
Hogs Head Course
Hogs Head Golf Club


About this course
Hogs Head Golf Club occupies a dramatic coastal site on the Ring of Kerry in southwest Ireland, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and opened in the early 2000s. The course sits on the Hogs Head peninsula near Waterville, a region already known for its golf heritage through the neighboring Waterville Golf Links. Jones routed the course to take advantage of the rugged Atlantic coastline, with several holes playing directly along cliff edges and offering views across Ballinskelligs Bay toward the Skellig Islands. The layout moves through varied terrain, from elevated headland holes exposed to coastal winds to more sheltered inland stretches. The design incorporates natural rock outcroppings and native grasses characteristic of the Irish landscape, though the course features more manicured playing surfaces than traditional links. Jones shaped greens and fairways to work with the property's natural contours while creating strategic options from the tee and into the greens. The course operates as part of a residential development, serving both members and visitors in a region that attracts golfers touring the southwest coast of Ireland. Its location places it within reach of other notable Kerry courses, making it part of the broader golf tourism circuit in the area. The clubhouse and facilities reflect the property's integration of golf with the surrounding coastal landscape, though the course itself remains the primary draw for those seeking ocean views and challenging coastal golf in this corner of Ireland.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in Ireland
Best in Kerry
Quick facts
- Location
- Waterville, Kerry, IE
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 2017
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,140 yards
- Difficulty
- 74.9/131
- Course Vaults score
- 8.8
Getting there
The journey to Hogs Head Golf Club begins at Kerry Airport in Farranfore, a compact regional gateway roughly forty minutes northeast, though many international visitors route through Cork or Shannon before making the scenic drive down into the southwest. The final leg traces the celebrated Ring of Kerry, where the N70 hugs Ballinskelligs Bay and the wild Atlantic coastline, the road narrowing as civilization thins and the landscape grows increasingly elemental. As you approach Waterville - a tiny village pressed between mountain and sea - the golf course reveals itself on a dramatic promontory jutting into the ocean, a remote and windswept stage where the Old Head's theatrical clifftop drama meets the raw, unvarnished beauty of Kerry's most isolated corner.

FAQ
Common questions about Hogs Head
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Hogs Head has a Course Vaults score of 8.8 out of 10 based on 16 logged golfers.
Hogs Head was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr..
Yes. Hogs Head is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Hogs Head is 72.
Hogs Head plays 7,140 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Hogs Head is 131.



