Located on its own little piece of land just east of Cork, Fota Island is somewhat different compared to other venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. Surrounded by water, the resort plays host to a 27-hole championship golf course and great practice facilities, a 130-room hotel and private lodges, fitness suite and spa, and there is also plenty for the kids to do as well.  

 

The golf course, originally designed by Christy O’ Connor Jr and Peter McEvoy, was opened at Fota Island in 1993. After a redesign by Jeff Howes, the course played host to the Irish Open on the DP World Tour for the first time in 2001. It has hosted the event three times to this day, with Colin Montgomerie, Soren Hansen and Mikko Ilonen being the victors. Along with the 27-golf course, there is also a floodlit driving range with TrackMan, and the opportunity for guests and members alike to receive coaching from qualified professionals.  

 

Away from the golf course, there is plenty to keep yourself active during your time at Fota Island. Two floodlit tennis courts and a running club that makes use of the trails around the island, along with a fully equipped gym and fitness suite. There are also fitness classes, including spin classes and outdoor bootcamps, while the spa facility has a swimming pool, hydropool, steam room and thermal suite as part of its amenities. 18 treatment rooms are available for those that want massages or treatments to properly unwind during their stay.  

 

Fota Island is a great resort to bring the little ones as well. Along with the golf academy and getting them out on the course, children are encouraged to get involved at the Adventure Centre, which has a wide range of activities on offer, including paddleboarding, adventure quests, treasure hunts and archery.  

 

At the end of a long day, the Fota Island Hotel is the place to go to relax and rest your head. The hotel has 130 rooms and suites, ranging from Classic Rooms to Junior Suites. There is also a choice of two-, three- and four-bedroom lodges for a more private stay, all of which are self-catering options at Fota. The choice of gastronomy is also sublime, with fine dining, relaxing cuisine and plenty of whiskies and spirits among the choices at the resort.  

 

 

Book your trip to Fota Island with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Fota Island website here.  

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The Fota Island Resort is home to 27 golf holes, which can be played in three different configurations – the Par 71 Deerpark, the Par 72 Belvelly and the Par 73 Barryscourt. Originally designed by Peter McEvoy and Ryder Cup legend Christy O’Connor Jr in 1993, Jeff Howes came a decade later to redesign and reimagine the venue into the layout that you see today.  

 

The venue achieved its championship status in 2001 when it hosted the Irish Open on the DP World Tour. Fota Island has played host to the tournament on three occasions, with Colin Montgomerie, Soren Hansen and Mikko Ilonen all winning, the last of those editions coming in 2014.  

 

The Par 73 Barryscourt Course is the longest of the three, coming in at more than 7,350 yards from the back tees, with three par 5s in its first four holes. The Par 71 Deerpark is the championship layout at Fota Island, and measures 6,927 yards from the tips, while the Par 72 Belvelly Course, which takes the back nine from the Deerpark and the front nine from the Barryscourt, measures at more than 7,100 yards.  

 

There are great holes throughout the course and quirks to each layout. For instance, the 7th hole on the Barryscourt Course plays over an old quarry, before the 8th is a short par 3 over water. If you’re playing from the back tees, then the start of the Barryscourt is long. As mentioned earlier, three of the first four holes are par 5s, and all are more than 540 yards from the tips.  

 

The Deerpark Course also has back-to-back par 5s, with the 4th and 5th offering quite different challenges. 4 is a dog-leg to the right, while 5 bends round to the left and has several greenside bunkers. They follow the par 3 3rd, which is the first sighting of water. There’s much more of that to come. 10, 11, 12 and 13 all play around the same water hazard, with a pair of par 3s among them, while the finishing hole on the Deerpark has a green that is surrounded by water on three sides. It is a tricky par 5 to bring a round to an end at Fota Island.  

There are more than 130 rooms in the Fota Island Hotel, while there is also a choice of self-catering lodges for those larger groups that would like a more private and intimate stay at the Irish resort.  

 

The Classic Rooms can come with either a double bed or two twin beds, depending on the requirements of guests. They come equipped with Wi-Fi, TV, 24-hour in-room dining and luxury bathroom amenities from Prija. The Deluxe Room adds to that, while the Deluxe Room with Balcony has its own private outdoor terrace or balcony to relax and enjoy an evening on.  

 

There are also Double Double Rooms for larger groups that are more than happy to sleep in the same room, while the Family Room offers a double and two single beds for the typical four-person family. The Junior Suites are the most luxurious offering at the Fota Island Hotel, with separate living area and bedroom, along with glorious views out over the island.  

