The broad, self-satisfied smile was of a man ready for compliments, in the firm conviction that he had done a good job. And Paddy Merrigan deserved them. Quite simply, the new course at Tulfarris is a brilliant achievement in which the owner, Jim Hayes, can claim equal credit.

When looking over expensive golfcourse developments, the critic's natural tendency is to tread gently, in the knowledge that much anxiety and pain have been invested in the project, apart altogether from cash. Happily, one felt no such constraints on this occasion.

This is unquestionably Merrigan's best work as one of the country's leading golf-course architects. "It was a long, arduous exercise but I'm pleased with the way it has turned out," said the Corkman, whose work includes Slieve Russell, the second nine at Woodenbridge and a significant element of the Old Head of Kinsale.

In effect, Tulfarris is the product of two Cork talents which, as we Metropolitans are only too aware, is a formidable combination. Hayes bought the old nine-hole course and Tulfarris House seven years ago, having worked for varying periods with Fords of Cork, as an overseas director of the IDA and as an executive director of the Campbell Bewley Group.

By the time a 64-bedroom hotel (including 32 full suites) is opened in April of next year, the investment from him and his wife Maeve will have reached £15 million. So it merits comparison with the best. And where the golf course is concerned, its greens are as good at Mount Juliet's at the same stage of maturity. And that is praise indeed.

When he set about transforming a dream into reality, Hayes gave Merrigan a decidedly challenging brief: "I asked him to create a championship-standard course which would be among the top five in the country," he said. "And I emphasised that it would have to be sympathetic with the surroundings."

Those surroundings happen to be rather special. We are talking about a 200-acre site five miles beyond Blessington and beside Poulaphuca Lake, which had been designated as an area of outstanding, natural beauty by Wicklow Co Council. And Hayes brought the site together through the intriguing process of buying out the existing farmers in the area and relocating them elsewhere with twice the acreage.

Work on the course has been in progress for four years and its official opening will be next spring. So it is open for membership. The deals on offer are: first 20 at an entrance fee of £15,000; second 20 at £17,500 and third 20 at £20,000. In all cases, membership will be for life and will carry an annual subscription of £500.

The layout measures 7,116 yards off the back tees and 6,737 off the men's medals. From the gentle start of a par five, where the fairway is defined by attractive as well as strategic bunkering, the test becomes progressively demanding until the formidable, 456-yard fourth.

Then there is a gentle, shortish par four which dog-legs left between trees, before the second par three is negotiated, over water. This brings us to the lakeside for the first time and at the 608-yard seventh, Merrigan presents the scratch player with a carry off the tee of 220 yards over water. The challenge is less forbidding for the handicap player.

With two loops of nine, the ninth green is back at the house. But the spectacular, par-four 10th, which takes the form of a right to left sweep towards a raised green, offers the illusion of an approach shot to the lake's edge, whereas the tee for the short 11th is actually tucked in behind.

The finishing holes are equally impressive, from the short 16th where two lone oaks stand sentinel to the front, to the tricky, dog-leg 17th and on to the 449-yard 18th, where water forms a delightful feature on the right and in front of the green. During last week's visit, work was in progress on the hotel which will overlook this fine finish.

In the past, Merrigan tended to make the contours of his greens excessively severe. At Tulfarris, however, they are no more than sensibly challenging, while the fairways for the most part are wide and decidedly user-friendly. But the crowning glory of the layout is the attention to detail. Bunkering, contouring, featured stonework and environmentally-friendly wetlands are finished to the highest standards.

Then there was the planting of 45,000 broadleaf trees, from oak to ash, lime, pine and beech. When mature, these will beautifully complement the existing trees of which the Japanese larch to the right of the long 15th, are especially striking.

Comparable standards will be applied to the hotel. And there is the existing "village" of 34 town houses which are proving to be extremely popular with conference delegates and overseas holidaymakers. A golf clubhouse is to be completed by the end of next year.

On visiting Tulfarris, golfers will soon be aware of Maggie, the owner's golden retriever, who became a charming and remarkably understanding companion during our visit.

Indeed charm is a word which regularly sprang to mind, as we savoured the countless delights of a place which seems destined to become a highly-prized golfing destination.