Courses

Ireland - Southwest

Adare Golf Club at Adare Manor

It is difficult to say whether the best thing about a visit to the Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Club is the course or the accommodations. Both are worthy of 5-star status. Opened in 1995, the gorgeous 7,138-yard golf course (back tees) is the work of renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. Ten years later, many people consider it the best parkland-style course in Ireland (Golf Digest ranks it 11th best of all courses here). Adding to the beauty of this tree-lined layout is the spectacular Adare Manor Hotel. Once the home of the Earl of Dunraven, this magnificently-refurbished stone structure overlooks the River Maigue and dates to 1720. On site as well are a spa, an equestrian center, and several restaurants and pubs.

Ballybunion – Cashen Course

After the Old Course at Ballybunion was "discovered" in the mid-1970s, golfers from all over the world began arriving there to play it. To ensure that the old girl didn't get worn out, the decision was made to build a second course. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1981, the Cashen Course is set on spectacular dunes land between the Atlantic Ocean and the River Cashen. While shorter than the original at just over 6,300 yards, the Cashen Course is arguably the tougher of the two. Like on the Old Course, the fairways are narrow and fast, the greens are well bunkered and firm, and blind shots are common. Stiff winds off the water only add to the challenge, and it all helps make the Cashen Course a true links experience.

Ballybunion – Old Course

Ballybunion Old In 2005, one hundred years after the game was first played here, Golf Digest ranked the Old Course at Ballybunion the No.1 course in Ireland and No.7 on its list of "100 Best Courses Outside the U.S." For a course that only measures 6,600 yards from the championship tees, this is quite remarkable. Set along the Atlantic and virtually treeless, the Old Course features some of the smallest greens, biggest dunes and quirkiest holes in the country. Next to the first tee is a cemetery. Uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies are common. Blind shots abound, the bunkers are deep, and wind is always a factor. In short: this is what links golf is all about. Like the Old Course at St. Andrews, the Old Course at Ballybunion is a must play.

Ceann Sibeal (Dingle Links)

Better known as "Dingle Links" due to its somewhat remote location on the Dingle Peninsula, Ceann Sibeal is a traditional links layout in one of Ireland's most traditional-speaking areas. Gaelic is not the second language here — it's the first. The club was founded in 1924 and the course was designed by Eddie Hackett. In the mid-1990s, Dingle Links was updated by former European Ryder Cup team member Christy O'Connor Jr. Perhaps because it is Europe's most westerly golf course, this challenging 6,696-yard tract is not as well known as it should be. A small stream (burn) winds around the golf course and is in play on 12 holes, and the views of the nearby mountains and Blasket Islands out in the Atlantic can often be distracting. For once, "hidden gem" is not a cliche.

Cork (Little Island)

Founded in 1888 and located not far from Ireland's second largest city, Cork Golf Club is another fine layout that has only recently been "discovered" by visiting players. Known locally as "Little Island," the original layout at Cork was designed by David Brown. It was revised around 1890 by Englishman Tom Dunn, and then totally redesigned in 1927 by Dr. Alister Mackenzie, future co-designer of Augusta National Golf Club. Like the good doctor, Cork is known for its large, undulating putting surfaces. It measures 6,731 yards from the championship markers, and it features several long forced carries from tees. The opening holes are played along the River Lee, and several others wind their way around an ancient limestone quarry. In 2005, Golf Digest ranked Cork Golf Club the 15th best course in Ireland.

Dooks

No one seems to know who designed the original nine holes at Dooks Golf Club back in 1889, but a second nine was built by the members themselves in 1970. Architect Martin Hawtree redesigned 16 of the holes in 2002. Located in County Kerry, Dooks offers some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in all of Ireland (14 of its highest peaks are located here). The course is set on three stretches of sand dunes at the head of Dingle Bay and offers stunning views of the McGillicuddys Reeks, Dingle Hills and Slieve Mish Mountains. Not long by American standards at just under 6,500 yards, Dooks is a good indication of what golf was probably like at the turn of the last century — a course that's firm and fast and loaded with humps and hollows.

Fota Island

Old records indicate that golf was first played at Fota Island in the fall of 1886. Named for a peninsula that juts out into beautiful Cork Harbor, the club built a much more modern course in 1993 — similar, in fact, to an "American" course. In 1998, architect Jeff Howes updated the course in preparation for the playing of the Smurfit Irish Open here in 2001 and 2002. Known for consistently being in almost perfect condition, Fota Island is a lovely parkland-style layout that features wide fairways, little rough, and many trees. The course measures 6,927 yards from the championship tees, and water is in play on eight holes. In spite of its European PGA Tour quality, Fota Island is very playable and enjoyable for golfers of all abilities.

