Waterville Golf Links

Cliff Road,

Waterville, Co. Kerry

  • Office

    +353 (0)66 947 4102
  • Pro shop

    +353 (0)66 947 4545
  • Fax

    +353 (0)66 947 4482
  • Golf pro

    Brian Higgins, Liam Higgins and David Higgins

About the course

  • The Course:

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

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal duneland.

  • Designer:

    Eddie Hackett & Claude Harmon designed the current layout (early 1970s). Significant changes made by Tom Fazio (2006/7).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
7355
6632
5268
Par
72
72
73
SSS or slope
74
72
72

Location

Latitude:

51.839148

Longitude:

-10.195001

How to get there:

2 km NW of Waterville (village) / 62 km SW of Killarney.

From Killarney take the N72 to Killorglin and then the N70 Ring of Kerry direction Cahersiveen. After approx 55 km from Killorglin follow signs to golf as you approach Waterville.

Waterville Golf Links

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.

Est. 1889

Waterville Golf Links: Drive as far west as you can on the Ring of Kerry, and stop at Ballinskelligs Bay. Go to the water's edge, and here you'll find the superb Waterville Golf Links. The natural splendour of this remote location, and its impressive golf course have long given Waterville a reputation known throughout the golfing world. Recent enhancements to the course by designer Tom Fazio, have simply added to its revered status as one of Ireland's best.

Waterville promises an unforgettable golf experience. Making sure of that is the excellence of the two nine-hole loops, with each delivering panoramic sea and estuary views. The marginally flatter front-nine quickly brings you down to the River Inny estuary, which hugs the rightside of the par-4 3rd and par-3 4th holes.

The back-nine gets you deeper into Waterville's impressive sand dunes, with many fabulous holes to be played. Long par-4s and short par-5s present their own challenges, with plenty of pot bunkers to be avoided. The closing three-hole stretch is played alongside Ballinskelligs Bay, which opens out onto the North Atlantic. Breathtaking views, freshening winds and O'Grady's beach await at this fabulous final stretch.

Golfers who have made the highly pleasurable golfing pilgrimage to South-west Ireland, know it is home to some of the world's most scenic links golf courses. And among them all, Waterville is often the most affectionately remembered. A course to captivate the soul, fire the imagination and hopefully bring out the very best in your game.

List of courses: Ireland - West

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance. Handicap required.

Green fees

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

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

Other information

Soft spikes encouraged. Players generally walk this course. Golf carts and/or caddies available (if pre-booked).

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

Waterville Golf Links were rescued from near extinction in the 1960s by an Irish-American, Jack Mulcahy, who bought the club and set about transforming it into today's world-class venue. The late Payne Stewart had a special affection for Waterville, which is marked by a life-size statue of him at the club.

Published ranking

Ireland's 7th best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 22nd best course (Golf World, 2022).
World's 36th best public access course (Golf World, 2023). Formerly ranked world's 97th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2019; not in subsequent editions of this ranking).

Where2Stay

  • Butler Arms Hotel4-star

    Waterville, Co. Kerry

    +353 (0)66 947 4144

    Visit website

    One of Ireland's best known family-run hotels, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by spectacular scenery.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Waterville

    • Golf within 30 km:

      No

  • Waterville House & Golf Links4-star

    Waterville, Co. Kerry

    +353 (0)66 74102

    Visit website

    Waterville House is a 4-star, 18th century manor house. The property features the natural beauty of a forty acre estate on the Atlantic and the most famous sea trout and salmon fishery in Ireland. Preferential tee-times on Waterville Links are available to Waterville House guests.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Waterville

    • Golf within 10 km:

      No

    • Golf within 30 km:

      No

Find a course

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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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