Golf in County Sligo
Yeats country in the northwest of Ireland is one of the great undersung links destinations, a compact stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way where giant dunes, ancient mountains and firm seaside turf meet. The headline is County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point, a Harry Colt championship links beneath Benbulben, but the depth runs to the towering dunes of Enniscrone and the quirky, value links of Strandhill. The courses that matter, the regions, the season, costs and how to plan it.
Photograph: The County Sligo Golf Club, Rosses Point, via Google
Why golf in County Sligo
For the golfer who wants championship links without the crowds or the price of the famous circuits, County Sligo is a revelation. This is the heart of Yeats country, a dramatic corner of the northwest where the flat topped Benbulben mountain looms over Sligo Bay and the Atlantic rolls into wide, dune backed beaches. At its centre is County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point, the links Harry Colt laid out in 1927 and widely regarded as one of the great traditional courses in the west of Ireland, the long standing home of the West of Ireland Amateur Championship. That one course alone justifies the trip; the rest is a bonus.
And the rest is considerable. A short drive southwest, on the shore of Killala Bay, Enniscrone tumbles through some of the largest sandhills in the country, a thrilling, modern classic shaped by Eddie Hackett and later extended by Donald Steel. Closer to town, Strandhill sits beneath the ancient hilltop cairn of Knocknarea in genuine surfing country, a shorter, quirkier and excellent value links with huge character. Add the nine hole Bomore links at Rosses Point and inland courses such as Tubbercurry, and Sligo offers a compact, affordable and quietly spectacular links tour, with Donegal and Bundoran an easy extension to the north.
The regions
Rosses Point
The golfing heart of the county, the breezy peninsula northwest of Sligo town where the Harry Colt championship links of County Sligo Golf Club runs under Benbulben with views across the bay. The natural anchor of any trip.
Enniscrone and Killala Bay
The southwest coast on the Mayo border, where Enniscrone unfolds through some of the biggest dunes in Ireland beside Killala Bay, a modern links classic and the second of the county's must play courses.
Strandhill and Knocknarea
The peninsula west of Sligo town beneath the ancient cairn of Knocknarea, a surf town with a quirky, characterful and well priced links and a lively seaside scene off the course.
Sligo town and Yeats country
The central base, a vibrant town of music, food and literary history, with Lough Gill, Glencar waterfall and the poet's grave at Drumcliffe all within easy reach, an easy hub for touring the wider county.
The borders and the north
The inland and northern fringes, with the parkland nine of Tubbercurry to the south and, a short drive north, the links of Bundoran and the great courses of Donegal, a natural extension of a Sligo golf trip.
The courses that matter
County Sligo (Rosses Point)
The jewel of the county and one of the great traditional links of the west of Ireland. Colt's 1927 design at Rosses Point plays beneath the flat topped Benbulben with sweeping views over Sligo Bay, a stern, classic test of around 6,600 yards and the long standing host of the West of Ireland Amateur Championship. Fully open to visitors and the anchor of any trip here.
Enniscrone (Dunes)
A thrilling modern classic on the shore of Killala Bay, threaded through some of the biggest sandhills in Ireland. Originally shaped by Eddie Hackett and later extended by Donald Steel, the Dunes course is a roller coaster of a links and the county's spectacular second act. Twenty seven holes in all, fully open to visitors.
Strandhill
A shorter, quirkier and hugely characterful links beneath the ancient cairn of Knocknarea in surfing country west of Sligo town. Tumbling, natural and great fun, with the sea breeze its main defence, it is the value option of the trio and an excellent, welcoming counterpoint to the two championship links.
Bomore (County Sligo)
The second course at Rosses Point, a simpler nine hole links on the same glorious stretch of coast as the championship links. A relaxed, scenic and affordable round, perfect for a warm up, a quick second eighteen or a gentler day on a links tour.
Tubbercurry
An inland nine hole parkland course in the market town of Tubbercurry in the south of the county, a friendly, well kept country club with two sets of tees for an eighteen hole round. A pleasant change of pace and a welcoming, affordable inland round away from the coast.
Bundoran (nearby Donegal)
Just over the county line to the north in Donegal, the historic links at Bundoran carries design work by Harry Vardon and James Braid, with clifftop holes above the Atlantic. A natural northern extension of a Sligo trip and the gateway to the great golf of Donegal.
