Fota Island Resort: A 27-hole host of three Irish Opens in County Cork, Ireland
FOTA ISLAND, County Cork, Ireland -- Only a handful of courses have hosted the European Tour's Irish Open three or more times.
The Deerpark Course at Fota Island Resort held a successful 2014 Irish Open to complete the trifecta on its well manicured 6,921-yard parkland course, attracting a strong field and good crowds.
Golf on Fota Island dates back to the 1800s, but it has taken much effort to bring championship golf to southeast Ireland. Irish Ryder Cup star Christy O'Connor Jr. and two-time English Amateur champion Peter McEvoy built the original design that opened in 1993. Architect Jeff Howes brought Deerpark up to Tour standards in 1999, leading to Irish Opens in 2001 and 2002.
Five new tees -- built on the four par 5s and on the scenic par-4 sixth hole along an ocean-fed inlet -- were added prior to the 2014 tournament. Even Rory McIlroy had trouble fighting off the lush rough and water hazards, missing the cut.
Two interesting par 5s, the downhill 10th hole and the risk-reward 18th hole, snake their way through a narrow chute of trees before confronting a pond surrounding each green.
A third nine constructed by Howes in 2007 gives guests three 18-hole configurations (the par-71 Deerpark, par-72 Belvelly and par-73 Barryscourt) to explore.
Nearly half the field stayed at the 123-room hotel and surrounding lodges, all built luxuriously since 2008.
Fota Island Resort - Deerpark golf course - 18th
The 18th hole on the Deerpark Course at Fota Island Resort plays as a risk-reward par 5 with a green surrounded by water.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Fota Island Resort - Deerpark golf course - 10th
A narrow 10th fairway opens up to a wide green on the Deerpark Course at Fota Island Resort.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Fota Island Resort - Deerpark golf course - 12th
Water crosses the 12th fairway on the Deerpark golf course at Fota Island Resort in Co. Cork.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Fota Island Resort - Deerpark golf course - 14th
A pin sits tucked behind a pond on the 14th hole of the Deerpark golf course at Fota Island Resort in County Cork, Ireland.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Fota Island Resort - Deerpark golf course - 3rd
Even pros who play in the Irish Open fall victim to the water around the third green of the Deerpark Course at Fota Island Resort.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Fota Island Resort - Deerpark golf course - 6th
The sixth hole might be the most scenic on the Deerpark Course at Fota Island Resort in County Cork.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Fota Island Resort - Deerpark golf course - 9th
Many of the pros playing in the Irish Open missed the ninth fairway, setting up a tougher approach to this green on the Deerpark Course at Fota Island Resort.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Fota Island Resort - Deerpark golf course - hole 2
At 461 yards, length is the main obstacle on the par-4 second hole of the Deerpark Course at Fota Island Resort.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
