Castlerosse Golf Club, Co. Kerry

Close to Killarney Golf Club, and lying within the grounds of Castlerosse Park Resort, lies the 9-hole course of Castlerosse Golf Club. This is a course that you could easily pass by if you didn’t know it was there as it’s not on everyone’s bucket list. Having a passion for 9-hole courses, I wanted to see if the course was worth a trip. So, I set off to play it.

Castlerosse Golf Club 001 - Castlerosse Golf Club is a 9 hole course located within the resort grounds — Castlerosse Golf Club is a 9 hole course located within the resort grounds

Below is my review of Castlerosse Golf Club.

Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)

The layout is a good mix of holes. There are some holes where you need to be tactical, and others where you need to be straight and long down the fairways. Don’t always reach for the driver though, as this can put you in trouble on some holes. Holes 3-6 are especially tactical and knowing your yardages is very important on these.

Castlerosse Golf Club 002 - Laying up on some holes even when the green is reachable is often the best tactic — Laying up on some holes even when the green is reachable is often the best tactic

Par 3’s

The two par 3’s are not overly long but provide their own challenge. You start and finish your round on a par 3. The first hole is roughly 160 yards and you are conscious of the housing on your left when you stand on the tee. The 9^th hole is shorter at roughly 130 yards but on this hole the green has some slopes making proximity to the flag an important factor on scoring well on the hole.

Castlerosse Golf Club 003 - The opening par 3 has danger both left and right off the tee — The opening par 3 has danger both left and right off the tee

Par 4’s

The par 4’s start off with a gentle left to right hole where you feel you can get close with a good drive. However, the rest are good tough holes. The 4^th hole is a tee shot to a blind landing area, and you need to take care as driver may be too much club here. The 6^th hole is one you can play safely or try and take on the lake to go for the green. The final two par 4’s are two good long holes and take two good shots to hit the green.

Castlerosse Golf Club 004 - The 6th is reachable off the tee but the tee shot is over a lake — The 6th is reachable off the tee but the tee shot is over a lake

Par 5’s

The two par 5’s are again good testing holes. The 3^rd feels a bit strange standing on the tee as it seems to be a double dogleg. Again, automatically reaching for the driver is not the key here. Hitting the landing area may allow you a shot to the green but it’s a long hit! Safety is the priority on this hole!

Castlerosse Golf Club 005 - Hitting the landing are on the 3rd leaves a very long shot to the green — Hitting the landing are on the 3rd leaves a very long shot to the green

The 5^th hole is a hole where driver probably is the club off the tee. But for your second you need to see where the green is and when you have a look you may be inclined to lay up for your second instead of just going for it. It’s another hole where you only really realize what is happening when you get to the landing area off the tee.

Overall, the layout isn’t at all bad. There’s a nice bunch of holes on the course, and I’m always a fan of golf holes that make you think instead of just hitting driver off the tee every hole.

Note: You may have a little difficulty finding the first tee, but you will find a sign close to the car park that points you back up the hill. Follow the rest of the signs to get there.

Course condition (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)

Condition wise the course was in pretty good nick when I played it. The greens really impressed me as I didn’t expect them to be rolling as well as they did.

Castlerosse Golf Club 006 - The greens were in lovely condition on the day I played — The greens were in lovely condition on the day I played

Fairways and rough areas were good and while the rough was punishing it wasn’t overly unfair. One issue I did however see on the fairways was a lot of skid marks from buggy tyres. Now it had just rained before I got on the course, but I did see some groups out there who didn’t seem to be aware of buggy etiquette on the course. This was a bit disappointing to see and hopefully it’s not a regular occurrence.

Castlerosse Golf Club 007 - Fairways for the majority were in good nick apart from some damage in areas due to buggies — Fairways for the majority were in good nick apart from some damage in areas due to buggies

My other little gripe over the condition was the bunkers. They weren’t sand bunkers, but rather earth bunkers. I don’t know if this is intentional, perhaps it is to reduce on the maintenance, but I found it impossible to hit a shot out of them.

Castlerosse Golf Club 008 - The bunkers had no sand in them and were very hard to play from — The bunkers had no sand in them and were very hard to play from

But for a small course overall the condition was ok, and my complaints are small.

Facilities (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆)

Being part of a resort there is a small pro-shop, but this may be unmanned as the professional may be out doing lessons. If it is, then you need to pay at the leisure centre which is just alongside. Upstairs from here there is a nice bar and restaurant with a view out to the course and over the lake in the distance.

Castlerosse Golf Club 009 - The restaurant and bar which is located above the proshop — The restaurant and bar which is located above the proshop

For practice facilities there is a putting green close to the 9^th green. There is also an area that the professional uses for teaching close to the 8^th tee. But I am unsure if this is available to the public.

Castlerosse Golf Club 010 - The putting green which is located close to the last green — The putting green which is located close to the last green

Price (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆)

If booking online the rate is €16 for nine holes which I think is a very good rate for the course.

For the rates to play the course please click here.

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

Situated alongside Killarney Golf Club and within walking distance to the town of Killarney the course is in a good location. The course is overlooking the lakes of Killarney with the MacGillicuddy Reeks in the distance. The nicest vantage point of these is on the 5^th hole where there is a little bench to sit and admire the view.

Castlerosse Golf Club 011 - A beautiful vantage point on the course is the bench by the 5th fairway — A beautiful vantage point on the course is the bench by the 5th fairway

For the location on Google Maps please click here.

Conclusion

I wasn’t sure what to expect out of Castlerosse Golf Club when I went there. I came away quite happy with it. The course was a nice little test with some strategic holes. The condition overall was quite good, and the greens especially impressed me.

Castlerosse Golf Club 012 - Strategy is important on a lot of holes like the tee shot on the 4th where you need to know where your landing area is — Strategy is important on a lot of holes like the tee shot on the 4th where you need to know where your landing area is

It was a nice highlight making your way up the hill on the 5^th to get to your ball and seeing the view of the lakes and mountains unfold in front of you.

It’s the type of course you definitely benefit from playing before as there are some blind shots. Hole maps would be a benefit on the course perhaps with yardages to lay up areas. But you never really get lost as on the back of the scorecard is a pretty good course map.

Castlerosse Golf Club 013 - Knowing your way around the course is a benefit and playing it a second time you might play some shots differently — Knowing your way around the course is a benefit and playing it a second time you might play some shots differently

Overall, Castlerosse Golf Club is a good little course. It’s one I would happily play again, and next time I’d have more of an idea of the shots to play having played there already.