
Where is Ballybunion Golf Club?
Ballybunion Golf Club, Co. Kerry, Ireland, is a Private Members Golf Club founded in 1893. Home to two wonderfully unique and challenging links courses – The Old Course and The Cashen Course – visitors from around the world have been visiting the club for many decades.
Who designed Ballybunion’s first golf course?
The Irish golfers guide of 1897 names this course designer as James McKenna, who did this work “at the instance of the Lartigue Railway Company.” It is interesting to note the connection with present day Ballybunion as he was the grandfather of the Ballybunion Golf Club Secretary-Manager until 2008, Jim McKenna.
Is there a connection between Ballybunion Golf Club and Jim McKenna?
It is interesting to note the connection with present day Ballybunion as he was the grandfather of the Ballybunion Golf Club Secretary-Manager until 2008, Jim McKenna. In recent years, one of our members, Patsy A. Costelloe, who has since passed away, undertook some research into the club’s history and course design.
When did Ballybunion become the venue for the Irish Ladies Championship?
Work was completed within the following 12 months, but it wasn’t until 1932 that the new links were finally recognised at national level when Ballybunion was chosen as the venue for the Irish Ladies Championship. This was won by a club member from Tralee, Miss Betty Latchford. A repeat of this championship in 1936 was won by Mrs Clarrie Reddan.

When was Ballybunion built?
Ballybunion Castle, a Tower House, was built by the Geraldines in the 13th. Century. It stands on the site of an old promontory fort now known as the Castle Green which divides the beach in two. The Castle has been ravaged by Atlantic storms and Sea breezes for the past seven centuries.
Who owns the golf Hotel in Ballybunion?
Michael CarrMichael Carr, owner of the Ballybunion Golf Hotel, yesterday announced that the hotel is to close with the loss of some 80 jobs.
How did Ballybunion get its name?
The ruins of Ballybunion Castle stand proudly on the cliff top overlooking the sandy beaches and bear testament to the workers who built it and to the Bunyan family who gave the village its proud name.
How much does it cost to play Ballybunion Golf Course?
Stay & Play @ Teach de Broc, Ballybunion €370.00Green Fees Old Course High Season:€275Green Fees Cashen Course High Season:€80Green Fees Old Course for the two High Season:€325Green Fees with a Member:as aboveGreen Fees for Opens:€30/504 more rows
Is the Golf Hotel in Ballybunion sold?
Ballybunion's Golf Hotel has been sold. Selling agent Gary O'Driscoll has confirmed to Radio Kerry News that unconditional contracts have been entered into, but the sale hasn't officially closed.
What does Ballybunion mean in Irish?
Ballybunion or Ballybunnion (Irish: Baile an Bhuinneánaigh) is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland, on the Wild Atlantic Way, 15 km (9 mi) from the town of Listowel. Ballybunion. Baile an Bhuinneánaigh.
Is Ballybunion a nice place to live?
In short: Ballybunion is fantastic, the amenities are fantastic, the community is fantastic, and so too is business. He's clearly both very proud of, and very loyal to, his home town.
Who designed Ballybunion?
Robert Trent Jones, Sr.Ballybunion Golf ClubClub informationDesigned byRobert Trent Jones, Sr.Par72Length6,318 yards (5,777 m) Longest hole is #8, 605 yards (553 m)Course rating7316 more rows
How difficult is Ballybunion Golf Course?
Ballybunion is a thrilling challenge, a supreme test of golf. If you are a very good golfer and there's a gentle breeze blowing, you might score well. If there's an onshore gale blowing, you are best to forget scoring well and simply try to enjoy this exhilarating golf course.
Do you need a handicap to play Ballybunion?
Visiting junior golfers playing the Old Course must be between 14-18 years old, be accompanied by an adult golfer and have a maximum playing handicap of 16. A round of golf on either of the courses should be completed in reasonable time, depending on the weather conditions on the day of play.
How much is a round of golf in Doonbeg?
Stay & Play @ The Tides B&B***** €190.00It should be noted that the Green Fees are from 13th MayGreen Fees Monday to Thursday May & Oct:€135Green Fees Friday to Sunday May & Oct:€135Green Fees December to April:€50Twilight Green Fees from 3pm:€958 more rows
Where is Ballybunion Golf Club?
The Ballybunion Golf Club is a golf club in County Kerry, Ireland. Founded in 1893, the club had barely opened its doors before experiencing financial problems. An investment from Colonel Bartholomew saved the club in 1906, and nine new holes were promptly laid out. By 1927 the course had been expanded to 18 holes.
Where is the club in Sandhill?
The club is located south of town on Sandhill Road.
Who won the Irish Open in 2000?
The Old Course hosted the Irish Open on the European Tour in 2000, won by Patrik Sjöland.
Is Ballybunion a good golf course?
