Ballybunion Golf Club (Old)

Overview: Ballybunion’s Old Course is a raw, powerful expression of links golf that possesses a beauty and scale that defies description. Situated on a series of massive, jagged sand dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on Ireland’s southwest coast, the course is a rollercoaster of undulating fairways, blind shots, and greens that sit in natural amphitheatres of sand. It is a place of intense natural drama, where the "graveyard" at the first hole and the crashing waves at the 11th create a sense of scale that is unmatched in the sport. To play Ballybunion is to engage in a primal battle with the elements, requiring a creative, ground-based game and a total commitment to every shot.

History: While the club was founded in 1893, the course as we know it today was refined in 1936 by the eccentric architectural genius Tom Simpson. Simpson was so impressed by the natural terrain that he made only minimal changes, declaring the site to be even more spectacular than the legendary Pine Valley. Ballybunion remained a relatively local treasure until the 1970s and 80s, when Tom Watson became its greatest champion. Watson’s love for the course and his frequent visits transformed its international reputation, making it a mandatory stop for every serious golfer. In 1998, the club made global headlines when U.S. President Bill Clinton visited for a round, a moment still commemorated by a statue in the town.

Did You Know? The opening tee shot at Ballybunion is one of the most nerve-wracking in golf, as it requires a drive directly past an ancient, centuries-old cemetery that lines the right side of the first fairway. It is a stark reminder of the course’s deep roots in the Irish landscape and a literal "deadly" out-of-bounds for any errant slice.