Designers, opening years and access verified June 2026 from the clubs and leading databases; the headline courses are welcoming, public access links, with access rules that can change. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| May to September | Long days, the kindest weather, links firm and fast | The prime window; the best of the golf and the scenery, and far quieter than the famous circuits |
| April and October | Cooler and changeable but often rewarding on this Atlantic coast | Excellent value shoulder months with quiet courses; pack for the elements |
| November to March | Short, cool, windy days; the free draining links often still playable | For the hardy and the value seeker; confirm winter conditions and opening directly |
This is exposed Atlantic coast on the Wild Atlantic Way, so wind and fast changing weather are part of the experience year round. Pack layers and waterproofs whatever the forecast.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Championship links green fee (Rosses Point, Enniscrone) | Around 175 to 195 euros | The headline rounds; book ahead in summer and confirm the current fee directly |
| Value links green fee (Strandhill) | Around 75 to 150 euros | Excellent value for a characterful links; lower midweek and out of season |
| Nine hole and inland courses (Bomore, Tubbercurry) | Among the most affordable golf in the west | Easy, welcoming rounds to fill out a relaxed tour |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Green fees move with season and demand. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
County Sligo sits on the northwest coast, reached in around two and a half to three hours by road from Dublin and from Knock and the west, with Ireland West Airport at Knock the nearest gateway and Sligo on the railway from Dublin. The golf is compact, with the three headline links all within about forty minutes of Sligo town, so a trip is easily built around a hire car and a single base in or near the town. The county also makes a natural link in a wider northwest tour, with Bundoran and the great courses of Donegal a short drive to the north and the Mayo links of the Wild Atlantic Way to the south.
Where to stay
Sligo town is the obvious base, a lively hub of music, food and literary history with easy access to all three links and plenty of hotels, guesthouses and self catering. For golf on the doorstep, Rosses Point and Strandhill both offer seaside accommodation steps from the courses, while Enniscrone has a clutch of welcoming places to stay by its great beach. Accommodation runs to comfortable hotels, inns and self catering rather than golf resorts, in keeping with the county's relaxed, well priced character.
Plan your County Sligo golf trip
Tell us whether you want the Rosses Point links, a links tour of Enniscrone and Strandhill, or a wider northwest week reaching into Donegal, and roughly when. One concierge secures the tee times, sorts the base and the car, and costs the whole trip to the head, with no obligation.
County Sligo golf questions
What is the best golf course in County Sligo?
County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point, the championship links laid out by Harry Colt in 1927, is the clear headline. Running beneath the flat topped Benbulben mountain with views over Sligo Bay, it is one of the great traditional links of the west of Ireland and the long standing host of the West of Ireland Amateur Championship, won over the years by the likes of Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry. It is fully open to visitors, which makes it the natural anchor of any golf trip to the county. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
Can visitors play the golf courses in County Sligo?
Yes. County Sligo at Rosses Point, Enniscrone and Strandhill all welcome visitors, with indicative 2026 green fees of around 175 to 195 euros at the two championship links and roughly 75 to 150 euros at Strandhill, the value option. Booking ahead is sensible in summer and for the championship courses, but the county is far less crowded than the famous southwest and southeast circuits. Always confirm current access and fees directly before booking.
Where is the best golf in County Sligo?
The links coast is the heart of it. Rosses Point, just northwest of Sligo town, holds the Harry Colt championship links of County Sligo Golf Club under Benbulben, while to the southwest, on the shore of Killala Bay, Enniscrone unfolds through some of the biggest dunes in Ireland. Strandhill, beneath the ancient cairn of Knocknarea in surfing country, adds a quirky, characterful and well priced links. Combine the three for a compact links tour, with Donegal and Bundoran an easy extension to the north.
When is the best time to play golf in County Sligo?
Late spring to early autumn, roughly May to September, is the prime window, with the longest days, the kindest weather and the links at their firm, fast best. The shoulder months of April and October are quieter and often rewarding on this stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, while winter golf is possible on the free draining links for the hardy. This is exposed Atlantic coast, so wind and changeable weather are part of the experience. Always check the forecast for your dates and pack for the elements.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Course openings, ranking shake ups and the booking windows that matter. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, access and seasons verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.