Golf Courses in Southwest Ireland
Adare
The venue for the 2027 Ryder Cup, Adare Manor reopened in 2018 after a multi-million euro investment that transformed an already excellent golf course into the very best parkland course imaginable. With a backdrop of impressive Adare Manor and several holes along or even over the River Maigue, Adare is a real treat.
Ballybunion Cashen
The newer course at Ballybunion was designed by Robert Trent Jones with the specific intention of making a target golf course in perfect links terrain. The result is controversial but nonetheless enthralling, a glorious roller coaster ride full of charm, quirks and spectacular holes through magnificent dunes and along the ocean to finish.
Ballybunion Old
Ballybunion is one of the most famous links courses in the world. The Old Course is a truly natural links course. The contours of both fairways and greens, combined with the sea breezes, provide main challenge. Accurate approach approach play is required, with little room on either side of the smallish greens.
Cork
Cork is an Alister Mackenzie designed golf course near the shores of Cork Harbour with the most memorable stratech being the 3 holes running directly along the shore. Another interesting feature is the old marble quarry around which several holes are built. The course has a distinctive heathland feel.
Dingle
Dingle, or Ceann Sibéal after the nearby Atlantic promontory, is a links is carved from the natural landscape of one of the most scenic parts of Ireland. Each hole is full of undulations and swales, with hazards laid down long before golf was played here, including a winding stream that meanders across the entire course.
Dooks
On the north section of the Ring of Kerry, Dooks is a charming links course that presents a traditional links challenge in another stunning location. Not as exposed as some Irish courses and features an amazing variety of gorse, heather and wild flowers, the gentle wind is never far away.
Fota Island
Challenging, par 71, championship course which is very much in the traditional mode, featuring pot bunkers and undulating putting surfaces. Located in the heart of a 780 acre estate and originally designed by Christy OConnor Jr. and Peter McEvoy, the course is now upgraded to European Tour standards.
Killarney Killeen
The Killeen course is set amongst some of the most magical and enchanting scenery in Ireland, being on the shores of Lough Leane, the largest of the Lakes of Killarney, with a backdrop of Ireland's highest mountain range. A demanding championship test, the Killeen course is in our top 5 parkland courses in Ireland.
Old Head
Old Head is built on a strip of land that juts 2 miles into the Atlantic Ocean framed on all sides by cliffs that reach 300 feet in places. The par-72 layout will challenge all levels of golfer and choosing the appropriate tees is the first challenge! "The most spectacular course on Earth" is not far-fetched.
Ring of Kerry
On the southern side of the McGillicuddy Reeks mountains, not far from the pretty market town of Kenmare Ring of Kerry golf course offers terrific views over Kenmare Bay. The course is a challenging parkland style course providing major elevation changes. The greens are excellent and add to the challenge.
Tralee
Tralee is a special place both for its setting beside Barrow Strand and because it represents Arnold Palmer's first design project in Europe. Our favourite holes are the monster par-5 that doglegs around the beach and the dreaded 12th that is often rated the best hole on the course - it is certainly the hardest!
Waterville
In yet another spectacular setting Waterville is home to some fine links holes many with stories to tell. The "Mass Hole" is where Irish Catholics celebrated Mass, "Mulcahys Peak" is where the dream was born, and "Liams Ace" is the site of the most extraordinary hole-in-one. Oh, and hole #1 is named "Last Easy"!
