Ballybunion Old Course

Ballybunion Old Course is, by the consensus of the world's greatest golfers, one of the finest links courses ever built. Tom Watson, five-time Open Champion, called it 'the greatest natural links course in the world' — and that assessment, made on his first visit in 1981, has never been seriously disputed. The course sits on the north coast of County Kerry, where the River Feale meets Ballybunion Bay and the Atlantic rollers have sculpted the duneland into a series of unforgettable natural fairways and green sites.

Founded in 1893, Ballybunion has evolved gradually over 130 years, with significant shaping work carried out in the 1970s and later by Tom Watson himself, who undertook a sympathetic renovation in 1995. The layout plays through towering dunes, past a historic cemetery on the 7th hole (providing one of golf's most singular tee shots), and along cliff-top holes where the Shannon Estuary stretches to the horizon. The closing stretch from the 16th through the 18th is among the most demanding and beautiful in world links golf.

Ballybunion welcomes visitors throughout the year, with green fees typically running from €200 to €250 depending on season. No handicap certificate is formally required, though the club reserves the right to request one during peak summer periods. Advance booking is strongly recommended. The club also operates the adjacent Cashen Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., offering a contrasting — and equally formidable — links experience.