock (No 25) and Lahinch (No 26).

Of the best new builds since 1980, The European Club was second behind Trump Aberdeen with Ruddy’s Sandy Hills Links at Rosapenna at No 7 and his co-designs with the late Tom Craddock also well regarded with Ballyliffin’s Glashedy Course at No 10 and Druids Glen in Co Wicklow, No 12.

Golf Monthly Top 100 Courses in Great Britain & Ireland 2015/16

(Published November 2014)

1. Muirfield
2. Royal County Down
3. St Andrews Old
4. Turnberry
5. Royal Birkdale
6. Carnoustie
7. Royal St George's
8. Royal Dornoch
9. Royal Lytham
10. Sunningdale New
11. Royal Portrush
12. Royal Liverpool
13. Sunningdale Old
14. Trump Aberdeen
15. Waterville 
16. Ballybunion Old
17. Royal Aberdeen
18. Woodhall Spa
19. Ganton
20. The European Club

rish courses in the Top 100

Irish rank (GB&I rank)

1. (2) Royal County Down
2. (11) Royal Portrush
3. (15) Waterville
4. (16) Ballybunion (Old)
5. (20) The European Club
6. (25) Portmarnock
7. (26) Lahinch
8. (32) Doonbeg
9. (39) The Old Head of Kinsale
10. (45) Rosapenna (Sandy Hills)
11. (53) Tralee
12. (59) County Louth
13. (73) Ballyliffin (Glashedy)
14. (75) The Island
15. (76) Druids Glen
16. (78) Lough Erne
17. (82) Mount Juliet
18. (84) The K Club (Palmer)
19. (93) County Sligo
20. (98) Portmarnock Links
21. (99) Carne

Best New Builds Since 1980

Best new course rank (Overall GB&I rank)

1. (14) Trump Aberdeen
2. (20) The European Club
3. (21) Kingsbarns
4. (23) Castle Stuart
5. (31) Loch Lomond
6. (32) Doonbeg
7. (39) The Old Head of Kinsale
8. (45) Rosapenna (Sandy Hills)
9. (53) Tralee
10. (73) Ballyliffin (Glashedy)
11. (74) Woburn (Marquess)
12. (76) Druids Glen
13. (78) Lough Erne
14. (80) The Belfry (Brabazon)
15. (81) Bearwood Lakes
16. (82) Mount Juliet
17. (83) Renaissance
18. (84) The K Club (Palmer)
19. (87) The Grove
20. (88) The Wisley
21. (90) St Andrews (Castle)
22. (94) Woburn (Duchess)
23. (98) Portmarnock Links
24. (99) Carne
25. (100) Close House

Irish Courses Ranked 101-200 (alphabetical)

Adare Manor, Ardglass, Ballybunion (Cashen), Ballyliffin (Old), Carton House (Montgomerie), Castlerock, Concra Wood, Donegal, Enniscrone, Headfort (New), Killarney (Killeen), Killeen Castle, Portnoo, Portsalon, Portstewart.

South East Senior Alliance - Eoin on the rise

Seamus Power might be heading for the Web.com Tour in the US but there's another star rising at West Waterford. 

Seventeen year old Eoin Conway shot a super round of 68 gross to win the South East Senior Alliance event at Rosslare Golf Club recently.

ccording to our sources down south, Eoin has had a great year, winning all his matchplay matches in Junior Cup and Fred Daly Trophy. Looks like a young gun to keep an eye out for in 2015.

Found at Rosses Point

Pat Ruddy is busy carrying out major courses improvements at County Sligo and while there's some GUR to deal with, the work has unearthed some historical artefacts.

Old balls aren't usually worth much but this find looks interesting. We await a full report from the west!

Successful pro debut for Ciaran Boggan

e didn't win The Invitational Pro-Am at Finca Cortesin on Sunday but Trim's Ciaran Boggan still walked away with just over €1,500 for finishing fifth on his professional debut.

The 23-year-old from County Meath Golf Club shot a five-under par 67 to take a one-shot lead over Spaniard Gabriel Canizares into the final round of the weather-affected event but ended up taking 75 in the final round. Scores

Cañizares, the 40-year-old elder brother of European Tour professional Alejandro Canizares, claimed the €10,000 top prize but Boggan can hold his head high after beating the likes of experience campaigners Bill Longmuir, Carlos Rodiles, Juan Quiros and Ballyliffin's Brendan McCarroll, who was 29th.