Ballybunion Golf Club - Old Course

The Old Course at Ballybunion is one of the most popular courses in the whole of Ireland. American visitors in particular just love the course and five-times Open champion Tom Watson is a self-confessed fan of Ballybunion.

Established in 1893, the course was extended to 18 holes in 1926. Due to the threat of coastal erosion - it is set in sandhills alongside the Atlantic Ocean - the order of the holes was changed in the early 1970s and you now actually start at the old 14th.

Visitors to Ballybunion will undergo a stiff test from start to finish and the homeward nine on the Old Course are simply spectacular. The 11th is possibly the most famous and rated by Tom Watson as one of the toughest holes in the world. The 12th is possibly tougher for the amateur, a long par-3 to an elevated green across an entire expanse of wild duneland.

The par-5 16th possibly typifies Ballybunion, it is intimidating with a tee-shot played to a dog-leg. The temptation to take an agressive line often does not pay dividends and the more consevative line, while difficult to understand from the tee, does not make the hole impossibly long. The 2nd shot must be played uphill through a funnel of dunes leaving a short pitch to one of the larger greens on the course.

The 18th hole is one of the most discussed holes after a round on the Old Course. The approach is again uphill to another dune well protected by sand dunes and almost blind from the fairway. A par on this hole is a noteworthy achievement!