When retail magnate jim treacy opened the castle hume course in enniskillen in the late 1990s, he had no idea that it would be the launch of a 10-year, £30 million golf project that would culminate in the opening of the lough erne course in the summer of 2009.

Adare manor, mount juliet, the k club, druids glen, and carton house come to mind when dreaming of premium golf resorts in ireland with its outstanding lodging and professional courses – well, treacy's latest 5-star lough erne in county fermanagh can now be introduced to the prestigious quintet of top notch establishments.

The lough erne championship course, designed by nick faldo, stretches to just over 7,000 yards from the back tees and is located in the center of an upmarket area in a part of the world known more for angling and water sports than golf.

the opinion will change after golfers see how fine the facilities are at a course that sits on a beautiful site along the shores of lough erne – in fact, many veteran analysts think the course will be a potential professional tournament venue because it has many of the features required of a top european tour circuit.