Ballybunion Golf Club

Sandhill Road,

Ballybunion, Co. Kerry

  • Office

    +353 (0)68 27 146
  • Pro shop

    +353 (0)68 27 146
  • Fax

    +353 (0)68 27 387
  • Golf pro

    Brian O'Callaghan (Head Golf Professional).

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal duneland.

  • Designer:

    Original layout by club professional James McKenna. After 8 yrs of closure, a new 9-hole layout was designed by Lionel Hewson (1906), and extended to 18-holes in 1926. Additional modifications made by Tom Simpson (1937) and Tom Watson (1995).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6802
6060
5459
Par
71
71
74
SSS or slope
72
68
73

At the same location:

Above distances are for the Old course. Also at Ballybunion is the 18-hole Cashen Course (par-72, 6,306 yds from the back tees).

Location

Latitude:

52.494663

Longitude:

-9.674727

How to get there:

65 km N of Killarney

From centre of Listowel follow the R553 direction Ballybunion. After approx 15 km go through the main street in Ballybunion and bear left after the shopping centre into Sandhill Road. After 2 km turn right into Golf Club.

Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course)

5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!

Est. 1893

Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course): Revered by many of the world's greatest players, seasoned golf writers and some notable American Presidents too, Ballybunion's Old course is a dazzling star in the firmament of great links golf courses. With its towering dunes, sublime layout and fabulous ocean views, the course will challenge and test your game to the full, especially if the wind blows. The immensely natural, oceanside back-nine is without equal in the world of links golf.

After the opening par-4 1st, played down past a cemetery, then a few holes alongside Sandhill Road, the layout turns towards the sea at the par-4 6th, and golfing nirvana ensues. Towering sand dunes combine with magnificent sea views to create one of the most natural golfing environments you will encounter.

Tucked into the dunes is a succession of wonderfully memorable holes, like the shore-hugging par-4 11th, downhill par-4 17th and returning uphill par-4 18th. Back-to-back par-3s feature at 14 and 15; one is played into the wind, one downwind, one is mischievously short, the other testingly long.

On the Old course you enter a timeless, thankfully never changing world. Here the ballyhoo of modern life fades into the distance, as the charms of Ballybunion take over. For good reason, this is the most popular visitor course in Ireland, so book well in advance ... and prey for some kind weather.

List of courses: Ireland - West

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays; the Old and Cashen course are very restricted on weekends.

Must book in advance. Proof of handicap may be required. Visitors generally play in fourball flights.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season (mid-April thru' early-Oct): €300 (all days).

Contact club for full details, discounts, combination tickets, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Non-metal spike facility. Players generally walk this course. Golf carts (buggies) are not available on the Old Course. Caddies available (book in advance).

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

The Old Course has hosted many top-level championships including the Irish Open, the North West of Ireland Open and many other. For more details see Top Golf Tournaments at Ballybunion GC.

Published ranking

Old course:
Ireland's 3rd best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 12th best course (Golf World, 2022).
World's 24th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2023/24) and 21st best public access course (Golf World, 2023).
Cashen course:
Ireland's 41st best course (Golf World, 2023).

Where2Stay

  • Glin Castle5-star

    Glin, Co. Limerick

    +353 (0)68 34112

    Visit website

    Glin Castle, home of the Knight of Glin, his wife Madam FitzGerald, stands on the banks of the River Shannon in county Limerick amidst a 500 acre demense. Visitors are welcomed to stay between March and November, and at other times by special arrangement.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Ballybunion

    • Golf within 30 km:

      No

  • The 19th Lodge Guest House4-star

    Opposite Golf Links, Ballybunion, Co. Kerry

    +353 (0)68 27 592

    Visit website

    The 19th Lodge Ballybunion has its origins dating back to 1986 when it first welcomed guests from all over the world to Ballybunion. No stone has been left unturned to ensure that the 19th Golf Lodge is one of the most relaxing and accommodating guesthouses in Kerry.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Ballybunion (Old and Cashen courses)

    • Golf within 10 km:

      No

    • Golf within 30 km:

      No

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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