Cliff Road,
Waterville, Co. Kerry
Office
+353 (0)66 947 4102Pro shop
+353 (0)66 947 4545Fax
+353 (0)66 947 4482Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Brian Higgins, Liam Higgins and David HigginsThe Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Eddie Hackett & Claude Harmon designed the current layout (early 1970s). Significant changes made by Tom Fazio (2006/7).
51.839148
-10.195001
2 km NW of Waterville (village) / 62 km SW of Killarney.
From Killarney take the N72 to Killorglin and then the N70 Ring of Kerry direction Cahersiveen. After approx 55 km from Killorglin follow signs to golf as you approach Waterville.
Waterville
Waterville Golf Links: Drive as far west as you can on the Ring of Kerry, and stop at Ballinskelligs Bay. Go to the water's edge, and here you'll find the superb Waterville Golf Links. The natural splendour of this remote location, and its impressive golf course have long given Waterville a reputation known throughout the golfing world. Recent enhancements to the course by designer Tom Fazio, have simply added to its revered status as one of Ireland's best.
Waterville promises an unforgettable golf experience. Making sure of that is the excellence of the two nine-hole loops, with each delivering panoramic sea and estuary views. The marginally flatter front-nine quickly brings you down to the River Inny estuary, which hugs the rightside of the par-4 3rd and par-3 4th holes.
The back-nine gets you deeper into Waterville's impressive sand dunes, with many fabulous holes to be played. Long par-4s and short par-5s present their own challenges, with plenty of pot bunkers to be avoided. The closing three-hole stretch is played alongside Ballinskelligs Bay, which opens out onto the North Atlantic. Breathtaking views, freshening winds and O'Grady's beach await at this fabulous final stretch.
Golfers who have made the highly pleasurable golfing pilgrimage to South-west Ireland, know it is home to some of the world's most scenic links golf courses. And among them all, Waterville is often the most affectionately remembered. A course to captivate the soul, fire the imagination and hopefully bring out the very best in your game.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].
Soft spikes encouraged. Players generally walk this course. Golf carts and/or caddies available (if pre-booked).
Good
Waterville Golf Links were rescued from near extinction in the 1960s by an Irish-American, Jack Mulcahy, who bought the club and set about transforming it into today's world-class venue. The late Payne Stewart had a special affection for Waterville, which is marked by a life-size statue of him at the club.
Ireland's 7th best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 22nd best course (Golf World, 2024).
World's 36th best public access course (Golf World, 2023). Formerly ranked world's 97th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2019; not in subsequent editions of this ranking).
Waterville, Co. Kerry
+353 (0)66 947 4144
Visit websiteOne of Ireland's best known family-run hotels, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by spectacular scenery.
No
Waterville
No
Waterville, Co. Kerry
+353 (0)66 74102
Visit websiteWaterville House is a 4-star, 18th century manor house. The property features the natural beauty of a forty acre estate on the Atlantic and the most famous sea trout and salmon fishery in Ireland. Preferential tee-times on Waterville Links are available to Waterville House guests.
Waterville
No
No
The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.
Tournament of Champions: the LPGA Tour’s 2025 season is launched at Lake Nona with the their Tournament of Champions (Jan 30-Feb 2). The 2024 edition gave Lydia Ko her 20th LPGA Tour title.
Attahya Thitikul: also known as “Jeeno”, the Thai golfer won the LPGA Tour’s 2024 CME Group Tour Championship … and an eye-watering $4 million, the richest first-prize in women’s golf.
Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
