Ballybunion Golf Club, Ireland

Ballybunion golf club is another top rated course on the west coast of Ireland. It has two courses and we played the Old Course. The course is established in 1893 and was voted world number 17 by Golf Magazine in 2011.

Putting green at Ballybunion golf club

First hole is a slight downhill par 4. The graveyard and city in the background doesn’t really make it that nice of a view, but the hole itself is straight forward and plenty of space right of the fairway.

Second hole is the most difficult on the course and hitting the fairway is important to get a good chance of hitting the green in two.

Irish golf weather

I started to rain on our second hole and I was pleased to be even par after 2 holes. On the next holes the rain got a bit more serious and it was survival mode. I shot 3 double bogeys in the next 4 holes and luckily it stopped raining for the rest of the round. That was the first and only real difficult Irish golf weather we experienced during our 5 day trip and lets just say that it would have been a tough journey in this kind of weather.

6th is a dogleg left to right with OB on the right hand side of the fairway. I went too aggressive and just ran out of fairway. It is a driveable hole, but really it should be played with caution and a safe lay up. Difficult green with run off areas, so approach has to be good.

The back nine at Ballybunion golf club

some really nice views at Ballybunion golf club

Above is video from 10th green

12th is an uphill par 3 of 196 yards. A difficult hole where a par is a great score.

another difficult par 3

Above video from 12th green

Checkout video with pitch shot on 12th hole from one of my playing partners

15th is a long difficult par 3 and the wind was getting up when we played. No real areas to escape as there a bunkers placed well around the green.

Pretty good bunker shot on 15th from one of my playing partners.

eagle opportunity

A par 5 that doglegs right to left and you need to decide how far to cut the corner. I hit a perfect drive in the fairway and had a 7 iron to the green.

Another dogleg where you need a good drive. I went a bit too far left, but managed to get up around the green. Unfortunately still a bogey.

An uphill par 4 to finish with. The aim is the huge bunker on the left hand side. I hit a driver and came up just short of the bunker which left me a gap wedge to the green. It is a blind shot and a narrow green.

Above video from 18th rough on the left hand side.

my experience

Ballybunion was a good experience. I didnt think the first holes where that good, but especially the last 12 holes are great. The course condition was average, but green running okay. You can not miss the fairways by much before you end up in trouble and that is if you find the ball.
I shot 83 which was okay all things considering. The rain on hole 3-6 made it difficult but still dissapointed not to shoot better scores there. The back nine of 38 was pretty good and overall I was happy with the score.