Ballyheigue Castle

I had heard reports of a nine hole links course on the west coast that would help me unwind from the flight into Shannon before tackling Ballybunion and Doonbeg.  Views of surf, surfers, sea and mountains, a romantically collapsing castle and all the rest.  It scored as highly as anywhere on all the above and was in fine condition but I would not lure anyone here that was a links aficionado.

We were welcomed generously and beseeched to stay though our programme was relentless as we had to take the coastal route to Ballybunion.  Our green fees were kindly donated to Alzheimer’s Society for which huge thanks.

The two, closing, holes below the castle are the most links-like; the par 3 eighth hole  tumbles down the hill, now away from the houses as you pick a spot on the shore.  The ninth tee has it’s back to the gate house and runs uphill to a ledge green below the castle.  Both classic links shapes and layouts that we much enjoyed.

The contours across the rest of the course are used to maximum effect and the holes run up, down and against the grain of the hillside and are banked in many places with parkland trees.  The dogleg first is a good example.  The next, a par 5, takes you from the top of the hill to the bottom and across a water hazard to boot.  The fifth and seventh were the most testing though the sixth cannot be underestimated or under clubbed!

An excellent afternoon for which we were most grateful.