Lurgan

Lurgan Golf Club was established in 1893 on a pleasantly undulating property next to the lake in Lurgan Public Park and golfers practiced their skills on this challenging little 9-hole layout for almost eighty years until Frank Pennink extended the course to a full 18-hole track in 1970.

The course now extends to almost 6,300 yards, with many of the tree-lined fairways gently bending right or left. The order of the two nines was reversed in 2012 to ease congestion at the start of the round, where back-to-back par threes were formerly played at holes 2 and 3.

There’s a punishing sequence of holes on each nine, from holes 5 to 7 then 13 to 16, and it’s during the first set of par fours that the toughest hole on the card is located. “Plateau,” the 419-yard 6th, doglegs to the left and it favours golfers who can draw the ball. The fairway is very tight off the tee and the approach to the raised green requires a precise shot.

The signature hole at Lurgan is regarded as “Waterloo,” the 147-yard par three 8th, where tee shots are played to a small green that’s protected by a bunker in front of the putting surface. Golfers walking away from here with a “3” marked on the scorecard will also have a very big smile on their face.

The club recently opened a 12-bay driving range and teaching academy which is proving to be very popular with local golfers, especially juniors learning the game. As the new facility was part funded by a grant, non-members and people from the local community are welcome to use it alongside members of Lurgan Golf Club.