Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s 1984 design beside the famous Old Course at Ballybunion — a wilder, more exposed links through enormous dunes that many regard as the more challenging of the two Ballybunion layouts.
Contact the club on +353 68 27146 or reservations@ballybuniongolfclub.ie. A handicap certificate is required. Visitor days: Monday–Friday only.
When Robert Trent Jones Sr. was commissioned to design a second course at Ballybunion in the early 1980s, the brief was enormous: create something worthy of standing beside one of the world's most celebrated links. The Cashen Course, which opened in 1984, was Jones's answer — a routing through the massive dunes to the south of the Old Course that many regard as actually harder than its famous neighbour.
The Cashen is a par 72 of 6,290 yards — slightly shorter than the Old Course — but the dunes are bigger, the fairways narrower and the carries from the tee more demanding. Where the Old Course rewards intelligent target golf, the Cashen is more punishing of anything less than a well-struck shot. The course has a course rating of 71.8 and a slope of 126. A handicap certificate is required and visitor days are limited to Monday–Friday, in common with the Old Course.
Many golfers who visit Ballybunion play both courses in one day — the Cashen in the morning, the Old Course in the afternoon. Contact the club for combined rates.
Most experienced links golfers rate the Cashen Course as harder than the Old Course — the dunes are bigger, the fairways narrower and the demands from the tee are more severe. However, the Old Course is universally regarded as the more celebrated and historically significant of the two layouts. Play both to form your own view.
Yes — a combined day at Ballybunion is possible and popular. Contact the club directly on +353 68 27146 or reservations@ballybuniongolfclub.ie for combined green fee rates and to arrange tee times on both courses. Allow approximately 4.5 hours per round.
The same mandatory caddie/fore-caddie policy applies to both Ballybunion courses. At least one caddie or fore-caddie per group is required. Contact the club to arrange caddies when booking.
The world-famous Old Course — Tom Watson's favourite, ranked world top 20. Play both on the same day.
Arnold Palmer's first European design — dramatic cliff-top links above Tralee Bay.
Ireland's oldest Ring of Kerry links (Est. 1889) with Dingle Bay views.