65 for that,” says Bergin. “The scale of the layout means it can handle the wind beautifully, there was a little bit of serendipity about it because we planned for big fairways. There’ll be days when it’s calm and you feel like you can hit every fairway, but when the wind blows, you’ll be thankful for the room, angles and for places to hit the ball safely.” The closing hole is a good example. “There is a strong left-to-right breeze that pushes balls towards the cliff-edge,” says Bergin. “While there is more room than it appears, at first glance players will think they need to aim well to the left. Due to the hole’s width and the ever-present wind, the eighteenth at The Keep will play as one of the most diverse holes on the course.” The cliff-edge holes come at the start, middle and end of the round. After the opening tee shot of the day, golfers are faced with an approach over a chasm that sets the tone for the round. The next visit is after holing out on the infinity green of the par-three eighth, for a three-hole stretch that may induce vertigo: the par-four ninth and par-five tenth play right along the mountain’s edge, then the par-three eleventh requires a mid-iron to a green that falls away at the front and left. At that point, golfers may be relieved to turn inland. And one huge success of the design is the interest and variety offered away from the cliffs, with each of those holes presenting a distinct identity and challenge. The split-fairway second hole has been the biggest surprise for the owners. Bergin says: “It was the last hole we built as we used the area as our haul road, access point and staging area. Rees and I had the vision to know what it would become. If you play left, it plays longer, but hit your ball right and there’s more risk. A wetland slices down the middle of the hole and six beautiful bunkers are visible from every point.” Jones too believes the inland holes will become favourites among members and returning golfers. “The par-three third, which has a creek running along it, would, on any other course, be the hole they talk about the most,” he says. “The sixth is a great hole where most people will play to the right because that’s the way it is set up. But if you play left, it is a wedge in over water.” Water also comes into play on the thirteenth and fourteenth holes, the THE KEEP “ We planned for a very big golf course because the site calls for that, the views call for that” Image: Bergin Golf Design Holes at The Keep are routed with constant changes in direction, and visits to the cliff edge come at the start, middle and end of the round
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