The Ring of Kerry is famous as a scenic drive, but golfers planning an Ireland trip should know it differently - as the access road to some of the finest links courses in the world. Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville, Hogs Head, and Dooks all sit in north and south Kerry, reachable from the Ring of Kerry road. This is a guide to each course, written from the perspective of drivers who have made these journeys hundreds of times.
Ballybunion Golf Club
Ballybunion is where serious golfers come first. Tom Watson called it the best course he had ever seen. Bill Clinton played here in 1998 - there is a bronze statue of him mid-swing in Ballybunion town. The Old Course is a clifftop links above the Shannon Estuary, with holes that run along the cliff edge and fairways that funnel wind from the Atlantic in every direction. It is demanding, exposed, and wonderful.
From Shannon Airport, Ballybunion is about 1 hour 40 minutes via the N69 coast road through Foynes - a scenic route in its own right.
Tralee Golf Club
Tralee was designed by Arnold Palmer - his first Irish course. It sits on the Barrow Peninsula north of Tralee town with views over Tralee Bay toward the Dingle Peninsula. The front nine play through dramatic dune terrain above the bay; the back nine turn inland into wilder, more exposed ground. It consistently ranks in Ireland's top ten links courses.
Tralee is approximately 2 hours from Shannon, and pairs naturally with Ballybunion on a two-day north Kerry golf trip - both courses are 1 hour apart.
Waterville Golf Links
Waterville is the remotest of the great Kerry courses - roughly 2 hours 45 minutes from Shannon Airport. Payne Stewart played here regularly; his statue stands near the first tee. The 17th hole, 'Mulcahy's Peak', is a long par-3 from an elevated tee to a green above Ballinskelligs Bay - one of the finest individual holes in Irish golf.
Because of the driving distance, Waterville works best as the centrepiece of a multi-day Kerry trip. Shannon Transfers can arrange transfers for the full itinerary.
Hogs Head Golf Club
Hogs Head sits just along the coast from Waterville Golf Links, on the same stretch above Ballinskelligs Bay. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened in 2017, it plays across dramatic clifftop terrain with the Finglas River winding through the inland holes. The signature 13th, "Kathleen's Choice," is a clifftop par 3 with two separate greens cut into the headland. It is a strictly private club, however - outside play is limited and typically requires a member's sponsorship, so it suits golfers travelling with connections rather than a standard tee-time booking.
Hogs Head is about 15 minutes beyond Waterville - roughly 3 hours from Shannon Airport in total - and the two are often paired on the same trip by golfers who can get access to both.
The Ring of Kerry Drive: Between Rounds
The Ring of Kerry circuit itself is one of the great drives in Europe - 179 kilometres of Atlantic coast, mountain passes, and stone villages. Many golfers combine a day at Waterville or Ballybunion with the Ring of Kerry scenic route on the return journey. Your Shannon Transfers driver knows every good stopping point and will suggest what fits in your schedule.
Getting to Kerry Golf Courses Without a Hire Car
For a dedicated Kerry golf trip - where you want to arrive relaxed, focus on the golf, and not worry about navigating unfamiliar mountain roads after a round - a private transfer is a better option. Your clubs go in the Mercedes V-Class, your driver handles every journey, and the price is fixed.
Planning a Kerry golf trip? Shannon Transfers provides private transfers to every major course in Kerry - Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville, Dooks, Hogs Head and more. Fixed price, Mercedes V-Class. Enquire About Golf Transfers Call: +353 61 951 195
