In a region that’s overflowing with spectacular golf, determining the best golf holes in Southwest Ireland is no easy task.
But that’s not going to stop us from trying.
The best holes in Southwest Ireland range from blind par-3s to clifftop par-5s.
It goes without saying, however, that this is an entirely subjective exercise.
If you were to ask any golfer who has visited the area to name their favorite holes in the region, the odds of them arriving at the same list are infinitesimally small.
With that said, here is the proverbial golf course of our dreams, filled with the best holes in Southwest Ireland.
11th Hole – Ballybunion Golf Club
The 11th at Ballybunion Golf Club is not just one of the best holes in Southwest Ireland, it’s one of the great par-4s in all of golf. The sea runs up the right-side for the entire length of the hole, and the 2nd shot will test every ounce of your skill. After Tom Watson, an Honorary Member at Ballybunion, called the 11th hole his favorite on the course, the club happily renamed it in his honor.
Photo courtesy of Ballybunion / Evan Schiller
4th Hole – Old Head Golf Links
In many ways, the 4th hole at Old Head Golf Links has come to symbolize this spectacular course. With the lighthouse standing in the distance, the par-4 is a slight dogleg left and hugs the edge of the cliff for the entire hole. Appropriately nicknamed “Razor’s Edge,” this hole is sure to find a permanent place in your memory bank.
Photo courtesy of Old Head Golf Links
4th Hole – Lahinch Golf Club
Besides being among the best holes in Southwest Ireland, the 4th at Lahinch Golf Club, better known as Klondyke, is as unique of a par-5 as you’re likely to find. First, the tee shot is played to a narrow fairway that runs through a valley. But it’s the blind 2nd shot, over a giant dune in the middle of the fairway, that makes the hole a one-of-a-kind. The thrill of running ahead to see where your shot ended up simply never gets old.
18th Hole – Adare Manor
The 18th hole at Adare Manor was designed to provide a dramatic finish for championship golf. The River Maigue runs up the left side of this par-5, before turning in front of the green and forcing an uncomfortable decision: go for it, or lay up short and left of the green. When the 2027 Ryder Cup comes to Adare Manor, the 18th hole is all but certain to play an important role in the final outcome.
Photo courtesy of Adare Manor
13th Hole – Dooks Golf Club
Those who venture off the well worn path to Dooks Golf Club will find one of the most delightful links courses in Southwest Ireland. Most regard the par-3 13th hole as the best – or at least the most memorable – hole on the course. The short par-3 measures to just 150 yards, but it’s the roller coaster green, backdropped by the Macgillycuddy Reeks mountains, that will force you to earn your par.
Photo courtesy of Dooks Golf Club
17th Hole – Tralee Golf Links
Arnold Palmer once said of his work at Tralee Golf Links, “I designed the front-9, but surely God designed the back-9.” Nowhere is this more evident than the 17th hole, also known as Ryan’s Daughter in honor of the famous film shot nearby. After sending your tee shot across a deep gorge, the approach is played up a steep hill to a green backdropped by mountains. It’s a roller coaster ride that’s fitting for the back-9 at Tralee.
Photo courtesy of Tralee Golf Links
3rd Hole – Waterville Golf Links
After a relatively tame opening pair of holes, the 3rd at Waterville Golf Links delivers one of the best holes in Southwest Ireland. The estuary flanks the right-side for the entire length of the hole. Bail out left, and you’re likely to find a trio of fairway bunkers. But the bold play down the right will provide a straighter angle to the putting surface and allow you to take advantage of the depth of the green.
5th Hole – Lahinch Golf Club
The 5th hole at Lahinch Golf Club, better known as The Dell, is not only one of the best holes in Southwest Ireland, it might be the most famous par-3 on the island. Designed by Old Tom Morris, the green is almost completely obscured from the tee by a collection of dunes. A white stone on the front dune guides the way to the pin position. From there, it’s just swing and hope for the best.
