Parknasilla Golf Club, Co. Kerry

Parknasilla Golf Club is a course that I have known about for a while but never really took time to play. However, after hearing from various sources about the recent remodelling of the course I decided it was time to pack my clubs into the car and take a trip out along the Ring of Kerry to visit the course.

Parknasilla Golf Club 001 - Time to head on the Ring of Kerry and play Parknasilla Golf Club — Time to head on the Ring of Kerry and play Parknasilla Golf Club

Being a part of the Parknasilla Resort, the course is situated in the 200-acre grounds of the resort. Close to the golf course you will see the walled garden, which was once part of Derryquin Castle which stood on the grounds.

Parknasilla Golf Club 002 - The course is part of Parknasilla resort, here the 8th green can be seen next to the shore — The course is part of Parknasilla resort, here the 8th green can be seen next to the shore

The golf course was previously a 12-hole course. But recently it has been remodelled into a nine-hole golf course. I was interested to see if Parknasilla Golf Club was going to be as good as everyone had been telling me!

Parknasilla Golf Club 003 - Welcome to Parknasilla Golf Club — Welcome to Parknasilla Golf Club

Below is my review of Parknasilla Golf Club.

Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

The course is a great mix of holes. For a nine-hole course to have such a mixture of holes is a great achievement. You have some amazing holes on the course. Ones which you will need every ounce of concentration to walk away with par on. Blind shots, doglegs, beautiful green complexes, it all awaits you on the course.

The only little comment I have is that there were no maps on the tee-boxes. This only really affected me on one hole where I couldn’t see where the hole turned as it was a blind tee-shot and I believe it is something that is in the pipeline for the club.

Parknasilla Golf Club 004 - The 5th is a hole where you would benefit from having a hole map on the tee box — The 5th is a hole where you would benefit from having a hole map on the tee box

Par 3’s

The two par 3’s on the course are totally different to each other. One is a short but potentially treacherous hole. The other is a long hole where you need a solid accurate shot to hit the green. Both have their pitfalls, and both can catch you out if you don’t commit to them. These are two good par 3’s to have on a course.

Parknasilla Golf Club 005 - The short but potentially dangerous 2nd hole is a real knee knocker — The short but potentially dangerous 2nd hole is a real knee knocker

Par 4’s

Here is where I found the variety of holes really coming to the fore in Parknasilla Golf Club! None of the par 4’s are alike! There is such a variety of shots on the holes, and so many ways to play them. Being aggressive can pay off, but it can also seriously land you in big trouble. Often playing strategically is the best way around the course! Just when I thought I had seen my favorite hole on the course, another par 4 would crop up and then change my mind again!

Parknasilla Golf Club 006 - The 6th hole is one where you need to make sure you dont club too much off the tee and put yourselve in trouble — The 6th hole is one where you need to make sure you don’t club too much off the tee and put yourself in trouble

Par 5’s

With two par 5’s on the course you still get the chance to stretch out the shoulders and try and hit the green in two shots. The 3^rd hole is one where after a good drive you can be left with no option but to lay up due to the rolling mounds on the fairways. It’s a good defense to the hole and forces you to think about your second shot instead of automatically hitting it as far as you can down the fairway on your next shot. On the 8^th hole you are given a bit of a boost if you can catch the bank which throws you down into the flat plateau at the bottom. But with the wind coming up the fairway against you it’s still a good shot to hit the green in two!

Parknasilla Golf Club 007 - The fairway on the 3rd shows where you can get caught behind one of the mounds and forced to play a certain type of shot — The fairway on the 3rd shows where you can get caught behind one of the mounds and forced to play a certain type of shot

Course condition (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆)

The course was lovely on the day I played it. Greens had recently had some maintenance work done to them, but they still rolled nicely.

Parknasilla Golf Club 008 - The greens were in good condition and rolled nicely — The greens were in good condition and rolled nicely

Fairways were nice to hit from and were cut well and evenly. There were no patches of overgrown grass or bare patches. Even the many mounds on the fairway were cut well and looked impressive.

Parknasilla Golf Club 009 - The fairways were cut evenly including the many mounds and hills on the course — The fairways were cut evenly including the many mounds and hills on the course

It had just rained when I played but the bunkers still looked good. They were raked nicely and looked to have a good amount of sand in them with no weeds in the sand.

Parknasilla Golf Club 010 - The bunkers were well raked and had ample sand in them — The bunkers were well raked and had ample sand in them

The condition was very good on the day, and I noticed a lot of tidying up around tee-boxes and walkways going on.

Facilities (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)

There is a little clubhouse on the course but from enquiries it is only open on weekends. Which is unfortunate as there is a beautiful little sitting area outside looking over the bay.

Parknasilla Golf Club 011 - The clubhouse is small but has a nice sitting area outside — The clubhouse is small but has a nice sitting area outside

The clubhouse, if open, has a coffee station but if you want to end your round with a meal and a beer then your best option is to visit the hotel. While there, take in the stunning views from the place!

If you arrive to the course on a weekday presently you will need to pay for your round at the hotel which is only a couple of minutes drive away.

One of the things which really impressed me about the club was its practice areas. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 9-hole course with such good practice facilities. There was a large putting green, a long game area with markers up to 200m, and a chipping green which included a bunker. I was extremely impressed by this.

Parknasilla Golf Club 012 - The putting green for the golf course — The putting green for the golf course

Parknasilla Golf Club 013 - The long game area was something I wasnt expecting to see on the course — The long game area was something I wasnt expecting to see on the course

Parknasilla Golf Club 014 - The chipping green is located close to the pathway to the 4th tee box — The chipping green is located close to the pathway to the 4th tee box

Price (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)

As a walk-in player you will pay €25-€35 for nine holes and €40-€50 for 18 depending on the time of year. There are however various rates available for hotel residents, Golf Ireland members, students, etc.

For the rates to play the course please click here.

Setting & Course location (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

The course is located about 30 minutes from the town of Kenmare along the Wild Atlantic Way. It is situated in a beautiful setting with some fantastic views. The old castle walls that run close to the 9^th green add a nice bit of history to the course.

Parknasilla Golf Club 015 - The old castle wall close to the 9th green — The old castle wall close to the 9th green

For the location on Google Maps please click here.

Conclusion

I went to Parknasilla Golf Club not really sure what to expect. I had known that previously it was a short course. So, in my mind I wasn’t expecting much of a challenge.

But what I found was something entirely different. I discovered a course that is challenging. A course that is home to some amazing golf holes. Holes that tested me both mentally and ability wise. In addition, my gaze was constantly being diverted onto the stunning scenery around the course.

Parknasilla Golf Club 016 - Standing on the 2nd green you get a sense of the scenery to come on the later holes — Standing on the 2nd green you get a sense of the scenery to come on the later holes

In my opinion, this course is a true little hidden gem. It’s a course that deserves to be highlighted more. From the moment I stepped onto the first tee, until the moment I stood out on the 9^th tee box built into the Atlantic Ocean, I truly felt like this is a course that I would bring friends to for a tough but enjoyable game.