Fota Island Resort

The Belvelly Course at Fota Island Resort represents a collaboration between Irish designer Christy O'Connor Jr. and English amateur champion Peter McEvoy. Opened in the early 2000s as a companion to the resort's original Deerpark layout, Belvelly occupies gently rolling parkland on Cork's Fota Island, situated in the estuary of the River Lee east of Cork city. The course was conceived as a more accessible alternative to its championship sibling, though it maintains the mature tree-lined character and careful bunkering typical of O'Connor's work. The routing moves through mixed woodland and open meadow, with the Lee estuary visible from elevated sections of the property. Belvelly plays shorter than Deerpark and features wider fairways and more forgiving approach angles, making it suitable for members and resort guests seeking a less demanding round. The design emphasizes strategic options rather than forced carries, with bunkers positioned to reward accurate placement over pure distance. Several holes incorporate water features, and the tree canopy—comprising oak, beech, and pine—frames many playing corridors. Fota Island Resort functions as both a members' club and a hotel facility, hosting corporate outings and leisure visitors alongside its membership. The resort setting includes a spa, multiple dining venues, and accommodations that draw golfers touring the southwest of Ireland, a region dense with links courses along the Atlantic coast but less populated with parkland alternatives of this quality.