99. Carne: Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2015/16

Carne in Ireland has been ranked number 99 in Golf Monthly’s top 100 UK & Ireland golf courses 2015/16.

99. Carne: Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2015/16

Carne, Belmullet, County Mayo, Ireland

T: +353 (0)97 82292

W: carnegolflinks.com

GF: €70 per round

Architect: Eddie Hackett

Visitor Information: Contact the office for tee time availability

Catering Options: Full bar and catering services

2012 Ranking: Down 3

Work Undertaken since 2012 ranking: The Kilmore nine, designed by Jim Engh and Ally McIntosh, opened in July 2013.

Carne Golf Links was the fruits of a community tourism project to entice golfers to this relatively remote eastern outpost, with renowned Irish links specialist Eddie Hackett enlisted to weave his magic on spectacular linksland near Belmullet. It would be his final project, and for many, one of his finest hours.

The links has gone from strength to strength, growing to 27 holes in recent times, but it is the first 18 that rightly register among our Top 100 courses.

It is a simply awe-inspiring links, with a back nine that will leave you breathless at times.

While the front nine may be ‘quieter’ by comparison, the excitement does build throughout, with the excellent 8th and 9th getting you fully prepared for the holes to come.

And what great holes they are, with no let-up from the 10th, which boasts an amphitheatre green to rival the 1st at Doonbeg, through to the finish.

The short par-4 11th and 12th demand precise play, and you’ll rarely play a links par 3 with such a dramatic tee-to-green drop as the spectacular 16th.

It may take some extra planning to get here, but often the very best things in life are worth a little extra effort… especially now there is the new Kilmore nine to savour too!

+ Mesmerising and exciting back nine

– Out on a limb in Co Mayo and getting there takes some effort

Panellist comments

“The back nine really is fairytale golf in a quite unexpected setting. Immensely enjoyable.”

“I like the whole idea of this being a kind of community project initially. That the course has gone on to achieve worldwide prominence merely adds to the story.”

Next course: 100. Close House (Lee Westwood Colt): Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2015/16