Dooks Golf Club
A natural links curled into the dunes at the head of Dingle Bay, with the Atlantic on one side and Ireland's highest mountains on the other. Dooks is one of the ten oldest clubs in the country, a quiet Kerry treasure beside the famous giants, modernised with a sure hand by Martin Hawtree and guarded, as ever, by the rare natterjack toad that gives the club its emblem.
Photo: Concierge Golf Ireland via Google.
The verdict
Dooks belongs to the small, proud company of clubs founded before the twentieth century, laid out in 1889 by officers of the Royal Horse Artillery billeted nearby and ranking among the ten oldest in Ireland. For much of its life it was a charming, modest members links, but a redesign by Martin Hawtree completed in 2006 lifted it into serious company, sharpening the greens and bunkering while keeping the gentle, natural character that makes the place so loved.
What you get is honest, walkable links golf in one of the most beautiful settings in golf: the waters of Dingle Bay on one flank, the MacGillycuddy's Reeks rising behind, and the dunes of the Ring of Kerry all around. It will not bludgeon you at 6,511 yards, but the wind, the angles and the firm turf ask for thought on every shot. For the travelling golfer touring the great Kerry and Clare links, Dooks is the warm, characterful round that rounds out a trip and is remembered as fondly as its more famous neighbours.
Dooks at a glance
- Founded
- 1889
- Designer
- Martin Hawtree, 2006
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,511 yds
- Green fee
- Around €120
Founding in 1889, the Martin Hawtree redesign completed in 2006, par 71 and a length of about 6,511 yards verified June 2026 from the club and course databases. An earlier nine was guided by Eddie Hackett in 1970. The green fee is indicative, around 120 euro in 2026 with seasonal variation and junior discounts. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Dooks is a true seaside links laid on one of three stretches of dune at the head of Dingle Bay, and the sea is in view from almost every hole. The round eases you in along gentler ground before working out into the bigger dunes, where Hawtree's reshaping gave the holes more teeth without ever losing the natural feel of the land. The greens are the making of the modern course: subtly contoured, firm and quick, they reward the approach played to the correct portion and punish the careless one.
The closing stretch is where Dooks shows its quality, a run of holes that turn into the dunes with the bay glinting beyond and the Reeks framing the horizon. The short holes are particularly fine, asking for committed iron play to greens that fall away on every side, and into a sea breeze even a modest par 4 can become a genuine examination. Throughout, placement off the tee opens the best line into the green, classic strategic links thinking written into Kerry duneland.
And then there is the setting, which is reason enough to make the trip. Few rounds anywhere pair golf with scenery as freely as Dooks does, the Atlantic, the mountains, the wildflowers of the dunes and the natterjack toad whose rare colony on the links gave the club its enduring emblem. It is the sort of place that sends you home planning your return.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A welcoming members club that takes visitors every day in season; far easier to book than the marquee Kerry links and a lovely complement to them |
| Green fee | Around 120 euro in 2026 (indicative), with seasonal variation, twilight rates and a fifty percent discount for juniors |
| Booking | Advance booking is essential and a current handicap certificate is requested; midweek is quietest in high summer |
| On the day | Walking course with caddies, trolleys and buggies available; a friendly clubhouse with views over the bay |
| Getting there | At Glenbeigh on the Ring of Kerry, about forty minutes west of Killarney and an easy pairing with Waterville, Tralee and Ballybunion |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and longest evenings; wind is the constant defence in every season |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Dooks Golf Club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base for a Kerry links tour is Killarney, a handsome lakeside town forty minutes east with hotels, restaurants and easy reach of Dooks, Waterville and Tralee. From there a week can take in the greatest run of links in the world with the Ring of Kerry and the lakes between rounds.
Closer to the course, the villages of Glenbeigh and Killorglin offer comfortable guest houses and a slower pace, while the wider Ring of Kerry is dotted with country house hotels for those who want to settle into the scenery. Kerry and Cork airports both put the region within easy reach.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts across Killarney and the Ring of Kerry.
Play Dooks and the Kerry links
We build southwest Ireland links tours around Ballybunion, Waterville, Tralee, Dooks and Lahinch, secure the tee times and sort a Killarney or Kinsale base with the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Dooks questions
Who designed Dooks Golf Club?
Dooks was founded in 1889 by officers of the Royal Horse Artillery and is one of the ten oldest clubs in Ireland. An additional nine was laid out under the guidance of Eddie Hackett in 1970, and the modern course is the work of links architect Martin Hawtree, whose full redesign was completed in 2006.
What is the par and length of Dooks?
Dooks is a par 71 of about 6,511 yards. It is not long by modern standards, so the test comes from the wind off Dingle Bay, the firm links turf and Hawtree's well defended greens rather than sheer distance.
What is the natterjack toad connection at Dooks?
The dunes at Dooks are home to a rare colony of the natterjack toad, a protected species found in only a few places in Ireland. The club adopted the toad as its emblem, and protecting its habitat is part of how the links is managed.
How much does it cost to play Dooks?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees are around 120 euro, with seasonal variation, twilight rates and a fifty percent discount for juniors up to sixteen. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Where is Dooks and what is nearby?
Dooks sits at Glenbeigh on the Ring of Kerry, about forty minutes west of Killarney. It pairs naturally with Waterville, Tralee, Ballybunion and the clifftop Old Head of Kinsale on a southwest Ireland links tour.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.