County Sligo

Affectionately known as Rosses Point due to its location, akin to Doonbeg and Trump Ireland, County Sligo Golf Club is a jewel on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland.

The club is situated on Rosses Point and offers incredible views of Sligo Bay and the Benbulben Mountain. The course is a championship links course which uses its surroundings to its advantage, with those views and the dunescape that the course winds its way through being the perfect combination. 

Originally laid out in 1894, the course was completely redesigned by Harry Colt into the course that is still there today. Only two holes remain from the original Willie Campbell course. 


Visit County Sligo's website here.
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County Sligo Golf Club was founded in 1894, with an original six-hole lay-out being designed by Mr. H. Campbell Perry & Co. Two years later, the course was extended to nine holes by George Combe, with Captain Willie Campbell then designing the first 18-hole lay-out at County Sligo in the 1900s.
 
In 1927, the legendary Harry Colt arrived in County Sligo and began working on the course. He created an almost-brand new links course, using just two of the holes from the Campbell design, which are now the 12th and 13th holes.

In 2014, Pat Ruddy, a respected figure in the world of golf course architecture, took on the task of enhancing the Championship Course. These modifications included extending holes and adding bunkers to make it into the test it is today.

The club has been a host to several major golf championships, including the West of Ireland Championship, which is played each Easter at County Sligo. Both Men's and Women's Home Internationals have also been played at the club.
 

Harry Colt's design is one of the best in the country, and thanks to the extensions, the course now measures out at more than 7,150 yards. As a Par 71, it is an extremely tough test from the back tees. Only three of the par 4s are less than 400 yards from the tips, and they are the 1st, 2nd and the 18th.

It is a gentle opening hole to ease you into the round, with just a couple of bunkers by the green. However, don't go long or its a lost ball on the first! At only 320 yards, you might think the 2nd hole is an easy birdie, but the hole plays severely uphill, making it feel closer to 375. 

The opening par 5 is the 3rd hole, which measures close to 600 yards from the tips. It plays downhill from the tee, with a dog-leg left and a drop in the fairway at around 315 yards. The 4th is the first par 3, and despite having no bunkers, there is still plenty to watch out for. 5 is a solid par 5 at 540 yards, before the next three par 4s are all over 430 yards. The last of those, the 8th, is more than 480 yards from the back tees, making it the longest par 4 on the course. There is also a burn in front of the green, just for that extra problem. 

The closing hole on the front nine also the shortest hole on the course at 167 yards. 10 and 11 are strong par 4s, with both at more than 460 yards, before the par 5 12th hole takes you out to the coastline. From there, 13 through to 16 all play with the coast down their right side. 

The 13th is one of the signature holes at County Sligo. A downhill par 3 to a green surrounded by five bunkers and a burn on the back right, club selection is vital. The long par 4s keep coming at you on the back nine, with 14, 15 and 17 all measuring comfortably more than 400 yards.

The 16th is the final par 3 on the golf course, and it's a good one! 'Knocknarea' measures 210 yards from the tips and anything right will see you reaching into your bag for another golf ball. The closing hole features the only blind tee shot on the course, with the longer hitters able to aim further right. Three bunkers are greenside, with the clubhouse looking on.

 

Where is County Sligo Golf Club located?
County Sligo Golf Club is located in Rosses Point, on the western coastline of the Republic of Ireland. The course overlooks Oyster Island, Coney Island and The Metal Man, with views out to the North Atlantic Ocean as well. The town of Sligo is five miles east of the golf club.

 

The nearest train station to the club is the Sligo Train Station, also known as Sligo Mac Diarmada Railway Station, located in Sligo Town, which is a short drive away. For international visitors, Ireland West Airport Knock is the closest, around 40 miles to the south of County Sligo.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?
County Sligo - to which the golf course takes its name - is also home to Strandhill, which sits ten miles away from Rosses Point. Donegal and Enniscrone are also within 40 miles, while Lough Erne - which sits across the border in Northern Ireland - is less than 50 miles from County Sligo.

What golf facilities does County Sligo offer?  
Along with the Championship Course, County Sligo is also home to the 9-hole Bomore Course, which plays much the same as the Championship thanks to being on the same sort of turf. There is also a driving range, short game area and putting green as part of the Academy at County Sligo.
 

What are the green fees at County Sligo Golf Club?
The price of a green fee at County Sligo 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 County Sligo, visit their website here. 

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