Old Head Golf Links: Course Review, Tee Times and Key Info

Old Head Golf Links Key Information

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 13^th, 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…

Gavyn Cairns

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 2^nd (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.

James Pinkstone

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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Old Head Golf Links scorecard

Best Courses Near Old Head

FOTA ISLAND
The Irish Open visited here in 2001, 2002 and 2014. A further nine holes arrived 15 years ago, now played in three different configurations – Deerpark, Belvelly and Barryscourt. Deerpark starts out gently over lush, tree-lined fairways, before water first makes its presence felt on the semi-island green 3rd. The par-5 18th is then a real test of nerve thanks to the tightest drive on the course, then a virtual island green set into the lake beside the clubhouse.

CORK
Alister MacKenzie seems to go hand in golf glove with attractive courses, and Cork is no exception with its parkland design running down to and alongside Lough Mahon. Once there, the 4th and 5th flank the water before the next few holes play in and out of an old quarry. The MacKenzie greens - large, undulating - are a particular strength and mean that every part of your game is tested.

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

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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