Druids glen became a european golf resort in 2005, so what did it take to get there? They built the spectacular druids glen golf course over 175 acres of stunning county wicklow countryside for the first time in 1995. Then, in 2002, they opened a splendid 148-room hotel with full meeting and leisure center services. Finally, in 2003, they employed pat ruddy to plan and create druids heath, a companion course to druids glen.

Druids heath is a blend of heathland and parkland, with a few links-like features mixed in for good measure. Any one of the ten par fours is over 400 yards long (one is 513 yards from the back tees), and three of the four par threes are more than 200 yards long.

However, length isn't anything. Druids heath's holes have been designed to take advantage of some major elevation changes, making the round more interesting every step of the way. while there is only water on a few holes, there are plenty of other hazards to avoid on the course, including gorse, vines, rough, and over a hundred carefully spaced bunkers.

There aren't any easy openings to find here. Just when you think you've earned a break after five solid par fours from the 6th to the 10th holes, you realize the par three 11th hole is just 250 yards from the back markers, though it's downhill. A sigh of relief!