Waterville is the most remote of Kerry's world-class links and, on its day, the most beautiful. Here is everything a visitor needs to know before booking — green fees, the best holes, caddies, the Tom Fazio renovation, where to eat and where to stay in Waterville village.
Published May 2026 · GolfKerry.ie editorial team
Waterville Golf Links is set on a narrow strip of linksland on the Ring of Kerry, between the Atlantic Ocean and Lough Currane at the south-western tip of the Iveragh Peninsula. The original 18 holes were designed by Eddie Hackett in the 1970s for American businessman John A. Mulcahy, who wanted to create an Irish links to rival Ballybunion and Portmarnock. He succeeded. The course was subsequently improved by Tom Fazio Jr., who worked with the club on a renovation that addressed some of the more penal features of the original while preserving the essential character of a wild Atlantic links.
Today Waterville plays to 7,349 yards from the back tees (with five sets of tees from a forward 5,370 yards) at par 72 — the longest links course in Ireland and one of the longest in the world. It is ranked consistently in Golf Digest's world top 50 and Ireland's top five.
| Season | Green Fee |
|---|---|
| Low season (Nov–Mar) | €60 |
| Shoulder (Apr, Oct) | €100 |
| High season (May–Sep) | €150 |
Rates indicative from watervillegolflinks.ie. Confirm current rates when booking.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest par 5s in links golf — a sweeping left-to-right dogleg through the towering dunes, with the Atlantic visible in the distance. The green is set in a natural amphitheatre of dunes and is almost impossible to hold in two unless the wind is behind you. The name "Tranquillity" was given by Sam Snead, who played Waterville in the 1970s.
Named for founder John Mulcahy, the 17th is one of the great par 3s on any links — played from an elevated tee across a valley to a green perched on a dune shelf above the Atlantic. The view from the tee is one of the finest in Irish golf. Into the wind, it is essentially unplayable with anything less than a full-blooded long iron. Tom Watson called it the most beautiful hole in golf. He may have been right.
The finishing hole at Waterville runs back toward the clubhouse along the shoreline of Lough Currane — a reachable-in-two par 5 that tempts gamblers and punishes them. The green is protected front-right by a deep bunker and the surface is firm and fast. An excellent finishing hole that sends golfers back to the clubhouse with a genuine decision point on the second shot.
Tom Fazio Jr. was engaged by Waterville Golf Links to update and improve several holes on the original Eddie Hackett layout. The renovation was primarily aimed at improving playability on the more difficult holes and modernising some of the bunkering — particularly on the longer par 4s where Hackett's original design had become dauntingly penal for mid-to-high handicap visitors. The result is a course that is still recognisably and authentically a wild Atlantic links, but slightly more welcoming to the average visitor while remaining a serious test for scratch players.
Waterville has one of Ireland's finest caddie programmes. Caddies are not mandatory (unlike Ballybunion) but are strongly recommended — the course is long, the wind effects on shot selection are complex, and a good Waterville caddie is worth several shots to any player unfamiliar with the layout. Book a caddie when reserving your tee time. Caddie fees are approximately €40–€50 plus tip.
Waterville is approximately 60 minutes from Killarney on the Ring of Kerry (N70/R566). The drive south from Killarney via Killorglin, Cahersiveen and Waterville is one of the finest approaches to any golf course in Ireland — the Ring of Kerry road through Cahersiveen and along Ballinskelligs Bay is spectacular.
From Shannon Airport: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes via Limerick, Tralee and the N70. From Dublin: 4–4.5 hours.
Waterville Lake Hotel — The most convenient base, right in Waterville village minutes from the course. A comfortable 4-star with a golf-friendly ethos. Check availability →
Aghadoe Heights, Killarney — Kerry's finest 5-star hotel, 60 minutes from Waterville. Worth combining with a second round at Killarney G&FC or Beaufort. Check availability →
Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare — The Relais & Châteaux property in Kenmare is approximately 35 minutes from Waterville and can be combined with Ring of Kerry GC for a two-course day on the circuit. Check availability →
Our full ranking of Kerry's 15+ courses — where Waterville sits in the hierarchy and what to play around it.
Ballybunion, Tralee, Killarney and Dooks — the classic Kerry golf long weekend from Dublin or Shannon.
The greatest links in Kerry — Tom Watson's favourite course, ranked world top 20 by every credible list.