Bantry Bay Golf Club, Co. Cork
Located on the shores of Bantry Bay, Bantry Bay Golf Club is a challenging yet enjoyable course. With the backdrop of Bantry Bay and the Caha Mountains, players are exposed to panoramic views all around the course.
Bantry Bay Golf Club is a course that I played a few times in my youth and always enjoyed. Previously being a nine-hole course, it was extended to 18 in 1997. The additional nine holes were designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr and Eddie Hackett. It’s on this newer nine holes where you can really appreciate the setting of the course especially on the 9th green.
Not having played the course in about 20 years, I wanted to see how the newer nine had matured over time, and if the course was still as challenging as I remembered.
Below is my review of Bantry Bay Golf Club.
Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)
As mentioned previously, Bantry Bay Golf Club is an 18-hole course. With a par of 71 there are three par 5’s, four par 3’s, and the remainder are par 4’s.
Course Design
The course is well designed, and you will play a good variety of holes. There are some very long holes on the course especially if you play off the back tees. But length is not the only protection the course has. Even the short holes can lull you into a false sense of security and then punish you before you even know what’s happened. The short par 3 9th hole is a perfect example of this!
Some of the greens on the course are quite large. Not only that but on the newer nine you will find undulating greens and tiered greens. If the flag is on the back of the greens the hole yardage suddenly becomes a lot longer! Wind conditions play a major part in scoring well on the course especially on the holes that are closest to the sea.
There are some great looking holes on the course. Holes that look like they will be easy but when you stand on the tee you need to plan them out properly. The 8th hole is one like this. You need to know your yardages before just going all out with driver off the tee!
Forgiving Holes
Some holes can thankfully be forgiving. For example, the 10th hole has a large embankment on the right-hand side that can kick your ball into the middle of the fairway just when you think you’ve gone too far to the right.
The 14th is another one where you can be offline, and the mounds play a part in putting you back into safety.
All in all, I think the layout is good. It’s a nice test and it will challenge your game but is very enjoyable.
Course condition (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)
The course was in a good condition when I played it. It had been a few weeks since the Spring maintenance had been carried out. The greens were still maybe a week away from being at their peak performance. But they were still good. I would like to see how they roll in the Summer as I imagine they could be very fast.
Tee boxes were in good shape, and I didn’t notice any overuse on them. The fairways were cut nicely, and I had absolutely no complaints with them. Rough areas were kept well and there were no issues with grass cuttings or overly long grass.
I played from two bunkers during the day and again had no issues with lack of sand or too much sand. Both bunkers felt consistent.
The course was presented well but there was one small issue I had with presentation. The flags that were in play on the day were very worn and some had tatters hanging off them. This is not a major complaint and will not affect your game, but it is something that I hope the club are changing for the summer months.
Facilities (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆☆)
Facility wise there is a restaurant and bar but neither were open when I was there. There is also a pro-shop which was open but undergoing some minor maintenance work.
For practice facilities there is a putting green which in good condition. Also two practice bays with hitting nets.
The changing rooms were a good size and clean, as were the toilets and bathrooms.
Price (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)
The cost for 18 holes in Bantry Bay Golf Club is €60 from April to September and €45 for the rest of the year. However, if you are a Golf Ireland member then this is reduced to €45 and €30 respectively.
There are also special rates for students and juniors.
For the rates to play the course please click here.
Setting & Course location (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
The course is located about five minute drive from Bantry town on the road to Glengarriff in West Cork.
There are great views to be had on the course. Especially on holes 8-11 where you’re looking over Bantry Bay from a high vantage point.
For the location on Google Maps please click here.
Conclusion
Bantry Bay Golf Club is one of the many stunning golf courses on the Wild Atlantic Way. Because of this, it affords you some incredible views. It can be a very tough course to play, but also a very enjoyable course. With a lovely variance in the holes on the course, you need to dig deep into your capabilities and play every shot you know.
On a windy wet day, Bantry Bay Golf Club can punish you greatly. But on a nice calm summer’s day, with the sun glinting off Bantry Bay and highlighting Whiddy Island in the background, and the Caha Mountains off in the distance, there is nowhere better you could wish to be!
OVERALL RATING – (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆)
Contact Details for Bantry Bay Golf Club
Website: Click here
Telephone: +353 27 50579
Email: info@bantrygolf.com
Hole-by-Hole
All distances are for the green tees which were in play on the day.
Hole 1: Par 3, 131yds, index 16
A downhill par 3 to start the round off. A large pond protects the left-hand side of the green. The green is quite large so having the right yardage is necessary for a steady start.
Hole 2: Par 5, 449yds, index 14
A par 5 playing a little downhill. The aim for the tee shot is to be right side of the fairway so you have a view into the green for your second. It’s reachable in two with two good shots. Beware going left as it’s OOB.
Watch out for the two bunkers on the right-hand side when playing into the green.
Hole 3: Par 4, 334yds, index 8
A pretty straight forward hole and just hit it straight down the fairway. No real danger around the green except for some run-offs.
