Youghal Golf Club, Co. Cork

Sitting on the hilltop, overlooking the town of Youghal, lies Youghal Golf Club. Established in 1898, the club has had a presence in the town for well over a century. The course itself is an 18-hole course and a par 71.

Youghal Golf Club 001 - Looking down at Youghal Beach from the 1st hole on the course — Looking down at Youghal Beach from the 1st hole on the course

Being the most Easterly of the Co. Cork courses, I set aside a day to go and visit the club and see what it was like.

Youghal Golf Club 002 - Welcome to Youghal Golf Club — Welcome to Youghal Golf Club

Below is my review of Youghal Golf Club.

Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆)

The course is split into two parts divided by the public road. After you play the 4^th hole you make your way over to five holes which are across this road. Here the course changes and the holes become more strategy based than relying on long driving. The 10^th hole again brings you back to the same side of the road that you started on, and you remain here for the rest of the round.

Youghal Golf Club 003 - The first of the holes across the road changes the game plan from one of long driving to strategy — The first of the holes across the road changes the game plan from one of long driving to strategy

Being quite a long course, in my opinion it’s a course that would suit long hitters more. On most holes, especially on the side of the road with the most holes, you can really open up with driver and try to get as far down the fairway as possible to leave yourself the easiest shot into the green.

Youghal Golf Club 004 - The 14th tee is one of the holes where length is rewarded as you can be well down the fairway after a good drive — The 14th tee is one of the holes where length is rewarded as you can be well down the fairway after a good drive

The part of the course that has only five holes is one where you need to be more careful with your tee shots. It’s more important to gauge your tee-shot distances and plan out the holes a little more.

Youghal Golf Club 005 - Knowing your yardages off the tee for the 9th hole is important to make sure you leave a good approach shot in — Knowing your yardages off the tee for the 9th hole is important to make sure you leave a good approach shot in

You will see some greens which are not in use on the front nine, and you may wonder what these are for. These are greens that are used in the Winter as additional holes if some holes need to be closed. I like that this is an option, and it keeps the course playable for members in the Winter.

Par 3’s

The three par 3’s on the course vary from 140m to 175m in length, so they are certainly not short. They all take a good solid confident hit to get to the green. The 8^th hole in my opinion is the nicest of them as a little stream runs alongside it and can put a bit of doubt in your mind when standing over the tee-shot.

Youghal Golf Club 006 - The 8th hole is a lovely par 3 protected by bunkers and a stream with ponds on the right hand side — The 8th hole is a lovely par 3 protected by bunkers and a stream with ponds on the right hand side

Par 4’s

The par 4’s are definitely driver friendly holes. Almost all of them have a slight dogleg to one direction or the other, but if you hit a good long straight drive you will be in an ideal position to hit the green for your next shot. If you can draw or fade the ball on command, it will hugely benefit you, as different shot shapes are advantageous in keeping you away from the trees lining the fairways on a lot of the holes.

Youghal Golf Club 007 - If you can draw the ball on command the tee shot on 15 suits this shot shape — If you can draw the ball on command the tee shot on 15 suits this shot shape

The 5th and 9^th holes break away from the driver friendly system and are more tactical holes. Knowing your distances off the tee and how far to your landing area is key on these holes. Especially on the 9^th as it’s a blind shot to the landing area.

Par 5’s

With only two par 5’s on the course, and both being on the front nine, Youghal Golf Club makes you work hard for your birdie opportunities. The two par 5’s are reachable but will require two extremely good shots. And at that you need to be a long hitter! The 7^th hole shows you the fairway from a nice vantage point and invites you to get as far down the fairway as possible. But with bunkers just left of the landing area, and danger of trees on the right, you can quickly be made to regret taking out the driver.

