Often uttered in the same breath as Augusta, Druids Glen may not have the character of some of the seaside courses on the east coast of Ireland, but it is one of the best parkland layouts in Dublin and the UK.

From the forest that once was home to the Druids, Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock have created a masterpiece, featuring numerous spectacular holes. The most famous may be the 12th, a delightful downhill par-3 where golfers play over the now famous bank of flowers in the shape of a Celtic Cross, but this is but one hole in a course of classics.

The Druids Heath course may be relatively young, but it has already garnered much attention from the golfing fraternity. The mixture of heathland, parkland and links makes this one of the most exciting and innovative golf courses to be built in the last few years, and has only cemented Druids Glen's reputation as one of the premier golf break destinations.

There are over 1,000 pubs in Dublin, and a visit to at least a few of them to sample the local brew is essential to any Dublin Tour.

Signature Hole:

Hole 12 (Druids Heath), Par 4, 492 yards, SI 1

At 492 yards, the 12th is an especially tough hole to achieve birdie. While the fairway starts by sloping uphill, it then turns to the right and starts sloping left to right towards a dangerous looking pond. To reach the green in two will be a tough ask for most golfers, not only due to the length but also because of the bunkering which surrounds the green from both sides. A fantastic hole, presenting a challenge for all and requiring risk reward golf to make par.

The Druids Glen course held the Irish Open on four consecutive years during the 1990's, it was the 11th different course to hold the event.