Another Ruddy good job as Ballyliffin prepares to unveil par-three Pollan Links
Pat Ruddy applying early brushstrokes to his Pollan Links canvas at Ballyliffin
The new Pat Ruddy-designed par-three Pollan Links will open at Ballyliffin Golf Club in Donegal later this year.
The club hosted the Irish Seniors Open on The Old Links in 2008 and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on its Glashedy Links in July 2018.
But it will soon boast another course created by the irrepressible Ruddy, who partnered with the late Tom Craddock to craft the Glashedy Links in 1995.
The club sees this development as one of the most significant investments it has made in recent years and will greatly enhance the fantastic facilities for members and visitors to the Inishowen complex.
All greens, tees and bunkers have been laid and with a fair spring, the club hopes to open the new course in June or July.
Fashioned through duneland on pure links terrain, The Pollan Links will open for play in summer 2020 and will facilitate the clubs successful youth academy as well as providing a challenge for all categories of golfers from novices to low handicappers looking to hone their short-game skills.
An ambitious work programme commenced in September 2019 under the supervision of Ruddy with all the construction being carried out in-house by Ballyliffin staff and volunteers.
A variety of holes will challenge every golfer with undulating greens, revetted bunkers and generous teeing grounds designed and built to the same specifications as the two championship links at Ballyliffin.
Every detail of the design exudes with Ruddy’s craft and further enhances his love affair with the Inishowen Club.
The holes vary in length from 80 to 145 yards, offering golfers a 1,085-yard test that is sure to keep them entertained. It will be especially attractive to young golfers and families, and to older players who do not have the time or energy for a full round on one of the club’s championship courses but still wish to play the game.
Creator of The European Club put recent health problems behind him to return to the digger last year.
"Pat is a force of nature," Ballyliffin general manager John Farren told the BBC in December.
"His relationship with us has been well-documented. He even wrote a book about the club and there was only one man we were going to ask to help us with this project.
"He worked on a no-fee basis and didn't even look for expenses."
The new par-three course is situated on the former site of the seventh and eighth holes on the Old Course.
