Old Head Golf Links: The Most Dramatic Golf Course in Ireland
Old Head Golf Links sits on a 220-acre kite-shaped headland that juts into the Atlantic Ocean near Kinsale, County Cork. The peninsula rises 300 feet above the sea on sheer cliffs that fall away on almost every side. Sixteen of the eighteen holes have ocean views. Several have nothing between the green and a 300-foot drop to the water below. It is arguably the most dramatic setting for golf anywhere in the world.
The course opened in 1997, designed by Joe Carr, Eddie Hackett, Ron Kirby, and Paddy Merrigan. It has been controversial — the headland was previously open to the public as a walking area, and its conversion to a private members club generated local opposition. That controversy has faded over time, replaced by the club's reputation as one of the great golf experiences in the world for those who can access it.
The Course
Old Head plays to a par 72 at approximately 7,200 yards from the back tees. The yardage is largely irrelevant to how the course actually plays — the wind off the Atlantic is the dominant factor on almost every hole, and a 150-yard par 3 can require a driver in the wrong conditions. Wind direction determines whether the course plays as a manageable links challenge or a survival test.
The routing uses the full perimeter of the headland, moving between clifftop holes with panoramic ocean views and inland holes that offer some shelter. The transitions between these two types of terrain are the most dramatic moments in the round — you round a corner, or crest a rise, and the Atlantic appears in full below you.
The signature holes are scattered throughout the round. The 4th tee offers perhaps the most photographed view in Irish golf — a tee box cantilevered over the cliff edge, with nothing but ocean visible from the address position. The 12th, a par 4 that plays along the cliff edge with the sea directly to the left, is where most golfers lose their first ball to the ocean wind.
The Lighthouse
The Old Head of Kinsale lighthouse, in operation since 1853, sits at the tip of the headland beyond the 18th green. Its black-and-white striped tower is visible from almost every hole and provides the visual anchor that makes Old Head's course photography so immediately recognizable. The lighthouse has survived intact through the course's development and remains a working aid to navigation for Atlantic shipping.
History and Tragedy
The Old Head peninsula has a history that extends well beyond golf. The RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat approximately 12 miles off the headland in May 1915 — a disaster that killed 1,198 people and accelerated American entry into the First World War. The Old Head lighthouse was one of the last landmarks the Lusitania passed. A memorial to the victims stands on the headland, and the club's clubhouse contains historical materials about the sinking.
Getting There
Old Head Golf Links is located approximately 25 miles south of Cork City, via the N71 coastal road through Kinsale. Cork Airport has direct service from London, Paris, Amsterdam, and several other European hubs, as well as connections from Dublin for transatlantic arrivals. The drive from Cork Airport takes approximately 45 minutes.
Kinsale itself — one of Ireland's most picturesque harbor towns, famous for its seafood restaurants and colorful streets — is 7 miles from the club and makes an ideal base for a multi-day trip to the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Head Golf Links public or private?
Old Head Golf Links operates as a members club but accepts limited tee times from non-member visitors. Booking well in advance is essential — the course has a global reputation and availability fills quickly during the summer season (May through September).
How difficult is Old Head Golf Links?
Old Head's difficulty is almost entirely wind-dependent. In calm conditions it is a manageable links challenge. In typical Atlantic wind conditions it becomes significantly harder. The course is less about length or technical difficulty and more about club selection, wind management, and the mental challenge of playing with 300-foot drops on multiple sides.
Why is Old Head Golf Links famous?
Old Head is famous primarily for its setting — a clifftop peninsula with ocean views on almost every hole and dramatic drops to the Atlantic below. It is also historically significant due to its proximity to the site of the Lusitania sinking in 1915.