No 6 - Ballybunion - Old

Ballybunion Old course offers an excellent all-round test. This famous County Kerry links is thoroughly deserving of a spot in our top 10

Ballybunion
Jeremy Ellwood
By
published

6 BALLYBUNION – Old

Architect: T Simpson 2006 position: 6 Stats: 6,598 yds; par 71; SSS 72 GF: €185-€280 T: 00353 68 27146 W: ballybuniongolfclub.ie

The famous County Kerry links is thoroughly deserving of a spot in our top 10.

As the course works closer to the Atlantic from the 6th, you embark on a thrilling journey that will challenge every facet of your game.

One of my favourite things about Ballybunion is just how thoroughly it tests you around the greens.

Many of them are raised with run-offs – especially to the sides – which takes the chip-and-run off the table, leaving you facing delicate shots off tight lies to firm surfaces.

To play to handicap you must either hit the greens or have a masterful touch. A very clever golf course. JE

+ Excellent all-round test; warm, genuine welcome; wonderful setting - Takes a while to escape the houses; awash with “trophy” golfers at times

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Where next?
 >>> Top 100 Golf Courses: No. 7 Back to the Top 100 Golf Courses list - An introduction to Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses by editor, Mike Harris - Who makes up The Top 100 Golf Courses panel? - How do Golf Monthly assess the Top 100 Golf courses?

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Jeremy Ellwood
Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf

Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Srixon ZX, EvenFlow Riptide 6.0 S 50g shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3- to 8-iron: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Irons 9-iron and PW: Honma TWorld TW747Vx, Nippon NS Pro regular shaft

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Kramski HPP 325

Ball: Any premium ball I can find in a charity shop or similar (or out on the course!)

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