Mayo has some superb golf courses, ranging from 9 hole par 3 courses, to full 18 hole championship golf courses and golf links. We’ve listed the favourites and the ones to play when time permits. Westport GC, Enniscrone – The Dunes, Ballinrobe and of course Connemara Golf Links are the ones that leave you speechless and maybe balls-less. These courses are from 3omin drive up to 1 1/2 hours drive usually along deserted roads with magnificent views along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Westport Golf club (36km or a 1/2 hour drive away)
Westport Championship Golf Course has been played by the three Irishmen to win the British Open. Fred Daly, the 1947 winner, played an exhibition match, Pádraig Harrington represented the victorious Leinster Inter-provincial Youths team in 1990 and a 16-year-old Rory McIlroy became the youngest ever winner of the Irish Amateur Close Championship when he defeated Eddie McCormack by three and two at Westport Golf Club in 2007.
Mulranny Golf Club (about 50km along Clew Bay and an hour drive away).
Mulranny’s 9-hole links course overlooks the scenic Clew Bay, with Croagh Patrick across the bay, and the Partry Hills, Sheffr Hills and the Mulrea Mountains all on the southside. The Nephin Beg range is to the north and the course is flanked by two Blue Flag beaches, where you can swim after a game of golf. The course, like the scenery, is very easy on the eye, but always manages to tame the discerning golfer, even before the wind gets up. On a calm morning with a flat sea, it is just heavenly and inspirational for good golf.
Ballinrobe golf club (65km away and an hour drive away).
The Championship Parkland Golf Course at Ballinrobe Golf Club is considered by some, including Padraig Harrington, to be one of the finest in Ireland.
Cloonacastle Estate, which dates back to 1238, became the new home for Ballinrobe Golf Club during its centenary year in 1995.
Enniscrone Golf (90km away – an easy 1 1/2 hour drive with rewarding scenic views).
Enniscrone Golf Club, Championship Links Course. Among the finest and most challenging traditional Irish links golf courses, Enniscrone began in 1918 as an unrefined nine-hole course near a seaside village. Today, Enniscrone offers 27 holes on 400 acres of magnificent links land, featuring the par 73 Dunes Championship Links Course.
We invite you to discover why The Dunes has quietly become one of Ireland’s top-ranked championship links courses: voted “Best in Connacht” by Golfers Guide to Ireland
Connemara Golf Links (84km and a 1 1/2 hour drive away down the south Wild Atlantic Way).
Voted Best Links Course in Connaught 2016 by Golfers Guide to Ireland, this 27 holes Championship Links course situated along the majestic west coast of Connemara.
The wild sea and countryside surrounding the course provides majestic scenery, serenity and indeed history. The Spanish Armada ran aground here in 1588, the Spanish horses on board bred with the native stock, creating the Connemara Pony, many of them can be seen in the fields surrounding the course.
Carne Golf Links (111km and a 2 hour drive away).
27 HOLES OF LINKS GOLF AT ITS BEST ALONG THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY.
The building of Carne Golf Links has caused little disturbance to this wild and ancient landscape. Tees and greens occurred naturally and very little earth moving was involved in the course construction. There are some breathtaking views over the Atlantic and the legendary islands of Inis Glóire and Inis Géidhe.