Connemara Golf Club

West IrelandGolf

West Ireland Golf Regional Picks

Drawing on its rugged landscape and stunning coastal views, golf in the West of Ireland is easy on the eye yet challenging on the mind. Concentration and pre-planning are of the utmost importance on some of the most demanding courses in Ireland. Many of the courses in the West were originally developed over 100 years ago, with more recent alterations adapting them to suit the modern game.

Doonbeg Golf Club

Par 72 • 6,889 yards

Greg Norman's first links course is a testament to how skilfully he transitioned from player to parkland architect and then to links designer. In a setting which closely resembles Lahinch just 20 minutes up the coast, Doonbeg offers stunning ocean views on no fewer than 16 holes, 6 of which lead right to the water's edge. Every hole has its own unique character here, with the par threes and short par fours being particularly memorable. Encouragingly wide fairways make the course quite forgiving but, with thick rough growing to knee length, be warned any shot straying beyond the primary cut will be gone forever.

Doonbeg Golf Club
HoleParYards
15548
24428
34333
45648
54348
64357
73237
85574
93173
105576
113183
124419
135511
143132
154366
163206
174426
184424
Visitor Info

Lahinch Golf Club

Par 72 • 6,950 yards

Welcome to one of the most debated, eulogized and generally talked-about courses in all of golf. The Lahinch Old Course bears the fingerprints of no fewer than three architects, with Old Tom Morris putting in the original groundwork (1894) and Martin Hawtree making modern-day refinements to a course whose best features are largely credited to Alister MacKenzie and his 1920s redesign. Perhaps the most notable challenge on this course is one for which no mortal designer can take credit: the wind and weather at Lahinch are hugely unpredictable factors which come and go quickly, affecting play enormously. Discussion in the clubhouse will likely centre around the two most famous holes, the fourth and fifth - known as 'The Klondyke' and 'The Dell' respectively. Here, steep hills and blind shots will give visitors much to talk about and much to blame.

Lahinch Golf Club
HoleParYards
14381
25534
34446
45475
53154
64424
74411
83166
94400
104441
113170
125577
134279
144461
154466
163195
174436
185534
Visitor Info

Connemara Golf Club

Par 72 • 7,055 yards

Set against the famously rocky and windswept Co. Galway landscape, the fabulously remote Connemara Golf Club offers great rewards to visitors who are prepared to travel this far west. It is made up of three loops of nine holes, with the A and B loops making up the Championship course. Playing this traditional combination, expect a front nine that is gentle, open and forgiving. From the tenth tee onwards, prepare for a punishing nine holes that are among the most challenging you will find anywhere. If you can shoot to your handicap on the back nine, then you have earned your reward in the clubhouse.

Connemara Golf Club
HoleParYards
14381
24413
33164
44382
54381
63203
75572
84465
94436
104427
113193
124445
133212
145513
154412
164431
175499
185526
Visitor Info

connemaragolflinks.com

Carne Golf Links

Par 72 • 6,132 yards

You will struggle to find a more remote golf club in Ireland than Carne - Eddie Hackett's swansong which was opened in the early 1990s. After a spectacular career, Hackett went out on a high and those who make the long journey to get here usually go home persuaded that this ranks among his best work. Like most of the links courses which bejewel Ireland's west coast, Carne is set against a backdrop which is rugged, windswept and enchanting. After a challenging outgoing nine, the journey back to the clubhouse will feel a little more forgiving - but not much.

Carne Golf Links
HoleParYards
14343
23183
34376
45473
54378
64363
73162
84365
94327
105465
114332
124331
135482
143138
154366
163154
174399
185495
Visitor Info

carnegolflinks.com

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

Woodstock Golf & Country Club County Clare

Dromoland Castle Golf Club County Clare

Shannon Golf Club County Clare

Trump International Golf Links County Clare

Lahinch Golf Club County Clare

Spanish Point Golf Club County Clare

Ennis Golf Club County Clare

Gort Golf Club County Clare

Glenlo Abbey Golf Club County Galway

Galway Golf Club County Galway

Bearna Golf Club County Galway

Athenry Golf Club County Galway

Tuam Golf Club County Galway

Connemara Golf Club County Galway

Loughrea Golf Club County Galway

Portumna Golf Club County Galway

Ballinrobe Golf Club County Mayo

Carne Golf LinksCounty Mayo

Ballina Golf Club County Mayo

Castlebar Golf Club County Mayo

Ballyhaunis Golf Club County Mayo

Balla Golf Club County Mayo

Belmullet Golf ClubCounty Mayo

Westport Golf Club County Mayo

Roscommon Golf Club County Roscommon