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4.2
5 Reviews (5)
5 Stars
3
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1 Stars
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Conditions
4.9
Value
3.9
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.8
Amenities
4.8
100.0%
Recommend this course
5 out of 5 reviews
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Layout
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About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Links
Par 72
Length 7347 yards
Slope 131
Rating 76.1

Course Details

Year Built 1889
Golf Season Year round. High Season: 4/1 - 10/31
Architect Eddie Hackett (1973) Tom Fazio (2006) Beau Welling (2006)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - EUR 50
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Caddies Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted American Express, Visa
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper attire is required.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Locker Rooms

Reviews

4.2
5 Reviews (5)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 310
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Birmingham Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Perfect weather
Walked

This proud club celebrates its’ vibrant history in every way. Numerous placards, including “Liam’s Ace” dot the course. It has preserved the history of the Mass Hole, where 18th Century Irish Catholics averted a death penalty for worshipping by doing so unseen in the hollow between the 12th tee and green. A statue Payne Stewart, who was made honorary club captain shortly after his deadly plane crash, lies at the confluence of the ninth green and tenth tee. In the cozy halfway house there are pictures and mementos of Stewart. The coolest thing, however, that they’ve kept there is the piano that he was known to play late into the night for members between pints on his visits to Waterville.

As for the course itself, it is a challenging links that with a given wind turns par 4s into par 5s. Tom Fabio’s biggest contribution in the redo was improving the green complexes and in some cases, sites. Previously, they were largely flat and uninteresting.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Walked
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 259
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Alberta Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Windy weather
Walked

Waterville Golf Links

Ireland, land of legend & mythology. It's said that the grand daughter of Noah (of Ark fame) had set foot here amongst the sand & dunes sometime after the flood. Pretty sure she wasn't scouting locations for links courses but golfers have been invading this area as early as 1889.

This championship course was plotted out by Eddie Hackett in the 70's & in 2006 a few refinements by Tom Fazio has produced one of the best courses in Ireland.

Waterville takes advantage of the landscape to provide a world class challenge. A dramatic design that features dune & fescue lined fairways, strategic bunkering & undulating putting surfaces that could invariably bring out the very best in your game. Waterville may be a bit out of the way but it's definitely worth the extra effort to get there.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 638
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Golf Advisor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

Waterville: A resort links?

Every critic has widely praised Tom Fazio's renovation of Waterville dating back to 2006. He built two new holes and found new spots for several other greens, bringing the dunes and proper angles more into play. Maybe Fazio's influence is the reason that Waterville has more of a resort feel to it than other links. The fairways are forgivingly wide, a trait that makes it popular with higher handicaps and locals alike. You can actually score at Waterville, and even survive a round with a single ball. The par 4s of the second and third holes along the estuary team with the par-3 fourth hole in the dunes for a spectacular early stretch. The final three holes reveal the Atlantic, adding a final crescendo to the round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 36
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

One of the Best

Classic links, breeze up and down, sun, rain, breeze, sun, shower, calm, breeze......all played into the game. Perfect.
Very challenging to score well. But if you are off fairway shots are makeable but tough out of heavy grass. If in Ireland, a must play. We played Tralee, Waterville, Ballybunion. Like Charlie's Angels, hard to pick just one...

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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5.0
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0.0
0
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Semi-Private
0.0
0
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3
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Golf Packages

Signature South West Ireland Golf Package

FROM $537 (USD)
SOUTHWEST IRELAND | Play some of Ireland’s legendary links courses and the world-renowned trio of Ballybunion, Tralee and Waterville on this break. Staying in the golfing town of Killarney, you won’t be short of an exceptional experience. As one of the best global destinations for golf, this once in a lifetime trip with incredible courses, outstanding scenery and a fantastic atmosphere is definitely one you’ll want to get planning.

Trump Doonbeg Golf Package

FROM $597 (USD)
SOUTHWEST IRELAND | Enjoy the luxury of a 5* golf resort on this break and play one of the top 10 courses in Ireland on-site at Doonbeg links. Enjoy amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean from hole 16 at Doonbeg, play the number 1 course in Ireland at Ballybunion or enjoy a slightly more relaxing round at Dromoland Castle, South West Ireland certainly isn’t short of spectacular links and parkland golf courses.

Classic South West Ireland Golf Tour

FROM $457 (USD)
SOUTHWEST IRELAND | The South West of Ireland is abundant with some of the best links golf in the world. Spend 10 days, working your way up the coast of Ireland and play the likes of Old Head, Waterville and Ballybunion, experiencing all Ireland has to offer. Staying in 4* hotels along the way and visiting iconic Irish sightseeing spots, this tour won’t leave you short of unforgettable golfing experiences.

Signature North West Ireland Golf Package

FROM $397 (USD)
NORTHWEST IRELAND | Staying tucked away in 100-acres of woodland, you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice with an abundance of pure links courses right on your doorstep on this Irish golf break. Starting with the finest Eddie Hackett design course at Carne Golf Links and finishing at one of the leading parkland courses in Ireland with Westport. This trip is perfect for those looking for a quieter break, full of golfing potential.

Northern Ireland & Dublin Classic Golf Tour

FROM $487 (USD)
NORTHERN IRELAND | Tour across Northern Ireland and Dublin for a sensational 10 nights, playing an array of golf courses each one with something unique to offer. Play the best course in the world at Royal County Down, experience the 3 Royals throughout your trip, and take in the sensational views at Castlerock and The Island Golf Club. This tour isn’t short of outstanding golf combined with iconic cities and should definitely be on your golf bucket list!
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