Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork

South West IrelandGolf

South West Ireland Golf Regional Picks

The Old Head of Kinsale in Cork, Ballybunion Golf Club in Kerry and Adare Manor in Limerick. All world-famous golf destinations in their own right and all located within a relatively small distance of one another. In terms of testing your own raw-powered drive and the yardstick in general, it's hard to find better courses anywhere in the world. Add to this some of the most spectacular vistas you'll find on any golf course and it's safe to say that golfing in Ireland's Southwest is as good as it gets.

Old Head of Kinsale

Par 72 • 7,130 yards

Calling on designers and collaborators from a diverse range of golfing fields and relying on the stunning setting presented by mother nature, the Old Head Of Kinsale has grown to become one of the planet's most sought after golfing days out. Built on a 220-acre near chunk of land that reaches out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, with a lighthouse at its peak and the ocean surrounding you at all sides, it really is a golfing experience like no other. The par 72, 18 holes are broken down by five Par 5s, five Par 3s and eight Par 4s, nine of which play along the cliff tops. Enjoy oak lined locker rooms, a warm up range, a putting green and an area to practice your short game. There's also an executive helicopter service, should the mood take you.

Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork
HoleParYards
14446
24402
33178
44427
54430
65554
73192
85542
94465
105518
113207
125564
133168
144452
154342
163186
175623
184434
Visitor Info

Cork Golf Club

Par 72 • 6,813 yards

Situated on the banks of the Lee in the Little Island area, Cork Golf Club intermixes its parkland character with many of the most enjoyable aspects of linksl and terrain. Throughout the year, the turf is firm and dry like a links course which makes shot making an interesting challenge. Designed by Alister MacKenzie in the early 1900s, this course makes good use of a landscape which was previously used as a quarry, with lots of interesting changes in elevation. Cork Golf Club, also known as Little Island Golf CLub, is full of character and brings local and visiting golfers back again and again.

Cork Golf Club
HoleParYards
14373
25507
34312
44449
55578
64330
73215
84433
93197
104422
115498
124328
133171
144434
154412
164338
174396
184420
Visitor Info

corkgolfclub.ie

Ballybunion Golf Club

Par 71 • 6,738 yards

Until the 1980s, when Tom Watson declared it one of the world's finest golf courses, Ballybunion was largely unknown to the outside world. Since that time, however, its carpark has been full of coaches and limousines as golf fans from all backgrounds pay tribute to a links course that truly sets the standard. Summer visitors should expect to book as much as a full year in advance.

Ballybunion Golf Club
HoleParYards
14405
24439
33218
45527
55554
64383
74425
83157
94462
104356
114471
123209
135498
143130
153209
165513
174399
184383
Visitor Info

Dooks Golf Club

Par 71 • 6,511 yards

In 2006, the completion of a four-year course redesign by architect Martin Hawtree saw Dooks emerge as one of the truly great courses in links golf. And yet it remains relatively unknown internationally. The good news is that the best-kept secret of Irish golf has very affordable green fees and comparatively quiet tees as a result. Against the charming backdrop of Dingle Bay, take on a links course that presents challenges for all golfers while remaining accessible for all abilities.

Dooks Golf Club
HoleParYards
14389
24316
34374
43170
54447
65472
74465
83180
95503
105561
113172
124361
133167
144402
154344
164374
174390
184424
Visitor Info

dooks.com

Killarney Golf and Fishing Club

Mahoney's Point: Par 72 • 6,564 yards

Killeen: Par 72 • 6,470 yards

With so much challenging links golf to be had throughout County Kerry, the Killeen and Mahoney's Point courses in Killarney can be a welcome change, and both stand out for their distinctly Irish interpretation of parkland play. Originally built out of one Old Course, today's two courses show little evidence of dilution and both can be counted among the Emerald Isle's very best parkland offerings. The Killeen Course is noted for the outstanding quality of its greens. Mahoney's Point stands out because of its stunning views across the lake to the mountains beyond.

