Standing on the first tee, your eyes are drawn to the 1.5-mile crescent beach and the massive dunes. The first hole could be soon deemed among the best starting holes in golf. After your drive lands on the downhill fairway, you must avoid the small pot bunker on your second to allow for your third to the green. The large green complex is protected on 3 sides by an enormous dune that signifies the imagery for the entire course.

The par four second introduces your first blind tee shot with a fine view of the Irish cattle grazing country and a mountaintop in the distance. A drive left of center allows for the best look at this undulating green complex. You must avoid the steep sod-wall bunker fronting the middle of the green.

This shortest par four will allow you to pick your favorite club off the tee and offers variety with the course’s smallest green. Lining the right side is an old Irish stacked-rock wall. A demanding and accurate second shot is required to secure your par here.

This inland par five is a wonderfully natural links hole. Choose to drive short of the left bunker or over the dell, according to your talent. A drive over the dell will allow you to go for this green in two. Be sure to avoid the five sod-wall bunkers in the fairway. This elegant, asymetrical green sits just over an old rock-and-sod wall that has been there for years. Careful avoidance of this wall and pot bunker may yield a birdie.

This uphill par four drives you to a saddle between the dunes. As you approach the saddle, you may be startled with the breathtaking view of the ocean breakers with the Lodge in the distance. The second shot to this oceanfront green is intimidating due to wind, encouraging you to test your touch with a low shot to run onto the oceanfront putting surface.

This par four running directly along the ocean is stunning. The drive is partially blind and the deep fairway bunker on the right must be avoided. The undulating fairway reminds you that you're playing inside the enveloping dune fields of Marram grass. Your second shot should be middle of the green or slightly right; left is a very difficult strategy.

The first of the par threes is the longest and is nestled in a "coliseum" of smaller dunes that frame this hole. Aesthetically, it's the sleeper hole rivaling several others in its laid back drama. The hole is designed to accept a run-up shot with a long club – probably the best choice. From the back tees on a clear day, you can see the Cliffs of Moher.

This par five is the most difficult on the course. It is truly a three-shot par five. Your third shot is toward the ocean and must fight hard the prevailing winds. The green is huge with very challenging undulations that make Old St. Andrews’ greens seem tame by comparison. From the back of the green, you again have a picturesque ocean view.

This short par three is influenced by dunes right and back, while the left sits hard on the ocean's cliff. An accurate iron shot is a must to this small green, avoiding the deep sand bunkers protecting the right side. Take the time to observe the black rock wall and reverse crescent beach view.

This is a wonderful par five that some days tempts the risk/reward second shot to reach the green. If you lay up on your second and favor the right side, this will give the best angle to this sublime green site "sunken" in the dune hollow. (The fairway bunkers are works of art to avoid.)

This elevated par three, with an extremely deep sod-wall bunker short right, will put fear in the bravest golfer. Take a deep breath and hit the green, as this putting surface is one of the easier ones on which to make your birdie. You'll enjoy the view of the grey dunes in the background.

This is a hard par four that demands a solid drive. This green complex sits between a dune and a rock-and-sod wall. The best second shot is a run-up to this large green.

This is a remarkable par five – a favorite of both golfers and photographers. This is an authentic blind-drive hole to a completely natural fairway. The second shot must stay left to allow for the proper third shot to this elevated green. Stand on the back of the green to feel the ocean's strength.

This could be the most sensational short par three in Ireland, if not the world. The ocean view, extending all the way to the far peninsula, is unforgettable. Try if you can to ignore the view and hit the green. A birdie here will be in the memory bank forever.

Playing entirely along an ocean ridge, this hole has already been acclaimed as a contender for the best par four in links golf. The green demurely awaits you in a dune amphitheater utterly natural and memorable. A fine drive will allow for the second shot of a lifetime!

This downhill par three to an enormous green starts with your tee shot from high up in the ancient dunes. Avoid the twin sod-wall bunkers on the left, and hope for a two putt on this large putting surface.

This inland par four is bordered by a rock-and-sod wall extending its entire length on the left side. A good drive left of center will allow for a challenging shot to this slightly elevated and very beautiful putting surface. If you are going to miss, miss left for an easier up and in.