Ballybunion (Cashen)

Like a lot of venues that you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list, Ballybunion is blessed to have two courses that claim a spot. 

 

The Cashen Course is the second of those offerings, sitting on the south side of the resort with holes playing alongside Cashen Beach. 

 

The great Robert Trent Jones Sr. was the man to design the Cashen Course, which was opened in the mid-1980s. The venue is also home to the Old Course.

 

  

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Ballybunion Golf Club was founded in 1893, and the venue is one of the oldest golf clubs in the entirety of Ireland.  

 

The Old Course was built back then, but it was almost 90 years before the Cashen Course was designed and constructed on land to the south of the Old Course. 

 

Named the Cashen Course after Cashen Beach to its west, it was Robert Trent Jones Sr behind the design of the course. It opened in the mid-1980s.  
 

Robert Trent Jones Sr’s design of the Cashen Course is a beauty with the land that was available to him. It is not the longest course in the world, coming in at just 6,300 yards and playing as a Par 72. However, with the wind coming in off the North Atlantic Ocean, scores are difficult to come by.  

 

The 72 is split into an opening nine of 37 with three par 5s, with the course opening with a 510-yard par 5. Seven bunkers and a slight dog-leg right get you underway, with the long par 4 2nd to follow. The 3rd and 6th are the two par 3s on the opening side of the course, both playing just over 150 yards long.

 

There are nine bunkers on the 4th, while the 5th is only 310 yards long and longer hitters may be tempted to take it on. The 5th green is one of the narrowest you will ever find, which may put some off from taking the green on with their drive. 

 

The going gets tougher around the turn, especially with the 8th and 9th holes on the Cashen Course. Prior to that, the 7th takes you along the coastline, with anything left off the tee finding Cashen Beach. 8 is the longest hole on the course, pushing past the 600-yard mark from the tips.

 

The 9th may only be 480 yards and play as a par 5, but the fairway pinches in at the landing zone for most drivers, while the green is also narrow. A par is a good score to finish the front nine on the Cashen. The back nine begins with a tight dog-leg right par 4 that requires an accurate drive before a wedge to the green.

 

Back-to-back par 3s follow at 11 and 12, with the former being the shortest hole on the course at just 140 yards long. 13 and 14 run parallel to each other and are par 4s of 400 yards in length, neither of which features any real hazard unless you go way offline with your tee shots.

 

The closing stretch on the Cashen Course begins with the par 5 15th. It is one of two par 5s on the run in to the clubhouse, with the other coming at the 17th. Both are less than 490 yards from the tips, with the 17th green perched almost on the beach. Anything left with your approach will find the sand. The closing hole takes you back inland to the clubhouse, with a final par 4. At just 385 yards, this provides one last birdie chance, but only if you find the fairway down 18. 
 

Where is Ballybunion Golf Club located?
Ballybunion Golf Club is located to the south of the town of Ballybunion in County Kerry, on the southwest coast of Ireland. Situated on the coast, the two courses both overlook the North Atlantic Ocean, over Ballybunion Beach. The cities of Killarney and Limerick are both around 50 miles away from Ballybunion Golf Club.

The nearest train station is housed in Tralee, which is around 20 miles to the south of the golf club. Kerry Airport is within 30 miles of Ballybunion, while Shannon Airport is around double that distance to the north - however, it has a much wider variety in flights and destinations.

 

How many courses are at Ballybunion Golf Club?
Ballybunion Golf Club is home to two wonderful courses, both of which are proudly on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list. They are the Old Course and the Cashen Course.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?
The stunning links of Tralee is 20 miles to the soth of Ballybunion, while Killarney, with its Mahony's Point and Killeen Courses, along with Dooks and Adare Manor - host of the 2027 Ryder Cup - are around all 40 miles from the coastal venue.

What golf facilities does Ballybunion Golf Club offer?  
Along with the 36 holes of golf, Ballybunion also offers its members and guests a full-length driving range, along with a short game area, complete with two bunkers, and a putting green.
 

What are the green fees at Ballybunion Golf Club?
The price of a green fee at Ballybunion Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Ballybunion, visit their website here. 

Visit Ballybunion's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.