Home | Site Map | May 17, 2008

One of the best known links courses in the world, this is a must for many golfers visiting Ireland.

The new Cashen Course is very good, but the Old Course is the real McCoy, a tough challenging classic links course. Not for nothing did the great Tom Watson say it offered "some of the most demanding shots into the green of any course I’ve played in the world"

The first impression here is of the wildness of the place, not a tree in sight and the natural terrain disturbed as little as possible by a course that threads and winds and undulates though dunes and marram grass hills.

The first three holes are straightforward enough, but then comes the 4th where where the dunes are high and the wind get serious and all but the most accurate shots will be punished hard. The par 4 11th, set on top of steep cliffs, may be one of the most difficult holes in golf.

This is a place where versatility is required, not just to negotiate the dunes and bunkers and adapt to the wind, but on the undulating greens where an unlucky land from an approach shot can see you almost needing binoculurs to see the flag.

Ballybunion is a very sociable place, and that refers both to the club and the town. There is a good restaurant and two bars in the clubhouse and many a visitor has been 'trapped' there by good company until the wee small hours!

Green Fees: Cashen Course: €95 Old Course: €135

There are very, very few openings for visitors at weekends and even during the week this is an extremely busy course, especially in Summer. Book as far in advance as you possibly can.

Location Map for Ballybunion Golf Club

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