Ballybunion Golf Club - Cashen Course

The newer Cashen Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened for play in the early 1980's. On the same strecth of links land as the Old Course, the Cashen Course is a roller-coaster ride through towering dunes stretched between the Cashen River and the ocean.

As a golf course it is probably more spectacular than the Old Course, probably a tougher test of golf that the Old Course and that's the rub. The only answer to which course is "better" is to play both and decide for yourself. Some will relish the challenge, others will say it's unfair! Nobody can be right, nobody can be wrong.

The first and second play away from the clubhouse towards the River Cashen. The course then tumbles and flows through the dunes with a succession of terrific golf holes. The 8th and 9th holes, both par-5s in the same direction towards the clubhouse, have the feeling of freefalling down a mountain whacking a golf ball as you go!

The second nine play more through the dunes and there are several awe-inspring holes. The par-5 fifteenth ranks as one of the best par 5's in all of Ireland. The tee-shot is blind, played towards the mass of dunes in the distance. Once you reach the landing area the scene is just awesome. The green perched away in the distance, nestled in the dunes. Immediately before you is a steep plunge to a valley that contains the intervening terrain in the form of a cascading series of large humps and hollows. The hole just smacks of temptation to take it all on and try and find the green - a very risky strategy!