Golfing In Kerry, An Unbelievable Experience Of Golf At Its Best.Golfing in Kerry is an experience to be savoured and not forgotten. County Kerry boasts some of the finest- and most challenging – golf courses in Ireland. From links courses to driving over lakes and rivers county Kerry has a golf course to challenge and torment the Tiger Woods amongst us and enable you to really enjoy the 19th hole. Our first stop for a pleasant round is:
Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club
Famed for its spectacular scenery, its VIP playing guest list and the intoxicating hospitality of the Kerry people, the Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club provides the perfect venue for any discerning golfer visiting Ireland’s South West. This par 72-championship course, nestling between two mountain ranges and overlooking Kenmare Bay, has to be seen to be believed
Just 6Km from Kenmare, the gourmet capital of Ireland, and some 40 minutes from Killarney, this is a world-class course designed for players of all abilities and boasting superb views across the bay, with the Kerry Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop. Testing holes abound around this spectacular course, one of the best reckoned to be the 6th on the outward nine, called “Ladies View.” On the homeward journey, notable holes include the two par threes and the par four 14th. Play it and see for yourself.
The development incorporates a new practice area including a state of the art covered driving range, practice bunker and chipping/pitching green- and very thoughtful and welcomed provision of a “half-way house” offering refreshments!
Ballybunion Golf Club Contact: 068 27146 Since golf is a state of mind over muscle and a great day on the links is exhilarating, it is in my view that memorable fairways tend not to be decorated with artificial lakes that are fun only to ducks and golf ball manufacturers. Some of the best courses look natural, even though they may have been helped along by a skilful architect such as Colt, Hawtree or Mackenzie. And in the Emerald Isle, it is entirely appropriate that, back in 1906, a certain Mr Murphy built Ballybunion on the South West Coast of Ireland. Believe me, there are few greater adventures waiting to be tackled and not to play on this old course is a crime. In an American list of the worlds top 100 courses, Ballybunion is there at number “8” and the reason is simple: it probably represents the ultimate links on as wild a stretch as you will find. The Atlantic waves crash into the shore and no golfer will ever feel closer to nature as he hunts his ball and flights it through crosswinds and breathtaking views. This course is a star even in a part of Ireland that has wall-to-wall golf courses of the highest calibre. The experience of taking on this classic will be remembered as long as you live. There are now two courses in Ballybunion, separated only by a 19th hole that has heard all the wondrous stories before, as well as hosting such great names as Tom Watson, five times winner of the Open. Tom Watson can’t speak highly enough of the place and claims that before anyone builds a golf course, first they should play Ballybunion.
Ballyferriter Contact: 066 56255 Ballyferriter Golf Club is the most Westerly golf course in Europe and has a magnificent scenic location. It is a traditional links course with beautiful turf, many bunkers a stream that comes into play on 14 holes and , usually, a prevailing wind.
Castlegregory Golf Club Contact: 066 39444 Castlegregory Golf Club is a links course sandwiched between the sea and a fresh water lake surrounded by mountains on two sides. The 3rd hole is visually superb with a 365 yard drive into the wind. In 1896 an 18 hole course opened for the first time at a location half way between Dingle and Tralee. it later declined due to the long train journey from tralee. The present club was founded in 1989. It is a 9 hole links course sited between a fresh water lake, lough Gill and the sea, Brandon Bay overlooked by Stradbally Mountain and Beenoskee. Below is an independent assesment of the course: Situated half way between Dingle and Tralee, this 9 hole golf course will satisfy the demands of Golfers of all handicaps. The opening par 5 with the beautiful lake with swans on the right side gives you just a test of what's ahead, the lake coming into play on every shot for the opener as the green is a semi island.
The 2nd par 3 Green is situated on a hill some 180 yards away which you must get up to give yourself a chance of par or birdie, one of the other par 3's is also like this. If you don't make it, the wispy sand dune rough can be unforgiving, you may need to take a provisional. On one of the holes you tee off adjacent to one of the most gorgeous stretches of beach in Europe overlooking Brandon Bay with crashing waves riddled with surfers during the summer. In a sense its good that the course is only 9 holes at present as if you are visiting you get a chance to have another go and learn from the 1st 9 the careful tactics needed to have a reasonable round at this course. The 9th for example is a par 3 all over water, the warning sign explains how the Toads must not be disturbed by retrieving your ball if it gets wet.
While in the area take a look at the Maharees peninsula, its many pubs and roadside restaurants / cafe's, plenty of guest house and Bed and Breakfasts to enable you to stay in this wonderful part of Ireland. Jonh Kennedy (j.kennedy@mcalpine-mace.com)
Great course! Very challenging. Fantastic views. Bring some extra balls! I probably enjoyed my golf more than the swans on the side of the first fairway! The probably still remember my slice. Rene Algera (rene@iolfree.ie) 02/02
Super course. A gentle par 5 opener (unless you are a slicer in which case the lake definitely comes into play). The par 3's are challenging and can be monstrous when played into wind. The par 4's each have their own character and run among big dunes. The view from the 6th tee across the bay is superb. The 7th deserves its stroke index; you must take care to place your drive in exactly the right spot, and then you are left with a long approach over intervening dunes. Well worth a visit. Steve Hames, Hdcp 18 (HamesS@logica.com) 02/01
Beautiful course, full of character, spectacular and challenging Ray Waters r.waters@swansea.ac.uk 4/99
This course is great! It really helps if you can keep your ball in the fairway! Very nice location, by the sea. Dan Burke (danb@transatlan.com) 11/98.
Glenbeigh Golf Club DOOKS
Contact: 06668205 Glenbeigh Golf Club, otherwise known as “Dooks” is an old established course on the sea shore between the Kerry Mountains and Dingle Bay. Sand dunes are a Feature (the name Dooks is a derivation of the Gaelic word for sand bank). The course offers a fine challenge in a superb Ring of Kerry location. Golf has been played at Dooks since 1889. It was introduced to the local aristocracy by officers from the Royal Horse Artillery attending compulsory training at the nearby Glenbeigh Artillery Range. The golf course is set out on one of three stretches of sand dunes at the head of the Dingle Bay. In the fore ground are the sand-dunes peninsulas of Rossbeigh and Inch, and just a few miles away the whitewashed houses of Cromane Fishing Village provide an eye catching distraction. South eastwards are the famed McGillicuddys Reeks. To the south-west are the lovely Cooms and hills of Glenbeigh and across the bay to the north are the Slieve Mish Mountains. Traditional Clubhouse - bar, restaurant, ladies and gent changing rooms. Casual but neat dress requested. Directions Just off the N70, between Killarney and Wateryille.
But I will not tell you what DOOKS is like to play on, let these happy golfers tell you themselves. "It was a dreamlike experience, playing over the rolling hills and guessing often wrongly, which hollow would harbour a green" Peter Doberiner. "Dooks is maybe the loveliest little golf club in the world. Certainly I have never been more totally surrounded by superb scenery than at Dooks" David Davies, The Guardian. "Dooks is a rare gem. As such, it has a special place in the annals of links golf and must be preserved at all costs. Its character typifies the true meaning of what this form of the game should represent. It exists to give enjoyment and challenge without resorting to undue length." David Steele, Golf Course Architect.
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