Ballyliffin Golf Club was founded in 1947 as a nine-hole course. A second, championship-standard links was commissioned in 1991 and built by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock through some of the most dramatic dune systems in the country; it opened in 1995 as the Glashedy Links, named after the rock visible offshore in Pollan Bay. At par 72 over 7,542 yards, it hosted the Irish Open in 2018.
Okay, let’s start with the only minor drawback: the Ballyliffin Golf Club is not exactly easy to get to. It’s the northernmost course in the Republic of Ireland and that means it’s not easy to get to: You have to want a round on one of the two courses very much. But once you’re there, you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic course at Glashedy. The massive dunes, the view of the sea: it’s all very impressive.
