Tralee Golf Club
Arnold Palmer called the back nine at Tralee the finest he ever saw, and he should know, because he built it. Palmer's first design in Europe sits on the Barrow peninsula in Kerry, an open, ocean facing front nine giving way to a back nine that plunges through some of the biggest dunes in Irish golf. For drama and view it stands with anything on the southwest coast.
Photo: Tralee Golf Club via Google, contributor Anthony Byrne.
The verdict
Opened in 1984, Tralee was the first course Arnold Palmer designed in Europe, laid out with Ed Seay on a wild stretch of the Kerry coast north of the town. The two nines could hardly be more different. The front, along the cliffs and the beach, is open and exhilarating, with the Atlantic always in view. The back, routed through colossal natural dunes, is a roller coaster of blind shots, perched greens and forced carries, a par 71 of around 6,975 yards that few who play it ever forget.
It suits the golfer on a southwest Ireland links pilgrimage who wants spectacle to match Ballybunion and Waterville. Tralee is not the oldest links in Kerry, but for sheer theatre and scenery it is one of the most thrilling rounds in the country.
Tralee at a glance
- Designer
- Arnold Palmer
- Opened
- 1984
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,975 yds
- Green fee
- From €250 to €450
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and course databases. Green fees are indicative 2026 figures published by the club, around 250 euros in the shoulder of the season and 450 euros in high season, mid April to early October. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The third is the front nine's calling card, a par 3 of around 194 yards played hard by the sea, feeding from left to right with the Atlantic crashing below. It is the photograph everyone takes and the hole that announces what kind of day you are in for.
The back nine is where Palmer let the land speak. The twelfth is the toughest hole on the course, a long par 4 climbing to a green set high in the dunes, where par feels like a birdie. From there the round tumbles on through the sandhills, blind and bold, with the ground constantly heaving beneath your feet.
The sixteenth is the back nine's jewel, a downhill par 3 of around 197 yards to a green guarded by the beach off the right, the kind of one shot hole that asks you to commit and trust the line. Play it well and the closing stretch home is one of the most memorable finishes in Irish golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members club that welcomes visitors, with restrictions on busy weekend mornings |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026: around 250 euros in the shoulder season and 450 euros in high season (mid April to early October) |
| Booking | Reserve well ahead in summer through the club; marquee Kerry tee times book up early |
| On the day | Caddies and buggies available by arrangement; a hilly back nine that rewards walking |
| Getting there | On the Barrow peninsula near Ardfert, about 40 minutes from Killarney and close to Kerry airport |
| Best months | May to early October for the warmest weather and firmest links turf |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Tralee or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Killarney is the classic Kerry base, a lively town with hotels for every budget and within easy reach of Tralee, Ballybunion and Waterville, the three pillars of a southwest links week. The drive from Killarney to Tralee takes around 40 minutes through some lovely country.
For a stay closer to the course, the town of Tralee and the villages along the peninsula put you minutes from the first tee, and the Dingle peninsula just beyond is one of the most beautiful corners of Ireland to explore between rounds.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Tralee.
Plan a southwest Ireland links trip
We build the Kerry links run around Tralee, Ballybunion and Waterville, book the tee times in the right order and arrange the Killarney base and the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Tralee questions
Who designed Tralee Golf Club?
Tralee was designed by Arnold Palmer, with Ed Seay, and opened in 1984. It was the first golf course Palmer designed in Europe, set on the Barrow peninsula on the Atlantic coast of County Kerry.
What is the par and length of Tralee?
Tralee is a par 71 links measuring around 6,975 yards from the championship tees, with an open front nine along the coast and a back nine routed through large natural dunes.
How much does it cost to play Tralee in 2026?
The club's indicative 2026 green fees are around 250 euros in the shoulder of the season and 450 euros in high season, from mid April to early October. These change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play Tralee?
Yes. Tralee is a members club that welcomes visitors, with some restrictions on busy weekend mornings. Booking well ahead is strongly advised in summer, when marquee Kerry tee times fill early.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative 2026 green fees verified June 2026 from the club. Last reviewed June 2026.