Travel article - Cork IRELAND has been a mecca for golfers from all over the world for many years but the Cork area, which has been relatively unexplored over the years, has now become a significant part of the Emerald Isle’s golfing treasures. New cut-price regular flights from various English destinations by BmiBaby have brought the Cork area within easy and economical reach - for example you can fly out on the 7.15am flight from Manchester, be on tee by 9.30am, play two rounds on different courses and return back on the 8.30pm evening flight. But it is well worthwhile spending a few days to get the full value of the excellent courses on offer with no fewer than 13 in the immediate area of Cork City giving a superb range of varied golfing challenges backed by friendly and caring hosts who take a real delight in ensuring that your stay is a pleasant and memorable experience. An ideal base, just a few miles from Cork Airport, is the delightful town of Midleton which has a first-rate facility in the Midleton Park Hotel, well used to golfing visitors. Midleton itself is the home of the world famous Jameson’s Distillery and a visit to this can easily be arranged to sample its famous product. Midleton itself has steadfastly kept its own intimate village character and there are restaurants and bars available with O’ Donovan’s Restaurant a particular favourite of Sam Torrance and his European Tour colleagues when they played the Murphy’s Irish Open at nearby Fota Island. For a real Irish flavour a visit to Wallis’s Bar a few doors up the road for traditional music supplied by the locals is a must and the ‘black stuff’ goes down a treat with plenty of the local craic to go with it. Cork Golf Club is the oldest club in the area being in its 112th season and is a living tribute to the proud and caring members and staff. The course is part parkland, with limestone quarrying playing a big part in the course design swinging out to a river estuary and presents a challenge, which will use every club in your bag. It provide great views from all holes and the signature fourth hole - a par four where you need to drive over the rocky edge of the river estuary will test your nerve and skill. The course has only 44 bunkers and after 18 holes you will appreciate why as there are enough natural hazards to contend with on most of the holes. The Cork clubhouse has recently been renovated and is a great 19th hole with fully modern yet tasteful facilities for après golf. Just across the road is Harbour Point a relatively new proprietary course, which has ambitious new owners, a pristine parkland course and another fine modern clubhouse with the club providing a top-class practice area and Pointers, which is Ireland’s largest on-course golf store. A fine 18th hole gives a great view from the clubhouse window with a water feature guarding a large, sloping green. Like Cork Golf Club the limestone base of Harbour Point ensures all-year-round play for members and visitors. Plans are in the pipeline to further enhance an already mature and well-maintained course. Fota Island, near Midleton, is probably the most well known of the Cork courses for staging the Murphy’s Irish Open twice in recent years and this lovely course lives up to all of the expectations with its design again providing a real golfing challenge while being suitable for all handicap golfers to get their reward for intelligent play. Already under construction at Fota Island are nine new holes, an hotel and lodges to cater for the growing demand to play this wonderful course. New roads are an integral part of the development of the Cork area and they have made the Lee Valley club easily accessible on the west side of Cork City. Like Fota Island and Harbour Point this is a relatively new club and is situated on a hillside giving magnificent panoramic views to all points of the compass from another well-appointed modern clubhouse. The course looks deceptively open at first glance but don’t be deceived as it has many secrets to trap the unwary or over ambitious golfer and its character is unique in this golfing paradise of Cork. The Old Head Golf Links and Kinsale are other courses in the area known and respected throughout the golfing world while Monkstown, Water Rock, Douglas and East Cork are some of the other fine golfing delights on offer as well as Fernhill, Muskerry and Youghal. Cork was the European Capital of Culture for 2005 and this is reflected in the lively and attractive city, which can offer a huge variety of attractions and entertainments with a visit to the new greyhound stadium also offering several surprises. The indoor market in the centre of the city is another absolute must for a visit with fresh local produce on offer in abundance in an exciting and vibrant environment. For nature lovers there are beautiful coastal and woodland walks, game, coarse and sea angling and the East Cork Bird Trail offers the opportunity to view a large cross section of Ireland’s indigenous and migratory bird life. For lovers of culture and history Cork and the surrounding area again offers a multitude of places to visit many of which have been lovingly restored and renovated with ancient castles, churches, museums historic house and gardens with tours and visits easy to arrange to get the feel of the many treasures of Cork. For easy access, wonderful golf and a varied range of off-course attractions why not give Cork a try- you won’t be disappointed. Geoff Garnett, Editor, Golfers' Chronicle.