Nestled amidst the dunes on high,
Tee the ball and let it fly.
With the Harbor of Barrow for view and sight,
Gauge the prevailing wind to hit it tight.
In honor of the late great golfing “King”,
An ode to Arnold the course will sing.
A links and experience that is a must,
In this you need to absolutely trust.

Settled just north of the bustling city of Tralee, in County Kerry, a golf course like no other stands.  As the late great Arnold Palmer stated, “I have never come across a piece of land so ideally suited for the building a golf course.”  Before getting into the nuts and bolts of the links, let’s step back in time for a little background on the area.

Barrow Harbor, an inlet off the southeast portion of Tralee Bay, was once a gateway to early trade, commerce and, yes, smuggling - mostly of tobacco.  It lies between Fenit Island (historically referred to as “Fenit Within”) and the mainland (historically referred to as “Fenit Without”).  The terms refer to the surrounding walls (or no walls) of protection.  Fenit Island is home to Fenit Castle, and the mainland has the now extinct Tawlacht Castle. Barrow Castle, a round structure, dominated the entrance to the harbor at the time when attackers were prevalent. History has it that a metal chain would extend from the Fenit Castle to the Barrow Castle, rising above the waters when pirate or Viking ships would attempt entry.  Over the centuries estates were built by famed families, including the Barrow House that remains.  The House deserves its own review but for now, much of what is known about the local land can be found within the books set inside this beautiful home.