Old Head Golf Links Key Information
Laid out over a vertiginous headland in County Cork, Old Head enjoys a setting that’s hard to beat. The owners have constantly strived to take as much of the action as possible to the cliff edge to up the drama. Many holes are simply breath-taking, but the 12th and 13th, near the headland’s slender neck, perhaps best sum up the experience.
The 12th tee is cut into the towering cliffs and you play up to a hidden fairway, then along to a precariously narrow target. The relatively new par-3 13th is then a short but dramatic cliff-hugger.
REASONS TO PLAY OLD HEAD
- A growing sense of anticipation and excitement as you drive down through the course to the clubhouse
- Probably the most stunning canvas and backdrop for a golf course in the UK&I
- The course is ever improving, with holes relocated or extended to maximise the views
RANKINGS
UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 34
This spectacular track, laid out on a towering headland jutting into the Atlantic near Kinsale in County Cork, boasts elements of links and cliff-top golf… and arguably (although probably not that arguably!) the most dramatic setting of any course in our Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland rankings.
Many of the holes are stunning, but the 12th and 13th, near the headland’s slender neck and perilously close to sheer vertical drops, perhaps best sum up the Old Head experience.
The 12th tee is cut into the towering cliffs and the drive must be played uphill towards a hidden fairway. Golfers have apparently had to be escorted away from this tee with vertigo-induced symptoms! The ribbon-like approach then leads to a precarious green perched some 150 feet above the Atlantic.
The par-3 13th is then a short but dramatic cliff-hugger that relocated to the other side of the entrance road right by the edge a few years ago. Missing left is not a good idea here and if you do, it's best to leave that previous Pro V1 exactly where it is rather than attempt to retrieve it.
Despite Old Head’s dramatic setting and big reputation, the owners have never shied away from course changes in the eternal quest to further improve the layout, which ranks as one of the best golf courses in Ireland.
Chief designer, Ron Kirby, has referred to a constant drive to take as much of the course as close to the cliff edges as possible to eke out every last ounce of visual drama from the available land.
Some of the more recent changes have been to the 8th and 10th holes. Neither par 5 lies right on the very edge, but extending both holes has also added elevation that enhances the visuals and outlook from their greens.
A similar strategy a few years ago saw the 6th extended and its green relocated closer to the remains of one of the headland’s early lighthouses. The beauty of this move is that it now affords the golfer a 360-degree view over the Atlantic, with the hole’s new name of ‘All Points’ entirely fitting.
You could run out of superlatives and adjectives describing Old Head's setting, but jaw-dropping pretty much sums it up!
What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…
The drive into the property is awe-inspiring; it is framed with high hydrangeas and other flora. For a first-time visitor, this sets the tone, perhaps unlike any other course in these islands. The views available from the clifftop holes starting at the 2nd (after the 1st warms you up a tad) are simply unlike any that you will have had the opportunity to savour before. This is clifftop golf at its very best. With its unsurpassed location and design, on a good day it can be an almost mystical experience.
Driving on to the peninsula and seeing the course, the cliffs and the sea for the first time is difficult to comprehend. The clubhouse and facilities are first rate, and once the tame opener is out of the way, you experience some of the most thrilling golf holes available in the British Isles. The course makes the most of its clifftop vantage points and while it may not be an architectural dream, the setting makes the experience unforgettable.
Old Head Golf Links location
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Best Courses Near Old Head
Best Places To Stay Near Old Head
Old Head Golf Links - Book now at Old Head Golf Links
Old Head boasts its own accommodation and The Suites at Old Head Golf Links complement the magnificent beauty and setting of the site, with each one offering incredible views across the golf course from your own private terrace to the Old Head lighthouse and Atlantic ocean beyond.
The White Lady Hotel, Kinsale - Book now at Booking.com
The White Lady is a boutique hotel located in Kinsale 20 minutes from Old Head and 200 yards from the River Bandon. It offers elegant rooms with free WiFi, an award-winning restaurant and a night club. Rooms are decorated in warm colours and have large bay windows. They include TVs, hair dryers and free toiletries.
Old Head Gallery
OLD HEAD GOLF LINKS HISTORICAL TOP 100 RANKING UK&I
- 2025/26 - 34
- 2023/24 - 32
- 2021/22 - 33
- 2019/20 - 31
- 2017/18 - 35
- 2015/16 - 39
- 2013/14 - 33
- 2011/12 - 31
- 2009/10 - 22
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it expensive to play Old Head Golf Links?
There's no getting away from the fact that many of the courses in the Golf Monthly UK&I Top 100 are expensive to play. Old Head is certainly one of the most expensive at €475 per round with caddie fees on top in the high season (late April to mid-October). However, there is a brief two-and-a half-week window in mid to late October when the green fee is €250 per round.
How many holes play along the cliff edge at Old Head?
The club's website says that nine holes play along the clifftops around the extremities of the headland at up to 300ft above the Atlantic below. Work in recent years has enhanced the views from other holes, too, that aren't on the very edge.
