Dooks

Dooks Golf Club was founded in 1889, making it one of the five oldest links courses in Ireland. It was originally a 9-hole course when it was laid out at the end of the 19th Century.  It wasn’t until the 1970s that the course was expanded to 18 holes. This was done by the members, who designed and built the second set of nine to add to the original course.  At the start of the 21st Century, the great Martin Hawtree was brought in to revamp the course, and what a job he did, with the result being an unqualified success.

Hawtree’s redesign saw the course extended to 6,500 yards from the back tees. That isn’t the longest course you will find on any of our lists, but don’t be fooled. It might be shorter than some, but the course is set to test every club in your bag, especially if there is a “gentle breeze” coming in off the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean.   The majority of the course plays in an east-west direction, with the holes around the turn playing north-south, so the wind will hit you from all angles during a round at Dooks. The course plays at just over 6,500 yards from the blue tees, with the Par 71 course featuring three par 5s and a quartet of short holes.  The opening hole plays with out of bounds down its left edge, providing a tricky start to proceedings. The 2nd and 3rd are both short par 4s with dog-legs, 2 to the left and 3 to the right, before the par 3 4th holes plays alongside the coastline. Just one bunker in front protects the green, apart from the mounds around the back. Don’t get distracted by the views of the beach and the coastline to your left.   5 and 7 are the two longest par 4s on the property, with the latter pushing past 460 yards from the back tees. They both play west to east, with the 6th sitting in between them and going back towards the coast. 6 is the first of the three par 5s, which come in a run of five holes around the turn. It is the easiest hole on the card, and at just 472 yards, you can understand why. The 8th is the second of the four par 3s at Dooks, and the longest at 180 yards.  9 and 10 offer up back-to-back par 5s, but they are not necessarily birdie opportunities. The closing hole on the front side is a straight away par 5 which runs back towards the western coastline, while 10 plays along the northern coastline of the property, with any drive pulled left having the chance of hitting the beach. At 560 yards, the 10th is easily the longest hole on the course. It is also the last of the par 5s at Dooks. 11 and 13 are the two short holes on the back nine, with the latter making an appearance in a Jeff Barr book.  “It is a throwback to the time when golf first started walking. The green was placed where Mother Nature intended... Scenic. Tough. Traditional. The way the game was meant to be.” - Terry Jacoby in ‘1001 Golf Holes You Must Play Before You Die’  Dooks finishes with a run of five straight par 4s, and it saves two of the hardest holes on the course for the very end of your round. There is some respite on the 15th and 16th – the former being a quirky dog-leg right while there is no real danger on 16 apart from a couple of greenside bunkers. 17 and 18 are straightaway par 4s, with the penultimate hole being the hardest on the handicap index. Dooks closes with a 420-yard par 4, one final true test of your game before you’re finished.

Lewis Marr: You have to wait until the walk from 1st green to 2nd tee until you get a sense of what is to be expected for the rest of the round. Dooks was the course that surprised me the most, for the better, the routing and condition was fantastic.

Ed Battye: Dooks is just an absolute joy to play. It’s a golf course that encourages shot making for better players yet is truly playable for all abilities. What more could you desire?

Peter Rudd: Great links course in an amazing setting. Very underrated.

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Where is Dooks Golf Club located?  
Dooks Golf Club sits in the southwestern corner of Ireland, in County Kerry. It is between the towns of Dooks, Glenbeigh and Cromane, around half an hour from both Killarney and Tralee. The course is based on the coastline of the country, looking out over Dooks Bay to Rossbeigh Strand and to the North Atlantic Ocean.   Trains do not run as far as Dooks on the Irish network. For those travelling by rail to the region, the train runs as far as Tralee. From there, guests will have to get a taxi or bus to make their way southwest towards Dooks. For those coming from further afield, Kerry Airport is the closest to Dooks Golf Club, but it is not the largest. The majority of international travellers will land in Dublin, the Irish capital. Dublin Airport is around a four-hour drive to Dooks. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?
Killarney - home to the Mahony's Point Course and the Killeen Course - is 20 miles to the east of Dooks. Waterville and Tralee are both 30 miles from Dooks, while Ceann Sibeal is also within a 50-mile drive.
What golf facilities does Dooks Golf Club offer?  
There is not a driving range at Dooks, but the course is home to a short game area and a separate putting green by the first tee. The short game area features a chipping green and a couple of bunkers so golfers can practice those short sand shots.  
What are the green fees at Dooks Golf Club?  
The price of a green fee at Dooks 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 Dooks, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   Visit Dooks' website here (opens in a new tab). Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.