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SOUTHWEST & SOUTH - TOP COURSES
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Waterville The Green is considered a sporting one, and the views from it are very fine while the Atlantic breezes that blow across it are invigorating and refreshing. The hazards are such as are usually to be met on the seaside course. Ranked among the Top 25 International Courses by Golf Digest, Waterville is truly a mystical Links in the Kingdom of Kerry. |
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Old Head Golf Links (7100 Yards, Par 72). The Old Head of Kinsale is one of the most remarkable developments ever conceived in the history of golf. The Old Head is ideally located on the South Coast of Ireland. It was designed by a combination of Ireland's greatest past golfing heroes and recognized international contemporary design experts - led by Joe Carr, Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan and Eddie Hackett. |
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Dooks (6010 Yards, Par 70). Dooks, a word derived from Gaelic meaning "sandbank," is a testing 18-hole links, situated in one of the most picturesque corners of the Ring of Kerry. The golf course is laid out on one of three stretches of sand dunes at the head of Dingle Bay. |
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Tralee Tralee (6877 Yards, Par 71). This course at Barrow is the creation of Arnold Palmer. No critic may claim that this is an "Americanized" golf course. Palmer has created a pure, unabashed links-style golf course on fertile, rugged Irish soil. The front nine play nicely on open flat land with several memorable golf holes. It is the back nine at Tralee that grabs your attention, with its absorbing mix of mountainous dunes, cavernous valleys and stretch of unforgettable seaside holes. |
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Killarney-Killeen (7123 Yards, Par 72). Killarney is truly one of the world's most beautiful golf settings. The Killeen Course, twice host to the Irish Open, is a fair, straightforward test of parkland golf. Killeen offers a mix of holes - some bordered by water, others open with judicial bunkering, and yet others tree-lined with creeks and ponds. |
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WEST - TOP COURSES
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Ballybunion Old (6638 Yards, Par 71). Ballybunion is a place of giant sand hills and deep valleys. Herbert Warren Wind, the most famous of all golf writers, once stated, "Ballybunion revealed itself to be nothing less than the finest seaside course I have ever seen." From the opening hole, bordered on the right by a cemetery, the links at Ballybunion is a treat for the senses. |
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Lahinch (6882 Yards, Par 72). Known as the St. Andrews of Ireland, the Old Course of Lahinch was originally laid out by Old Tom Morris. It is a classic Irish links in every sense with plenty of blind shots, cavernous bunkers and large, sweeping sand dunes. A visit to Lahinch is a must for every student of the game. |
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Doonbeg (6818 Yards, Par 72). Designed by Greg Norman and opened in spring 2002, Doonbeg is a spectacular new course on a 337-acre complex of sand dunes and 1.5 miles of ocean front. The golfer is offered tremendous views of the Atlantic Ocean from every hole. |
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Galway Bay (7144 Yards, Par 72) Christy O'Connor Jnr, Ryder & Worldcup player, designed this 18 hole course to highlight and preserve the ancient historic features of Renville Peninsula. The spectacular setting on Galway Bay is distractingly beautiful and cleverly designed mix of holes present a real golfing challenge which demands total concentration. |
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Connemara (7270 Yards, Par 72). Opened in 1973, Connemara has the appeal of an old-time Irish golf course. Laid out by the Irish architect Eddie Hacket, Connemara occupies a marvelous stretch of terrain with the Twelve Bens as a backdrop, and the Atlantic on three sides. At 7,270 from the medal tees, Connemara provides a difficult test of golf. |
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Co. Sligo - Rosses Point (6,043 yards - Par 72) Situated under the shadow of the famous Benbulben Mountain, the County Sligo Golf Club, or Rosses Point as it is more popularly known, founded in 1894, is one of Irelands great championship links. While Royal County Down is acknowledged as having the best front nine in Ireland and Ballybunion the finest back nine, many believe that Rosses Point offers the finest 18 holes in the country. One of the most scenic holes on the course is the par four second hole which offers a panoramic view from the green that is as vast as it is sensational. |
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EAST - TOP COURSES
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Portmarnock (7150 Yards, Par 71) Portmarnock displays, what many consider, the finest use of bunkering on any course in any country. Fairly straightforward in nature, there are perils for missing nearly every green or fairway. Portmarnock has hosted the lion's share of The Carrolls Irish Open over the last several decades. |
