Ballyliffin Golf Club (Glashedy Links)

Modern Lines Beneath Glashedy Rock

The Glashedy Links at Ballyliffin Golf Club officially opened on 3 August 1995, following construction that began in May 1993. Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock were asked to create a second championship course on land already owned by the club. Its name comes from Glashedy Rock, the offshore landmark visible beyond the dunes.

The course was built on a larger scale than the neighbouring Old Links. Wide, rolling fairways cross towering natural dunes, while elevated tees expose the player to Donegal's shifting coastal wind. Large greens bring bold contours into the approach and putting test, and deep revetted bunkers punish a careless line. The long par fours make strong driving especially valuable.

Ruddy returned during the winters of 2012 and 2013 to oversee the revetting of every bunker. Further championship tees and fairway bunkers were added before Glashedy hosted the 2018 Irish Open, won by Russell Knox after a play-off with Ryan Fox. That event confirmed the course's ability to test elite players while keeping its identity tied to Ballyliffin's natural dunescape.