Going for Golf

Old Head

Old Head sits on 180 acres jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s almost an island in itself with the links framed by 40 acres of unspoilt cliff... this is golf literally on the edge.

John and Patrick O’Connor acquired the land in 1989 and the course, designed and constructed by Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan, Liam Higgins, the late Eddie Hackett and Joe Carr and Haulie O’Shea, opened for play in 1997 and immediately became one of the most talked-about courses in the game.

It really is a must-see, must-play course. Be prepared to walk – players are encouraged to do so and carry their own clubs but Old Head has a large group of professional caddies and it’s well worth making use of their services if only to keep your mind on the golf and prevent you walking off into the Atlantic, as several holes weave their way along the cliffs with waves booming in nearly 300ft below.

With a par of 72, comprising five par-fives, five par-threes and eight par-fours in two loops of nine, it’s close to 7,200 yards from the back – but with a minimum of six tees per hole, it’s eminently playable for high handicappers as well as the low markers. However, it is a stern test in the wind. The ninth (The Dolmen) will catch the eye. A 465-yard, dog-leg par-four with three bunkers on the elbow waiting to catch the too-bold drive; while the 12th (Courcean Stage), a 564-yard par-five along the cliff-top, is a stunner. And the finish is testing to say the least: a 186-yard par-three, 623-yard par-five and 434-yard par-four with out of bounds on the right.

Old Head prides itself on what it calls “the ultimate experience in golf” and facilities include a warm-up range with complimentary golf balls and a short-game practice area, a clubhouse with stunning views of the Atlantic – including the Lusitania Bar, five-star de Courcey Restaurant and a formal private dining area. The clubhouse also includes 14 sea-view suites and one presidential suite, and there is a state-of-the-art spa with treatment rooms, sauna, steam rooms and fitness suite.

Old Head is an area rich in history, both a national monument and an ancient royal site, with a castle which can be traced back many centuries and can be directly linked with the Eireann Celtic tribe, from whom it is assumed Ireland got its name – Eireann being a Gaelic term for Ireland. The lighthouse, a focal point, was established in the 17th century and the Old Head is the nearest land point to the site of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania when she was torpedoed in 1915.