Championship VenueLinks ClassicWild Atlantic Way

Ballyliffin Golf Club — Glashedy Links

Ballyliffin, Co. Donegal · Designed by Pat Ruddy / Tom Craddock · Est. 1995

Ballyliffin is 10 miles south of Malin Head, Ireland's most northerly point, on the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal. It is a long way from anywhere, and that is entirely the point. The Glashedy Links — designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, opened in 1995 — sits on 365 acres of Atlantic duneland bounded by hills on one side and the sea on the other. Offshore, Glashedy Rock rises from Pollan Bay the way Ailsa Craig sits off Turnberry. The comparison is apt in more ways than geography.

The course stretches to 7,542 yards with nine par-4s over 400 yards and greens that pitch and slope with the natural dune terrain. The routing takes you deep into the dunes from the first tee and keeps you there. There is no shelter and no soft option. On the elevated holes, the Atlantic wind arrives without warning and from any direction. It is one of the most demanding championship links in Ireland and one of the least crowded.

In July 2018 the Irish Open came to Ballyliffin — its first venture to the northwest of Ireland. Over 94,000 spectators attended across four days. Russell Knox birdied the 18th with a 40-footer to force a playoff, then did it again to beat Ryan Fox. Local observers compared it to Donegal hosting the World Cup. The course handled a major championship without difficulty, and its profile has been building ever since.

Holes worth knowing

17th (par-3, 174 yards): From a tee box elevated approximately 120 feet above the green, the hole drops into a natural dune basin with a kidney-shaped green surrounded by bunkers on all four sides. Mountain and floodplain views open up behind it. One of the great one-shot holes in Irish golf.

Highlights

Irish Open 2018 host
Ireland's most northerly links
Inishowen Peninsula setting

Good to know

→The Old Links is the other 18-hole course on site — €300 for a round, or €550 for both in a day. Two rounds is the right way to do Ballyliffin if you can manage it.
→The drive from Dublin is 4+ hours. Fly into City of Derry (45 minutes away) or stay two nights — one night is not enough to justify the journey.
→Malin Head is 10 miles north and worth the detour. Ireland's most northerly point — dramatic cliffs, a Napoleonic lookout tower, and Farren's Bar, the most northerly pub in Ireland.
→Five Finger Strand, 15 minutes away, is one of the best beaches in Donegal. Go at low tide when the sand stretches for miles.
→Tee times are available every day and genuinely easy to get — a rare thing for a course of this quality. You do not need to plan a year in advance.

Visitor Information

Getting There

1h drive

1h 30min drive

Common questions

Is Ballyliffin worth the journey to Donegal?

Ballyliffin is Ireland's most northerly links — approximately two and a half hours from Belfast, four from Dublin. That distance is precisely the point. The Inishowen Peninsula is one of the most remote and beautiful parts of Ireland, and the Glashedy Links, designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, is a savage and beautiful course that rewards the effort of getting there. It hosted the Irish Open in 2018.

How do I book Ballyliffin Golf Club?

Book directly through the Ballyliffin Golf Club website. The club offers both the Glashedy Links and the Old Course. City of Derry Airport (LDY) is the most practical flying option, about one hour south.

Do I need a handicap to play Ballyliffin Glashedy Links?

A handicap certificate is required. The course is long, exposed to Atlantic weather, and demands accurate driving. Men should have a handicap of 24 or under; women 36 or under. The Old Course at Ballyliffin is more accessible and provides an excellent contrast on a two-day visit.

What else can I do near Ballyliffin?

Malin Head — Ireland's most northerly point — is less than thirty minutes from the club. The drive around the Inishowen Peninsula via Buncrana and Moville is excellent. For golf, there is nothing else at Ballyliffin's level close by, which is part of its appeal.