Old Links Course
Ballyliffin Golf Club
About this course
Old Links at Ballyliffin doesn't just border the Atlantic, it wrestles with it. Shaped over generations by the shifting sands of Donegal's coastline, this links is a reminder that some courses are discovered more than designed. Forged in an era before manicured perfection, Old Links is rugged and raw, a traditional links with humps, hollows, and the kind of blind shots that demand imagination as much as skill. Wind is the constant companion here, sculpting the turf and influencing every club selection across the undulating fairways that favor a ground game. The course, touched over time by various hands, respects its untamed nature. Ballyliffin has traditionally cultivated a membership of unpretentious golfers. Here, the focus remains squarely on the game and the camaraderie it fosters. After a round battling the elements, golfers gather to discuss their rounds over hearty fare.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in Ireland
Best in Donegal
Quick facts
- Location
- Ballyliffin, Donegal, IE
- Access
- Private
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Nick Faldo, Craddock, Ruddy
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,937 yards
- Difficulty
- 77.2/136
- Course Vaults score
- 8.8
Getting there
The journey to Ballyliffin Golf Club unfolds across the wild northwestern edge of Ireland, most commonly reached via Dublin Airport (DUB) or the closer Cork Airport (ORK), followed by a three-to-four-hour drive north through the rugged Donegal landscape toward the Inishowen Peninsula. The final approach winds through moorland and coastal villages, the road narrowing as it descends toward the remote headlands where the club sits perched above Pollan Bay, the Atlantic breeze intensifying with each mile closer to the links. For those seeking the utmost discretion, nearby Derry Airport (LDY) offers a quieter gateway, though the overland journey remains the true passage - a gradual shedding of the everyday as you trade tarmac for the raw, wind-scoured terrain that defines this corner of Ireland. Arrival at Ballyliffin Golf Club marks the culmination of a pilgrimage to one of Europe's most isolated and authentic links experiences, where the clubhouse emerges from the dunes as if it has always belonged to this untamed shore.
FAQ
Common questions about Old Links at Ballyliffin Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Old Links at Ballyliffin Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.8 out of 10 based on 11 logged golfers.
Old Links was designed by Nick Faldo, Craddock, and Ruddy.
Old Links at Ballyliffin Golf Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Old Links is 71.
Old Links plays 6,937 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Old Links is 136.
