Old Links at Ballyliffin in Ireland unveils its three-year Faldo fix-up

DONEGAL, Ireland -- Faldo Design has just completed a major renovation of The Old Links at Ballyliffin Golf Club on the northwest coast of County Donegal. The front nine holes were renovated in 2005, and the work on the back nine has just been completed.

The club has firm ambitions to host European Tour events, and officials believe that the three-year renovation means the Old Links will quickly become recognized as one of the world's finest links courses and, together with its sister Glashedy Links, will give Ballyliffin an unrivaled 36-hole championship links complex.

The essential aim of the refurbishment was to improve the course's strategic qualities by way of a complete re-bunkering program. Faldo Design also created several new oceanside tees to better emphasize the course's natural beauty.

Overall, the changes are subtle but very effective, and the integrity of the course, in its original design, has not been changed as much as but refined and improved, club officials said. The most significant improvement to the layout and memorability of the courses is the development of a new 14th hole along the coastal boundary.

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