Youghal Golf Club 008 - Looking down on the 7th fairway from the tee you can be convinced to hit driver whereas playing it safe may be a better option — Looking down on the 7th fairway from the tee you can be convinced to hit driver whereas playing it safe may be a better option

Course condition (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

The condition of the course was very good on the day I visited. Greens were cut nicely and rolled beautifully. A lot of greens had a slope at the front that would kick your ball on if you hit it. This caught me out a few times when I thought I had played a perfect shot only to see my ball appear at the back of the green.

Youghal Golf Club 009 - The greens on the day were cut well and rolled beautifully — The greens on the day were cut well and rolled beautifully

Fairways were in good condition and there was a perfect definition between rough and fairway. You were rewarded for hitting the fairways as the rough was punishing but not unfair.

Youghal Golf Club 010 - Fairways were cut nicely and there was a nice definition between rough and fairway — Fairways were cut nicely and there was a nice definition between rough and fairway

Bunkers had been worked on and the edges were neatly cleaned and trimmed. The sand in them was good and playing proper bunkers shots was not an issue.

Youghal Golf Club 011 - The bunkers were nicely maintained and the edges were tidily trimmed — The bunkers were nicely maintained and the edges were tidily trimmed

Around the course it was clean and tidy and I could not find fault with anything regarding the condition of the course.

Facilities (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)

In the clubhouse you can find a well-stocked pro-shop run by Liam Burns who is the Head Professional of Youghal Golf Club. Whether you want to top up on golf balls, or you need a new pair of golf shoes you’ll find them here.

Youghal Golf Club 012 - The clubhouse of Youghal Golf Club — The clubhouse of Youghal Golf Club

Also in the clubhouse is Table 8 Bistro. Here you will find a nice menu with a good selection of food to enjoy before or after your round. Relax and enjoy your meal looking out over Youghal Bay and enjoy a drink from the bar to either celebrate or drown your sorrows over your score!

Youghal Golf Club 013 - Looking from the clubhouse to the view outside — Looking from the clubhouse to the view outside

For practice facilities, there is a putting green in front of the clubhouse on the way to the first tee. There are plans to put up some hitting bays in the future, but these are not available yet. There is also a short game practice area not too far from the 17^th teeing area.

Youghal Golf Club 014 - The putting green at Youghal Golf Club — The putting green at Youghal Golf Club

Youghal Golf Club 015 - There is a short game area close to the 17th tee area — There is a short game area close to the 17th tee area

Price (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

The fee to play Youghal Golf Club is around €30 which in my opinion is a very good rate for the course.

For the rates to play the course please click here.

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

The course is situated on a hill overlooking the town of Youghal. Some nice views of the beach and ocean can be had from points on the course.

For the location on Google Maps please click here.

Conclusion

Youghal Golf Club is a course that I enjoyed when I played it. A lot of the holes are holes where length and straightness off the tee are rewarded greatly. Being far enough down the fairway means you can approach the green from a height and get some stop on the ball. Coming in low from a distance means you may catch the slopes at the front which can propel your ball to the back of the green.

Youghal Golf Club 016 - Some of the slopes in front of the greens may catch you out and propel your ball to the back of the green — Some of the slopes in front of the greens may catch you out and propel your ball to the back of the green

My only real difficulty on the course was getting a little confused around the 4^th tee-box, with a few tee-boxes in this area and not being sure which was my one, I had to ask someone to make sure I was hitting down the correct hole. Tee-box maps would have helped here, but again they are something that I believe is in the pipeline at the club.

Youghal Golf Club 017 - On the 4th tee there was a little confusion as to where I was heading for my teeshot and I believe tee box maps would be a benefit here — On the 4th tee there was a little confusion as to where I was heading for my teeshot and I believe tee box maps would be a benefit here

All in all, I found Youghal Golf Club an enjoyable, friendly, and forgiving course to play. It is one where you can hit bad shots, but you can still recover on the holes. You get rewarded for hitting good tee shots and punished for being offline, but not unfairly.

It’s a course that is well worth playing if in the locality, and when you finish your round, and watch the day end out over Youghal Bay with the town and beach down below, you’ll be glad you ended up coming here and experiencing the course.