Every golfer knows the charms of the Wild Atlantic Way and the delights of Ireland’s Ancient East. But for all their obvious charms, it’s easy to forget the varied beauty of the midlands.

Mount Temple Golf and Country Club celebrates its 30th anniversary this year but what was once ranching territory and later a fine farm situated midway between Moate and Athlone in Co Westmeath, has been transformed into a little golfing gem.

Shane Lowry set a course record of 67 back in 2007 and with its onsite academy and the old farmhouse converted into a welcoming clubhouse, it’s a product of the Agri-Tourism initiative promoted by the government in the 1980s and 1990s.

What was once a stony farm used mainly for ranching was transformed back in the 1950s into a far more profitable and modern farm by a man who has a deep connection with golf in Ireland, the civil engineer Hugo Flinn of Druids Glen and St Margaret’s fame.

Bobby Browne, the late Laytown and Bettystown professional laid out the course and with its natural water hazards, its rock formations and an abundant selection of mature trees, it combines hints of the west of Ireland landscape with lush parkland features, offering golfers a dry course all year round.

The club is marking its 30th anniversary with two-day PGA Pro-Am on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 24-25.

Sponsored by Marsh Nissan group Athlone/Tullamore and Mount Temple Golf & Country Club, the first day of the event will be a Pro-Am team event with prizes sponsored by Pro-Golf Ireland, Centra Moate, Mark Nestor Property Services, Wineport, Tullamore Dew and Entegro.

The second day will be a €16,000 PGA event for the Willie Nolan Trophy.

Owner Michael Dolan has significantly enhanced the course since Lowry shot his 67 as a plus three amateur 14 years ago and it will be interesting to see how it stands up to the top PGA professionals in the country.