Kenmare Golf Club, Co. Kerry
Originally founded in 1903, Kenmare Golf Club has been a part of Kenmare’s history for many years. Originally a nine-hole course, in 1993 a plan was put in place to increase the course to 18 holes. A new 10 holes were constructed, which were designed by Eddie Hackett the Irish golf architect.
These new holes, ten in total, were built on land across the main road from the original nine. Being on a hillier part of ground, you will find more elevation changes here than on the flatter original nine.
The ‘Brothers’ & ‘Sisters’ Tournaments
Kenmare Golf Club is the host of two annual tournaments. ‘The Brothers Tournament’ and ‘The Sisters Tournament’. These tournaments involve teams of siblings coming to play every year from all over Ireland and in some cases internationally.
In 2020, the original pavilion which was the clubhouse burnt down. A new one has just been rebuilt in its place and is opening in 2022. With this happening, I decided it would be a good time to visit the club and see the progress for myself.
Below is my review of Kenmare Golf Club.
Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)
The layout of Kenmare Golf Club is basically in two parts. There are the holes on the original golf course which are flat, and there is the newer section of the course which has more elevations. You start with two holes of the original course. After this, you cross over to the newer part of the course.
Immediately you see how the course changes. The first hole of the newer nine is called ‘Hidden Valley’. You will see a lot of this on this side of the road. Hidden dips, elevation rises and falls. Hitting to greens that are above or below you. It’s a different game to the original holes of the course.
Par 5’s
There are only two par 5’s on the course, (if playing off the white tees as the 6th hole is a par 5 off the blues and is 121 yards longer). But these are good long holes, and both play a long way uphill. You will be doing well to get near either of them in two!
Par 4’s
The par 4’s are a nice mix of strategic doglegs, short holes you feel you can get close to off the tee, and longer holes where you may be hitting a longer iron for your second shot.
Par 3’s
The par 3’s are by no means easy holes and none of them are below 150 yards in length. Previously there was a shorter par 3 on the original nine but this was removed to accommodate for the fact that ten new holes were built on the newer section of the course.
Possibly for some golfers the layout may feel tough on the legs because of the hills on the newer nine, but for me I didn’t mind it and quite enjoyed the mix of holes on the course.
Course condition (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)
Condition wise I couldn’t really complain about anything. The only issue I had (which is an unavoidable one due to yearly maintenance) was that the greens were being lightly sanded the day I played. Now I understand this is a necessity and I’m not going to knock points off for that. But even though the greens were sanded they still rolled well. My putting wasn’t affected as much as I thought it would be.
Fairways were good to hit from, they didn’t have any striping on them, so they didn’t have that prestigious look that I like to see on courses. But this is purely an aesthetic thing and doesn’t affect performance.
Tee boxes were in good condition, as were the bunkers and other off-course areas like rough and tree areas.
Overall, the course was in good shape and any small issues I mentioned above are purely down to personal aesthetics or down to required maintenance.
Facilities (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆)
A new clubhouse has just recently been opened. However, on the day I visited it still wasn’t fully operating. From what I could see it looks like a nice looking clubhouse and I am presuming there will be a bar and restaurant on the premises.
For practice facilities, there is a putting green and a hitting bay up by the 16th tee. Buggies are available for hire from the clubhouse but need to be booked prior to playing.
Price (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆)
The cost for 18 holes in Kenmare Golf Club is approximately €50/€55 at summer rates and €40/€45 winter.
You can also play nine holes only for €25 all year round.
For the rates to play the course please click here.
Setting & Course location (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)
The course is located just on the outskirts of the town of Kenmare in Co. Kerry. It’s easily accessible especially for someone who is staying in a hotel and doesn’t have their own transport.
For the location on Google Maps please click here.
Conclusion
I did enjoy my game in Kenmare Golf Club. It’s a course that provides a good test and has some good holes where you need to plan your shots carefully. The holes by the water are lovely holes. The second shot for 13 must hit a small green which is right on the tip of the course, and the tee shot on 18 is from a tee-box projecting into the bay. If the tide is out, you will see the many victims of previous golfers sitting in the mud waiting to be picked up!
With the construction of the new clubhouse finished and being opened up in time for the summer, it’s a great addition to the club. It’s definitely a course worth visiting, however, if you don’t feel you can handle the elevations then make sure and pre-book a buggy before you arrive!
OVERALL RATING – (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)
Contact Details for Kenmare Golf Club
Website: Click here
Telephone: +353 64 66 41291
Email: info@kenmaregolfclub.com
Hole-by-Hole
All distances are for the white tees which were in play on the day.
Hole 1: Par 4, 298yds, index 17
The first hole is a straight forward par 4 and an easy hole to start with. The road on the left is the only real danger but if you’re on the right side of the fairway you might find yourself blocked out behind a tree.
Hole 2: Par 4, 332yds, index 3
A dogleg from right to left. You need to hit the landing area to give yourself a clear shot to the green. It’s about 200 yards to the landing area so make sure to have enough club to get all the ways out but not too much to block yourself out by going too far past.
