NORTH WEST IRELAND, IRELAND

Connemara Golf Links (Championship Course)

Atlantic rock, elevated greens, and Twelve Bens define Hackett's Connemara links.

NORTH WEST IRELAND Lieu
LINKS Course type
18 TROUS Holes
PAR 72 Par

Beyond the Scorecard

Course established: 1973
Course designer/s: Eddie Hackett
Known for: Eddie Hackett's community-built Atlantic links
Defining feature: Rock outcrops framing elevated Championship greens
Classement national: #22

Connemara's Course Built on Faith

The Championship Course at Connemara Golf Links opened in 1973 after Father Peter Waldron and local supporters turned a community development idea into a working golf club. Eddie Hackett laid out the course with limited earthmoving, threading holes between exposed rock and existing folds in the ground.

The A and B nines form the ranked par-72 course. The opening half crosses flatter coastal ground, while the inward nine rises into rougher terrain where granite outcrops influence sightlines, approaches, and recovery shots. With little shelter, Atlantic wind remains part of every decision.

The par-three 13th begins the best-known closing stretch. Its raised green sits within stark, rocky ground, introducing the more dramatic character that continues over the final six holes. The elevated putting surfaces of the B nine add another layer to a course already demanding accurate distance control.

Views extend towards white beaches and the Twelve Bens, but the course's identity comes from how Hackett used the land. Connemara feels built around its rocks rather than cleared through them, preserving the austere character that first convinced its founders the site could support a destination links.

Why Add This Course to Your Golf Experience

Connemara rewards travellers who allow time for the western edge of County Galway rather than treating it as a quick detour. Its three nine-hole loops also give Kinfern flexibility when arranging a second round, weather adjustment, or shorter golf day.

A stay around Clifden or Ballyconneely keeps the course close while leaving room to explore the surrounding coast. Kinfern can then connect Connemara with another North West Ireland venue, building a measured route through landscapes far removed from the busier golf centres.