The South West

The dunes and ocean views at Ballybunion are striking, yet many courses enjoy dramatic land. What truly sets Ballybunion apart is the variety and imagination with which those dunes are woven into the routing. Some holes run along the dune tops with wide horizons, others thread through sheltered valleys, while greens sit both high on ridgelines and low at the base of towering slopes. Each green complex brings its own challenge, asking for touch, imagination and a confident short game.

The result is a course where no two holes feel alike. Every turn reveals something fresh and full of character, creating a sense of adventure from start to finish. It is a layout that stays with you, a course shaped by nature yet elevated by inspired design.

Lahinch Golf Club sits on a striking stretch of Ireland’s Atlantic coast where the dunes feel alive and the landscape shapes every step of the round. From the opening tee shot you sense its heritage. Rolling fairways, shifting light and long ocean views create an atmosphere that is both calming and quietly energising. First laid out by Old Tom Morris and later influenced by Alister MacKenzie, the course has kept its natural character while adding layers of thoughtful design. It will also host the Walker Cup in 2026, a reflection of its stature in the world of championship links.

Lahinch is home to two of the most distinctive holes in golf. The par 5 fourth, the Klondyke, asks for a blind drive followed by a blind second over a towering dune, guided by a spotter who signals when play is clear. Next comes the Dell, a short par 3 to a green completely hidden between dunes with only an aiming stone to set your line. These moments capture the spirit of Lahinch. It is playful, authentic and full of soul, a course that lingers long after you finish your round.

Old Head Golf Links is carved across a spectacular headland that pushes out into the Atlantic near Kinsale, creating one of the most dramatic settings in world golf.

The course unfolds over rolling cliff top terrain with sea views from almost every hole, and nine of them playing directly along edges that rise hundreds of feet above the water. Elevated tees, bold contours and natural movement in the land make each shot feel distinctive. Holes like the twelfth and thirteenth cling to the cliffs in unforgettable fashion, offering both challenge and pure theatre.

Old Head is thrilling, scenic and full of character, delivering a round that leaves a lasting impression.

Doonbeg sits along a dramatic stretch of Clare’s coastline where broad dunes meet the Atlantic. The course was first shaped by Greg Norman and later refined by Martin Hawtree, who kept the natural look of the land while improving the flow of the holes. The opening par five sets the tone, offering a generous fairway that leads towards a high dune and a green framed by natural contours.

The round is defined by variety rather than severity. There are short par fours that reward clear choices, par threes that range from delicate to demanding, and longer holes that offer scoring chances if you find the right angles. Fairways are wide enough to encourage freedom, yet thoughtful bunkering and the wind ensure you always stay attentive.

Doonbeg is a good challenge but never overpowering. Conditioning is always excellent and the onsite facilities are among the best in the land.

Tralee is a spectacular links where the Atlantic coastline meets Arnold Palmer’s creative vision. Often ranked among Ireland’s finest courses, it offers a scenic and memorable test. An early highlight is the par three third, Castle, played beside the sea with a watchtower behind the green.

Palmer famously said he designed the front nine but that God designed the back, and the landscape soon proves his point.

The inward holes move through dramatic dunes and along fairways that rise and fall with the land. By the eighteenth, you will have played a course that feels both authentic and unforgettable.

Dooks is one of Ireland’s most welcoming and characterful links, set on a quiet stretch of Glenbeigh’s coastline with views that frame the golf rather than overpower it. The course moves across gently rumpled terrain, giving you a round that feels natural, calm, and unhurried. It is shorter than many modern links, but that is part of its charm. The challenge comes from the ground game, from subtle contours, and from the ever-present wind that shapes each shot.

There is a pleasing rhythm to the routing. Fairways sit comfortably within the landscape and the greens are set in places that reward clear thinking rather than force. The bunkering is modest but well placed, and the course invites you to play with feel rather than power.

Waterville is a true links shaped by exceptional coastal land, with sweeping views across the Atlantic Ocean and Ballinskelligs Bay. Designed by Eddie Hackett and later refined by Tom Fazio in a rare international project, it blends classic character with thoughtful modern detail.

Standout holes are plentiful but the course reaches another level as you enter the dunes at the eleventh. This run includes the much-loved Mass Hole twelfth, where local parishioners once gathered for hidden worship during times of religious prohibition.

Waterville offers a balanced and memorable challenge, delivering a round that feels both atmospheric and deeply rewarding.

In a country famed for its great links courses, Adare Manor stands apart. It is the highest ranked parkland course in the country for very good reason, it’s a wonderful test of golf.

The course was totally overhauled by Tom Fazio in the late 2010s to great effect. It is wide off the tee and there is barely any rough to worry about. But when you get to the greens things really happen. There are spectacular run-offs which make getting up and down a real challenge if you miss on the wrong side of the green.

The putting surfaces themselves have swales and hollows that will confound even the best putter.

Around 50 greenkeepers work on the course, surely the most of any course in the world, and the conditioning is always immense. The world will see, when the Ryder Cup comes here in 2027, just what a special course this is.

The Killeen Course at Killarney is one of Ireland’s premier parkland courses. Designed in the early 1970s by Eddie Hackett and Billy O’Sullivan, and later refined by Donald Steel and Mackenzie & Ebert, the layout has a clear sense of balance. The fairways are generous, the greens modern and well presented, and the routing uses the lakeshore to good effect..

The Killeen has a strong tournament history, having hosted multiple Irish Opens and the Curtis Cup.

It is a thoughtful, elegant course that blends scenery with strategy, delivering a good test in one of Ireland’s most peaceful inland settings.

Dingle Golf Links is a traditional links experience in a quiet corner of the famous peninsula. Designed by Eddie Hackett, the layout feels natural and unforced, with firm fairways, true fescue greens, and a routing that moves steadily through open ground towards the coast.

A meandering burn shapes much of the round, influencing decisions on most holes without ever feeling overdone. The highlight is the 10th, a mid- to long-iron par three played to a blind green tucked behind a high dune.

Dingle is measured, authentic, and full of small challenges that reward good judgement. It’s not going to beat you up but well worth playing if you are looking for something a little different in the south west of Ireland.