Hogs Head Golf Club

Finglas River and Atlantic cliffs shape Ireland's first Robert Trent Jones II course.

SOUTH WEST IRELAND Location
LINKS Course type
18 Holes
72 Par

Beyond the Scorecard

Course established: 2017
Course designer/s: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Known for: Robert Trent Jones II's first Irish design
Defining feature: Nine holes above 100-foot coastal cliffs
National ranking: #45

The Finglas Meets Ballinskelligs Bay

The golf course at Hogs Head Golf Club opened in 2017 as Robert Trent Jones II's first original design in Ireland. The project replaced most of the short-lived Skellig Bay course and reshaped the headland on a far larger scale. Sand capping and three coastal fescues were used to create firm, fast surfaces.

The opening sequence follows the Finglas River, a salmon and trout stream that influences the first five holes. The routing then climbs towards Ballinskelligs Bay, where holes 8 through 16 run beside 100-foot coastal bluffs. Wide fairways leave room for changing winds, though the best angle into the greens still matters.

Jones gave the course several distinctive putting surfaces. The par-five 6th has a Biarritz-style green, while the 9th finishes at a small punchbowl. Holes 11 and 14 share a double green, and the par-three 13th has two separate targets so the club can respond to difficult weather on the exposed main green.

The course returns inland for the downhill par-five 18th, bringing the river and Waterville village back into view.

Why Add This Course to Your Golf Experience

Hogs Head adds a modern private-club experience to a South West Ireland route built around older links. Its location beside Waterville makes the two courses a natural pairing, while the lodge and cottages allow guests to remain on the property after the round.

Access is limited and must be arranged in advance, so it benefits from careful itinerary planning. Kinfern can position Hogs Head alongside Waterville and nearby Kerry courses, creating a distinctive stay without adding another long transfer between golf days.