Ballyliffin Golf Club (Old Course)

Ballyliffin Golf Club features two courses, both of which are among the best in Ireland.

Ballyliffin Golf Club was established in 1947 and the Old course was its first course, laid out on land at Pollan Green that was leased from local farmers. It was a nine-hole course and the Strand Hotel was the clubhouse. In 1970, though, the club bought new land for £5000 and the Old Links, initially a nine-holer, was opened. It became 18 in 1973.

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Eddie Hackett, the prolific Irish architect, visited on several occasions to help lay out the holes and there was also input from English designers Lawrie and Pennick.

The Old Links hosted the European Tour Irish Seniors Open in 2008 and the Irish Women’s Close in 2015, which is important to state because it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking the Old is the cute little sister to the modern, raw-boned Glashedy.

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In fact, the Old is 6,397 yards off the tips and while the yellows at just under 6,300 are very enticing, even off those tees you will be challenged.

The Old is challenging in its own right albeit not quite the beast of the Glashedy. Like its sister course you can expect two things as standard; the epic, peaceful setting and the links to be in wonderful condition.

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This is a proper golf club too, and a place you are glad you made it to as soon as you arrive.

Located north of Derry in Donegal, Ballyliffin is Ireland’s premier club with two courses ranked in our Links Top 100.