 

Away from the hotel, there are lodges available to rent out during a stay at the resort. Two-, three- and four-bedroom lodges are available, with the latter sleeping up to eight people. The lodges are all self-catering, but lodge guests can use all the facilities on the island, including the restaurants, fitness suite and spa.  

 

There is plenty of choice when it comes to gastronomy at Fota Island. The Fota Restaurant is the resort’s leading eatery, with seasonal ingredients and a menu that changes each week. The Cove is the fine-dining experience at Fota, while the Spike Bar in the clubhouse is a relaxing place for golfers and families to eat and drink. The Amber Lounge offers a wide range of whiskies and spirits, and a lovely ambience to enjoy an evening in.  

Finished your round of golf but still fancy getting another workout in? Or are you looking to relax and unwind after a testing day on the greens? Fota Fitness & Spa is the place for you, whichever category you fall into! 

 

The gym at Fota Island is equipped with weight machines and free weights, along with a range of cardiovascular machinery. There are also a variety of fitness classes on offer from a team of professionals, including spin classes and outdoor bootcamps. For those that like being outside, there is a running club which meets twice a week to run through the beautiful forest trails of the area. There are also two floodlit tennis courts that can be used throughout the day. 

 

For those wanting to relax and de-stress, then the Fota Island Spa is the place to be. The facilities include a swimming pool, hydropool, steam room, outdoor sauna and a thermal suite. There are also 18 treatment rooms, with a team of qualified therapists on hand to supply a variety of massages, facials and treatments.  

Another key selling point for Fota Island is that it is a very family-friendly resort. The Family Rooms and Double Double Rooms, along with the self-catering lodges, all provide big enough spaces for a family of four or more, and there is then plenty to do when you get to the island itself.  

 

The Adventure Centre at Fota Island has a little bit of everything for both children and families alike. Paddleboarding, adventure quests, orienteering, obstacle courses, archery, field games and more, all to keep the kids entertained.  

Where is Fota Island?  
Fota Island is in the south of Ireland, between Carrigtwohill and Little Island. It is right by the southern coastline of the country and just ten miles from Cork.  

What is the nearest airport and station to Fota Island?  
Cork Airport is the closest, and it is the second busiest in the country, behind only Dublin Airport. The airport is 15 miles from Fota Island and runs a range of daily flights to the United Kingdom and other European countries. For those coming from further afield, Dublin Airport is the best bet, but that is 160 miles away – a three-hour drive. 

 

Cobh is the nearest train station to Fota Island, with Cobh sitting on the train line between Middleton and Mallow, with Cork also on the same line. Cobh is seven miles from Fota, and operates regular trains.  

What golf facilities does Fota Island offer?  
Along with the championship golf course, Fota Island is also the home to a Golf Academy with sublime practice facilities. The practice area at Fota Island sits next to the 5th and 6th holes of the Barryscourt Course on the southeastern side of the resort.  

 

The driving range at the resort is covered and has TrackMan implemented in every bay, while there is also an indoor putting green to allow golfers to practice on the dance floor without dealing with inclement weather. There are also a couple of outdoor tees on the range, along with three chipping greens that are up to USGA-specifications.  

 

The old stone farm buildings on the site have been converted into the resort’s clubhouse, now a relaxing place to spend some time before or after your round at Fota Island. There is also a well-stocked pro shop in the building, with the biggest brands on offer along with Fota-branded apparel.  

Does Fota Island offer golf lessons?  
There is plenty of opportunity to receive coaching during your stay at Fota Island. The driving range facility has two teaching bays with video analysis and teaching aids. From individual lessons to group clinics, there are teaching options for all players of all abilities at Fota.  

What are the green fees at Fota Island?  
The price of a green fee at Fota Island changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  

 

For more information on current green fees at Fota Island visit their website here. 

What accommodation is on offer at Fota Island?  

There are more than 130 rooms and suites in the Fota Island Hotel, ranging from Classic Rooms all the way up to Junior Suites. There is also a selection of private, self-catering lodges for larger groups, with residents of these still having access to all the resort’s amenities.  

What other resorts are nearby?  

Fota Island is the only resort to be this close to the southern coastline of Ireland on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. Mount Juliet and Adare Manor are the two closest venues that are also on the list, but they are both two hours away by road.  

 

  

Book your trip to Fota Island with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Fota Island website here.  

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.