Ballybunion Old Course: 2026 Access and Booking Update
The pilgrimage links of County Kerry has opened its 2026 tee sheet, and the well travelled know what that means: book early. Here are Ballybunion Old's confirmed 2026 green fees, the visitor windows, and how to play one of the great links of the world.
The news: 2026 tee times are open, and they go fast
Ballybunion's 2026 visitor tee sheet is open, and the message from the club is the same one seasoned links golfers already live by: the Old Course books out a long way ahead, often a year or more in peak season, so early reservation is essential. For 2026, tee times are secured with full payment at the time of booking, which is the club's way of holding one of the most sought after rounds in Ireland.
Nothing about the golf has changed; this is news about access and price. The Old Course remains the wild, rumpled stretch of Kerry coast that Tom Watson called the finest seaside course he had ever seen, and demand for it only grows.
The course, and the Cashen alongside it
The club dates to 1893, with the modern routing settled by 1927, and in 1936 the English architect Tom Simpson was brought in to ready the Old Course for the Irish Amateur. It plays as a par 71 links carved through towering dunes, where the land does the defending and the Atlantic is never out of earshot. Few courses ask for as much imagination, and fewer reward it so well.
Alongside the Old sits the Cashen Course, a Robert Trent Jones Senior design through even bigger dunes, and the club offers a combined two round package that lets a visit take in both. For many travellers a day at Ballybunion means the Old in the morning and the Cashen in the afternoon.
How to play it in 2026
For 2026 the Old Course green fee is 400 euros per person in the mid season window of 13 to 30 April, and 450 euros per person in high season from 1 May to 2 October. A two round offer pairing the Old with the Cashen is 450 to 575 euros depending on the period, with the 575 euro rate applying from 4 August to 2 October. Treat these as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking, as fees and packages change.
Morning tee times are available to visitors Monday to Friday from mid April to early October, excluding bank holiday Mondays, with the Cashen typically in the afternoon. Kerry plays best from late spring through to early autumn, and the calmest, brightest links conditions tend to come in May, June and September.
Our take
Our take is that Ballybunion is the round that justifies an entire trip. It is the links serious golfers cross an ocean to play and then talk about for the rest of their lives, and the dunes, the sea and the sheer drama of the routing live up to every word of the reputation.
If you are planning a 2026 Kerry trip, book Ballybunion first and build the rest of the itinerary around the date you secure. Pay at the time of booking to lock the slot, aim for the May to September window, and pair the Old and the Cashen to make the long journey to the south west count.
Plan your Ballybunion golf trip
From Ballybunion to the wider links of the south west, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
Can visitors play the Ballybunion Old Course?
Yes. Morning tee times are available to visiting golfers Monday to Friday from mid April to early October, excluding bank holiday Mondays, with the Cashen Course typically in the afternoon. Tee times are secured with full payment at the time of booking and sell out far ahead.
What are the green fees at Ballybunion Old for 2026?
For 2026 the Old Course is 400 euros per person in mid season (13 to 30 April) and 450 euros in high season (1 May to 2 October). A two round Old and Cashen offer runs up to 575 euros from 4 August to 2 October. Treat these as indicative and confirm directly before booking.
How far ahead should I book Ballybunion?
As far ahead as you can. The Old Course often books out a year or more in advance in peak season, so reserve early and be ready to pay in full to hold the slot.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course, access and fee details verified June 2026 from club and golf travel sources; conditions and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.