Doneraile Golf Club, Co. Cork

Situated in North Cork, lies the little golf course of Doneraile Golf Club. Another one of Ireland’s beautiful 9-hole courses. Driving into the car park of the golf club, you can see the first and ninth fairways ahead of you. With trees lining the fairways, you know that today is a day you need to be hitting the tee-shots straight!

001. Doneraile Golf Club - Looking down the tree lined 2nd fairway from in front of the 1st green — Looking down the tree lined 2nd fairway from in front of the 1st green

Having studied the course map, and read a little about the golf course, I was looking forward to playing this course and seeing what it was like. With some interesting holes out a little bit further on the course, I felt I was ready to give it my best.

002. Doneraile Golf Club - The view to the 5th and 8th greens from the 3rd tee box — The view to the 5th and 8th greens from the 3rd tee box

Below is my review of Doneraile Golf Club.

Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)

The course is a 9-hole parkland course. With mature trees proudly flanking a lot of the fairways, tee-shots can be quite intimidating in places if you’re not accurate off the tees. With two par 3’s, and seven par 4’s, the course plays as a par 68 for 18 holes. A nice mix of holes ensures you play different types of shots and because of sloping fairways it’s vital to know landing areas in front of the greens before playing your approach in to a lot of the greens.

003. Doneraile Golf Club - One of the large mature trees in the 3rd fairway — One of the large mature trees in the 3rd fairway

The only issue I had with the layout of the golf course was with the first three holes. There is a bit of crossing over happening on these holes and if you’re not paying attention, it could be a little dangerous. However, once you move down the 3^rd fairway, you’re clear of this danger.

004. Doneraile Golf Club - The tee-box next to the 2nd green is one of the places on the first three holes you need to be wary of stray golf balls — The tee-box next to the 2nd green is one of the places on the first three holes you need to be wary of stray golf balls

Par 3’s

The two par 3’s on the course are a great test to your game. The 4^th hole is a long 190 yards and you will need to avoid a bunker left and right of the green. Hitting this green isn’t a guaranteed par though. You still need to work out the contours to get a good two putt.

005. Doneraile Golf Club - The 4th hole is a long par 3 and requires a good tee shot to hit the green — The 4th hole is a long par 3 and requires a good tee shot to hit the green

The 8^th hole is hitting over a valley to a green that slopes heavily from back to front. It’s a deceptive hole as it plays longer than its yardage. Again, hitting the green is no guarantee of a par!

006. Doneraile Golf Club - On the 8th hole it plays slightly more than its yardage so add a little extra — On the 8th hole it plays slightly more than its yardage so add a little extra

Par 4’s

The par 4’s are a good mix. You have holes you can get really close to off the tee, and you have long holes where you need to hit two really good shots to reach the green. The first three holes may look straight forward, but it’s all about navigating the tree lined fairways and ensuring you leave your ball in a good spot to be able to have a clear shot to the green for your approach shot.

007. Doneraile Golf Club - The opening tee shot makes you wary of the trees on the left and right going down the fairway — The opening tee shot makes you wary of the trees on the left and right going down the fairway

The 6^th hole (referred to as ‘The Graveyard Hole’) is one where you need to play strategically. The graveyard on the right-hand side is obviously OOB but even playing short you could end up caught behind the graveyard wall if drifting right. Playing safe left may cause you to run out too much into the hazard or worse, OOB.

008. Doneraile Golf Club - Avoid going right on the 6th hole as its OOB in the graveyard — Avoid going right on the 6th hole as its OOB in the graveyard

Hole 7 is another short but tough hole. You can get very close to the green here, but the protection on this hole is the green and the slope in front of the green. Leaving your ball close to the green but short means you need to meander your way down the slope and try to hold the green to stay close to the pin. An easy hole on paper but not easy at all in reality!

009. Doneraile Golf Club - Getting close to the 7th green you need to work your way down the slope through the bunkers to get close to the hole — Getting close to the 7th green you need to work your way down the slope through the bunkers to get close to the hole

Course condition (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆)

On the day I played the course it was in very good condition. Due to the recent fine spell, it was playing very fast. Fairways were almost like links fairways, but you could see they had been cared for.

010. Doneraile Golf Club - Fairways even though a little scorched from the hot spell were cut nicely and lovely to play from — Fairways even though a little scorched from the hot spell were cut nicely and lovely to play from

Greens and tee-boxes were good and there were no patches on them. The greens were rolling beautifully and were lovely and fast on the day. Judging pace was critical!

011. Doneraile Golf Club - The greens were in good condition and rolled beautifully on the day — The greens were in good condition and rolled beautifully on the day

The bunkers were ok but under the first inch or so they were pretty compacted and the club bounced a bit off the hard sand. Making it hard to play a good splash shot out of them.

012. Doneraile Golf Club - The bunkers looked good but underneath the top layer was pretty compacted — The bunkers looked good but underneath the top layer was pretty compacted

Around the course it was clean and tidy. There were no left over grass cuttings or trimmings and the place looked well maintained.

Facilities (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)

There is a clubhouse on the golf course where you can have a drink after your round. Inside there are also changing rooms and bathroom facilities.

013. Doneraile Golf Club - The clubhouse at the golf course — The clubhouse at the golf course

For practice there are two hitting bays, a putting green, and a chipping green. The chipping green also has a bunker. For a 9-hole course the practice facilities are pretty good.

014. Doneraile Golf Club - The practice area showing the putting green, chipping green, and hitting bays — The practice area showing the putting green, chipping green, and hitting bays

Price (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

The fee to play the course is €20. There is no separate rate for 9 or 18 holes. For a course like this I feel this is a very good rate and it’s well worth visiting at this price.

For the rates to play the course please click here.

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

The course is situated in the town of Doneraile in North Cork. Close to Mallow, and just off the main link between Cork and Limerick, it’s an easily accessible course.

The setting is beautiful. In amongst the mature trees, with the Bregogue River splitting the course, it’s a peaceful and enjoyable experience. The graveyard on the right of the 6^th hole brings a little bit of a reminder to us when playing to enjoy the moment, as our time is limited.

015. Doneraile Golf Club - The graveyard as seen beside the 6th hole — The graveyard as seen beside the 6th hole

Playing the course on a quiet day you can really be one with your thoughts and yourself.

For the location on Google Maps please click here.

Conclusion

Doneraile Golf Club was a course I didn’t have at the top of my bucket list. However, having played there and having experienced it, I can say it was an extremely enjoyable experience.

016. Doneraile Golf Club - A plaque on the way to the ladies 6th box shows a bit of history about the area — A plaque on the way to the ladies 6th box shows a bit of history about the area

The course condition was very good, and while you had to be accurate off the tees, you weren’t going to be frustrated looking for golf balls constantly if not having a good day. It’s a course where you can go out and enjoy yourself no matter what your level of golf is. And the best part is, being a nine hole course, once you finish, you get to play it all over again!