Old Head Golf Links Review

It would not be unusual if you have seen pictures of The Old Head Golf Links and think to yourself, are the images real or photo-shopped? Well, the photos are a poor second cousin compared to being there in person. The course is nothing short of the most spectacular golf course in Ireland, and the views will not disappoint. Concierge Golf Ireland has prepared the following review to provide the reader with a snippet of insight into the Old Head Golf Links experience. 

Old Head Golf Links the Review:

A service member of staff will meet and greet golfers on arrival at the main gate. After a quick introduction, golfers will be directed to the car park and clubhouse. At the same time, the services team are notified of the group’s pending arrival. Where a merry golf cart will meet you to take your clubs to the practice ground and direct the group to check-in.

The layout of the clubhouse reception area is laid out similar to the shape of a hexagon. Wherefrom, the main reception, guests can access the downstairs leisure facilities & hotel suites, the restaurant & bar, the golf shop, the locker rooms, the member bars and the exit to the course.

Where to Checkin? 

Yes, check-in for tee times at the golf shop. Plus, it is worth noting that the golf shop has the most beautiful and latest golf apparel. Yes, indeed the Old Head Golf Links logo looks great on all shirts, hats & etc, and you won’t be disappointed shopping at the club for gifts.

Both the bar and restaurants are ready and waiting. Also, once the weather is good, I would suggest dining on the veranda before and after golf. Why? Because the views are just too good to miss overlooking the Lighthouse and the Atlantic Ocean.

Once checked in for golf, warm up on the driving range, work on chipping on the chipping & bunker area. Followed up by rolling a few putts on the putting green before play, which is next to the 1st tee. Certainly, the practice facilities are all very well maintained and be sure to get there early to enjoy hitting all the practice shots you need.

Yes, I recommend booking caddie services, because of the caddies course knowledge. Also, caddies are introduced on the range before play. The starter will come looking for golfers before tee off and he will help golfers with any questions. Finally, you pick up scorecards, tees, pencils, ball markers, and pitch repairs from the starters hut.

The Suites at Old Head: 

The Old Head Golf Course:

The course is set up with 8 par 4s, 5 par 5s and 5 par 3s. The greens are spacious and not so undulated, but the slope of the greens is typically from back to front. Also, the greens are tricky to read and take the caddie’s advice. As I find it is easy to under-read greens. 

Notably, there are five sets of tee boxes. Essentially, the Black Course is the longest and the Red is the shortest course to play. Consequently, the courses at Old Head measures from 7,137 to 5,413 yards in length depending on what course colour you play. But, since there are so many tee box options, it is unlikely that golfers would play the same course two days in a row.

Also, be mindful and play the course length that suits the group. The course starter will help with that decision, whereas the white course can play from 6200 – 6400 yard and from chatting to the starter, the white course is the most popular.

The course’s elevation from the sea shows really cool views. Plus, you can see the ocean from just about every hole. It is worth noting that ten holes border the ocean with spectacular views, and the views will not disappoint.  Finally, click here for the up to date pricing and booking information at Old Head Links. 

The Course Challenge, Old Head Golf Links the Review

From my experiences at Old Head, the main challenge is finding the right club to play. Mainly, this is due to the depth of the greens is long, the wind blows, and the course elevations can deceive my eyesight. The direction of the tee shot can be hard to trust because the landing areas are narrow.

The essential knowledge which holes should golfers play for position off the tee? A good example is the 5th Hole. The ball tends to kick hard right on the 5th and there is a chance of losing a ball in the junk on the right of the 5th hole. Also, the 10th hole is another good example where golfers can lose a ball by missing the fairway left on the 10th hole. 

Sure the bunkers are deep and playing good bunker shots is essential for scoring. Also, chipping around the greens is not straight forward, but that is the game. Bring your chip and run game too!

Indeed, a good strategy to score at Old Head, is that I find that playing conservatively, aiming for the middle of greens or to the front of the greens is probably the best strategy. But, come on that is so boring! Grip it and tip the ball at the flag! 

Spectacular Holes and picture opportunities:

Amazingly, there are photo opportunities on every hole almost anywhere on the course from the 1^st tee to the 18^th. The picture location is down to you. However, a few examples are the 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 7^th, 12^th, 13^th,15^th 16^th & 18^th tee boxes tee. Yep, that’s a lot! 

Another couple of places to consider photo opportunities;

• At the back of the 6^th green and walking to the 7^th tee.
• Walking from the 4^th green to the 5^th tee and meet at the stone of accord.
• On the 12th tee box, possible the most amazing view. 
• Also, on route to the 13th tee box. 

Notably, holes 4 and 12 are my top 2 holes for the best views. Please, do take the short route along the right side of the 4th hole, named the razor’s edge. It is a short sea walk that loops down towards the ocean and up to the 4th green. The 12th hole is breathtaking with the sea on the left and it is fair to say that to finish the 12th in par or better is a job well done. 

Notably, each golf hole setting is completely different and I found that golfers remember the Old Head experience more than other golf course played in Ireland.

A players Guide to Old Head Golf Links.

The Front Nine Guide

1^st Hole: Par 4 Sli Na Firinne

Starting off with a good shot up the left centre is a good line off the tee. A common mistake is that golfers second shot is too often too short of the green. It is easy to take an extra club to play but keep the ball short of the hole. Mainly the reasons are the green is quite deep and it is hard to see that from the fairway. Also, the green slopes dramatically from back to front and the green is raised.

2^nd Hole: Par 4 Gun Hole

The ideal line is down the middle of the fairway or just short of the fairway bunkers on the right. The green slopes from the centre of the green to the back, and you can’t see that slope from the fairway. However, playing for the centre of the green is a good play on this occasion. 

3^rd Hole: Par 3 Bream Rock

Centre of the green all day is the best line to play. Pin positions toward the back of the green are sucker pin positions. Because play too much club and the ball is in the Atlantic Ocean. 

4^th Hole: Par 4 Razors Edge

Yes, the right centre tee shot is the way to go and play for the centre of the green with the next shot. The green is a similar concept to the 2^nd green, but the slopes are more severe than the 2^nd.

5^th Hole: Par 4 Hake Head

Left centre shot off the tee and play for a level lie 2^nd shot. Following, play for the centre of the green. The green is entirely raised and like the 1^st hole the green slopes a lot from back to front.

6^th Hole: Par 5 All Points

I would recommend a couple of ways to play this hole. If you are a big hitter, and you fancy hitting the green in 2 shots. Take a line over the left of the fairway bunker and then go for it! Also, for the golf mortals, hit the first two shot up the middle of the fairway. The green is up high on a plateau, and it is a two tire green, and no significant slopes to report. However, please note that the green slopes from back to front.

The Challenge: Play the last 3 holes in Par or Better? 

7^th Hole: Par 3 Legal Eagle

The hole is straight in front of you and not much to report except, don’t miss the green right!

8^th Hole: Par 5 God’s Acre

If you have played the Old Head up to 2019, the green has moved to the right and it is a raised green where is it much harder to hit the green in 2 shots. 

However, hitting the tee shot up the right side remains the same, and I would suggest based on the distance is try to lay up to the 100 yards to the centre of the green area. The green is raised again, but not that long, and there is more width to the green.

9^th Hole: Par 4 The Dolmen

The hole is straight away, and a slight dogleg left. A right centre shot is the line and play for the centre of the green would be great. The green is more bowl-shaped than the others.