Bunclody

An elevator on a golf course? Ever seen that before? Make the trip to Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club and you can tick that off the list.

It is one of the most unique features on a golf course anywhere in the world, and just part of the charm of this Jeff Howes design.

The course, which is in the southeastern corner of Ireland, only opened in 2009, but it is a proper test of golfing ability.

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Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club is one of the newest golfing venues in the country, having only opened in 2009.

The parkland layout was designed by Jeff Howes, whose portfolio also includes Fota Island, Mount Juliet and The Island.

The design also includes one of the most unique features you will ever find on a golf course – an elevator. This was added due to the five-storey difference between the 17th green and 18th tee box.

So along with something that you have probably never seen on a golf course before, what else does the layout at Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club have to offer? Well, it is a stunning parkland track which pushes past the 7,000-yard mark from the tips, with a number of holes sitting very close to the banks of the River Barrow. Tree-lined fairways and the typical array of large bunkers that you associate with championship-style courses are also a huge factor during a round at Bunclody. Playing as a par 71, the trio of par 5s all come on the front nine.

The first of that trio comes at the opening hole. The 1st is the longest hole on the property at more than 580 yards from the tips and plays as a glorious dog-leg left. A trio of bunkers sit on the inside corner of the dog-leg, with five more in your way on route to the green. The 2nd is the first of seven par 4s that are of more than 400 yards in length. Moving slightly to the right, around a pair of bunkers on the inside corner, the green is flanked on its left by a water hazard, making the right side the best side to miss this putting surface. The 3rd is also a par 5, and another that moves to the left – this time around a forest of trees. Water is in play down the right side as well, so accuracy is key off the tee.

Eight bunkers are in play on the par 4 4th, along with the water hazard that sits in between 3 and 4. The two par 3s on the front nine come at 5 and 7. The former is 215 yards from the tips, with a water hazard sitting front right of the green, so the miss is to the left. The 7th is some 40 yards shorter, with short being the miss, thanks to the River Barrow sitting behind the green. In between those is the short par 4 6th hole. It plays as a strong dog-leg left, with your tee shot needing to reach the corner to give you a view of the green. 8 is the last of the par 5s at Bunclody, one that winds its way along the banks of the Barrow – the river on your right throughout. It is the shortest of the par 5s at 540 yards from the back tees.

From there, you hit a run of five consecutive par 4s. The 9th is the shortest of those at just 315 yards, and arguably the best birdie chance in the round. 10 and 11 both move from right to left, with the fairway on the opening hole of the back nine being generous. The 11th fairway is much tighter, and there are also two large bunkers protecting the putting surface. 12 pushes the 450-yard mark, but with a wide fairway to aim for, you can try and muscle one out there as far as you can from the tee. A cluster of six traps sit to the right of the green. The 13th is the last of this run of par 4s, and again, there is a generous landing zone. The green has no sand around it, but this time, there are trees encroaching.

The closing stretch features the two par 3s on the back nine at Bunclody. 14 features a quartet of bunkers surrounded the putting surface, while the penultimate hole has the Barrow on its left, but it shouldn’t really come into play. At 175 yards, it is not the longest, but the green is small. In between sit two brutal par 4s, both of which are at least 450 yards. 15 has a lone tree in the centre of the fairway which should be your aiming point, before you then have to carry your approach over a burn to find the putting surface. 16 is a dog-leg eft winding its way around the River Barrow. Two bunkers sit on the outside corner of the dog-leg, with one more between the green and the water’s edge.

You then take the elevator to climb the five-storey rise from the 17th green to the 18th tee, before taking on the final challenge that this Howes design has to offer. It is a 475-yard par 4 from the tips, with trees lining both sides of the fairway. The hole moves slightly from left to right, culminating with a green that has water to its left and sand to its right. Come away with a par or better at the last, and you will be smiling all the way to the clubhouse.

Where is Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club located?

Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club is located in the southeastern corner of the Republic of Ireland, situated in County Carlow. The course sits on the banks of the River Barrow, which operates as the border between Co. Carlow and Co. Wexford. The course is just to the north of the town of Bunclody, with the N80 running through the town.

The nearest train station to Bunclody sits in Munie Bheag, but that is some 15 miles to the west of the venue. For international visitors to the region, Dublin Airport is around 80 miles to the north of Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club, situated to the north of the nation’s capital. Rosslare Harbour, which has ferries to and from Fishguard Harbour in Wales, is around 40 miles south of Bunclody.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?

The closest venue to Bunclody on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list is Carlow, which is around 20 miles to the northwest of the venue. Mount Juliet and the Brittas Bay Club (formerly The European) are also within a 50-mile drive.

What golf facilities does Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club offer?

At the heart of the property, there is a full-sized driving range. The Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club also has its own short game area and putting green as well.

What are the green fees at Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club?

The price of a green fee at Bunclody Golf and Fishing 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 Bunclody, visit their website here.

Visit Bunclody’s website here.

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.