Waterville Golf Links

Waterville Golf Links

Waterville golf links is one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland.

For the most part, always regarded as one of the top 5 rated in Ireland. And the top 20 links courses in the world.

Read our guide to the best golf courses in Ireland.

Waterville’s links course is highly regarded, both nationally and internationally, and by some of the world's finest golfers.

Tiger Woods and Mark O' Meara have been known to make a base here before many Open Championships.

The earliest record of golf at Waterville has been traced back to 1889 and as most courses started life as a nine-hole link.

A combination of dunes, gorse, and incredible putting surfaces over this 18-hole course reflects the Irish coastline's rugged charm.

The course saw many changes over the years; however, in 1973, the modern layout was created along with Tom Fazio's modifications in 2002. The Fazio project has ensured that Waterville is a must-play golf course in Ireland.

Tom recently wrote about his redesign at Waterville and commented.

"What I love now is that if you asked golfers to name their favourite hole, you’d get a wide range of answers."

"When asked to be involved in renovating the course, my first reaction was that it was too far to travel. But I fell in love with the town and its people."

Course Guide

Waterville is set with a large complement of gorse and dunes with undulating terrain, leading to so many memorable golf holes and great and well routed green positions. The greens and fairways like traditional links golf play firm and fast with plenty of room to play a full array of golf shots. You will be presented with opportunities to play knocked down shots, Putts from fairways and flying the ball with optimal wind conditions.  Both loops of nine are superb. The back nine stands out as one of the best inwards nines you'll ever play.

Do not lose concentration on the back nine as you will be punished accordingly. The course is incredibly tough, and the professional course record is still 71 by Tony Jacklin.

Waterville is one of the most challenging links courses in the world but adored by so many.

Signature Hole

The 12th is one hell of a golf hole. The 12th named 'Mass' is a 200-yard par 3 with historical meaning. History tells us that the local Catholics risked execution by celebrating Mass in secret in the hollow short of the green. Respecting the area’s history, Eddie Hackett, responsible for the layout, decided to put the green atop a dune opposite the tee. For this reason, the 12th is known as the “Mass Hole.”

You play from a set of dunes to another set of dunes and one of the most beautiful par 3's in the whole of Ireland.