15th Hole – Adare Manor
No list compiling the best golf holes in Southwest Ireland would be complete without a good risk-reward par-4. On the 15th hole at Adare Manor, longer hitters can certainly give the green a run for its money off the tee. But anything less than the perfect swing will result in a precarious up and down or a re-tee thanks to the River Maigue.
Photo courtesy of Adare Manor
17th Hole – Ballybunion Golf Club
The 17th at Ballybunion provides a final hurrah before the course turns inland on the home hole. The par-4 wraps around a giant dune and is flanked by the beach up the right side. Your task off the tee is to favor the right side so as to open up your view to the green. But given the spellbinding view from the tee, that’s easier said than done.
3rd Hole – Tralee Golf Links
It’s not everyday that an 800-year-old tower serves as backdrop to a tee shot, but at the 3rd hole at Tralee, that’s exactly what you’ll find. This stunning par-3 is bordered by the sea on your right and could serve as a postcard for the beauty of Southwest Ireland. When the wind is across from the right, starting your tee shot over the sea is always an unnerving experience.
12th Hole – Old Head Golf Links
When it comes to the best golf holes in Southwest Ireland, the 12th at Old Head Golf Links is as good as it gets. As the waves crash against the towering cliffs, your drive is sent over a corner of the sea to a fairway that does not seem to exist from the tee. Once the fairway is found, however, the thrills continue, as the hole rides the edge of the cliffs to a green perched on the edge of the earth. Keep right and mind the signs.
16th Hole – Tralee Golf Links
The picturesque 16th hole at Tralee Golf Links is one of the best par-3s in all of Ireland. The hole scrapes along the edge of a dune and plays downhill to a green perched at the edge of the sea. The hole is appropriately nicknamed “Shipwreck” in reference to the vessels of the Spanish Armada which met their demise in the rocks offshore. Today, the area is better known for wrecking scorecards instead of ships.
Photo courtesy of Tralee Golf Links
17th Hole – Waterville Golf Links
In terms of views, the 17th at Waterville Golf Links is easily among the best holes in Southwest Ireland. The scene from the elevated tee borders on the sublime. It was also the favorite spot on the course for Waterville founder John Mulcahy. After he passed away in 1994, an urn with his ashes was buried near the tee and the hole was renamed in his honor.
4th Hole – Killarney Killeen
Although Southwest Ireland is best known for its links golf courses, the 4th hole on the Killeen course at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club illustrates why the inland courses should not be overlooked. The hole begins from a peninsula tee box and plays through a chute of trees to a fairway flanked up the right-side by Lough Leane. The hole requires your very best, but if you’re not equal to the task, the beautiful setting is sure to offset the pain.
15th Hole – Ballybunion Golf Club
On a course filled with superlatives, the 15th hole at Ballybunion might be the best of them all. The long par-3 plays across a valley to a green nestled along the shore. With the wind into your face, there’s a good chance that your driver won’t be enough club to reach the putting surface.
6th Hole – Lahinch Golf Club
If greatness is measured in terms of social media appeal, then the 6th at Lahinch Golf Club is clearly one of the best holes in Southwest Ireland. The picturesque par-4 is often used in promotion materials for the course and the region in general. But the hole itself is more than just a pretty face. For the sake of your scorecard, avoid the perilous pot bunker in the center of the fairway.
Photo courtesy of Lahinch Golf Club
9th Hole – Adare Manor
The 9th hole is the longest at Adare Manor and features a little bit of everything that makes the course special. The fairway is generous, especially on your layup, but the green is protected by a collection of severe runoffs. If you miss the green, you’ll have a variety of options for your up and down. What most will remember, however, is the magnificent Manor House standing as backdrop to the approach.
Photo courtesy of Adare Manor
That’s our view of the best golf holes in Southwest Ireland. As mentioned earlier, this is a highly subjective exercise. Which begs the question…
Which holes would make your list that didn’t make ours? Tag us @HavershamBaker on social media with your picks.
Our free guide includes over 40 pages of valuable insight, plus links to nearly 50 additional resources, on Golf and the Good Life in Ireland.
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