Hole 4: Par 4, 377yds, index 6
The tee is set back into the trees for this one. You need to either hit out slightly over the big tree in front or draw it back into the fairway. The hole is a slight dog-leg from right to left. If too far left, you will be in the tree line. Too far right leaves you a blind shot to the green.
Two bunkers protect the right-hand side of the green.
Hole 5: Par 4, 300yds, index 10
You have two options here. You can take a driver just right of the tree on the left to go down into the valley, or you can take a long iron or fairway wood to lay up before the valley.
If laying up stay on the right-hand side so you are not blocked by trees and can see the green for the second shot.
There’s a bunker left and right of the green. The green slopes from back to front.
Hole 6: Par 4, 366yds, index 2
Go out over the marker pole to hit the fairway below. It’s a blind tee shot. There’s a large bank and trouble on the left so the miss is to the right of the marker pole. The fairway slopes down into a catchment area which leaves a view to the green.
Playing into the green you need to get over two ponds on the left and right. There’s also a bunker on the right. The green again slopes heavily from back to front.
Hole 7: Par 4, 275yds, index 12
A par 4 that you can get close to off the tee if a long hitter. However, too far left and right is trouble. Alternatively play a long iron or fairway wood to the middle of the fairway.
The hole is a slight dog-leg from left to right and plays uphill.
Hole 8: Par 4, 344yds, index 4
On this tee shot you need to know your yardages from the tee to the pond as driver may be too long and you could reach the pond. It may be advisable to take a fairway out instead. There’s OOB on the left-hand side.
The green is slightly elevated, and you need to watch out for the bank on the right-hand side. If you go down this, it can leave a tough chip up.
Hole 9: Par 3, 103yds, index 18
A beautiful little par 3 but it can be a very tough hole if you don’t judge the wind right. With a long green from front to back, placement of the pin means you need to make sure you have the right club to avoid leaving a tricky putt. There are three bunkers to avoid on the right-hand side.
Hole 10: Par 4, 355yds, index 5
This hole is a slight dogleg from left to right. With trouble on the left you need to keep you tee shot to the right. If you can fade a driver around the corner, then that’s a good shot to have for this hole. Otherwise play a fairway wood out over the right-hand side of the bank in front of you. If too far right the bank may bring your ball back into the middle of the fairway but don’t rely on this to save you.
Once you hit the fairway there isn’t a lot of danger around the green for the second shot.
Hole 11: Par 5, 469yds, index 9
Go out over the marker post for the ideal tee shot. There is some room to the left but not too far left. On the right-hand side, you can be ok, or you could be blocked out by trees.
For the second shot it’s a long way to the green but if reachable be aware of the bunkers in front of the green. Try not to be right as again it could put you in trouble if you’re not long enough.
If you laid up on your second shot the approach is uphill and you need to be on the right level as the pin to have an easier putt.
Hole 12: Par 4, 351yds, index 1
Trouble waits you on the left here with an OOB, and on the right with a copse of trees. Being on the right may also leave you with no view to the green as you will be blocked by the trees. The fairway slopes from left to right, so try to hit the left-hand side.
The second shot may find you hitting over a lake to the green. You also need to avoid three bunkers in front of the green.
Hole 13: Par 3, 117yds, index 17
A par three over another lake. Quite a large green again so pin positions will greatly dictate what club you will hit. If unsure of clearing the lake the bail out area on the right is protected by a bunker. If too far right, you will be in the copse of trees.
Hole 14: Par 4, 347yds, index 7
An uphill tee shot, and you can favour the right-hand side of the fairway. With luck the mounds on either side of the fairway will kick your ball back into the middle.
Your approach will be to a green that is below you but is two tiered. There’s a bunker on the right-hand side to avoid. If left, you may catch the run-off area.
Hole 15: Par 4, 315yds, index 13
Back across the road and onto the original nine holes. There’s a marker post on the left-hand side so aim up towards this. The fairway slopes from left to right so your ball will feed down from the left. Too far right and you could be in trouble or else blocked out by a lone standing tree.
Again, your approach will be to a green that is below you. If short you may get lucky and catch the slope to run your ball onto the green. If long you could leave a tough chip back up the slope.
Hole 16: Par 4, 426yds, index 3
The final par four is long and a good tough hole! Don’t be left on the tee shot as there is no room there and you will be OOB. At the very best you will be in the trees. If too far right, you may also be in trees or blocked out by them.
The second shot has no real danger, but it is a long shot to the green and again you need to be wary of the OOB on the left and a stream on the right.
Hole 17: Par 3, 167yds, index 11.
This par three has OOB on the left-hand side if too far left. If you just miss the green on the left, there is a bunker that may catch you. Stay to the right-hand side and you will be safe.
Hole 18: Par 5, 402yds, index 15
The last hole is a pretty straight forward par 5 but plays uphill. Again, there’s a marker post showing you the line, but stay a little left of this and it should put you in a good position. Be careful going too far left or right as there is tree trouble.
There’s a good few bunkers around the green so if going for it on your second you need to be accurate to avoid the bunkers.
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