Dingle Golf Links (Ceann Sibeal), Co. Kerry

At the tip of the Dingle Peninsula in Co. Kerry, sits what is proclaimed Europes most westerly golf course; Dingle Golf Links (Ceann Sibeal). Designed by Eddie Hackett, the course takes in the natural landscape of the surrounding area beautifully. With some incredible views on a clear day, the deadly but beautiful power of the Atlantic Ocean can be seen from many vantage points on the course.

Dingle Golf Links - 001. Stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean await you on the golf course — Stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean await you on the golf course

This course battered me on a wild and wet day in my youth, and I was eager to try to redeem myself. On a day that the wind was blowing more than 25mph, (but thankfully with no rain), I found myself standing on the first tee again. I was ready to face the golf course ahead.

Dingle Golf Links - 002. Welcome to Dingle Golf Links — Welcome to Dingle Golf Links

Below is my review of Dingle Golf Links (Ceann Sibeal).

Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

One of the defining parts of Dingle Golf Links is the stream that runs through the course. This stream comes into play in 13 of the 18 holes. Just when you believed you had hit a perfect tee shot down the middle, as you make your way down the fairway, the stream comes into view, and you worry about whether your ball has dribbled into it. It’s well designed that the stream is almost always right in the landing zone for the drives.

Dingle Golf Links - 003. The stream that comes into play on 13 of the 18 holes — The stream that comes into play on 13 of the 18 holes

The hole variety is very good on the course. I found that I was always fully engaged in the hole I was playing and was never bored at any stage of the round. Bunker placements and danger elements were well positioned, and you were forced to think about every shot carefully. The wind does play a major part in how the course can play, but it never made a hole impossible or unfair. In fact, it increased the enjoyment level for me.

Dingle Golf Links - 004. The holes where you play against the wind feel extra long — The holes where you play against the wind feel extra long

Way finding was excellent on the course and there was never any doubt about where to go or how to find your way around.

Dingle Golf Links - 005. Wayfinding was very well done on the course — Wayfinding was very well done on the course

Dingle Golf Links - 006. The information signs on tee boxes had a little map of the hole also — The information signs on tee boxes had a little map of the hole also

Par 3’s

The par 3’s are a great example of how the wind played a factor in the club selection on the day. The shortest of the par 3’s was the one I used the most club on due to the wind direction! Hitting the greens is vital on these holes. With run-offs that will leave you with a very difficult chip, and different levels on some of the greens, being on the correct level was important to avoid making a mess of the hole.

Par 4’s

This was one point of the course I loved, the par 4’s all felt very different. Whether it was a short par 4 that you thought you could get close to, or a long par 4 that you needed two of your best hits to reach, they all felt unique. Again, the dangers positioned in landing zones off the tees was very well laid out and accuracy and precision were required on tee shots.

Dingle Golf Links - 008. Clever placement of bunkers in landing zones made you think about every tee shot — Clever placement of bunkers in landing zones made you think about every tee shot

Par 5’s

The par 5’s are good long holes. Long hitters may be able to reach them in two, but on the day I played, I came nowhere near any of them on my second shot! Now, I do know that the wind did not help my cause, and maybe on a calm day I could have reached some of them, but the wind is part of the defence of the course and did its job well!

Even the 13^th hole, which looks short on paper, was a real challenge to reach in three shots not to mention two! The stream also comes into play on the tee shots in three of the par 5’s which is another factor to take into account.

Dingle Golf Links - 009. The 13th looks short on paper but because of the wind and the fact it plays uphill its hard to hit in two — The 13th looks short on paper but because of the wind and the fact it plays uphill its hard to hit in two

Course condition (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

The condition of the course was excellent when I played it. Protective measures were in place for the winter season, and you were given a mat to play from. If you didn’t want to play from this, you could move the ball to the first cut. This was the option I choose as the first cut was better than some fairways I’ve seen and was easy to hit from. Obviously off the tees on par 3’s I had to use the mat, but I had no issue with this.

