Esker Hills Golf Club

Esker Hills Golf Club sits on naturally undulating terrain approximately two miles north of Tullamore in County Offaly, in Ireland's midlands. Designed by Christy O'Connor Jr. and opened in 1996, the course takes its name from the glacial esker ridges that define much of the property. These ancient sand and gravel formations, deposited during the last ice age, create significant elevation changes unusual for inland Irish courses and provide the routing with dramatic contours and natural strategic interest. O'Connor routed the eighteen holes to make extensive use of the esker landscape, with fairways that rise and fall across the ridges and greens positioned on elevated plateaus or nestled in valleys between the formations. The property includes mature woodland, particularly pine, that frames several holes and adds definition to the layout. Water features appear on multiple holes, contributing to the variety of challenges throughout the round. The course measures over 6,700 yards from the championship tees, though the terrain and wind exposure often make it play longer than the scorecard suggests. The club operates as a members' facility with visitor access, serving both the local Tullamore community and golfers traveling through the midlands region. Esker Hills has hosted various regional and national amateur competitions, benefiting from its championship-length layout and the natural drama of its glacial landforms. The course represents O'Connor's ability to work with distinctive topography, allowing the esker features to dictate strategy rather than imposing an artificial design over the landscape.