SW Ireland golf experiences- Old Head, Waterville, etc.

[jmurdock81]

Hey guys, we are heading to Ireland for a little golf trip in late June. I wanted to see if anyone has had experience playing any of the courses listed below. Also, I would love to see any pictures of those courses if you have played there before.

 

Mahoney's Point

Killeen

Tralee

Dingle Links

Dooks Links

Waterville

Old Head

 

We are staying in Kilarney Center City (McSweeney Arms) for the first 5 days and then moving on to Kinsale (Trident Hotel). Any must see bars in those areas?

[AuldPLO Swiss Golftrotter]

Check my signature to get my pics of Waterville, Old Head and Tralee.

I would also consider Ballybunion Old, totally worth the 1 hour drive from Killarney.

 

Old Head is not the best course I played but it remains my all-time favorite golfing experience !

Tralee is a great course. Back nine is outstanding.

Waterville is a great track but not strong enough to claim a spot among my favorite irish courses.

Ballybunion is just great, not much to say.

[jmurdock81]

Check my signature to get my pics of Waterville, Old Head and Tralee.

I would also consider Ballybunion Old, totally worth the 1 hour drive from Killarney.

 

Old Head is not the best course I played but it remains my all-time favorite golfing experience !

Tralee is a great course. Back nine is outstanding.

Waterville is a great track but not strong enough to claim a spot among my favorite irish courses.

Ballybunion is just great, not much to say.

 

Those pics were great AuldPLO. What time of year were you at Waterville and Old Head? We will be there late June into first week of July and I'm trying to get a sense of the weather. I know it can vary quite a bit, but a general sense would be nice.

[AuldPLO Swiss Golftrotter]

Those pics were great AuldPLO. What time of year were you at Waterville and Old Head? We will be there late June into first week of July and I'm trying to get a sense of the weather. I know it can vary quite a bit, but a general sense would be nice.

 

I was there late May. We got lucky with nice weather on 7 out of 8 rounds we played across Ireland.

[puttnforthe8]

Mahoney's Point & Killeen are basic golf courses that don't compare to the others on your list. Nice views and location. Killeen is much better than MP. MP is boring and not a very good course. Both generally always in good shape.

 

Tralee - awesome back 9 - probably the best in Ire. I enjoy this course very much

Dingle Links - below average links course...cool location, but not very well cared for/maintained

 

Waterville - great course, but price to value is a bit out of proportion. Still very good

Old Head - all about location; below average course

 

as others said, not sure how you are skipping Ballybunion. Also, based on your list I would do Adare Manor before a couple of those courses...but understand it may be out of your way.

[Hardrain]

I am playing Ballybunion July 4 and Old Head July 7. Maybe we will be paired up!

[Mob]

I would agree with the comments above. Ballybunion is a must if you are in the area. The back 9 at Tralee may be the most spectacular 9 holes I have ever played. I enjoyed Dooks and Waterville.

[leerob3]

Had the good fortune of playing Old Head a while back, IMO it's one of the most spectacular places on this planet. It's Pebble Beach on steroids. It you have time check out Kinsale, fun town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[imakaveli]

Played Waterville, Tralee, Ballybunion and Dooks last Summer, PM for any info. I had a great time!

 

Be sure to go dine here https://www.qc.ie/

 

[jmurdock81]

Would love to play Ballybunion guys, but the list is the list. We have 16 guys going and everything is set.

 

Really looking forward to these courses and the better weather. A group of us went 2 years ago at the end of April and the weather then was less than stellar. 3 times we got hail and 30 mph winds. It does move out fast, but it's hell to play through while it's happening.

 

Thanks for all the posts and pics

[TerpFangolfer]

I did short (way too short!) golf tour around Ireland in conjunction with work in Dublin in 2014.

 

Waterville was included (along with Ballybunion, Dooks, Portmarnock & RCD).

 

Definitely big thumbs up for Waterville - stay at the Inn if you can. Lots of pics of guys who have stayed there - Payne, Tiger & O'Meara, etc. They have a trout stream out back if that interests you - plus a practice range.

 

Posting pics just from the Inn, since the course pics are readily available online.

[davep043]

 

We are staying in Kilarney Center City (McSweeney Arms) for the first 5 days and then moving on to Kinsale (Trident Hotel). Any must see bars in those areas?

For better or worse, Killarney is the tourist capital of Ireland, you won't be able to walk 10 yards down the street without finding another pub. If you want a really fine meal while in town, take a ride out to Rosser's at the Killeen House Hotel (http://www.killeenhousehotel.com/rozzers-killarney-restaurant.html). Be sure to take a little time in their self-service pub, with the walls covered with golf balls and bag tags.

