Lough Erne
A modern five star resort wrapped around water. The Faldo Course at Lough Erne is Nick Faldo's first design in Ireland, a par 72 of roughly 7,167 yards laid out on a peninsula between two loughs in County Fermanagh, with water in play on most holes and an island style 10th that has become one of the country's signature shots.
Photo: Lough Erne Golf Resort via Google, by Jerry Daly.
The verdict
Lough Erne is Northern Ireland's leading golf resort, a five star estate set on a wooded peninsula between Castle Hume Lough and the great expanse of Lower Lough Erne, just outside Enniskillen in the lakeland of County Fermanagh. Its centerpiece is the Faldo Course, designed by six time major champion Nick Faldo as his first project in Ireland and opened around 2009. The resort drew the world's attention in 2013 when it hosted the leaders of the G8 nations.
The course is a par 72 of around 7,167 yards, and water is everywhere. Faldo used the loughs, inlets and mature woodland of the site to frame a layout of real variety and challenge, where the water that makes it so beautiful also makes it demanding. It is championship golf in a resort setting, polished and well presented, and a fine modern counterpoint to the ancient links that define so much of Irish golf.
Lough Erne at a glance
- Opened
- 2009
- Design
- Nick Faldo
- Type
- Parkland · lakeland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- ~7,167 yds
- Green fee
- Resort rate
Designer, opening era, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Lough Erne Resort and leading course databases. The Faldo Course opened around 2009 to a Nick Faldo design, a par 72 of roughly 7,167 yards. Lough Erne welcomes visiting golfers; green fees and stay and play packages vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The defining hole is the par 3 tenth, named Emerald Isle, where the green sits all but surrounded by water in a beautiful lakeland setting. It is the shot every visitor remembers and photographs, a pure test of nerve and club selection that rewards a confident, well struck iron and punishes the tentative one without mercy.
Beyond it, water threatens on the majority of holes, lapping at fairways and guarding greens, so accurate driving and disciplined approach play are at a premium. Faldo's routing makes the most of the peninsula, with holes that hug the shoreline and others that climb into the woodland, giving the round a pleasing rhythm of risk and reward and constant changes of outlook over the loughs.
It is a course that flatters the careful and exposes the reckless, presented to the high standard you expect of a resort of this class. Combined with the spa, the lodge and the lakeland scenery, it makes Lough Erne a destination in its own right and a comfortable, scenic base from which to explore the golf of the north.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A five star resort course open to visiting and resident golfers throughout the season; advance booking is recommended, and stay and play packages are available |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 90 to 160 pounds depending on season and day (2026), with package rates for hotel guests; always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the Lough Erne Resort office or as part of a stay; the resort lodge, spa and dining make a comfortable golf break base |
| On the day | Smart golf dress; the course walks well over gentle parkland and lakeshore ground with buggies available |
| Getting there | On a peninsula just outside Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, around an hour and a half from Belfast and within reach of the City of Derry and Knock airports |
| Best months | Late spring through early autumn for the best conditions and the long lakeland evenings |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the resort or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious choice is the resort itself, with its five star hotel, lakeside lodges and spa right beside the first tee, while the town of Enniskillen and the wider Fermanagh lakeland offer more options and plenty to see between rounds.
Lough Erne makes a relaxed western anchor for a Northern Ireland golf tour, pairing comfortably with the great links of the north coast for a trip that balances resort polish with classic links drama.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Enniskillen.
Build a Northern Ireland golf trip
We arrange tee times and stays at Lough Erne and across the great courses of the north, pair them with the best lodging and handle the logistics. 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?
The Faldo Course was designed by six time major champion Nick Faldo and was his first design in Ireland. The resort and course were developed in the 2000s and opened for play around 2009 on a peninsula outside Enniskillen in County Fermanagh.
What is the par and length of the Faldo Course?
The Faldo Course at Lough Erne plays as a par 72 of roughly 7,167 yards, set between Castle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne with water in play on the majority of holes.
What is the famous hole at Lough Erne?
The signature hole is the par 3 tenth, known as Emerald Isle, where the green is surrounded on three sides by water in a striking lakeland setting that demands a precise tee shot.
Can visitors play Lough Erne Resort?
Yes. Lough Erne is a five star resort that welcomes visiting and resident golfers on the Faldo Course. Book in advance through the resort and confirm the current green fee or package before you travel.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening era, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.