Paul McGinley almost half-way through his Donegal Golf Club project

Paul McGinley’s enhancing work at Donegal Golf Club, Murvagh is nearing the half way stage and on Saturday morning last local and national press were invited to get an update on the work already completed and what is planned for the future.

The timing was perfect, just 24 hours before Storm Ashley, on a glorious October day, the assembled were able to see at first hand some of the work on the back nine, especially the 17th and 18th holes.

After playing the back nine, the members of the press were shown one of the major enhancements at the course’s signature hole, the aptly named Valley of Tears 5th. 

Then it was back to the clubhouse for a question and answer session with the new course architect, Paul McGinley.

Introductions were by Club President, Brian Boyle, who said that the partnership with Paul McGinley was exciting for the members, and the feedback from members and visitors was extremely positive on the work done so far.

“I want to welcome Roddy Carr to chair the question and answer session, a man who needs no introduction at all,” said Boyle.

Carr, from a very famous Irish golf family, was making his first visit to Donegal and he was very impressed by what he saw.

“This is my first trip to Donegal Golf Club. I arrived up yesterday and went into the town of Donegal and couldn’t believe the buzz that was going on. I went into McCafferty’s Pub there and I don’t think I’ve ever been to a nicer place or pub.

“I can just imagine the tourist coming and going through that experience, going into Donegal and going into that pub which I believe is the finest pub I’ve ever seen. It is the perfect scenario for the visitor.

“I then got up this morning after staying in the stunning Harvey’s Point and then driving through the most unusual entrance to a trophy links golf course that I have ever seen. You never go through a forest and then you get this ‘wow’. There is this picture that comes up, there is no other entrance like that,” said Carr, who added that it was very exciting what Paul McGinley had decided to do at Donegal Golf Club.

“I can think of no better place that could become a hub for this whole region, using this as the main base and then with the product and the warm welcome,” said Carr, who added that some of the other trophy courses had lost the welcome that you have here.

“Paul and I go back a long way. I don’t think there is a better ambassador for us out there than Paul McGinley in terms of being honest and fair about everything. He is respected by everybody; it helps the brand of Ireland abroad.”

Asked what was the main thrust behind getting involved with Donegal Golf Club, Murvagh, Paul  McGinley said he really appreciated the huge attendance who had come “to help us tell the story of Donegal Golf Club.

“It’s not a beginning but hopefully is going to a new level as is all of golf in Donegal. As people come over to Ireland to explore our golf courses they are really enjoying it.

“Golf is now more popular in Ireland than it is in Scotland in terms of turnover and green fees. Obviously, the south west of Ireland is becoming very busy and very full and obviously very expensive, so we are seeing a lot of people beginning to migrate up along the Wild Atlantic Way.

“The next gateway, I always say, is Donegal. My association with Donegal goes back to the day I was born. My mum and dad were both from Donegal. My mum was from Rathmullan, near Portsalon, one of the courses I am helping as well. My dad was from Dunfanaghy and that’s another of the golf courses I am helping.

“All my summers were spent in Donegal. When Donegal were playing Dublin in GAA, my grá is leaning towards Donegal. It is really in my heart and very close.

“If you ask me anywhere in the world, if I had a week off, honestly with good weather it would be Donegal,” said McGinley.

Roddy Carr and Paul McGinley at the Q&A at Donegal GC

AMAZING CANVAS

“Golf is somewhat underdeveloped over the years and there are some amazing canvases. And I think this is the prime canvas in the whole of Donegal. That’s what made me and Joe (Bamford) so excited. I said to Joe, ‘this is the canvas we have been waiting for.’ This is one of the best canvasses anywhere in Britain and Ireland. I knew we could use this as a springboard for our business,” said McGinley, who added that it was a bonus that it was in Donegal and it could help the area economically.

“It was a good merger. We spent a lot of time working on design ideas and plans before presenting them to the members and they overwhelmingly agreed that this was the pathway we would go down. We are doing it over four phases. We have completed the first one and now we are in the middle of the second one.”

Asked what was the most important thing for him as regards design, McGinley says he is a traditionalist and feels that golf should be fair and also be fun. Then who would be his favourite golf designer?