Co. Louth Golf Club

Mahoney's Point:

HoleParYards
14365
24395
34460
43155
55495
64384
73180
85577
94317
104343
114454
123229
135475
144363
154293
165484
174398
183197

Killeen:

HoleParYards
14364
24343
33181
44337
54413
63167
75476
84396
94345
103164
115485
124447
134452
144371
154406
165500
174426
184197
Visitor Info

killarneygolfclub.ie

Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club

Par 73 • 6,663 yards

A uniquely Irish parkland, the Ring of Kerry course is woven into a landscape that could have been created for golf. From this high-up vantage point, players behold a scene of quintessentially Irish beauty, with Kenmare Bay below - bejewelled by tiny islets - and the Caha Mountains beyond. The playing surface is quite firm for a parkland, giving the play a slightly links-like feel. And the frequent threat of long grass and patches of gorse add to the sense that this perhaps more a hybrid than a pure parkland. However you categorise it, few will dispute that this is a fantastic course which makes great use of a challenging mountain landscape.

Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club
HoleParYards
14386
24374
33160
45516
55448
64342
73175
84400
94307
104450
115531
124386
133233
145440
154425
165470
174435
183185
Visitor Info

ringofkerrygolf.com

Tralee Golf Club

Par 72 • 6,870 yards

Visiting Tralee's rugged coastline before he began work on what would be his first and perhaps his finest European course, architect Arnold Palmer observed that he had never seen a more perfect place to build a golf course. A windswept links course with a fairly flat front nine, Tralee always holds the threat of challenging weather which can disappear as quickly as it emerges from the brooding Atlantic. According to Tom Clarke, The back nine is the more dramatic overall, although the 2nd and 3rd ensure it doesn't have it all its own way – first an awe-inspiring 600-yarder doglegging round the cliffs, then a daunting par 3 on the very edge of the rocky shoreline.

Tralee Golf Club
HoleParYards
14395
25578
33192
44420
54425
64410
73155
84385
95507
104479
115591
124449
133152
144389
154306
163194
174358
185485
Visitor Info

hiddenlinksgolf.com

Waterville

Par 72 • 7,347 yards

Designed by John Mulcahy and opened in 1972, Waterville is famous for its gruelling, unforgiving length. But those who travel here to experience the punishment for themselves may be disappointed. The competition tees (7,378 yards) are more than 500 yards longer than the white tees and are usually off-limits to non-competitive players. This makes Waterville actually shorter than several of Ireland's top-name courses. Still, the disappointment will not last long and this traditional Irish links offers a great afternoon's golf to all who make the trip.

Waterville Golf Club
HoleParYards
14445
24464
34425
43199
55586
63194
74424
84436
94445
104475
115498
123200
135504
144456
154428
164386
175194
183588

The Best of the Rest A directory of South West Ireland Golf Courses

Glengarriff G.C. County Cork

Mahon Golf Course County Cork

Douglas Golf Club County Cork

Cork Golf Club County Cork

Cobh Golf Club County Cork

Water Rock Golf Club County Cork

Muskerry Golf Club County Cork

Kinsale Golf Club County Cork

Old Head Golf Links County Cork

Glengarrifff G.C. County Cork

Mahon Golf Course County Cork

Douglas Golf Club County Cork

Cork Golf Club County Cork

Cobh Golf Club County Cork

Water Rock Golf Club County Cork

Muskerry Golf Club County Cork

Monkstown Golf Club County Cork

Kinsale Golf Club County Cork

Old Head Golf Links County Cork

Old Head Golf Links County Cork

Blarney Golf Club County Cork

Fota Island Resort County Cork

Fota Island Resort County Cork

Ring of Kerry G&CCCounty Kerry

Ballyheigue Castle GC County Kerry

Waterville Golf Links County Kerry

Killarney Golf & Fishing Club County Kerry

Beaufort Golf Club County Kerry

Ceann Sibeal Golf Club County Kerry

Kenmare Golf Club County Kerry

Ballybunion Golf Club County Kerry

Dooks Golf Club County Kerry

Tralee Golf Club County Kerry

Kilorglin Golf Club County Kerry

Ross Golf Club County Kerry

Castlegregory Golf Links County Kerry

Parknasilla Golf Club County Kerry

Hogs Head Golf Club County Kerry

Limerick Golf Club County Limerick

Adare Manor Golf Club County Limerick

Castletroy Golf Club County Limerick