Nearby Courses

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Westport

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Enniscrone

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Connemara

Carne Golf Links

Carne Golf Links | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

Carne Golf Links sits on the Mullet Peninsula of the Republic of Ireland, with a number of holes based along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The course sits among unspoilt sand dunes, and sits around 150 metres above sea level. That gives players amazing views out over the Atlantic Ocean, and to the islands of Inis Glóire and Inis Géidhe. 


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A Brief History of Carne Golf Links

The original 18-hole lay-out was designed by world-renowned golf course architect Eddie Hackett. True to Hackett's usual philosophy, he tried to do as little as necessary in terms of changing the environment that the course winds itself around.

In 2013, a further nine holes were opened on land described by Eddie Hackett as the most dramatic part of the dunescape at Carne. The Kilmore Nine was designed by Jim Engh and Ally McIntosh, with the pair following Hackett's philosophy of maintaining the natural landscape.

The development of the new nine holes at Carne led to the creation of the Wild Atlantic Dunes course, which integrates the front nine holes of the Hackett 18 with the newer Kilmore Nine course. The two courses are in play on alternate days.

Carne Golf Links Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

Carne features 27 incredible golf holes, located on the Mullet Peninsula, with the course winding in between the historic dunes of the area. There is the Hackett 18 and the Kilmore 9 which team up for two wonderful lay-outs.

The front nine from the Hackett 18 is added to the Kilmore 9 to create the West Atlantic Dunes course. 1-7 remain as they are from the Hackett 18, with the 8th and 9th becoming 17 and 18 when in the West Atlantic Dunes lay-out.

The front nine of the Hackett is a par-37, with three par-5s, two of which coming in the opening four holes. It opens with a par-5, which at 510 yards is reachable in two for the longer hitters. After two par-4s of 360 yards in length, the 4th is the second par-5 on the lay-out, measuring in at 523 yards. 5 and 7 are the two par-3s on the front nine of the Hackett course, with the 8th being the hardest hole on the property. 9 is a par-5, and ends up being the finishing hole when the Kilmore 9 is added. 

The back nine of the Hackett 18 starts with a 370-yard par-4, before a par-3 of more than 200 yards from the tips. The 12th is the hardest hole on the nine, before the par-5 13th, which again is reachable for the longer hitters. 16 is a short par-3 before the final two holes on the configuration. 17 measures at over 400 yards, with the closing 18th hole providing one final birdie opportunity.

The Kilmore 9 begins on the 8th hole when using this configuration at Carne. It begins with a 554-yard par-5 that is a real test from the back tees. The third hole of the lay-out is a 229-yard par-3, and if it plays into the prevailing wind, then good luck! After a couple of lengthy par-4s, the sixth hole of the Kilmore 9 is the longest on the property at 561 yards. There are then two par-3s in the final three holes of the Kilmore 9, before you finish your round with 8 and 9 from the Hackett 18. 

Where is Carne Golf Links located?

Carne Golf Links is situated on the western tip of the Republic of Ireland, in Co. Mayo. Belmullet and Ballinavode are the nearest towns to Carne, with Westport, Enniscrone and Castlebar a bit further afield. 

Sligo Airport and Ireland West Airport Knock are the nearest airports in the region. However, international visitors may find it easier flying to Dublin Airport. However, the two places are on opposite ends of the country, with more than 170 miles between them.

What are the green fees at Carne Golf Links?

A round at Carne Golf Links will set you back €140 during the summer months. Between November and March, that price comes down to just €65 to play at Carne.

Carne also has caddies, buggies and trolleys for hire during your round. A caddy will set you back €60 per round plus gratuity. Buggies are worth €40 per round, while a pull trolley will cost you €5.

Visit Carne's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.