“One of the things over the years I have been able to play all over the world and on the best courses. I have been able to meet the great designers like Pete Dye, Gill Hans, Ben Crenshaw and I’ve spent time with them.

“I’m really interested in  golf architecture and I’ve always been. The one I go back to more than any is Harry Colt. He would have designed Portrush, the original Royal Dublin, Sunningdale in England. 

“I'm very much a traditional style designer. I don’t believe in funkiness. I don’t believe in huge big slopes in greens like you have in Augusta. I would never design a golf course like Augusta, as great as it is.

“I believe in golf being fun, being fair, being challenging and aesthetically beautiful.”

As regards Donegal Golf Club, McGinley said that they already have had two great designers in Eddie Hackett and Pat Ruddy and he says he is only tweaking what they have created.

“This is an evolution rather than a revolution of what they have done. I want to keep the original thoughts and ideas of the original architect in mind as I contour it to modern standards.

“I want to make a hole really playing for all standards, not just the standard that I play at but for handicap golfers. There always has to be a run-in area, which was one thing Harry Colt did.”

Paul Travers (Head Greenkeeper) Lynn McCool (Incoming General Manager, Donegal Golf Club), Eamon Canney (Greens Convenor), Paul McGinley), Brian Doherty (Contractor) and Joe Bedford (McGinley Golf Design)

He said that being in Donegal, you have got to make use of the views and to get as many visuals as possible.

“Ideally I’d like to move more green sites but that was really cost prohibitive. Some we can but a lot of it is pathways and tee boxes and they are not expensive to build,” said McGinley, who feels that a round of golf has to be an experience.

He cited Baltray as one of his favourites courses because of the golf experience you get there. “It is so fun to play because it gives you a chance.

“On a links golf course if the wind is down and the weather is good, so what if somebody shoots a really low score. Golf courses have to be built, especially up here in Donegal, with the weather in mind.”

McGinley paid tribute to Joe Bamford, his business partner, who he said did most of the donkey work, especially in relation to costings. He cited what was done on the 17th and 18th holes. “If you were here before you would remember the 18th being a blind tee shot. We were able to take that mound away and used it to create a mound around the 17th. When hitting into the 17th now it is isolated and you can’t see anybody on the first green.”

The major work on the current second phase is on the 5th hole. “It’s a beautiful golf hole but basically it was too difficult. We had to re-engineer that. It was a huge workload. It has all been sculpted out and should be back in play by May of next year,” said McGinley, who said the other work in this phase are not big jobs.

The biggest work after the 5th will be the 8th and it is anticipated that that will be left until the final phase.

There was a question from the floor as to how McGinley caters for lady golfers and he welcomed the query. He said he always thought of how his late mum, a 27 handicapper, would be able to play a hole.

“How would mum play this hole? That’s too long of a carry for mum, she wouldn’t get it out there. Can mum get it out of this bunker? That’s how I design, with ladies in mind.”

In relation to the funding of the work, Club President, Brian Boyle, explained that all of the funding was being done from the club’s own reserves while Paul McGinley said his and Joe Bamford’s fees were performance related and also based on the fact that it was part of his Donegal project along with Portsalon and Dunfanaghy.

Asked where did he think Donegal Golf Club would be ranked after the completion of the work, he laughed.

“I don’t want to put a big expectation on this. It is ranked 36 in Ireland at the moment so the only way is up. I have been tipping away at Portsalon over the years and we have taken it from 53rd to 21st. We have a lot more work to do there and we’ll move that up even further.

“All I’ve done there is basic stuff. And most of it was with a small budget.”

One final question at the end of the session wondered if there was a need to flip the 9s at Murvagh and make the Back 9 the starting point. Paul McGinley said that would be a matter for the club and members but he did see merit in it especially as the more aesthetically pleasing holes are presently on the Front 9.

Noel Jordan (Chair Donegal Municipal District, Donegal County Council), Justin Coughlin (Captain), Paul McGinley, Niamh Kennedy (Cathaoirleach Donegal County Council), Patricia Britton (Lady Captain) and Brian Boyle (President)