Waterville Golf Links

Overview

Located in the picturesque Ring of Kerry, Waterville is found on a remote peninsula, surrounded only by beautiful Irish beaches and the Atalantic Ocean. Golf here is a mystical experience - the beauty classic links land, surrounded by the sea, yet forever challenged and shaped by the elements. The earliest structured golf at Waterville has been traced to 1889, when the Waterville Athletic Club introduced it to their syllabus, and Waterville became one of the first clubs to be affiliated with the Golf Union of Ireland, however it was not until the late 1960s when Irish-born American John A. Mulcahy had a vision to build the most testing golf links in the world that the modern-day layout was born. Mulcahy recruited Eddie Hackett, Ireland’s foremost links architect and his close friend Claude Harmon, a past masters champion to help achieve his vision. The terrain was ideal, and after exhaustive planning and work, the course and its new clubhouse opened in 1973. Waterville has played host to numerous professional tournaments, and many of the world’s greatest champions have experienced the links. Prior to the 1999 Open, Stuart Appleby, David Duval and Lee Jansen all used the course for practice rounds, and all became members at Waterville. Later that year at a ceremony during the now famous Ryder Cup in Brookline Massachusetts, United States team member Payne Stewart accepted the Captaincy of Waterville – the last golf honour he would receive before his tragic death. Today a life sized bronze statue pays tribute to his Captaincy and his special relationship with Waterville. Over 100 years old, Waterville is rated among the top 5 courses in Ireland, and the top 20 links courses in the world. Famous for its long demanding par fours and true putting surface, it's an absolute Must Play in the South West of Ireland.