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Old Head

Ranking
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These rankings are based solely on post-trip surveys received from clients. Although the surveys are not accessible via our website, you can click on "testimonials" above to read the actual comments in their original format.
Founded: 1997
Designer: J.Carr, R.Kirby, E.Hackett, P. Merrigan
Length: 5,413-7,121 yards
PAR: 72
Type: Links
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Who this course is best for:

Anyone who wants to play the most scenic golf course in all of Europe.

Overview:

Perched on a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, on the far southern tip of the Emerald Isle of Ireland near Kinsale, sits the beautiful Old Head Golf Links which is a must play on any Ireland golf package.

The 300-foot cliffs at Old Head are nerve racking enough for most visitors on their Ireland golf tour. This is compounded more if the wind is blowing because you could not be more exposed anywhere in the world of golf. The key to a good score at Old Head is keeping the ball in play and not risking too much. This is especially true on holes such as the 12th where the sweeping cliffs tempt you to make the hole a little shorter by carrying more of the ocean to the left.  If you successfully navigate the risk, you can be rewarded, but more probable is that you will be victim of the cliffs and lose a golf ball or two!

The Old Head golf course itself can stretch from 5413 to over 7100 yards but pick a reasonable set of tees because it’s all you can handle! The golf course is slightly unusual because it has five par 5s and five par 3s, with half on the holes perched directly on the cliffs like Pebble Beach. Although the proper name is “golf links”, it’s not a true links and plays slower like a parkland course. Everyone should bring a camera to capture memories of this fantastic golf venue and pray for a clear day so that your photographs are suitable for framing!

There is a lot of history around Old Head including the site just offshore where many souls perished on the Lusitania in 1915 when it was sunk by German torpedoes. But human history goes back much further than that as Iron Age nomads settled in the area about 6000 years ago and were quite obviously attracted to the stunning two-mile long peninsula pointing due south. Throughout the years this natural land formation has served as a magnet for people and none as much as today for golfers to the southern tip of Ireland.

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Testimonials

“By the way the golf in Ireland was much better than the golf in Scotland in my opinion.  Sorry bout that!  I wonder if the fact it didn’t rain at all why we were there has anything to do with that???????  It was 65, sunny with a 1 club wind at Old Head……wow.   Stunning.”

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Tours that include this Course

Old Head Golf Links

Old Head

Best of Southwest Ireland Golf

Visit the beautiful southwest of Ireland and enjoy the top five links courses:

  • Waterville
  • Ballybunion-Old Course
  • Tralee
  • Lahinch-Old Course
  • Old Head
Ballybunion Old Golf

Ballybunion-Old Course

Southwest Splendor

Play the finest and most beautiful southwest Ireland courses from Ballybunion to Kinsale with these five rounds of golf:

  • Waterville
  • Ballybunion-Old Course
  • Tralee
  • Fota Island
  • Old Head
Lahinch Golf

Lahinch-Old Course

Along the Coast – Southwest to Northern Ireland

Seven rounds of golf:

  • Waterville
  • Ballybunion-Old Course
  • Tralee
  • Lahinch-Old Course
  • Old Head
  • Royal County Down-Championship Course
  • Royal Portrush-Dunluce Course