Ballybunion

Originally Ballybunion in 1893 was laid out with 12 holes with course designer named as Jo McKenna, grandfather of the present Secretary Manager Jim McKenna.

In 1906 the Ballybunion Golf Club was formed with new founders and resulted in a new nine holes which by 1926 grew to 18 holes and stands before all now as one of the best golf courses the world will ever have the opportunity to play.

The legendary Tom Watson is a great advocate of Ballybunion links stating “ there appear to be no man-made influences and Ballybunion is a course on which many golf architects should live and play before they build golf courses”.

There are few weakneses on this links, intimidating shots on every hole yet it’s fair and honest. The course will give you endless opportunites to hit different shots to small targets. However it has no mercy and will demand your attention. Tom Watson’s favourite hole is the 11th Par 4 446 yards, set on a clifftop with the Atlantic crashing below and the fairway tumbling down through the dunes like a stairs.

Tom Watson was made Honorary Captain for the millenium and his Captain’s prize was the wedge he chipped in with at Pebble Beach to beat Jack Nicklaus. He has become part of Ballybunion as so many before and we hope that those who follow will be taken by its charms too.

The Cashen Course

This Ballybunion course which opened in 1984 is a mighty challenge and an excellent companion for the Old Course. It is the informed opinion of Ted Higgins that this new course will in time gain great stature.

Its designer was none other than Robert Trent Jones and in his words “God given terrain” was what he worked with. It turns out that the Cashen course may be an even sterner test than the Old Course with 18 spectacular holes. This creation has formed a world class 36 hole experience of the finest links imaginable.