Ballybunion Golf Club

Ballybunion Golf Club

10th hole of the Old Course
Club information
Location in southwest Ireland
Coordinates	52.495°N 9.676°W / 52.495; -9.676
Location	Ballybunion, County Kerry, Ireland
Established	1893, 132 years ago
Type	Private
Total holes	36
Events hosted	Irish Open (2000) Palmer Cup (2004)
Website	ballybuniongolfclub.ie/
Old Course
Designed by	Lionel Hewson (1893), Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay (1930)
Par	71
Length	6,802 yards (6,220 m) Longest hole is #5, 560 yards (512 m)
Course rating	72
Cashen Course
Designed by	Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
Par	72
Length	6,318 yards (5,777 m) Longest hole is #8, 605 yards (553 m)
Course rating	73

Ballybunion Golf Club is a golf club in County Kerry, Ireland. The club is located south of Ballybunion, on Sandhill Road. Comprising two links courses, Ballybunion was previously ranked at number seven in Golf Digest's "100 Best Courses Outside the USA".[1][2] While, due to its remote location, the course has not been selected for many top championship events,^[citation needed] the club's "Old Course" hosted the Irish Open on the European Tour in 2000.[3]

History

Founded in 1893,[4] the club had barely opened its doors before experiencing financial problems.^[citation needed] An investment in the early 20th century saved the club and nine new holes were laid out.^[citation needed] By 1927, the course had been expanded to 18 holes.[4]

A number of the world's top players have played at the course, including Tom Watson who first visited Ballybunion in 1981.[5] In 1995, Watson remodeled Ballybunion into the course that exists today.

During his second term, U.S. President Bill Clinton played the course in September 1998.[6] A statue of him with a golf club in the town of Ballybunion commemorates the visit.[7] After leaving office, he returned in May 2001.[8]

The club hosted the Murphy's Irish Open in 2000 and the Palmer Cup in 2004.[9]

Courses

Ballybunion has two courses: The Old Course and The Cashen Course;

• The Old Course has a length of 6,802 yards (6,220 m) (Blue Tees) and 6,350 yards (White Tees). Ladies Tees are 5,459 yards. Par: 71 Men / 74 Ladies.
• The Cashen Course has a length of 6,306 yards (5,766 m) yards (Blue Tees) and 5,997 (White Tees); Ladies Tees are 5,031 yards. Par: 72 Men & Ladies. Course Designer: Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in 1984.[10]

References

1. Brice, David (20 November 2009). "Ballybunion: A name that thrills every golf aficionado". Golf International Inc. PGA Tour. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
2. Chancellor, T.L. "Golf Courses in Southern Ireland". USA Today. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
3. "Sjoland captures Murphy's Irish Open title". PGA European Tour. 2 July 2000. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
4. Redmond, John. "Ballybunion Golf Club: An illustrated centenary history (1893-1993)" (PDF). ballybuniongolfclub.com. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
5. Parascenzo, Marino (27 January 1983). "Try taking on Ballybunion for real golf horror". PG East. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). p. 8.
6. Hunt, Terence (6 September 1998). "President's golf shot misses the graveyard". Spartanburg (SC) Herald-Journal. Associated Press. p. A14.
7. "Statue to Bill Clinton". Ponchatoula (LA) Times. (photo). 26 June 2003. p. 6.
8. "Former president travels to Ireland". The Hour. Norwalk, CT. 22 May 2001. p. A2.
9. "Milstones". ballybuniongolfclub.com. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
10. "Ballybunion Golf Course Information".

External links

• Official website