Often rated No.1 in Ireland and among the very, very best in the world, Ballybunion Old is a sensational links dating back to the late 19th-century but presented to the most modern and exacting standards. The current layout owes much to Tom Simpson who made alterations to the design prior to the Irish Championship in 1937. From start to finish, you’re asked to play every shot and every club in the bag so your skill and imagination is put to the test….And brilliantly so. A gentle breeze really makes the course and anything stronger is tough so Matchplay is usually recommended. Easy-walking and inspirational, the fairways are fairly generous but you must look ahead to the green and plan your tee-shot accordingly to have any chance of getting to the correct part of the green. Bunkers are few and far between but deep and superbly placed. The greens are true, fast and subtle. Ballybunion Old is a course to inspire your game and in my top 10 of anywhere in the world.
Just a few yards from the Old course, the Cashen was designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr in the 1980’s and is arguably the more penal of the two as the fairways are narrower and the towering sand dunes sometimes make the targets look tiny. On a still day, the Cashen can be great fun but it’s very, very difficult to play in the wind. That said, if you can hit it low and straight (length is not the issue), you can plot your way through the dunes quite nicely. A fraction of the price of the Old course to play, I’d suggest you play the Cashen for fun after a morning round on the Old, and only if the wind is still.
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