True Links courses along the Irish West Coast

The Social Media Open is organised yearly by Tom Kennedy and his team and usually is sold out pretty quickly. We played in teams of two in a champagne scramble format. This means you both tee off, then use the best tee shot and continue to finish the hole. The best Stableford score on the hole counts. Also, the scores of both players on the 9th and 18th are included. It speeds up play (especially on these links courses that can be pretty brutal if you miss the fairway) and if everybody states his real handicap it's a fair tournament. 

The first course we played was Ballybunion Old, listed in the top 20 of the World and top 10 of the UK & Ireland. Designed by Tom Simpson, this was a course we had high expectations for. To be honest it totally delivered! The first hole has the famous graveyard on the right. It's supposed to bring good luck if you hit a ball OB there but I asked my caddie and he said it was not a good idea ;) The first couple of holes are next to the town and build up to the coastal holes, the first green on the seaside is amazing! If you want to know more about my experience, click the button below to read my review of that round.

Robert Trent Jones Senior was responsible for designing the Cashen course at Ballybunion. Opinions on this course are mixed. The course is a mix of links and target golf with very small greens. What I liked most about this course was the routing. At most links courses you hit the water once and then play 8 or 9 holes there and the rest is inland. On Cashen, you play towards and alongside the water four different times during your round, that’s very rare. If you want to read more about my experience on this course click the button below.

On the third day of the tournament, we played at Tralee. Designed by the late and great Arnold Palmer who claimed that he designed the front nine and God designed the back nine. The first 9 are great but the back nine are truly spectacular. The immense dunes, the contrast between the rough, fairways, greens and tees. With the height differences and some blind shots, this is really a course you want to play multiple times.

Sometimes the greens are so tiny and you need a huge carry to get there, but if you make it the feeling is great. Read more in my personal review of Tralee.

On the last day of the tournament, we played Dooks. This might be the least famous golf course of the four but definitely worth it. It’s just 40 minutes from Killarney where we we stayed. Killarney is a great hub if you want to play these courses and a nice place to stay with plenty of restaurants and pubs. Dooks starts with a so-so first hole but once you get out on the course the views and surroundings are beautiful, also one of the oldest courses in Ireland (1889) so definitely worth a visit. If you want to read more about my round click below.

When we were on our way to the SMO we had the chance to play Adare Manor, the 2027 Ryder Cup host. I have written a separate article about the Adare Manor here. It is a totally different kind of course than the links we played on the coast, but definitely an experience to play.

Last but not least we also managed to secure a tee time at Old Head. Moved 3 times because of different COVID outbreaks we finally nailed this course to tick it off on my bucket list. If you want to read my review of Old Head click the button below.

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