Dingle Golf Links - 010. The winter mats that were in play to protect the fairways — The winter mats that were in play to protect the fairways

Greens were beautiful when I played the course. They were rolling really well and were at a nice consistent pace. Run offs around the greens were cut tight and you got punished if you ended up not judging your approach shot properly.

Dingle Golf Links - 011. The greens were beautiful on the day and rolled really well — The greens were beautiful on the day and rolled really well

Dingle Golf Links - 012. Getting your yardages right was critical to avoid the punishing runoffs — Getting your yardages right was critical to avoid the punishing runoffs

Fairways were being protected but still looked fantastic. If they look as good as they did when I played in winter, then I could only imagine how good they must be in the summer months.

There were two types of bunkers on the course, both of which you encounter after your very first tee shot! You will find both pot bunkers and more natural bunkers dotted around the course. Both were in great condition. The edges were defined, the sand was raked, and the bunkers stood out nicely giving a splash of white to the otherwise green canvas of the fairways.

Dingle Golf Links - 014. The pot bunkers had lovely defined edges and looked menacing — The pot bunkers had lovely defined edges and looked menacing

Dingle Golf Links - 015. Natural bunkers were also dotted around the course and were also in great condition — Natural bunkers were also dotted around the course and were also in great condition

Facilities (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)

The clubhouse has a pro-shop downstairs and a restaurant upstairs. The restaurant has a good view of most of the course and looks like a nice place to relax after battling the elements on the links outside.

Dingle Golf Links - 016. The clubhouse as seen from the course — The clubhouse as seen from the course

Dingle Golf Links - 017. A view of the inside of the restaurant — A view of the inside of the restaurant

In relation to practice facilities, there is a new short game recently constructed, and a putting green. The putting green includes bunkers and replicates some of the runoffs you will find on the course so it’s a good time to start practicing those long putts from the fringes!

Dingle Golf Links - 018. The new short game area that was recently built — The new short game area that was recently built

Dingle Golf Links - 019. The putting green includes some bunkers for you to practice out of — The putting green includes some bunkers for you to practice out of

On the way to the first tee you will find hitting nets. These are a recent addition to the course.

Price (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆)

The price varies depending on the season and ranges from €60 to €170. I think that the winter rate of €60 is excellent value for the course. For the summer rate, it’s definitely one of the best value Kerry courses I have seen compared to the price of some of the others.

(While I don’t agree with a round of golf costing more than €100 on any course unfortunately this is the price we pay for golf tourism being a main economy driver in some parts of the country).

For the rates to play the course please click here.

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

The setting is in a word; spectacular. There are so many viewpoints throughout the course you will find yourself often stopping to take in the scenery or wonder what the ruin on the hill was. You can see landmarks like The Three Sisters, The Sleeping Giant, or The Blasket Islands from different points on the course.

Dingle Golf Links - 020. The 3 Sisters seen off in the distance — The 3 Sisters seen off in the distance

The location is a little far off the beaten track for someone who does not have transport readily available to them. The golf course is about 20 minutes’ drive from the town of Dingle and over an hour from Tralee or Killarney.

For the location on Google Maps please click here.

Conclusion

I enjoyed my day in Dingle Golf Links immensely! I was blown away by the scenery and the setting and found myself reading all the signs on the tee-boxes which gave some nice little titbits of information about the surrounding area and why certain holes were given their names.

Dingle Golf Links - 021. The signage on the holes showing the names of each hole had some nice facts on them — The signage on the holes showing the names of each hole had some nice facts on them

The condition of the course was excellent, and even though I moved my ball to the first cut off the fairways, it didn’t affect my experience or my enjoyment of the course. Being prepared for the wind is vital for your enjoyment of the course I believe. It blows hard on the course and making sure you are well protected will make a big difference to you.

Dingle Golf Links - 022. The Wild Atlantic Way lived up to its name — The Wild Atlantic Way lived up to its name

Overall, I would rate Dingle Golf Links very highly on my list of golf courses to play. It is one I would definitely consider bringing friends to who want to experience a true test of golf on a good Irish links!

Go raibh maith agaibh Ceann Sibeal don lá álainn!