Hidden GemGreat ValueWild Atlantic Way

Castlegregory Golf Club

Castlegregory, Co. Kerry · Designed by Dr. Arthur Spring (1989)

Castlegregory Golf Links sits on the Maharees — a tombolo, a narrow spit of land built up over 10,000 years from post-glacial sediment deposits, connecting a former island chain to the mainland. Brandon Bay lies to the west and Tralee Bay to the east; at its narrowest the spit is only a few hundred metres wide, which means the course on it is essentially surrounded by water on both sides. Golf.com ranked it the 21st best 9-hole course in the world, and the ranking is easy to understand once you are there.

The original course here dated to 1897 — described in a contemporary guide as "the finest course in the Kingdom of Kerry." The modern club was revived in 1988 and the nine holes were designed by Dr. Arthur Spring in 1989. Lough Gill, a freshwater lake, borders the course on one side; Brandon Bay on the other. Brandon Mountain — 952 metres, the eighth-highest peak in Ireland — rises directly behind. The mountain is named after Saint Brendan the Navigator, born near Tralee around 484 AD, who is said to have sighted the Promised Land of Saints from its summit before his legendary Atlantic voyage. The Cosán na Naomh, the Saints' Road pilgrimage trail, still ends at his oratory on the summit.

Visible across Lough Gill to the southeast is Caherconree — the highest stone promontory fort in Ireland, set into the Slieve Mish mountains at 683 metres. In Irish mythology it was the spinning fort of Cú Roí mac Dáire, a sorcerer-king whose fortress could rotate at night to confuse attackers. Cú Chulainn eventually penetrated it with help from a kidnapped princess who turned a stream white with milk as a signal. That mountain, those stories, and this narrow strip of dunes and sea grass are the same landscape. At €40 for nine holes, the nearest prestige alternative is Tralee Golf Club at €275.

Holes worth knowing

12nd (par-3, 182m) — plateau green set well above tee level, nearly always requiring a fairway metal or rescue club. The hardest shot on the course and the most exposed to the Atlantic wind.
29th (par-3, 149m) — over a small pond to an elusive green set in an amphitheatre of dunes. The perfect closing hole for a nine that has taken everything out of you.

Highlights

Golf.com 21st best 9-hole in world
Brandon Bay & Lough Gill
Caherconree & Cú Chulainn mythology

Good to know

→Ned Natterjack's is the oldest pub in the village — named after the Natterjack toad, which is native to the Maharees and almost nowhere else in Kerry. Traditional, welcoming, and exactly right after a round.
→Spillane's Bar & Restaurant has been serving food for 50 years: crab claws, Cromane mussels, and locally caught fish. The best sit-down meal in the village.
→Dingle is 21km east via Conor Pass — one of Ireland's highest mountain roads, with panoramic views down over Brandon Bay. The drive is part of the experience.
→The Magharee Islands (Seven Hogs) are visible offshore. Illauntannig has a 7th-century monastic settlement you can kayak to in calm weather.
→Play Castlegregory in the morning, walk Brandon Mountain in the afternoon if the weather holds — the summit trail takes about 90 minutes return from Faha village.

Visitor Information

Getting There

30min drive

1h 30min drive

Common questions

What is Castlegregory Golf Club like?

Castlegregory is a nine-hole links on the Dingle Peninsula, looking out across Brandon Bay to the Slieve Mish mountains from one side and the Atlantic from the other. It is the most affordably priced links experience in Kerry — a low-key, unhurried club that provides a genuine links round without any of the formality or cost of the major Kerry venues.

Is a nine-hole links at Castlegregory worth a stop on a Kerry itinerary?

Yes — particularly for golfers who want to play on the Dingle Peninsula, which has no other links of note. The setting between the bay and the mountains is exceptional. Playing 18 holes (two loops of nine) takes around three hours and costs very little. Combine with the Dingle town visit and the Slea Head drive for a full Dingle Peninsula day.

Are there seasonal restrictions at Castlegregory?

Yes — the course has seasonal availability and can be irregular in winter months. It is best to check ahead before visiting outside the April to October season. Booking through GolfNow is straightforward when the course is open.

What else should I do on the Dingle Peninsula?

The Slea Head drive from Dingle town is one of the finest short coastal routes in Europe — the views from Dunmore Head across to the Blasket Islands are extraordinary. Dingle town has excellent seafood restaurants and the Dingle Distillery. The Gallarus Oratory, a 7th-century dry-stone church, is fifteen minutes from Castlegregory.