Glasson Lakehouse
Christy O'Connor Jnr laid out Glasson in 1993 on a peninsula above Lough Ree, in the green heart of Ireland near Athlone. A par 71 of about 6,700 yards, the parkland now anchors the Glasson Lakehouse resort, with water and big midlands views on hole after hole.
Photo: Glasson Lakehouse via Google.
The verdict
Glasson Golf opened in 1993 to a Christy O'Connor Jnr design, draped across a peninsula above Lough Ree in County Westmeath, close to Athlone and almost exactly in the center of Ireland. Since 2018 it has been reimagined as Glasson Lakehouse, a resort with a refurbished hotel and a modernized course, and it remains one of the most scenic parkland rounds in the midlands.
The golf makes the most of its lakeside setting, the outward holes running along Lough Ree and the homeward stretch playing over and around Killinure Bay. O'Connor's routing serves up water in play, tumbling parkland and a famous run of finishing holes that flirt with the shore. As a stay and play it is hard to beat for a relaxed Irish trip, an easy complement to the great links on either coast.
Glasson Lakehouse at a glance
- Opened
- 1993
- Designer
- Christy O'Connor Jnr
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,700 yds
- Green fee
- Resort, green fee
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Glasson Lakehouse and leading course databases. The course was designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr and opened in 1993, modernized as part of the Glasson Lakehouse resort, a par 71 of about 6,700 yards. The course takes visitors, hotel guests and societies at published rates; figures move with the season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Glasson is a lakeside parkland that trades on its setting above Lough Ree, the outward holes drawing the eye across the water while O'Connor's routing keeps the golf honest with water and tumbling ground in play. The exposed holes can bare their teeth when the lake wind gets up.
The homeward stretch around Killinure Bay is the signature, a run of holes that flirt with the shore and reward the player brave and accurate enough to take on the line. The greens are generous in places and well defended in others, asking for a clear head down the closing run.
It is golf to be enjoyed as much as conquered, the scenery and the lakeside finish making it one of the most memorable parkland rounds in the Irish midlands. Played from the right tees it suits a relaxed resort day, with enough teeth from the back to test the low handicapper.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visitors, hotel guests, societies and groups, subject to availability |
| Green fee | Visitor and stay and play green fees apply and vary by season; resort guests often get the best value (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book a tee time or a stay and play package through Glasson Lakehouse; midweek offers the quietest sheets |
| On the day | Walking parkland with carts and trolleys available; lakeside wind can lengthen the exposed holes |
| Getting there | Glasson, near Athlone in County Westmeath, about 90 minutes from Dublin and central to the whole island |
| Best months | May to September for the longest, driest days, with spring and early autumn quieter and good value |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates and packages change with the season, so always confirm directly with the resort before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base for Glasson is the resort itself, where the Glasson Lakehouse hotel sits beside the course above Lough Ree and makes the obvious stay and play. Nearby Athlone, on the River Shannon, adds more hotels, restaurants and the lively heart of the midlands a short drive away.
Glasson's central position is its trump card. From here you are roughly equidistant from the Dublin links and the great courses of the west, so a midlands base pairs the resort with a wider Irish tour built around a relaxed lakeside hub.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Glasson Lakehouse.
Build an Ireland golf trip
We secure tee times and stay and play at Glasson Lakehouse, pair them with the best of Ireland 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.
Glasson Lakehouse questions
Who designed Glasson and when did it open?
Glasson was designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr and opened in 1993, above Lough Ree near Athlone. It has since been modernized as part of the Glasson Lakehouse resort.
What is the par and length of Glasson?
Glasson plays as a par 71 of about 6,700 yards from the championship tees, a lakeside parkland with several sets of tees and panoramic views over Lough Ree.
Can visitors play Glasson Lakehouse?
Yes. Glasson is a resort course open to visitors, hotel guests, societies and groups, with green fees and stay and play packages that vary by season. Book through the resort and confirm current rates before travelling.
Where is Glasson Lakehouse?
The course is at Glasson, near Athlone in County Westmeath, almost in the center of Ireland and about 90 minutes by road from Dublin.
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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.