Hole 3: Par 4, 320yds, index 9
There’s a hidden dip in front of the green but it’s no real danger going into the dip. You will have an uphill shot but that’s it. Otherwise, you can play to leave it on the top of the plateau which means you have a more or less level shot to the green.
There’s a bunker short right of the green.
Hole 4: Par 5, 462yds, index 11
This is played from an elevated tee to a fairway that goes heavily uphill. The hole plays longer because of the elevation changes. There is danger to the right and the possibility of being caught behind some trees on the left.
For the second go straight up between the mounds and again keep clear of the right-hand side. There’s three bunkers short of the green waiting to catch any balls that land short.
Hole 5: Par 3, 167yds, index 5
The main danger in this par 3 is going too far to the right and either being caught on the bank or going OOB. There’s a stream short of the green which may also catch anyone not clubbing enough to get all the ways over. Be aware of the green being below your level as clubbing too much can put you in trouble if long.
Hole 6: Par 4, 351yds, index 15
You have two choices for this tee shot. If you feel confident and are relatively long you can try to get to the fairway on the right-hand side. But if you feel you can’t make the shot then you will need to lay up on the left fairway.
There’s a stream running between the two fairways so make sure to commit to one shot or the other as indecisiveness will be your enemy here.
Hole 7: Par 5, 519yds, index 1
Another long uphill par 5. For this tee shot if going straight out you may be too long and in the rough on the right of the fairway. Once you hit the fairway the hole is straight up the hill but it’s a long way up there.
Trees are a danger on both the left and the right. There’s also a bunker short left of the green and another one short right.
Hole 8: Par 4, 352yds, index 13
This one is a straight-forward hole. Hitting straight down between the two large trees may allow you to get a nice run onto the flat leaving less than 100 yards to the green.
Your only real danger is going slightly left or right and hitting one of those trees.
Hole 9: Par 3, 160yds, index 7
This can be a tough par 3. There isn’t a lot of bail out room and with OOB left you may be inclined to aim a bit right. However, there’s a rock face here and you could easily end up in that. There is a slight slope on the right hand side which may kick your ball in towards the green but don’t rely on it.
Hole 10: Par 4, 327yds, index 4
For this hole you may want to reconsider hitting driver off the tee. If you hit it well you could run out of fairway and be playing your next from the rough. It’s a slight dog-leg from right to left so aim just right of the corner.
Once up far enough you can see the green from your approach shot. No real danger around the green it’s just all about getting the line right if you have left yourself a blind shot in.
Hole 11: Par 4, 340yds, index 14
This is a straight hole and once you are straight off the tee it shouldn’t cause any issues. There is a bit of a dip before the green so you may have the green above you for the second shot. If you are a bit left or right off the tee you could possibly be blocked by trees.
The green is deceptive as you cannot see the back of it from the dip. Make sure and check where the pin is when walking to your ball from the tee box.
Hole 12: Par 4, 301yds, index 18
A very similar hole to the last one. There is a rock on the left-hand side that you don’t want to get stuck behind but other than that there’s no real danger. Hit it well and easily get up on the same plateau as the green leaving a clear shot in.
The green is quite long and narrow. There is a bank on the left which may assist you if you’re slightly left.
Hole 13: Par 4, 370yds, index 6
After going back across the road to the original holes, the first one we come to is a beauty. Hitting down towards the sea, try to hit the right-hand side of the fairway to leave a clear shot in to the green. Avoid left as you will likely get blocked out by the trees.
The green is located almost in the sea and is a tough one to hit. Being long or right puts you in the sea, and being left could put you in the bunker.
Hole 14: Par 3, 180yds, index 10
Quite a long par 3 where you are teeing off with water in front of you. Hitting the green is a good shot. A bunker left and one right protect the green.
Hole 15: Par 4, 323yds, index 16
For the drive just hit down towards the clubhouse. Left or right could put you in the tree line. If too far to either side, you will be on one of the other fairways.
When hitting your approach be mindful of the bunker to the front of the green.
Hole 16: Par 4, 319yds, index 8
What I think is the hardest tee shot on the course! Out right is OOB, and to the left can put you in the tree line. You don’t want to be too far down as there is a stream in front of the green which may catch you.
For the approach shot you need to get over the stream and also watch out for the bunker on the left and on the right.
Hole 17: Par 3, 166yds, index 12
The final par 3 and playing a little uphill. Water on the right can draw your eyeline. Make sure to club enough to get up there and try to avoid the bunker on the left and the right.
Hole 18: Par 4, 402yds, index 2
Playing off a tee box out in the sea you need to hit a good tee shot to leave an easy shot into the green. Use the tree line on the left as a guide for the tee shot. Be a bit right of this as the fairway slope will likely kick the ball down to the left.
You will still have a good long shot into the green. Be aware of the little hollow just in front of the green which leaves a tough little chip if you’re in there.
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