Old Head golf guide: clifftop golf on a Kinsale headland
A one-of-a-kind course on a headland jutting two miles into the Atlantic, with nine holes on cliff tops 300 feet above the ocean. The course, how to play (and stay), the season and getting there.
There is no other golf course quite like Old Head. It occupies a 220-acre diamond of land — the Old Head of Kinsale — that juts more than two miles into the Atlantic off the coast of County Cork, with the sea on almost every side. Nine of its eighteen holes run along cliff tops some 300 feet above the ocean, and every hole has a sea view. It opened in 1997, the work of a design team led by Ron Kirby with Eddie Hackett, Joe Carr, Paddy Merrigan and Liam Higgins, and it has been on golfers' bucket lists ever since.
It's usually described as a clifftop course rather than a true links, and it is unashamedly a special-occasion round. Here's what to expect, how to play it (and stay on the headland), the season and how to get there.
Where
The Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork — a headland in the Atlantic
Course
One 18-hole clifftop course (par 72), opened 1997
Nearest airport
Cork (ORK) ~45 min; Kinsale town ~15 min
Best time
Seasonal — roughly late April to end of October; closed in winter
Access
Privately owned; green-fee visitors welcome (premium) — book ahead
Stay
On-site Seaview and Presidential suites — a genuine stay-and-play
Ron Kirby, Eddie Hackett, Joe Carr, Paddy Merrigan & Liam Higgins · 1997 · 18 holes · Clifftop · par 72
One of the most spectacular clifftop courses in the world
The routing makes the most of an extraordinary site: fairways that run along the cliff edge, tee shots played out over the Atlantic, and greens perched above 300-foot drops. The par-5 12th is the signature — its green set on the cliff edge, one of the most photographed and most intimidating holes in golf — and the clifftop 4th, 17th and 18th are every bit as dramatic, with the Old Head Lighthouse framing the closing stretch.
It's exposed, so the wind is a genuine factor and the round is as much an experience as a test. Play it in decent weather if you possibly can — you come here for the spectacle as much as the scorecard.
How to play Old Head (and stay)
Old Head is privately owned but open to green-fee visitors — there's no membership hurdle, you simply book a tee time, and demand is high, so reserve well ahead. It is one of Ireland's premium rounds, so expect a green fee to match; rates vary substantially between low and high season, so check the resort's current pricing.
The headland also has on-site accommodation — a set of Seaview suites and two Presidential Suites overlooking the lighthouse and the 18th green — plus a restaurant and spa, which makes a stay-and-play the way to do it justice: play late in the day when the tour buses have gone, and stay to watch the light change over the Atlantic. Booking is handled as a reservations enquiry rather than an instant online tee sheet.
When to go
Old Head is a seasonal course, open roughly from late April to the end of October and closed over the winter. Summer (June–August) gives the longest days and the best odds of the calm, clear conditions that show the headland at its jaw-dropping best; late spring and early autumn are quieter. Because the course is so exposed, the weather makes or breaks the round — build in flexibility if you can, and pray for a still, bright day.
Getting there
Old Head sits on the coast about 15 minutes south of Kinsale, the famous County Cork foodie town, and roughly 45 minutes from Cork Airport (ORK), which has good links to the UK and Europe. A car is essential. Base yourself in Kinsale for the restaurants and harbour, or stay on the headland itself.
How to play it
Old Head is the showpiece of a south-west Ireland golf trip. Pair it with the classic links of the region — Ballybunion and Lahinch up the coast in Kerry and Clare — for a run that mixes the greatest traditional links with the most spectacular clifftop course in the game. Kinsale makes a superb base for the food and the harbour between rounds.
What to pack
The kit this trip demands
Old Head is exposed clifftop golf on an Atlantic headland — the wind is always a factor, so pack a proper coastal kit:
Yes. Old Head is privately owned but open to green-fee visitors — there's no membership requirement, you just book a tee time. It's one of Ireland's most sought-after and most expensive rounds, so reserve well ahead, especially in summer.
Is Old Head a links course?
Not strictly. It's usually described as a clifftop course rather than a traditional dunes links — it's laid out on a headland with nine holes running along cliff tops roughly 300 feet above the Atlantic. The character is spectacle and exposure rather than classic running links golf.
Can you stay at Old Head?
Yes — the headland has on-site accommodation, a set of Seaview suites plus two Presidential Suites overlooking the lighthouse and 18th green, along with a restaurant and spa. A stay-and-play lets you play late when it's quiet and enjoy the setting.
When is Old Head open?
It's seasonal, open roughly from late April to the end of October and closed over winter. Summer gives the longest days and the best chance of the calm, clear weather that shows the headland at its best.
How do you get to Old Head?
It's about 15 minutes south of Kinsale in County Cork, and roughly 45 minutes from Cork Airport (ORK). A car is essential. Many visitors base themselves in Kinsale for the food and harbour, or stay on the headland itself.
