Tralee Golf Club

West Barrow, Ardfert,

nr Tralee, Co. Kerry

  • Office

    +353 (0)66 713 6379
  • Pro shop

    +353 (0)66 713 6379
  • Fax

    +353 (0)66 713 6008
  • Golf pro

    David Power (Head PGA Professional)
  • Academy

    The Academy at Tralee GC

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - several slopes to climb.

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal duneland.

  • Designer:

    Arnold Palmer designed the course at Tralee's current Barrow location (1984).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Metres
6192
5939
4790
Par
71
71
72
SSS or slope
73
71
71

Location

Latitude:

52.300441

Longitude:

-9.858479

How to get there:

13 km W of Tralee / 47 km NW of Killarney.

From the centre of Tralee take the R551 direction Ballybunion/Fenit (R558). After 3.6 km turn left, direction Fenit R558. After 4.7 km turn right at sign Church Hill/Tralee GC. After 4.6 km turn left at Tralee GC sign and continue alongside the estuary. After 1.6 km golf is on your right.

Tralee Golf Club

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.

Est. 1896

Tralee Golf Club: With ever-present and ever-changing views of Tralee Bay, pristine sandy beaches and beautiful Barrow Harbour, this is a scenic golf course not to be missed. Part clifftop parkland, part duneland links, the layout itself is constantly in danger of being overshadowed by its wonderfully natural, historic and inspiring habitat. Arnold Palmer's design ultimately delivers a memorable golfing experience, but it's the scenery that will probably linger longest in your memory.

Tralee's front-nine loop is predominantly an open clifftop layout. Parts of it are relatively flat or gently rolling, with plenty of dry-stone walling separating the holes. The Sliabh Mish mountains can be seen to the south, while several holes overlook Barrow Harbour (known as "the Randy"), a small estuary that provided a haven for smugglers in earlier times. Ancient forts guarding either side of the harbour add further detail to this highly photogenic scene.

On the back-nine loop, the course transforms into full-blooded duneland links. Here the holes thread their way through impressively large sandhills. Each hole opens up a new golfing challenge, while also offering panoramic views of the bay and stunning Banna Strand (beach). There's considerably more undulation in the dunes, as you'll discover at the long uphill par-5 11th (Palmer's Peak). Also noteworthy is the par-3 13th (Brock's Hollow), with a tee-to-green carry over an Irish "grassy grand canyon."

Arnie's kingly creation by the sea at Tralee may not tick all the boxes of a world-class layout, but much of the drama and adventure lies in the surrounding environment ... dramatic, breathtakingly beautiful and humbling.

List of courses: Ireland - West

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays (excluding Weds); no visitors at weekends.

Must book in advance. Handicap required.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season (May thru Sept): €275 (all days).

Contact club for full details, special packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Players generally walk this course. Caddies available (book in advance). Golf carts available for hire only on medical grounds.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

The current site at Barrow is the fourth permanent location for Tralee Golf Club, which was established in 1896. The earlier courses, nearer to Tralee itself, suffered badly in the winter, often becoming water-logged and making play impossible. The current course can be played all year round.

In 1968 the beach running alongside the second hole was used in the film Ryan's Daughter, in which John Mills, Trevor Howard, Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles all starred.

The tower behind the 3rd green dates from the 13th century, while the ruins of a castle seen across Barrow Harbour date from the 12th century. Note: Barrow Country House located close to the golf is not operating as a guest house anymore (even if it does look an idyllic place to stay!).

Published ranking

Ireland's 12th best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 72nd best course (Golf World, 2022).

Where2Stay

  • Meadowlands Hotel4-star

    Oakpark, Tralee, Co Kerry

    +353 (0)66 718 0444

    Visit website

    The Meadowlands Hotel is a 4-star family run hotel, which maintains a traditional quality. Tralee comes alive in the locally renowned Johnny Frank’s Bar, with its feature open fire, cascading staircase leading to the Library and the many traditional music sessions.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      No

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Tralee

  • The White Sands Hotel3-star

    Ballyheige, Co.Kerry

    +353 (0)66 713 3102

    Visit website

    Set in the North Kerry village of Ballyheigue on the Atlantic seaboard, which boasts one of Ireland's best blue flag beaches. The White Sands Hotel combines the friendliness and warmth of a family run hotel with professional service and comfort of modern facilities.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Tralee

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Ballybunion (Old and Cashen courses)

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

Popular videos

You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.

Hamburger GC - Falkenstein, Germany

WINSTONgolf - Links course

Littlestone Golf Club (Kent, UK)