Connemara Golf Links is nestled on the untamed Atlantic coastline in Ballyconneely, a peninsula between Clifden and Roundstone. Established in 1973 and crafted by renowned Irish architect Eddie Hackett, it spans over 7,200 yards from its longest tees, making it one of the world’s most challenging links courses. The terrain is rugged with craggy rocks, demanding precise play to avoid unexpected hazards.
The Championship course comprises the A and B nines, with the shorter C nine offering a different experience. Connemara’s setting lacks protective sand dunes but offers unobstructed vistas of the coastline’s white sandy beaches and the dramatic Twelve Bens mountain range to the northeast. The front nine is relatively shorter and flatter, while the back nine features the course’s most memorable holes, notably the daunting 210-yard par three 13th, celebrated as Connemara’s signature hole due to its raised green and lunar-like surroundings.
Despite its remote location, Connemara welcomes all with warm hospitality. The final stretch of six holes, especially played from the challenging back tees, leaves a lasting impression. Players must brace themselves against the unpredictable wind, a constant factor enhancing the course’s formidable reputation.
