Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland
Old Head Golf Links
There is nowhere else like Old Head. Built on a dramatic clifftop peninsula jutting into the Atlantic, with 300-foot cliffs on three sides, it is the most visually spectacular golf course in Ireland — and one of the most extraordinary in the world.
About the Course
Old Head Golf Links
Old Head Golf Links opened in 1997 on a dramatic headland near Kinsale in County Cork — a narrow peninsula jutting two miles into the Atlantic, with 300-foot cliffs on three sides. The course was designed by Ron Kirby and Joe Carr on land that was previously inaccessible to the public, and the result is one of the most visually spectacular golf experiences in the world.
The course is built on the site of an ancient Celtic fort, and the history of the headland — which has been inhabited for more than 2,000 years — adds a dimension to the experience that goes beyond golf. The lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula, the ruins of the old fort, and the views across the Atlantic to the Fastnet Rock create a setting of extraordinary drama.
Old Head is not a traditional links in the purest sense — the terrain is more clifftop than dune — but the wind, the sea, and the natural ground conditions give it an authentic links character. It is a course that demands respect and rewards the golfer who manages the conditions with intelligence and patience.
By the Numbers
Course Statistics
Based on course length, terrain & layout
Handicap index suggested for full enjoyment
The Course
Why It Stands Out
The Most Spectacular Setting in Irish Golf
Old Head is built on a narrow peninsula jutting two miles into the Atlantic, with 300-foot cliffs on three sides. There is no other golf course in Ireland — and very few in the world — that offers this level of visual drama. Every hole has a view that stops you in your tracks.
The Clifftop Holes
Several holes at Old Head run directly along the clifftop edge, with the Atlantic 300 feet below. The combination of the height, the exposure, and the views across the ocean creates a playing experience that is unlike anything else in golf. It is simultaneously terrifying and magnificent.
The Ancient Headland
Old Head has been inhabited for more than 2,000 years — the ruins of an ancient Celtic fort, a lighthouse, and centuries of history give the headland a character that goes far beyond golf. Playing here is to walk ground that has been significant to human beings for millennia.
A Unique Experience
Old Head is not for every golfer — the green fees reflect the exclusivity of the experience, and the course demands a certain level of ability to be fully enjoyed. But for those who make the journey, it is an experience that stays with them for the rest of their golfing lives.
The Course
Course Views
Extend Your Itinerary
The Cork & Kerry Links — A Complete Atlantic Programme
Old Head sits at the southern end of Ireland's greatest links corridor. The Kerry courses — Ballybunion, Waterville, and Tralee — are within 70 miles to the north, and the Clare courses — Lahinch and Doonbeg — are within a day's drive, making Old Head the dramatic conclusion to a full southwest Atlantic links itinerary.
Golf Travel
How It Is Included
Old Head is the dramatic finale of our Southwest Atlantic Links collection — a programme that brings together Ireland's finest Atlantic links in a single, purposeful itinerary. We arrange tee times, accommodation in Kinsale and Kerry, and every detail of the routing.
To explore how Old Head fits into a wider route, visit our Southwest Atlantic Links Collection page or our Ireland golf tours page.
Begin Your Journey
Play Old Head Golf Links
Speak with our team to arrange tee times at Old Head and build a private itinerary across the Southwest Atlantic Links of Cork and Kerry.
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