Situated just five miles outside of the town of Clifden in the village of Ballyconneely, Co. Galway on The Wild Atlantic Way, the links at Connemara has been in existence since 1973. This Eddie Hackett design comprises three individual nine holes, (the latter added in 2000), of pure links golf that has the unique addition of several rocky outcrops across the links that presents a more rugged feel than that of its other links neighbors on the west coast. The ‘Twelve Bens’ mountain range, Slyne Head Lighthouse and Grainne O’Malley’s Castle all add to the stunning backdrop of the Connemara Golf Links but beware; the scenery can often distract from the task at hand!
In contrast to many of Hackett’s designs, most notably Carne, the links at Connemara is substantially bunkered that inevitably adds a layer of protection but also significantly increases the challenge. The opening hole at Connemara is a 381yard dogleg Par four that requires nerve off the tee and significant accuracy. It is, however, the two Par threes on the front that needs the most considerable attention and where the aforementioned bunkers come most into play. At a mere 164yards, the difficulty of the 3rd belies its appearance, with deep pot bunkers waiting for anything left short or that gets caught in the breeze. The 6th hole is similar in that enough club needs to be taken to fly the front traps. Anything left beyond the hole on this tiered putting surface faces a lightning fast putt back down the slope.
Connemara Golf Links finishes with back-to-back Par 5’s that measure 581yards and 526yards respectively and is not for the faint-hearted. The first of these is reachable in two for the longer hitters, but the final hole requires three good shots to make the putting surface, which is surrounded by five imposing bunkers and where the options to go long is perhaps the safe play despite having to face a speedy putt back down the hill.
No visit to the west of Ireland for a golf vacation is complete without a round at Connemara Golf Links, and we at The Consummate Pro will be only too delighted to help put it all together for you. Take a look at our Wild Atlantic Way Golf Tour for some more ideas on how Connemara Golf Links will fit in to your itinerary.
