County Sligo Golf Club: Under the spotlight

Located two hours north of Galway in the Northwest of Ireland sits the County Sligo Golf Club. Situated on a small peninsula, the first 9 holes of the course were opened in 1894 with an additional 9 holes opening 13 years later in 1907.

About 20 years later, Harry Colt was commissioned to redesign the course to what it is today. There are a total of 27 holes on the property with a 9-hole course that opened in 1999. The location of the course offers golfers spectacular views of the Benbulbin Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.

The course itself plays between 5,880 and 7,230 yards with four sets of tee boxes to choose from. The course only has three par-5s, the longest being close to 600 yards, making it a par 71. Built along the coastal dunes, the course has some dramatic undulation changes as it ebbs and flows along the shores of the Atlantic.

Fairway bunkers are strategically placed along the landing areas of the fairways so tee shots must be accurate to set up a good approach. The greens, while large in size, have a good amount of undulation and slopes and are also guarded by strategically placed bunkers, except for two holes.

Holes 12 – 17 run along the waterfront while a small burn comes into play on holes 5-8. The signature hole on the course is number 17, an uphill 500-yard par-4 that plays parallel to the water before doglegging to the left to a green set at the top of a dune.

For those looking to do a golf tour of the Northwest area of Ireland, County Sligo pairs extremely well with the likes of Enniscrone Golf Club and Strandhill Golf Club, with Donegal Golf Club about an hour’s drive further north.

For accommodation in the area, we would recommend staying in Sligo with most of the golf courses being accessible within an hour’s drive of the city. In terms of accommodation, the Glasshouse Hotel is your best bet in the Sligo area, or the Mount Falcon Estate a bit further south in the Ballina area.

Recommended package

• 4 nights’ accommodation at the Glasshouse Hotel
• 3 rounds of golf at: o County Sligo Golf Club o Donegal Golf Club o Enniscrone Golf Club

View package: 4 nights 3 rounds in Sligo

Location

• County Sligo, Ireland

• 140 miles from Dublin Airport

• 135 miles from Shannon Airport