Lough Erne Faldo Course
Sir Nick Faldo's first design in Ireland, opened in 2009 on a peninsula between Castle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne. A par 72 of about 7,167 yards with water in play on 14 holes, crowned by the par 3 tenth where the green sits over the water on three sides. A genuine stay and play in the heart of the Fermanagh lakelands.
Photo: Lough Erne Resort via Google.
The verdict
The Faldo Course at Lough Erne Resort was Sir Nick Faldo's first golf course design in Ireland, and he was handed a setting most architects only dream about: a wooded peninsula in County Fermanagh, ringed by Castle Hume Lough on one side and the vast Lower Lough Erne on the other. Opened in 2009, it is a par 72 of about 7,167 yards from the back markers, and water is somehow in play on 14 of the 18 holes without the round ever feeling like a slog.
What lifts it above a pretty resort layout is the variety. Faldo routed the holes to use the rises and falls of the land and the constant presence of the water, then gave each green a clear point of attack. The tenth, the Emerald Isle, is the postcard, but the strength is the whole sequence. Add a five star hotel, a spa and a thatched lakeside lodge a few minutes away, and Lough Erne is one of the most complete stay and play addresses on the island.
Lough Erne at a glance
- Opened
- 2009
- Designer
- Sir Nick Faldo
- Type
- Parkland peninsula
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,167 yds
- Green fee
- From about £95
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Lough Erne Resort and leading course databases. The Faldo Course was Nick Faldo's first Irish design, opened in 2009, a par 72 of about 7,167 yards. Green fees are seasonal and resort guests and stay and play packages are often the best value; the indicative visitor rate above is for the 2026 season and shoulder months run lower than peak summer. Always confirm the current rate and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The round opens on higher ground with long views over the water, easing you in before the course tightens around the loughs. Faldo built width off several tees but defended the greens with run offs and bunkering, so the premium is on the angle of approach rather than raw length. The fairways flow with the natural contour and the turf drains well, a real asset in the soft Fermanagh climate.
The signature is the par 3 tenth, the Emerald Isle, where the green is all but an island with the lough wrapping it on three sides; the wind off the water turns a mid iron into a genuine decision. It headlines a strong collection of one shot holes and a clutch of risk and reward par 5s where the second shot flirts with the shoreline.
The closing stretch runs back toward the clubhouse with the water never far away, asking for committed swings when the breeze gets up. Lough Erne rewards the player who picks a line and trusts it, and it gives back some of the prettiest inland golf in Ireland. It is worth noting the resort and course hosted the Lough Erne Challenge between Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington in 2009 and the resort staged the 2013 G8 summit, which says plenty about the standard of the place.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visitors and resort guests; not a private members club, so tee times are readily bookable |
| Green fee | Indicative from about £95 in the shoulder season rising toward peak summer; resort guest and stay and play rates are usually keener (2026) |
| Booking | Book through the resort golf shop or its online tee time system; reserve ahead for summer weekends and event windows |
| On the day | Buggies and a fleet of carts are available, caddies can be arranged on request, and the practice facilities and clubhouse are first class |
| Getting there | Just outside Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, about two hours from Belfast and roughly two and a half from Dublin by road |
| Best months | May to September for the longest days and firmest turf, with spring and autumn offering quieter tee sheets and better value |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; resort pricing and packages change through the year, so always confirm directly with the resort or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the Lough Erne Resort itself, a five star hotel and spa on the same peninsula as the course, with lakeside lodges and a second shorter course, the Castle Hume, for a relaxed extra round. Staying on site turns the trip into a true golf retreat and usually unlocks the best green fee rates.
For a wider tour, Enniskillen and the Fermanagh lakelands make a scenic touring base, and the resort sits within reach of the great links of the northwest. It pairs naturally with a run up to County Sligo or out to the Donegal coast, so Lough Erne works as either a destination in itself or the calm, comfortable hub of a links heavy Ireland trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Lough Erne.
Build a Northern Ireland golf trip
We book the Lough Erne tee times, pair them with the great links of the north and northwest, and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Lough Erne questions
Who designed the Faldo Course at Lough Erne and when did it open?
The Faldo Course was designed by Sir Nick Faldo and opened in 2009. It was Faldo's first golf course design in Ireland, laid out on a peninsula between Castle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh.
What is the par and length of the Faldo Course?
The Faldo Course is a par 72 measuring about 7,167 yards from the championship tees, with multiple tee sets that bring the layout back to a friendlier length for the average visitor.
Can visitors play Lough Erne?
Yes. Lough Erne is a resort course open to visitors and resort guests. Tee times can be booked through the resort golf shop or its online booking system, and stay and play packages are available with the hotel.
What is the signature hole at Lough Erne?
The signature hole is the par 3 tenth, named the Emerald Isle, where the green is surrounded by the lough on three sides. Water is in play on 14 of the 18 holes, so the course is defined by its setting on the water.
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.