Fota Island Resort, Carrigtohill,
nr Cork, Co. Cork
Office
+353 (0)21 488 3700Pro shop
+353 (0)21 488 3710Fax
+353 (0)21 488 3713Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Ronan Collins (PGA Professional).Academy
The Fota Island Golf AcademyThe Course:
27 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Woodland, rural countryside and waterside.
Designer:
Original Deerpark course designed by Christy O'Connor Jr & Peter McEvoy; modified by Jeff Howes (1999). Howes also designed Fota Island's nine new holes (2006).
Above distances are for the original Deerpark course. At Fota Island you can also play: the Barryscourt course (par-73; Deerpark front-nine + New-nine; 7362 yards from back-tees) and the Belvelly course (par-72; Deerpark back-nine + New-nine; 7121 yards).
51.898733
-8.290954
12 km E of Cork
Leave the N25 Cork-Waterford road, to the east of Cork, at the R624 exit. Follow the R624 direction Cobh / Fota Island golf. After 330 metres golf is on your right.
Fota Island Golf Club: Located just a few miles from the historic city of Cork, and opening for play in 1993, Fota Island's Deerpark course has frequently been rated one of Ireland's best parkland layouts. It has also been the host venue for Irish Open Championships and the Irish Senior Open.
Always well maintained, the layout contains many excellent and testing golf holes, not least the risk-reward par-5 18th, which reaches down to a small green surrounded on three sides by water. The Deerpark's enjoyably testing character comes from its pleasantly undulating terrain, attractive pockets of woodland, and thick clinging grass beyond the fairways. An abundance of stylish bunkering also adds to the defences, especially around the greens. The putting surfaces here are reputed to be among the slickest and truest you'll find in southwest of Ireland.
A few holes scenically border Lough Mahon, although most make good use of the mature parkland that surrounds Fota House (a stately home not seen from the course). Perhaps the most testing stretch of holes is from the short par-5 10th through to the par-4 14th, where small lakes and ponds are constantly threatening.
In 1999 Jeff Howes substantially upgraded the original Deerpark course. He returned in 2006 to add nine new holes, to create what is now Fota Island's 27-hole layout. When the New-nine is combined with the Deerpark front-nine, the resulting combination is called the Barryscourt course. The New-nine in combination with the Deerpark back-nine is known as the Belvelly course.
Stay&Play at Fota Island: luxury onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Contact club for full details, discounts, Stay&Play packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].
Soft spikes only. Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire.
Good
It is often contended that Fota Island is the site of the second oldest golf course in Ireland, with its opening reported in 1883. However, the old links fell into disrepair shortly after World War One and was subsequently abandoned.
In 1993 a new resort-style course was developed at Fota Island and designed by Christy O'Connor Jr and Peter McEvoy. The course hosted several important tournaments, not least the Irish PGA Championship and three Irish Amateur Opens. Under the direction of Jeff Howes the course was significantly upgraded in 1998/99, later going on to host the Irish Open Championship in 2001 and 2002 (see our Tournaments section >by venue >Fota Island). Jeff Howes returned to add nine new holes at Fota Island in 2006.
Ireland's 52nd best course (Golf World, 2023).
Fota Island, Cork, Co. Cork
+353 (0)21 488 3700
Visit websiteOne of Ireland's newest luxury resort destinations, the Fota Island Hotel & Luxury Spa is tucked amid gorgeous scenery, just north of the large island of Cobh and 20 minutes away from Cork International Airport. Each of the 131 guest rooms and suites are elegantly appointed, many affording panoramic views over the woodlands or the golf course.
Fota Island
Cork
No
Yatch Club Quay, Cobh, nr Cork, Co. Cork
+353 (0)21 481 5566
Visit websiteThe WatersEdge Hotel is a family run boutique hotel nestled in the heart of the historic town of Cobh, formally known as Queenstown in the lower Cork harbour area.
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Fota Island
Cork
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