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Island Golf Club ( 6826Yards, Par 71) The Island is a traditional links in splendid isolation surrounded by the Irish Sea, Donabate beach and the Broadmoor estuary. Undoubtedly one of the most underrated links courses in Ireland, The Island has been selected to host the Irish qualifying section of the British Open from 2005-2010. Although there are several short par-4s, the Island always presents a challenge to find the fairway from the tee and then to find the target. A variety of shots are required and the wind will add to the difficulty. |
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The K Club (6776 Yards, Par 72). Known as the K-Club, this course is a world-class major championship golf course designed by Arnold Palmer. Full use has been made of the bordering River Liffey, which has created 14 man-made lakes and the resulting holes can never be classed as uneventful. |
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County Louth Baltray ( 6936 Yards, Par 72 )"County Louth is one of the best kept secrets of Irish golf. Sometimes also referred to as Baltray this has to be one of the most enjoyable Links in Ireland and undoubtedly represents superb value. There is not a weak hole on the course and some of the holes merit greatness". The present course was designed in 1938 by the renowned Tom Simpson. The course is laid out in two loops covering some 190 acres with no two holes running in the same direction. The only exception being, the 12th and 13th which run along the sea. |
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Druids Glen ( 7,146 Yards, Par71 ) offers championship golf and scenic views. Draped in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, the upscale public course is carved out of 230 acres of second growth forest and features sculpted bent grass tee boxes, fairways and greens. With over 60 strategically placed sand bunkers and nine lakes, Druids Glen challenges golfers of all skill levels. |
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The European Golf Club (6860 Yards, Par 72) The Links of the European Club present a stunning golf and visual experience as it tumbles through almost 200 acres of glorious sand dunes and runs along the beach on Ireland's lovely east coast just south of Dublin. This is the first links to have been built on Ireland's east coast this century. |
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Royal Dublin (6855 Yards, Par 72) This is Ireland's second oldest golf club and is one of Ireland's premier sporting theatres. It provides a combination of superb championship links and a degree of hospitality that mirrors its historic development. |
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NORTH - TOP COURSES
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Royal County Down (7037 Yards, Par 71) Currently listed as the 18th Best Course in the World by Golf Digest, Royal County Down rightfully takes its place among the other legendary courses in the world. Situated alongside the Mountains of Mourne and the town of Newcastle, Royal County Down is one of golf's most inspiring settings. The challenges provided by its golf holes are no less spectacular. |
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Royal Portrush (6845 Yards, Par 72) This beautiful links course is laid out on a wonderful stretch of natural golfing terrain, with the course threading its way through a tangle of giant sand hills, dunes and wild dwarf roses. It is also the only course in Ireland to have hosted the British Open. |
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Portstewart (6895 Yards, Par 72) is another world-class links golf course on the north coast of Ireland in the county of LondonDerry. It is just four miles from the links at Royal Portrush, just across the border in County Antrim. Portstewart underwent major reconstruction in the early 1990's and hosted the Irish Amateur Close Championship in 1992. It was after this tournament that Portstewart emerged from under the shadow of its famous neighbor to stand independently as a truly great links course. |
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Ballyliffen Christened the 'Dornoch of Ireland', Ballyliffin is now recognized as one of Ireland's ultimate golfing beauties. A personal favorite of Nick Faldo who fell in love with the course and its surroundings in 1993, Ballyliffin is one of the friendliest clubs on the Emerald Isle, boasting an unsurpassable setting and quality of terrain that is so perfect f |
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NORTHEAST - TOP COURSES
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Cruden Bay Cruden Bay offers an internationally famous golfing experience - old fashioned links golf at its best - on one of the best links courses in Scotland, and last year was placed at No 52 in the world by "Golf Magazine". Cruden Bay Golf Course creates unique challenges demanding the skills of power, placement and fine judgement upon the discerning golfer. Set against a backdrop of subtly contoured greens and magnificent panoramic views, a visit to Cruden Bay will be a most memorable one. |
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Royal Aberdeen Founded in 1780, Royal Aberdeen is the sixth oldest golf club in the world. For the first thirty five years of its existence the club was known as The Society of Golfers at Aberdeen, with members of the society being determined by ballot. |
