I had the pleasure of playing here with a group put together by my good friend Kevin K, which included his father and bunch of his mates. It was my first overseas golf trip and it was a blast. We played Old Head, Dooks, Tralee, Kilearney, just fantastic.
We flew into Shannon, then bussed down to Old head. Teed it up around 11am, and played through I think pretty much every weather variety except snow. An amazing experience. Folks say Pebble Beach has magnificent vistas and cliffs, but Old Head is miles more impressive.
Here’s a link to the Club’s site: http://www.oldhead.com
Magnificent picture of the course
Old Head Golf Links is built on a 220-acre diamond of land jutting out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The promontory is almost an island with numerous caves running beneath your feet as you play the course. The links and practice area occupy 180 acres and the remaining 40 acres of unspoilt cliff frame the course. It is a piece of golf real estate like no other, that causes many a golfer and visitor to pinch themselves as they drive through the ancient gateway with the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean some 300 feet below.
The sensory overload does not stop there with the journey along the fragrant Hydrangea and Rosa Rugosa lining the Old Head driveway providing stunning vistas across the superbly manicured golf course, with the powerful ocean on both sides and beyond the famous lighthouse that lies in front.
Old Head, par 72, comprises five Par 5s, five Par 3s and eight Par 4s - stretches from the ladies' tees at 5,413 yards to over 7,100 yards from the tips, with a minimum of six tees per hole making it suitable for golfers of all handicap abilities. Nine holes play along the cliff tops with all eighteen holes providing unsurpassed ocean views. With the ever-changing sea breezes, the course provides a stern but fair test to the touring pro and the high handicapper alike.
The course is set up on a daily basis depending on the prevailing weather conditions. Facilities include a warm up range, a putting green and a short game practice area. From the incredible Clubhouse, Old Head has a team of exceptional and friendly service staff to cater for the golfers and residents every need. With superbly furnished and attended, Oak lined locker rooms complete with spa showers, the attention to detail is as exemplary as our welcome is warm.
And here’s a brilliant video by those clever chaps