Ballybunion Old
Few links anywhere stir the soul like Ballybunion's Old Course. A par 71 of roughly 6,800 yards routed through enormous dunes above the Atlantic in County Kerry, it was called one of the finest courses in the world half a century ago and counts Tom Watson among its greatest champions. This is bucket list golf at its most thrilling.
Photo: Ballybunion Golf Club via Google, by Peter Wortmann.
The verdict
Ballybunion is the course that put the great links of southwest Ireland on the world map. Golf has been played here since 1893, with the present club reformed in 1906, but the Old Course rose to fame in 1971 when the American writer Herbert Warren Wind declared it one of the finest courses in the world. The shape we play today owes much to the architect Tom Simpson, who worked the dunes in the 1930s, and to a later, sympathetic remodeling by Tom Watson in the mid 1990s.
It is a par 71 of around 6,800 yards, and from the moment you walk past the old graveyard beside the first tee to the wild run home along the cliffs, it never lets up. The dunes are colossal, the greens perched and exposed, the ocean ever present. Watson called it a course on which a man could happily play out his days, and standing on its tumbling fairways in a stiff Atlantic breeze, it is easy to understand why.
Ballybunion Old at a glance
- Founded
- 1893
- Design
- Simpson · Watson
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- ~6,800 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Founding history, design lineage, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Ballybunion Golf Club and leading course databases. Golf dates to 1893, with the Old Course shaped by Tom Simpson and later remodeled by Tom Watson, a par 71 of roughly 6,800 yards. Ballybunion welcomes visitors; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Plan your round
The holes worth the trip
Ballybunion saves its greatest drama for the cliffs. The 11th, a par 4 that Watson rated among the best holes in golf and which now carries his name, plunges along the edge of the Atlantic with the beach far below and the green tucked between dunes, a hole that asks for nerve as much as skill. Get it wrong and the ocean wind will hand you a card you would rather forget.
But the brilliance of the Old Course is that the whole journey through the dunes is just as compelling. The fairways pitch and roll between towering sandhills, the greens sit in natural amphitheaters and saddles, and the wind constantly rewrites the strategy hole by hole. There are few flat lies and even fewer dull moments.
The closing holes back along the high ground are a fitting finale, exposed to the elements and demanding right to the last putt. Ballybunion does not flatter you, but it thrills you, and a round here in a fresh breeze is one of the truly great experiences in the game.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A welcoming members club that takes visitors through the season; the Old Course is in heavy demand, so advance booking is essential, especially in summer |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 240 to 320 euros in high season depending on date (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve well ahead through the Ballybunion office; combine with the Cashen Course on site for a full day in the dunes |
| On the day | Smart golf dress; this is a serious walking links over big dune terrain, and a caddie is strongly recommended for the lines and the experience |
| Getting there | In the town of Ballybunion in County Kerry on the southwest coast, around an hour from Kerry Airport and within reach of Shannon and Tralee |
| Best months | May through September for the firmest links conditions and the long western evenings |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The seaside town of Ballybunion has hotels and guesthouses within minutes of the links, while nearby Listowel and the wider Kerry coast offer more choice and plenty of character for the evenings.
Ballybunion is the cornerstone of a southwest Ireland golf tour, pairing naturally with the other great links of Kerry and Clare for an unforgettable run of dune golf along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Ballybunion.
Build a southwest Ireland golf trip
We arrange tee times at Ballybunion and across the great links of Kerry and Clare, pair them with the best lodging and handle the logistics. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Ballybunion questions
Who designed the Old Course at Ballybunion?
Golf at Ballybunion dates to 1893, with the club reformed in 1906. The Old Course took its modern shape through the work of architect Tom Simpson, with Molly Gourlay, in the 1930s, and Tom Watson later carried out a sympathetic remodeling in the mid 1990s.
What is the par and length of Ballybunion Old?
The Old Course at Ballybunion plays as a par 71 of roughly 6,800 yards over towering County Kerry dune land beside the Atlantic.
Why is Ballybunion so famous?
In 1971 the American writer Herbert Warren Wind called Ballybunion one of the finest courses in the world, and Tom Watson became its most famous champion, returning often and helping restore it. Its dramatic dunes and clifftop holes have made it a bucket list links ever since.
Can visitors play Ballybunion Golf Club?
Yes. Ballybunion welcomes visiting golfers, with the Old Course in heavy demand through the season. Book well in advance through the club and confirm the current green fee before you travel.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding history, design lineage, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.