Enniscrone Golf Club
A roller coaster links flung through some of the tallest dunes in Ireland, along the wide strand of Killala Bay in the northwest. Enniscrone was a hidden secret for decades, a modest 1918 club transformed when Eddie Hackett pushed the course into the sandhills and Donald Steel later set it loose in the dunes proper. Today it is one of the most thrilling and least crowded great links in the country.
Photo: Enniscrone Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Enniscrone is the northwest links the connoisseurs send you to. Founded in 1918 on flatter ground, it began its rise when the great Eddie Hackett extended it to eighteen holes in 1974, then took its modern, soaring form when Donald Steel reworked the routing to drive it directly into the magnificent dunes, a project that opened in 2001. The result is a par 73 of about 6,910 yards that surfs through sandhills as big as any in Ireland, with the Atlantic strand of Killala Bay stretched out below.
This is big, exhilarating links golf without the crowds or the marquee green fees of the famous names. The dunes do the talking: blind shots, plunging fairways, greens tucked into natural amphitheatres and a sense of scale that takes first time visitors by surprise. For the travelling golfer building a northwest tour around County Sligo and Donegal, Enniscrone is the round that astonishes, the equal of much better known links and, for many who make the trip, the highlight of the week.
Enniscrone at a glance
- Founded
- 1918
- Designer
- Eddie Hackett & Donald Steel
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 73
- Yardage
- 6,910 yds
- Green fee
- Around €130
Founding in 1918, the Eddie Hackett extension to eighteen holes in 1974, the Donald Steel reworking that opened in 2001, par 73 and a length of about 6,910 yards on the Dunes course verified June 2026 from the club and course databases. The green fee is indicative, roughly 90 euro off peak to around 175 euro in high summer 2026, with the additional Scurmore nine available. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Enniscrone is a course of two distinct moods. The opening holes ease you along gentler ground by the sea, a deceptively calm introduction, before the links plunges into the high dunes that are its glory. From there it is pure drama: fairways that tumble between towering sandhills, drives launched over crests to landing areas you must trust, and greens set into natural bowls and shelves where local knowledge is worth several shots.
Steel's rerouting was a masterstroke, eliminating two flat par 5s near the start and sending the golfer instead into the heart of the dunes, where the best holes now live. The par 3s perched among the sandhills are superb, exposed to the wind and demanding a precise, committed strike, and the long par 4s ask for two genuine blows to find putting surfaces that repel anything loose. At 6,910 yards off the back it has length, but it is the elevation, the wind and the angles that define the test.
What stays with you is the scale and the solitude. Enniscrone delivers the grandeur of the very greatest links, the same plunging, heaving duneland, but you will often have the place close to yourself, the strand of Killala Bay shining beyond and the hills of Mayo across the water. It is one of Ireland's genuine hidden giants, and a round here feels like a discovery.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A welcoming members club that takes visitors throughout the season; one of the least pressured of Ireland's great links and a wonderful contrast to the busy names |
| Green fee | Roughly 90 euro off peak to around 175 euro in high summer 2026 on the Dunes course (indicative), with the nine hole Scurmore course available and seasonal and twilight rates |
| Booking | Book ahead in summer though tee times are far easier than at the marquee links; midweek is quietest |
| On the day | Walking course through big dune terrain with caddies, trolleys and buggies available; a friendly clubhouse above the strand |
| Getting there | At Enniscrone on Killala Bay in County Sligo, about forty five minutes from Sligo town and an easy pairing with County Sligo at Rosses Point and the Donegal links |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and longest evenings; the dunes are exposed, so wind is the constant 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 Enniscrone Golf Club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base for a northwest tour is Sligo town, about forty five minutes east, with hotels, restaurants and easy reach of Enniscrone, County Sligo at Rosses Point and the run of links up into Donegal. The Wild Atlantic Way threads the whole coast, so the drives between rounds are part of the pleasure.
Closer to the links, Enniscrone itself is a relaxed seaside resort with a famous beach and comfortable guest houses, ideal for those who want to slow down. Knock and Ireland West airports put the region within easy reach, and many golfers pair the northwest with Donegal's Rosapenna and Ballyliffin for a full week of uncrowded duneland.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts across Sligo and the northwest coast.
Play Enniscrone and the northwest links
We build northwest Ireland links tours around Enniscrone, County Sligo, Rosapenna and Ballyliffin, secure the tee times and sort a Sligo base with the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Enniscrone questions
Who designed Enniscrone Golf Club?
Enniscrone was founded in 1918. The great Eddie Hackett extended it to eighteen holes in 1974, and Donald Steel later reworked the routing to drive it into the high dunes, a project that opened in 2001 and gave the course its modern, dramatic form.
What is the par and length of Enniscrone?
The Dunes championship course at Enniscrone is a par 73 of about 6,910 yards. The challenge comes from the towering dune terrain, the elevation changes, the exposed wind off Killala Bay and the well defended greens as much as from the length.
Is Enniscrone one of Ireland's best links?
Yes. Enniscrone is widely regarded as one of the finest and most underrated links in Ireland, set among some of the largest sandhills in the country. It offers the grandeur of the marquee links with far fewer crowds, which is why it is a favourite of touring golfers in the know.
How much does it cost to play Enniscrone?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees run from roughly 90 euro off peak to around 175 euro in high summer on the Dunes course, with the additional nine hole Scurmore course and seasonal and twilight rates available. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Where is Enniscrone and what is nearby?
Enniscrone sits on Killala Bay in County Sligo, about forty five minutes from Sligo town. It pairs naturally with County Sligo at Rosses Point and the Donegal links at Rosapenna and Ballyliffin on a northwest Ireland 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.