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Old Head Golf Links

Kinsale, Co. Cork · Designed by Ron Kirby / Eddie Hackett · Est. 1997

Old Head is a 220-acre diamond-shaped headland that juts two miles into the Atlantic south of Kinsale, with 300-foot cliffs on nearly all sides. Nine holes play directly along the clifftops. The lighthouse beyond the 18th green has been operating since 1853. There is nowhere in Ireland — and very few places in the world — where the setting so completely overwhelms the golf itself. That is not a criticism. It is simply the truth about what kind of place this is.

The O'Connor brothers acquired the headland in 1989. Designer Ron Kirby lived on-site during construction, reportedly trying 41 different routings in his drive to place every possible hole as close to the cliff edges as he could. The course opened in 1997. It is not a traditional links — the terrain is rock, not sand — and purists will note that the golf architecture, stripped of the scenery, is good rather than great. That debate misses the point. You do not come here to admire the bunkering.

The headland has its own weight of history. The RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat 12 miles offshore on May 7, 1915, and sank in 18 minutes with the loss of 1,198 lives. Standing on the clifftops at Old Head, you are looking roughly at where it happened. It adds something to the place that is hard to articulate.

Holes worth knowing

14th — "The Razor's Edge": The entire left side of the fairway runs along the cliff with a 300-foot drop to the Atlantic below. It is one of the most photographed holes in golf, and the photograph does not exaggerate.
217th — "Lighthouse" (par-5, 623 yards): Plays southeast along the ocean cliffs from tee to green with a 75-foot elevation drop. The black and white lighthouse sits at the tip of the headland beyond. One of the longest and most exposed finishing stretches in Irish golf.

Highlights

300ft clifftop above Atlantic
Nine holes along the cliff edge
Lighthouse at the 18th

Good to know

→Kinsale is 20 minutes away and one of the best food towns in Ireland — it has a Michelin-starred restaurant (Bastion) and a genuine gourmet culture for a town of 5,000 people.
→Fishy Fishy on the harbour in Kinsale is the best lunch in the area — Martin Shanahan is one of Ireland's leading seafood chefs. No bookings taken; arrive early.
→The Lusitania Memorial Garden in Kinsale has a bronze memorial listing all 1,198 passengers and crew who died offshore. Worth visiting alongside the round.
→The course is rock, not sand, so it plays differently from a traditional links — firmer underfoot, less bounce. Factor this into your club selection on approach shots.
→Book at least a year ahead for summer tee times. The course is closed through winter and reopens in late April.

Visitor Information

Getting There

45min drive

2h drive

Common questions

Is Old Head Golf Links worth the cost?

Old Head is the most expensive course in Ireland and the most dramatic in setting. The headland juts 100 metres above the Atlantic on three sides — several holes play directly along the clifftop with nothing but ocean below. Whether the golf itself justifies the price is a question of personal taste, but as a single experience — the visual drama, the wind, the exposure — there is nothing else like it in Ireland.

How do I book Old Head Golf Links?

Book directly through the Old Head website. It is popular with international visitors, particularly Americans — morning peak times in summer should be booked well in advance. The drive from Cork city is about forty-five minutes via Kinsale.

What are the conditions like at Old Head?

Old Head is one of the most exposed courses in Ireland — the headland has no shelter from the Atlantic wind. On calm days the experience is unforgettable. On rough days, it can be extreme. Check the forecast and go on the best day you have. Waterproofs are essential regardless.

What else should I do near Old Head and Kinsale?

Kinsale is one of the finest food towns in Ireland — walk the harbour and eat well. Fota Island Resort is forty-five minutes northeast near Cork city and provides championship parkland as a contrast to Old Head. Combining both across two days makes a strong Cork-area golf trip.