Old Head Golf Links
Overview
Why it matters
Old Head Golf Links is Irish golf as cinema. The course occupies a narrow promontory outside Kinsale, with Atlantic water wrapping the headland so completely that even routine shots feel suspended above the sea.
This is not an ancient links in the purist sense; it is a modern destination experience built around spectacle, service, and unforgettable perspective. Cliff-edge holes, shifting coastal wind, caddie-led strategy, and a polished clubhouse make Old Head a natural luxury anchor for Cork and southwest Ireland itineraries.
Members-only guide
Unlock the full insider guide for Old Head Golf Links — members only.
Get the private planning layer: tee-time strategy, routing notes, dining pairings, access cues, and the full Inside Loop library from $19/month.
Par
72
Yardage
7,100
Holes
18
Opened
1997
Green fee
$400–$600
Difficulty
8/10
Architect
Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan, Liam Higgins, Eddie Hackett, and Joe Carr
Inside Loop rating
4.8 / 5
Video walk-through
Study the shape before you arrive.
A placeholder editorial embed for routing, atmosphere, and strategic preview content.
Reader reviews
Trusted reads from the field.
Aoife Brennan
★★★★★
Old Head delivered the most dramatic setting of our Ireland trip, and the service matched the view.
Julian West
★★★★★
A true destination round: cliff carries, Atlantic wind, and a clubhouse built for lingering afterward.
Dine like a champion
Local tables worth planning around.
Inside Loop pairs every great tee time with restaurants that respect the same destination rhythm: provenance, service, and a room with memory.
Explore travel pairingsConcierge-confirmed
The Old Head Clubhouse Restaurant
Refined Irish coastal dining
Atlantic views, polished service, and a destination-club sense of occasion
Pair Old Head Golf Links with The Old Head Clubhouse Restaurant for a refined itinerary built around exceptional golf, regional flavor, and a slow luxury finish.