Killarney – Killeen Course

Even though the Killeen Course at Killarney Golf Club was sturdy enough to host the Irish Open in 1991 and 1992 (won both times by Nick Faldo) and the 1996 Curtis Cup Matches (won by Great Britain & Ireland), it has recently been lengthened and toughened. The jewel in Killarney's crown, this lovely inland layout now measures 7,181 yards from the championship tees. Water is a factor on the first ten holes, and several of the holes have been altered to bring the lakes and streams even more into play. Wind off the lakes and from the nearby mountains can also be a big factor while playing this big-time golf course. Mid- to high-handicappers will have a much more enjoyable round if they avoid the back tees.

Killarney – Lackabane Course

Designed by highly respected English architect Donald Steel and opened in 2000, the Lackabane Course at Killarney Golf Club is another serious test of golf — particularly when played from the championship tees. The Irish Ladies Open was held here in 2002, and a European Ryder Cup Challenge Tour event (similar to America's Nationwide Tour) was played on Lackabane in 2005. For a course so young, this was both an honor and an indication of its championship quality. As it is on all the courses here, the frequency of water and sand requires accuracy from both the tee and the fairway. Common as well (and equally distracting) are the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. From the tips, Lackabane measures nearly 7,100 yards. Thankfully, three other tees are available.

Killarney – Mahoney's Point Course

Located alongside the beautiful Lakes of Killarney, with commanding views of the majestic McGillicuddys Reeks — Ireland's highest mountain range — sits Killarney Golf & Fishing Club. Founded in 1891, the club did not build its first 18-hole course until 1939. In 1971, architects Fred Hawtree and Eddie Hackett used holes from this course to create two new layouts (Mahoney's Point and Killeen). At 6,780 yards, Mahoney's Point is the shortest of the three layouts that are now open for play at Killarney. It's also the most manageable for golfers with lesser abilities. The fairways are wide and the greens are fairly flat, yet there's plenty of sand and water in play. The final three holes here are quite memorable, with the last being a pretty par three across a portion of a lake.

Old Head

Visually — from the ground or the air — Old Head Golf Links is one of Ireland's most spectacular layouts. Located on a wild and wind-swept peninsula that runs for two miles straight out into the blue Atlantic, Old Head is bordered by craggy cliffs that often drop 300 feet to the water below. Nine of the holes here are set along these cliffs, and all 18 offer sensational views in every direction. Opened in 1997 and dramatically designed by former Jack Nicklaus associate Ron Kirby — with the assistance of such Irish golf legends as Eddie Hackett and Joe Carr — Old Head features five par-5s, five par-3s, eight par-4s and a back-tee measurement of over 7,200 yards. Thanks to five sets of tees, however, this thrilling layout can be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities.

Tralee

A year after it was founded in 1896, Tralee Golf Club built its first 9-hole layout. It moved twice over the years (building new 9-holers each time), then settled into its present site on the shores of Barrow Bay in 1980. Arnold Palmer was then hired to design a new 18-hole course — his first in Europe. Opened in 1984, this 6,975-yard links layout quickly became a favorite of visitors and locals alike. Four of the holes on the front nine and three on the back are played along towering cliffs. As you would expect from "The King," heroic shots are common. Tralee's Signature Hole, for example — the 3rd — is a long par three that's played across the edge of a gaping chasm. Standing ominously behind the green are the ruins of a 14th-Century castle.

Waterville

In 1973, Eddie Hackett incorporated the original nine holes here (circa 1889) with a brand new nine that was built within the high dunes along the shore of Ballingskelligs Bay. Windy, wild-looking and wonderful, Waterville is one of the world's most spectacular links courses. In the mid-1990s, several PGA Touring pros — Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara and Payne Stewart among them — began coming here prior to the playing of the British Open. Stewart loved it so much, in fact, that he was made Honorary Captain of the club. The once flat front nine has recently been remodeled by Tom Fazio to mirror the rugged and heavily-duned back nine that runs along the beach. In 2005, Golf Digest ranked Waterville the 5th best course in Ireland. Also highly ranked is the 10-room Waterville House, located minutes from the first tee.

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