Still, a number of the world's best players have found their way to the famed course. One, in particular, has had a lasting impact. Tom Watson first visited Ballybunion in 1981 and has returned often. In 1995, he remodeled Ballybunion into the course that exists today. Ballybunion was ranked by Golf Digest in 2005 as the seventh best course in the world outside the United States. Ballybunion's success has led to new visitors from around the world booking tours of this and many other golfing jewel locations. However, Ballybunion houses not one but two courses; those being The Old Course and The Cashen Course.
When was Ballybunion Golf Club founded?
Ballybunion Golf Club was founded on the 18th August 1893 at a meeting in the Castle Hotel in Ballybunion. The laying out of Ballybunion’s first ever golf course was thanks to a small group of enthusiastic locals under the direction of a golf professional contracted and paid by the Lartigue Railway Company. In 1926 a second 9 holes were added ...
When did Ballybunion become a popular holiday resort?
With it’s magnificent golden-sand beaches together with the therapeutic quality of its waters, it became a popular holiday resort in the early 1800’s. In 1837 Samuel Lewis recorded his views of a visit to Ballybunion: ‘This village……. has recently become a place of resort for sea-bathing and is much frequented on account ...
What is Ballybunion known for?
The town is noted for its famed golf courses, surfing, seaweed baths, great cafés, gourmet restuarants and great places of entertainment and plenty facilities . Incidentally, the Men’s and ladies beaches are no longer segregated. Ballybunion Castle, a Tower House, was built by the Geraldines in the 13th. Century.
What is the castle in Ballybunion?
The Castle is the emblem of the world famous Ballybunion Golf Club.
Who put Ballybunion on the map?
Tom Watson put Ballybunion on the map in a manner that nobody but he could manage. From that moment on, Ballybunion received the Golf World’s attention and acclaim. The new opulent clubhouse was built for the Centenary Year 1993. In 1995, Golf Digest nominated Ballybunion as ‘The No. 1 Golf Course outside of the USA’.
Where was Mary Young's first residence?
The first residence which Mary built was in Doon Road. That residence was completed in 1870 and she lived there for 12 years. In 1883, the Mercy Order established in Mary’s residence a convent and a Secondary School. Mary Young’s contribution to the schools is memorialised in the schools logo.
Who designed the Cashen Course?
The adjoining Cashen Course, designed in the early 1980’s by Robert Trent Jones Sr, continues to grow in stature as one of the finest Golf links in Ireland. Over the years many great golfers and distinguished guests have played Ballybunion.
When did Ballybunion Golf Club close?
Ballybunion Golf Club struggled financially at this time and then folded in 1898. The course was re-established in 1906 as a 9-holer, designed by the prominent Irish golf journalist Lionel Hewson; the Old course was extended to 18-holes in 1926.
When was the Irish Championship held at Ballybunion?
The Old Ballybunion course remained relatively anonymous until it hosted the Irish Championship in 1937; prior to the tournament, Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay were called in to make suitable alterations to the layout. Little has changed since. Ballybunion is a thrilling challenge, a supreme test of golf.
What was Tom Watson's praise of Ballybunion Old?
Tom Watson’s praise of Ballybunion Old reverberated throughout the USA for golfers planning a visit overseas and in effect, brought more American golfers to Ireland as a destination when their first choice had been Scotland and their second destination was England.
What is Ballybunion named after?
The town of Ballybunion was named after the Bunion family, who owned the local 15th century castle. For many people, the name conjures up a vivid image of a wild links golf course on the edge of the Atlantic with fairways set amongst the gigantic duneland. Herbert Warren Wind, the distinguished American golf author, ...
When did Bill Clinton play Ballybunion?
Bill Clinton played here in 1998, apparently making full use of his "mulligan" allocation. There are so many excellent holes on the Old course at Ballybunion that it is fickle to single out one, so we’ll select three.
Is Ballybunion a good golf course?
Ballybunion is a thrilling challenge, a supreme test of golf. If you are a very good golfer and there’s a gentle breeze blowing, you might score well. If there’s an onshore gale blowing, you are best to forget scoring well and simply try to enjoy this exhilarating golf course.
Who fell in love with Ballybunion?
Tom Watson fell in love with Ballybunion and he goes out of his way to extol the course’s virtues. After several visits, Watson agreed to write an article for the course guide/planner. He writes: "After playing Ballybunion for the first time, a man would think that the game of golf originated here.
Who said Ballybunion is the finest seaside link?
Herbert Warren-Wind, writing in the New Yorker magazine in 1971, said: “I found Ballybunion to be nothing less than the finest seaside links I have ever seen.”
When was Dobereiner founded?
Dobereiner was doing no more than reflecting the views of the locals who somehow knew through all of their struggles for survival since the day the club was founded way back in 1893 that their Ballybunion links was an unknown treasure waiting for the outside world to come and discover it.
Is Ballybunion natural?
It is elemental, natural golf amid dunes beside the ocean where all of the battles are God-made challenges with nature. In 1969, Pat Ward-Thomas visited the course and wrote: “Ballybunion possesses excitement and challenge that can have few peers in all the world of seaside golf.”.
