Cruit Island,
Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal
Office
+353 (0)74 954 3296Pro shop
+353 (0)74 954 3296Website
Visit websiteThe Course:
9 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - several slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland and clifftop.
Designer:
Michael Doherty, long-time golf professional at City of Derry Golf Club.
55.048111
-8.428738
6 km NE of Kincasslagh / 96 km W of Derry (Londonderry).
Cruit Island GC is accessible by road at the south end of the island; it's then a 10-minute drive to the golf at the north end of the island.
Cruit Island Golf Club: if ever a golf course captured the fun and excitement of golfing on Ireland's "Wild Atlantic" coast, then look no further than Cruit Island (pronounced "Critch" Island). Here on a rugged peninsula jutting into the ocean, you'll find a spell-binding nine-hole clifftop links. Once played, never forgotten!
This wonderfully authentic, stunningly scenic and at times playfully eccentric layout weaves its way through a tightly rolling duneland. Along the way, which is not always obvious (especially on a first visit), you'll be captivated by views of sandy coves, rocky crevasses, craggy reefs, inshore Owey Island and the mighty North Atlantic beyond.
With so much to marvel at beyond the course, keeping focused on several blind tee and approach shots may be a challenge ... four of the first five tee shots are blind! Make sure you get directions for the opening tee shot .. it's not obvious!
Several holes radiate out from, or play back to a large hollowed-out sand hill at the heart of the layout, and many holes have two separate teeing grounds, creating two slightly different nine-hole circuits. Bunkering is relatively light, but ever mischievous, while the only water you'll see is that which swirls around the entire course ... in oceanic form.
Pick of the holes: with a back tee that sits above the ocean, the par-3 6th routinely steals the show. The not overly large green is perched just beyond a rocky inlet, where dark mysterious caves and teeming rock pools are washed and filled by the mighty Atlantic.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Contact club for full details. [Last updated: 2023].
Players generally walk this course.
Linked to the mainland by a 100-yard road bridge, the rocky peninsula that is Cruit Island (pronounced "Critch" Island or sometimes "Crutch" Island) was once inhabited by as many of 250 people. Nowadays the population is down to something a little over 50. The island is home to a few B&Bs, mainly at its southern end, near the bridge.
Ireland's 40th best course (Golf World, 2025).
Presidents Cup: Geoff Ogilvy’s International Team take on Brandt Snedeker’s USA Team at the revered Medinah Country Club, near Chicago. The Internationals are trying to halt a run of 11 consecutive American wins. (Sept 24-27).
French Open: Continental Europe’s oldest national championship, dating from 1906, is once again staged on the Albatros Course at Le Golf National, near Paris. Defending champion is America’s Michael Kim. (Sept 24-27).
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
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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