[hlca]

I'm visiting Ireland with my wife in August/September for two weeks. Main reason is to attend a wedding in West Cork, secondary reason is to do some sightseeing, and finally play some golf. I am planning on 5 rounds, including Island, Lahinch, Ballybunion Old, Bantry Bay, and Old Head. My wife expressed interest in walking along for one of my rounds. Does anyone know if this is allowed and what, if any, the additional fee will be? Also what would be the best round for her to join me? I'm assuming Old Head, but that's just a guess.

[TerpFangolfer]

I'm visiting Ireland with my wife in August/September for two weeks. Main reason is to attend a wedding in West Cork, secondary reason is to doing some sightseeing, and finally play some golf. I am planning on 5 rounds, including Island, Lahinch, Ballybunion Old, Bantry Bay, and Old Head. My wife expressed interest in walking along for one of my rounds. Does anyone know if this is allowed and what, if any, the additional fee will be? Also what would be the best round for her to join me? I'm assuming Old Head, but that's just a guess.

 

Definitely allowed - so far on all my Ireland/UK rounds.

My gf has walked - Waterville, Royal County Down, Royal St George's & North Berwick with me - she enjoys the scenery. Trails behind taking pictures, etc.

She didn't walk Ballybunion - but only because our tee-time was 0700. Way too early for her!

 

Edit - forgot to say - No Fee! It's really nice over there...

[AuldPLO Swiss Golftrotter]

My wife expressed interest in walking along for one of my rounds. Does anyone know if this is allowed and what, if any, the additional fee will be? Also what would be the best round for her to join me? I'm assuming Old Head, but that's just a guess.

 

Old Head for sure !!

[hlca]

I'm visiting Ireland with my wife in August/September for two weeks. Main reason is to attend a wedding in West Cork, secondary reason is to doing some sightseeing, and finally play some golf. I am planning on 5 rounds, including Island, Lahinch, Ballybunion Old, Bantry Bay, and Old Head. My wife expressed interest in walking along for one of my rounds. Does anyone know if this is allowed and what, if any, the additional fee will be? Also what would be the best round for her to join me? I'm assuming Old Head, but that's just a guess.

 

Definitely allowed - so far on all my Ireland/UK rounds.

My gf has walked - Waterville, Royal County Down, Royal St George's & North Berwick with me - she enjoys the scenery. Trails behind taking pictures, etc.

She didn't walk Ballybunion - but only because our tee-time was 0700. Way too early for her!

 

Edit - forgot to say - No Fee! It's really nice over there...

 

Great -- thanks for the advice! Free is better than another 275 euro :)

[chrisisoutrunning]

For better or worse, Killarney is the tourist capital of Ireland, you won't be able to walk 10 yards down the street without finding another pub. If you want a really fine meal while in town, take a ride out to Rosser's at the Killeen House Hotel (http://www.killeenho...restaurant.html). Be sure to take a little time in their self-service pub, with the walls covered with golf balls and bag tags.

 

Can attest to Rozzers. My wife and I stayed at the Kileen House for a few nights last October. The restaurant had great food. It's pricey, but worth it in my book.

[troublelove]

Just returned after a week in Kerry and area. The first half of the trip was heavily impacted by the weather... it has been a long wet winter with heavy rain over our first three days.

 

Ardare Manor - Tom Fazio has re-designed the Manor Course and we played 12 holes as a 'preview'. Absolutely first class parkland course which will be a future Ryder Cup venue. They have pulled out all the stopes to make this a 5 star experience and they succeeded. However, this could be anywhere in the world and feels more American than Irish.

 

Dooks - beautiful, small, quirky links course. Some of the best views you will ever get on a golf course and 16 holes look down to the bay and black mountains. A bit rough around the edges with a few holes which are ordinary at best but a must-play and great value.

 

Waterville - EPIC. Exactly what you want from an Irish links. Very fair but tough with some beautiful stretches.

 

Killarney Mahony's Point - ordinary. Good views, a few good holes but over-priced.

 

Beaufort - we played here because Kileen was closed due to weather. Beaufort is a friendly parkland members club. Great fun, incredible value and lovely people.

 

Old Head - great views, 5 cool holes but the rest is quite ordinary and not worth it.

 

Cork Golf Club - a absolutely gem. Alastair Mackenzie original design on a great piece of land. Great fun seeing some of his signature hallmarks especially as we were watching the Masters in the evening.

 

A great trip. Overall the quality of the golf was 8/10 but the experience, the people we met, the pubs were all 10/10.