Waterford Castle Golf Club & Resort

The Island, Ballinakill,

nr Waterford, Co. Waterford

  • Office

    +353 (0)51 871 633
  • Pro shop

    +353 (0)51 871 633
  • Fax

    +353 (0)51 871 634

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Tree-lined and open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Riverside (River Suir) and woodland.

  • Designer:

    Des Smyth & Declan Brannigan

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Metres
6231
5827
5103
Par
72
72
72
SSS or slope
72
70
72

Location

Latitude:

52.253284

Longitude:

-7.059188

How to get there:

3 km E of Waterford

Heading south-east from Waterford on the main Waterford to Dunmore road (R683), just after the Waterford Regional Hospital, turn left into Island Lane, direction ferry crossing to the Island and Waterford Castle.

Waterford Castle Golf Club & Resort

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.

Est. 1992

Waterford Castle Golf Club Resort is home to Ireland's only true "island" golf resort, detached from the mainland and accessed via a private ferry. In addition to being surrounded by the River Suir, the relatively open parkland golf course also contains an additional four internal water features which come into play on several holes. Substantial good quality bunkering also plays its part.

This Des Smyth and Declan Brannigan design includes several challenging dog-leg holes, not least the 456-yard par-4 12th, where distance as well as accuracy is required off the tee. With some lovely views from the course and a luxury hotel on-site, Waterford Castle is one of the best Stay&Play locations in the south of Ireland.

List of courses: Ireland - East

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance.

Green fees

Contact club for green fee details.

Other information

Soft spikes only. Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

The Island, home to Waterford Castle Resort and Golf Club, was once home to a monastic settlement in the sixth and eighth centuries. Maurice Fitzgerald, cousin of the English Earl of Pembroke (known as "Strongbow"), landed in Waterford during the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1160.

During a battle Fitzgerald was taken prisoner by Osserman of Waterford and held on the Island until he was rescued. Together with other Norman Lords, he was awarded large tracts of land in Ireland, including The Island, where he decided to make his home. For the next eight centuries, The Island was home to the the Earls of Kildare and Ormond and the Knights of Glin and Kerry, in one of the longest unbroken stewardship’s on record in Ireland.

Eddie Kearns, who bought The Island in 1987, both preserved its past and secured its future by opening the Castle and the Island to visitors by developing the present luxury hotel and golf course.

Where2Stay

  • Waterford Castle Resort4-star

    The Island, Co. Waterford.

    +353 (0)51 878 203

    Visit website

    Waterford Castle Hotel is based on a tastefully restored 15th century castle, and represents one of the most impressive castle hotels in Ireland. The resort combines gracious living with every modern comfort a resort guest could wish for.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Waterford Castle

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Faithlegg; Waterford

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Tramore

Find a course

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