Carne Golf Links

The Carne Golf Links of Belmullet Golf Club can be found in a remote corner of North West Ireland along ‘The Wild Atlantic Way’. Opened in 1992, it’s regarded as one of the world’s greatest links courses. The natural tee and green sites combine with dramatic, towering dunes, creating a landscape so perfectly suited to golf that very little needed moving during its construction.

Sitting on a peninsula almost 450 feet above sea level, Carne Golf Club overlooks Blacksod Bay and the historic islands of Inis Gloire and Inis Geidewild. Its layout was the last design of the late, great Eddie Hackett, and it takes pride of place among some of the best courses in the North West Ireland Golf Tour.

Well worth the pilgrimage to reach, Carne Golf Links traverses a variety of linksland, and elevation changes and plays amongst some of the most dramatic and towering dunes to be found anywhere.

A perfect example is the signature 11th, a 363-yard par 4, one of the most unusual and confounding holes you will ever encounter. From an elevated tee you hit down to the corner of an extreme dogleg where you will see the approach shot to a previously hidden elevated green. Brave long hitters can take their chances to hit the green in one with a drive directly over the dunes that must clear at least 320 yards.

The course was the brainchild of the community to bring golf dollars to this hauntingly beautiful but remote section of Ireland. The original nine holes opened in 1992 and Hackett completed and opened the second nine in 1993.

Today this 18-hole course is known as ‘The Hackett 18’ and is played as the featured course every other day.

In 2013, the third nine, known as ‘The Kilmore 9,’ designed by Jim Engh and Ally McIntosh was opened to much fanfare as it traverses some of the largest dunes in the world.  When this nine is combined with the front nine of The Hackett 18, it is known as ‘The Wild Atlantic Way Dunes Course’ and is played on alternate days from The Hackett 18.

When planning your North West Ireland golf trip allow two days for Belmullet. The best way to experience all that Carne Golf Links has to offer is to spend the night in the charming town of Belmullet. Take time to enjoy the Irish craic and fantastic local seafood, then play The Hackett 18 and The Wild Atlantic Dunes Course over two days. You will not receive a warmer welcome at any club in Ireland.