Like a lot of venues that you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list, Ballybunion is blessed to have two courses that claim a spot. 

 

The Cashen Course is the second of those offerings, sitting on the south side of the resort with holes playing alongside Cashen Beach. 

 

The great Robert Trent Jones Sr. was the man to design the Cashen Course, which was opened in the mid-1980s.  

 

  

Visit the Ballybunion (Cashen Course) website here.  

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Ballybunion Golf Club was founded in 1893, and the venue is one of the oldest golf clubs in the entirety of Ireland.  

 

The Old Course was built back then, but it was almost 90 years before the Cashen Course was designed and constructed on land to the south of the Old Course. 

 

Named the Cashen Course after Cashen Beach to its west, it was Robert Trent Jones Sr behind the design of the course. It opened in the mid-1980s.  

Robert Trent Jones Sr’s design of the Cashen Course is a beauty with the land that was available to him. It is not the longest course in the world, coming in at just 6,300 yards and playing as a Par 72. However, with the wind coming in off the North Atlantic Ocean, scores are difficult to come by.  

 

The 72 is split into an opening nine of 37 with three par 5s, with the course opening with a 510-yard par 5. Seven bunkers and a slight dog-leg right get you underway, with the long par 4 2nd to follow. The 3rd and 6th are the two par 3s on the opening side of the course, both playing just over 150 yards long. There are nine bunkers on the 4th, while the 5th is only 310 yards long and longer hitters may be tempted to take it on. The 5th green is one of the narrowest you will ever find, which may put some off from taking the green on with their drive. 

 

The going gets tougher around the turn, especially with the 8th and 9th holes on the Cashen Course. Prior to that, the 7th takes you along the coastline, with anything left off the tee finding Cashen Beach. 8 is the longest hole on the course, pushing past the 600-yard mark from the tips. The 9th may only be 480 yards and play as a par 5, but the fairway pinches in at the landing zone for most drivers, while the green is also narrow. A par is a good score to finish the front nine on the Cashen. 

 

The back nine begins with a tight dog-leg right par 4 that requires an accurate drive before a wedge to the green. Back-to-back par 3s follow at 11 and 12, with the former being the shortest hole on the course at just 140 yards long. 13 and 14 run parallel to each other and are par 4s of 400 yards in length, neither of which features any real hazard unless you go way offline with your tee shots.

 

The closing stretch on the Cashen Course begins with the par 5 15th. It is one of two par 5s on the run in to the clubhouse, with the other coming at the 17th. Both are less than 490 yards from the tips, with the 17th green perched almost on the beach. Anything left with your approach will find the sand. The closing hole takes you back inland to the clubhouse, with a final par 4. At just 385 yards, this provides one last birdie chance, but only if you find the fairway down 18. 

Where is Ballybunion located?  
Ballybunion Golf Club is located on the southwestern coastline of Ireland, in the town of Ballybunion, which is in County Kerry. Ballybunion’s two courses run alongside the coastline, with Killhenny Bay Beach and Cashen Beach at the edge of the boundary of the property. On a clear day, golfers can enjoy the views out into the North Atlantic Ocean and across to County Clare.  

 

The nearest train station to Ballybunion is in Tralee, which is still over 20 miles from the golf course via the R556. Kerry Airport is a further ten miles south of Tralee, and the nearest airport to the venue. However, most guests to the area will fly into Dublin Airport, the country's biggest and busiest airport. Dublin Airport sits 175 miles to the east and is around a three-hour drive without traffic.  

What golf facilities does Ballybunion (Cashen Course) offer?  
Along with the two golf courses, Ballybunion is also home to some great practice facilities. There is a driving range and a chipping green with bunkers to allow golfers to practice different parts of their game. There are three putting greens at Ballybunion, with one of those next to the 1st tee of the Cashen Course.  

What are the green fees at Ballybunion (Cashen Course)?  
The price of a green fee on the Cashen Course changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.  

 

For more information on current green fees at Ballybunion, visit their website here. 

 

  

Visit the Ballybunion (Cashen Course) website here. 

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.