Bucket ListChampionship VenueLinks ClassicWild Atlantic Way

Doonbeg Golf Club

Doonbeg, Co. Clare · Designed by Greg Norman · Est. 2002

Greg Norman made 23 site visits before settling on a routing for Doonbeg. When he first saw the land — a crescent-shaped horseshoe of Atlantic duneland between Doughmore Bay and a freshwater lagoon on the Clare coast — he said he thought he was the luckiest designer in the world. The course opened in 2002. Golf Digest named it the best new international course of that year. Norman's approach throughout was deliberate restraint: 14 greens and 12 fairways were simply mown into the existing dune landscape with minimal earthmoving. The dunes did most of the work.

The resort was acquired by the Trump Organization in 2014 and rebranded Trump International Golf Links. Whatever your view of that, the golf course is exceptional. Following the acquisition, Martin Hawtree was brought in to rebuild all 18 greens and reroute several holes after storm damage. The course today plays slightly differently to Norman's original design but the site — soaring dunes rising almost 100 feet above the Atlantic shoreline, Atlantic views from 16 of 18 holes — is unchanged.

The course features five par-3s and five par-5s rather than the traditional four of each. The short holes in particular are outstanding. Coastal erosion is an ongoing reality here — some of what you see will look different in 20 years.

Holes worth knowing

114th (par-3, 111–138 yards): Bunkerless, with the tee elevated above a natural dune valley and the green below it. The hole plays short but the topography does the work — miss the green and the recovery is anything but routine. One of the most unusual and memorable par-3s on the Clare coast.

Highlights

Greg Norman design
Atlantic dune amphitheatre
Resort hotel on site

Good to know

→Morrissey's Bar & Restaurant in Doonbeg village has a Michelin Bib Gourmand — wild crab claws, local salmon, Atlantic seafood chowder. The best meal near the course outside the resort itself.
→Lahinch is approximately 25km north — a completely different kind of links and a natural second-day pairing. The two courses complement each other well.
→The resort is now Trump International Golf Links. Book through their website directly; the golf operation is run professionally and the hospitality is five-star regardless of the branding.
→The course has five par-3s — unusual for a links. Plan your round knowing the short holes are where the real scoring decisions happen.
→Doonbeg village itself is tiny. The Wild Atlantic Way runs right through it, which means passing cyclists and walkers most days in summer.

Visitor Information

Getting There

1h drive

2h drive

Common questions

What is Doonbeg Golf Club like to play?

Doonbeg is a Greg Norman design built into extraordinary dune land on the Clare coast — a narrow horseshoe between the Atlantic and a freshwater lagoon that created some of the most dramatic natural terrain available to any golf architect. Several holes play along the cliff edge above the sea. Wind dictates everything. The course is immaculate and genuinely bucket-list.

How do I book Doonbeg Golf Club?

Book through the Doonbeg Resort website. The course is operated as part of the Trump Hotels Doonbeg resort and is primarily set up for resort guests, though day visitors are accepted subject to availability. Booking well in advance is advisable for peak summer months.

Is Doonbeg worth the price?

The course is excellent — the dune terrain is extraordinary and the conditions are immaculate. Whether the premium price is justified depends on what you value. For golfers visiting Ireland primarily for links golf, Lahinch Old Course thirty minutes north offers comparable course quality at a fraction of the cost. For those who want the full resort experience on the Clare coast, Doonbeg is unmatched.

What other courses should I combine with Doonbeg?

Lahinch Old Course is thirty minutes north and is the natural second day. Together, Doonbeg and Lahinch form the strongest two-course Clare combination. Shannon Airport is about one hour northeast. Ballybunion in Kerry is ninety minutes south via the Killimer ferry across the Shannon Estuary.