Donegal

Donegal Golf Club opened in 1960, and despite the venue having more than seven decades of history, the club is still one of the younger ones on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list.  13 years later, the club moved to its current location on the Murvagh Peninsula, with Eddie Hackett using Muirfield as a template for the design.  Pat Ruddy has since had a hand in redesigning a number of holes on the layout, while the brand-new clubhouse was opened in 1998.

If you want to play Donegal from the tips, then be prepared for how brutal your round will be! The Championship tees play at more than 7,450 yards, with just a single par 4 at less than 400 yards, and with three of the par 3s playing at 200 or more. If you want a fairer test, then there are five teeing options, with the course playing as a Par 73 through all of them.  The course begins with a gentle opening hole compared to what is to come. The 1st at Donegal is a 530-yard par 5 which kinks right and then left to the green. For the longer hitters, the opener could be reached in two, but for us mere mortals, laying up to a nice distance can get your round off to a good start. From there, you then get two of the hardest holes on the course and two par 3s of more than 200 yards to follow.  The 2nd is 466 yards from the back tees and features out of bounds down its right side. 3 is the first of those par 3s to hit more than 200, at 212 yards. The 4th is the hardest hole on the course, a par 4 measuring 513 from the tips. Fortunately for those playing off either the whites or oranges, that number comes down to 430 yards. If the distance wasn’t tough enough, there are also ten bunkers in play.  The 5th is the second par 3 at Donegal and called ‘Valley of Tears’. It features a long and narrow green, with five greenside bunkers there to catch any mishit shots. 6 is the easiest hole on the front nine, a par 5 of just 514 yards, and it is the first hole where Murvagh Beach can come into play. 7 and 8 also play with the beach on your right, with the 8th green sitting right next to the sand. That comes at the end of the third par 5 on the front nine, with the 9th hole bringing the opening side to a close with one of the shorter par 4s on the property – measuring just 401 yards from the tips.  The shortest par 4 comes next, with the 10th at just 390 yards. It is a dog-leg left and features three greenside bunkers. The fairway pinches in on 11 in the landing zone, with bunkers either side, while the 12th is the longest hole on the course. At 595 yards from the tips, there is also plenty of trouble on 12, including bunkers and a narrow ditch which runs across the fairway in the lay-up area. 13 is then the shortest hole at Donegal, at just 183 yards.   The 14th kicks off the closing stretch, with the hardest hole on the back nine. This 565-yard par 5 also features the same ditch that runs through 12, along with nine bunkers. 15 is a straightforward par 4, with the 16th being the longest of the par 3s at 248 yards from the tips. With six bunkers and a waste area to avoid with what will probably be at least a long iron, it is a very difficult shot. The last two holes at Donegal are both par 4s, and both play as dog-legs to the left. The last brings you back to the clubhouse, with a green surrounded by sand traps.

Peter Rudd: Another course with a memorable setting, Donegal’s routing is very much like that of Muirfield with the front nine moving clockwise.

Steve Carroll: Strap yourself in for a links that will test every facet of your game. The stretch from the middle of the front nine to the turn is exceptional.

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Where is Donegal Golf Club located?  
Donegal Golf Club is located in County Donegal, with the course backing on to the western coastline of Ireland. Looking out over Murvagh Beach and to the North Atlantic Ocean, the course is situated on the Wild Atlantic Way. The course sits just off the N15, which runs from Sligo to Lifford through Donegal. The town of Donegal is eight miles north of the golf club, with Sligo around 50 miles south.  Sligo is also the home to the nearest train station, with trains running to and from Dublin Connolly. Donegal Airport is in the northern section of the county, but only operates flights to Dublin and Glasgow. For those coming from further afield, then either the City of Derry Airport, Belfast Airport or Dublin Airport will need to be used. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?
One of the closest venues to Donegal which is also a part of the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list is based across the border in Northern Ireland. That is Lough Erne, which is around 35 miles to the southeast. In the Republic, the trio of County Sligo, Strandhill and Narin & Portnoo Links are all within a 40-mile drive of Donegal.
What golf facilities does Donegal Golf Club offer?  
Away from the course, Donegal Golf Club is also the home to a wonderful practice area. There is a driving range to the right side of the 1st hole, along with a short game area that features a putting green, chipping green and bunkers to practice from. 
What are the green fees at Donegal Golf Club?  
The price of a green fee at Donegal 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 Donegal, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   Visit Donegal's website here (opens in a new tab). Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.