Disappointment will be felt, too, at a number of places left out of the Top 120 altogether. . .

places such as Enniscrone, Royal Dublin, Portstewart, Connemara, The Heritage, Fota Island, PGA National, Carlow and Cork.

At the other end of the scale the newly-renovated Waterville and Lahinch have been recognised at 5th and 11th respectively.

Twenty-four Irish courses make the HSBC-sponsored Top 120 which is arrived at by having 500 voters produce a short-list of 175 venues and this is further reduced by a panel of 15 named experts and four of the magazine's editorial team.

THE TOP 20 1Turnberry 2 St Andrews Old 3 Royal Co Down 4Muir"eld 5Waterville 6 Ballybunion Old 7Royal Birkdale 8 Kingsbarns 9 Royal Lytham 10 Gleneagles Kings 11 Lahinch 12 Carnoustie 13 Royal Liverpool 14 Loch Lomond 15 The European Club 16 Royal St George's 17 Royal Portrush 18 Old Head 19Woodhall Spa 20 Royal Troon OTHER IRISH COURSES IN THE TOP 120 21K Club Palmer 34 Tralee 36 Portmarnock Old 44 Druids Glen 46 Killarney Killeen 47 Doonbeg 63 Mount Juliet 64 Ballylif"n New 65 Rosapenna New 68 Co Louth 77 Carne 86 Carton Montgomerie 89 Ballybunion New 92 The Island 100 Co Sligo 104 Donegal 115 Adare