Doonbeg Trump International
Greg Norman routed the links at Doonbeg through a mile of giant dunes above Doughmore Bay, and it opened in 2002 to win Golf Digest's Best New International Course. A par 72 of about 6,885 yards with the rare makeup of five par 3s and five par 5s, remodeled by Martin Hawtree after the storms of 2014, it is the dramatic, resort backed third point of County Clare's links triangle with Lahinch and Ballybunion.
Photo: Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg via Google.
The verdict
Doonbeg is the most modern of the great County Clare links and the most resort polished, a Greg Norman design from 2002 set on a spectacular crescent of dune land above Doughmore Bay. Norman built the course into some of the largest natural dunes in Irish golf, and from the first it divided opinion between those who loved its drama and those who found a few of its early holes severe. The answer came after the Atlantic storms of 2014, when Martin Hawtree carried out a substantial remodeling, reshaping dunes and softening the most penal holes, and the links is the better and fairer for it.
What is beyond argument is the setting and the experience. The dunes are enormous, the sea is a constant companion, and the on site hotel and lodges make Doonbeg one of the most comfortable golf bases in Ireland. The unusual card, five par 3s and five par 5s, gives the round a distinctive rhythm, and the short holes set among the dunes are the highlights. It is a premium, special occasion links and the natural third leg of a Clare and Kerry trip with Lahinch and Ballybunion.
Doonbeg at a glance
- Opened
- 2002
- Designer
- Greg Norman, Hawtree remodel
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,885 yds
- Green fee
- From 375 euros
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Trump International Doonbeg and leading course databases. Greg Norman's links opened in 2002 and won Golf Digest's Best New International Course; it was substantially remodeled by Martin Hawtree after storm damage in 2014. A par 72 of about 6,885 yards with five par 3s and five par 5s. Indicative peak 2026 green fees reach around 375 euros, with lower twilight, resort guest and off season rates; packages with the lodge often offer the best value. Rates change by season and demand, so always confirm current pricing and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Doonbeg is golf on a grand, vertical scale, the fairways threading between dunes that tower over the player and the Atlantic glinting beyond. Greg Norman used the land's natural amphitheaters and ridges, and Martin Hawtree's later work opened up the most cramped corners, so the modern links flows better while keeping all of its drama. Width off the tee is more generous than the dunes suggest, but the wind that funnels off Doughmore Bay turns every club selection into a question.
The par 3s are the signature, several of them played from elevated tees down to greens cradled in the dunes, none more celebrated than the short hole set in a natural bowl where the wind swirls and the right club is anyone's guess. The five par 5s give the brave a chance to attack, while the run home along the higher dunes delivers the views that sell the place. Throughout, the greens are bold and the bunkering natural, rewarding the player who flights the ball and respects the wind.
It is a course that asks for imagination and a steady nerve in a breeze, and gives back one of the most memorable settings in Irish links golf. Doonbeg rewards the visitor who comes for the spectacle as much as the score, and who builds a day here into a wider Wild Atlantic Way trip.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort links open to visitors and to guests of the on site Trump International hotel and lodges; advance booking |
| Green fee | Indicative peak around 375 euros; lower twilight, resort guest and off season rates (2026) |
| Best value | Stay and play packages with the lodge typically the best way to play |
| On the day | A walking links; caddies and buggies can be arranged; pack for Atlantic weather |
| Getting there | Doonbeg, southwest County Clare; about an hour from Shannon Airport, around 40 minutes from Lahinch |
| Best months | May to September for the longest daylight and firmest turf; shoulder months quieter and cheaper |
Access and indicative fees verified June 2026 from Trump International Doonbeg; rates and rules change, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest and most comfortable base is the resort itself, where the hotel and the suites and lodges sit beside the links and the stay and play packages are the best value way to play. It makes Doonbeg an easy overnight on a wider County Clare trip, with breakfast and the first tee a few minutes apart.
For a links tour, base in or around Lahinch, about 40 minutes north, to pair Doonbeg with the Old Course and to be close to the Cliffs of Moher and the lively village. From there a Clare and Kerry trip can take in Doonbeg, Lahinch and, across the Shannon, Ballybunion, three of the finest links on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Doonbeg.
Build a County Clare golf trip
We secure the Doonbeg tee times and stay and play, pair them with Lahinch and the best of the Wild Atlantic Way and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Doonbeg questions
Who designed Doonbeg and when did it open?
The links at Doonbeg was designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2002, winning Golf Digest's Best New International Course award that year. After storm damage in 2014 the course was substantially remodeled by Martin Hawtree, who reshaped dunes and several holes.
What is the par and length of Doonbeg?
Doonbeg is a par 72 of about 6,885 yards from the back tees, with the unusual layout of five par 3s and five par 5s, played over big dunes above Doughmore Bay in County Clare.
How much does it cost to play Doonbeg in 2026?
Indicative peak season green fees at Doonbeg reach around 375 euros, with lower twilight, resort guest and off season rates. As a Trump International resort course, packages with the lodge often offer the best value. Rates change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play Doonbeg?
Yes. Doonbeg is a resort links open to visitors and to guests of the on site Trump International hotel and lodges, with tee times booked in advance. It pairs naturally with Lahinch and the other great links of the Wild Atlantic Way on a County Clare trip.
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. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.