Esker Hills
Christy O'Connor Jnr shaped Esker Hills in the mid 1990s across a tumbling landscape of glacial ridges and kettle hole lakes outside Tullamore. A par 71 of about 6,600 yards with no two holes alike, it is the home club that raised Open champion Shane Lowry, and one of the most natural inland tests in Ireland.
Photo: Peter Wortmann via Google.
The verdict
Christy O'Connor Jnr built Esker Hills around 1996 on a remarkable parcel of County Offaly, a roll of eskers, the sinuous gravel ridges left by retreating glaciers, threaded with spring fed lakes. The land does the heavy lifting here, giving an inland course the heave and movement of a links without a dune in sight.
It is best known as the course that made Shane Lowry, who learned the game here before his Open victory at Royal Portrush, and the membership wears that lineage proudly. For the travelling golfer it is a refreshing change of pace from the famous coastal links, a welcoming, unpretentious club with a genuinely original layout and visitor access that is far easier to arrange than at the marquee names.
Esker Hills Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1996
- Designer
- Christy O'Connor Jnr
- Type
- Inland, glacial
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,600 yds
- Green fee
- Public, indicative
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Esker Hills Golf Club and leading course databases; the course was designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr and opened in the mid 1990s, a par 71 of about 6,600 yards from the back tees. It is a visitor friendly club with published green fees that vary by season and day; rates are indicative for 2026, so always confirm current pricing and tee availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Esker Hills plays over and around its ridges rather than across flat ground, so stances are rarely level and the eye is constantly tricked by the fall of the land. The fairways run between gravel banks and past still lakes, and the wind, when it blows across the open midlands, turns a friendly looking hole sharp.
O'Connor Jnr used the natural amphitheatres for several greens, set in hollows or perched on shelves, so judging the bounce and the run is as important as the carry. There is real variety in the par 4s, a couple of reachable par 5s for the brave, and a set of one shotters that play very differently depending on the day.
The closing holes weave back through the ridges to a homely clubhouse, the kind of finish that sends you in talking about the round. Esker Hills is proof that inland Ireland can hold its own, an original, walkable test with a champion's pedigree.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members and visitors welcome; societies and green fee golfers received with advance booking |
| Green fee | Published visitor rates vary by season and day of week (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book through the club or an Ireland golf specialist; midweek mornings are easiest to secure |
| On the day | Walking is a pleasure on this rolling site; buggies are available; the clubhouse welcomes visitors |
| Getting there | Just outside Tullamore, County Offaly, roughly 90 minutes west of Dublin in the Irish midlands |
| Best months | May to September for the longest days and the driest, firmest turf |
Access and pricing verified June 2026; visitor green fees change by season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay in or near Tullamore, a comfortable midlands base with hotels, dining and the famous distillery, well placed for a relaxed inland golf break away from the coastal crowds. A Tullamore base keeps Esker Hills and several other midland courses within easy reach.
For a richer itinerary, Esker Hills pairs naturally with the parkland heavyweights of the wider region, so a midlands base can fold it into a tour that takes in the marquee inland clubs before heading to the coast. It is an easy, rewarding addition to any Ireland golf trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Esker Hills Golf Club.
Build an Ireland golf trip
We pair Esker Hills with the best inland and links courses on your route, line up tee times 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.
Esker Hills Golf Club questions
Who designed Esker Hills and when did it open?
Esker Hills was designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr and opened in the mid 1990s, set on glacial ridges and kettle hole lakes outside Tullamore in County Offaly.
What is the par and length of Esker Hills?
Esker Hills is a par 71 of about 6,600 yards from the back tees, an inland course that plays with the movement of a links thanks to its esker ridges.
Is Esker Hills Shane Lowry's home club?
Yes. Esker Hills is widely known as the home club of Open champion Shane Lowry, who learned the game there before turning professional.
Can visitors play Esker Hills?
Yes. Esker Hills welcomes visitors and societies with advance booking, and visitor access is far easier to arrange than at Ireland's famous coastal links.
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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.