Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course)
Tom Watson’s favourite links and one of the world’s great seaside courses — a wild County Kerry layout tumbling through giant dunes above the Atlantic, where visitors are welcome on weekday mornings.
Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course) in photos
Can I play Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course)?
Yes — it is a members’ club that warmly welcomes visitors, but on set days and times. Visitors typically play the Old Course on weekday mornings from mid-April to early October; a home-club handicap certificate is usually required, and peak tee times book out a year or more ahead.
How to book: Contact the club directly to reserve (phone +353 68 27146 or the reservations email) — there is no public online walk-up for prime times. Weekday mornings are the visitor window on the Old Course. Book far in advance for May–September, and consider the Old + Cashen two-round deal. Caddies can be arranged with notice.
About Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course)
Golf has been played at Ballybunion since 1893, but the Old Course took its revered form after architect Tom Simpson reworked it in 1936–37, ahead of the 1937 Irish Amateur Championship. Routed through some of the biggest dunes in links golf, it runs right along the Atlantic cliffs, exposed to every gust off the sea. Tom Watson, who first played it in 1981 and later advised on its care, said a man would think the game of golf originated here. Consistently ranked among the top courses on earth, it welcomes visitors on set weekday windows through the season.
Signature hole
The par-4 11th, which Tom Watson called one of the greatest holes in golf, tumbles along the dune tops with the Atlantic crashing below. The par-4 7th and the old graveyard bordering the first tee are other Ballybunion landmarks.
What makes it special
The cliff-top dunes
The stretch from the 7th through the 11th along the cliff tops — the par-4 11th plunging toward the beach — is as thrilling as links golf gets, framed by towering natural sandhills.
Tom Watson’s love affair
The five-time Open champion adopted Ballybunion as his favourite links and advised on its care for decades; the 11th is widely quoted as his favourite hole anywhere.
The graveyard first tee
The opening hole plays alongside an old cemetery hard by the tee — a quirky, unforgettable start to one of golf’s great walks.
Tournament pedigree
- Irish Amateur Championship 1937
- Murphy’s Irish Open 2000
- Home Internationals 2003
- Palmer Cup 2004
- Irish Seniors Open 2009
- Jacques Léglise Trophy 2017
Need to know
Best time to play
May–September for the best weather and firmest links turf, though it is also the busiest and dearest; the shoulder months (April, October) are quieter. Pack for wind and rain year-round.
Dress code
Neat golf attire — collared shirt, no denim. A home-club handicap certificate may be requested.
Good to know
Two links share the site — the celebrated Old Course and the wilder, dune-strewn Cashen (Robert Trent Jones Sr.). It is a walk through towering sandhills, and a caddie greatly enhances the round. The little seaside town has ties to Tom Watson, a long-time devotee, and to Bill Clinton, whose mid-swing statue stands in the square.
Upcoming golf tournaments
Prefer to watch the world’s best? Book tickets to an upcoming tournament, then add a hotel and flights.
Getting there
Nearest airports
Kerry Airport (KIR) ~50 min; Shannon (SNN) ~1 hr 30 min; Cork (ORK) ~2 hr.
On arrival
On the Atlantic coast of County Kerry in southwest Ireland, near the mouth of the Shannon Estuary. Most drive in from Kerry, Shannon or Cork airports; the town of Ballybunion is a short walk from the course.
Stay near the course
The Cliff House Hotel and guesthouses in Ballybunion town are closest; many golfers base in Killarney (~1 hr) or combine the trip with Tralee, Lahinch and Waterville on a southwest links tour.
★★★★★ 5-starTap for live prices Trump International Golf Links And Hotel Doonbeg Ireland
Doonbeg
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices Ballybunion Holiday Cottages
Ballybunion
A taste of the luxury stays near Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course) — tap any hotel to see live availability and prices for your dates, or search them all.
Plan your golf trip
Hotels near the course
Live-priced stays a short drive from the 1st tee.
Search hotelsFlights
Get to Ballybunion — search fares to the nearest airport.
Find flightsTournament tickets
Rather watch the pros? Book golf tournament tickets.
See golf ticketsThings to do
Tours and experiences around Ballybunion.
Explore BallybunionFrequently asked questions
Can I play Ballybunion, and how do I book?
Yes — visitors are welcome, generally on weekday mornings from mid-April to early October. Book directly with the club by phone (+353 68 27146) or email, well in advance for peak season; a home-club handicap certificate is usually required.
How much does it cost to play?
The Old Course visitor green fee is about €400 in mid-season and €450 in high season (May–early October); a combined Old + Cashen two-round package runs around €575, and winter is cheaper. Confirm current fees with the club.
Do I need a handicap to play?
Usually, yes — the club generally asks visitors for a current home-club handicap certificate. Bring proof, dress neatly, and note that visitor tee times are typically restricted to weekday mornings in season.
What else should I play nearby?
The resident Cashen Course (Robert Trent Jones Sr.) is a wild dune companion, and Ballybunion pairs naturally with Tralee, Lahinch and Waterville on a southwest Ireland links tour.
More golf courses to play
Lahinch Golf Club — Old Course
Lahinch, Ireland · Links
Golf guide
Old Head Golf Links
Kinsale, Ireland · Coastal
Golf guide
Waterville Golf Links
Waterville, Ireland · Links
Golf guide
The Golf Course at Adare Manor
Adare, Ireland · Parkland
Golf guide
Mount Juliet Estate (Jack Nicklaus Course)
Thomastown, Ireland · Parkland
Golf guide
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, United States · Coastal
Golf guideSources & pricing note
Green fees, access rules and tee-time policies change frequently and vary by season. The figures here are indicative for trip planning — always confirm on the official site before booking.
- Ballybunion Golf Club (official)
- Ballybunion Golf Club — Wikipedia
- Ballybunion Old Course review — Golf Monthly
Hero image: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Guide updated 2026-07-27.