Lough Erne Resort - hole 17
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Lough Erne Resort - hole 17
The 17th hole at Lough Erne Resort is a risk-reward short par 4 along the water. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Lough Erne Resort - hole 14
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Lough Erne Resort - hole 14
The 14th hole is another strong par 5 at Lough Erne Resort with a wetland in play. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Lough Erne Resort - hole 13
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Lough Erne Resort - hole 13
The 13th hole at Lough Erne Resort plays long and uphill. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Lough Erne Resort - hole 9
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Lough Erne Resort - hole 9
The ninth green at Lough Erne Resort finishes above the lake. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Lough Erne Resort - hole 10
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Lough Erne Resort - hole 10
The drivable 10th hole at Lough Erne Resort sits in the lake. Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
Lough Erne Resort - fourth green
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Lough Erne Resort - fourth green
The sixth tee looks down upon the par-5 fourth green at Lough Erne Resort. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Lough Erne Resort - hole 5
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Lough Erne Resort - hole 5
It's a scary carry to the par-3 fifth green at Lough Erne Resort. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Lough Erne Resort - hole 3
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Lough Erne Resort - hole 3
The third hole is part of a strong collection of par 3s at Lough Erne Resort. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Lough Erne Resort - hole 18
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Lough Erne Resort - hole 18
A view of the 18th hole from a luxurious room in the Lough Erne Resort. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Lough Erne Resort - Nick Faldo statue
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Lough Erne Resort - Nick Faldo statue
Golfers pass a statue of Nick Faldo on the way to the first tee at the Lough Erne Resort. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Lough Erne Resort - hole 7
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Lough Erne Resort - hole 7
Rory McIlroy drove the par-4 seventh green at Lough Erne Resort. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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Lough Erne Resort: A five-star waterfront treasure in Northern Ireland

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland – Links golf continues to overshadow the wonderful Lough (pronounced ‘Lock’) Erne Resort.

The five-star resort, located two hour’s drive northwest of Dublin, was gearing up for its moment in the sun – the 2017 Irish Open – when the European Tour pulled the rug out in 2016. The tournament was moved to a links course, the Strand Course at Portstewart Golf Club, in an effort to attract a few more American players looking for a refresher course on links golf the week prior to the Scottish Open and The Open Championship.
Lough Erne’s Faldo Championship Course would have looked marvelous on TV and spectators would have enjoyed its sweeping lakeshore views. No doubt, the players would have been challenged by its length, big greens and water hazards.

A statue of Sir Nick Faldo greets players heading to the first tee. He’s not known as a premier player-turned-architect, although he did a bang-up job using the lake in the parkland routing. The first hole runs along the lake, serving as a teaser for later. Immediately following the dangerous par-3 fifth hole over water, Lough Erne climbs a ridge to reveal the rest of the property, sporting panoramic views for miles of the Fermanagh Lakelands. It’s hard to fathom that Rory McIlroy could drive the dramatic, downhill 396-yard cape hole that hugs the shore at no. 7. The grueling par-5 ninth is followed by the tantalizing drivable par 4 at no. 10, which ends at a peninsula green jutting into the water. The final three holes return to the Lough’s shores. Those seeking more golf can head just outside the resort’s gates to the Castle Hume Golf Club.

The 120-room resort, set on a 600-acre peninsula, is in the midst of a three-year, multi-million-dollar improvement plan as it celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Recent enhancements include family facilities, a game room, refurbished guest rooms and the remodeling of the popular Blaney Bar. A leisure pool will eventually complement existing facilities at the unique Thai Spa.

Americans will forever flock to the links of Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast when seeking a golf holiday, but it only makes sense that more and more golfers head inland for the spoils and joys of Lough Erne. (Read Jason Scott Deegan's review of Lough Erne)

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
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Lough Erne Resort: A five-star waterfront treasure in Northern Ireland