Enniscrone Golf Club

The Dunes Championship Links Course at Enniscrone Golf Club is a must-play on any North West Ireland Golf trip. This unique course is often described as a ‘moonscape’ thanks to its towering dunes, which are amongst the tallest in the world.

Enniscrone Golf Course is located on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, enjoying spectacular views of Killala Bay, and framed by the stunning Ox Mountains and Nephin Beg Range. Part of the beautiful North West Ireland Golf Tour, this unique course cleverly utilizes the natural landscape for its elevated tees and plateau greens, providing an unforgettable golfing experience.  

The Enniscrone Championship Links, playing over 7,000 yards from the tips and to a par of 73. The Club began in 1918 with a modest nine holes on the flatter land beside the dunes.

In 1974 the great Eddie Hackett was brought in to work his magic and extend the design to 18 holes. Then Donald Steel was engaged to make further improvements. His greatest contribution was to eliminate the opening of two flat par 5s and instead turn the new links directly into the magnificent dunes.
Enniscrone now boasts 27 holes, the original opening was incorporated into a new nine holes. Called Scurmore, after the stunning beach that borders the layout.

Irish folklore is legendary and the town of Enniscrone is synonymous with ‘The Black Pig.’ In ancient times, according to legend, an evil spirit turned a wild boar into a killer. Covered with poisonous burrs the pig attacked and killed anyone in his path. A group of town’s people finally were able to trap the killer on Scurmore beach and kill it with long spears. Due to the poisonous burrs, it couldn’t be eaten, so the townsfolk buried it where it lay. 

Today that mound still stands on the beach and is immortalized by a sculpture of the pig in town. If you are visiting in July, stop by the popular Enniscrone Black Pig Festival.

The story of The Black Pig is entwined with the course as the 18^th is called ‘Muckduff’ (Black Pig in Irish). The 465-yard hole is a strategically challenging par 4 requiring an accurate drive. 255 yards to reach the menacing bunkers or at least 290 in the wind to clear them, with OB lurking down the left side. A carefully crafted approach is needed to get near the pin, a mishit will require a deft touch back up the mounded runoff areas.

After a day on the links and in the wind, make time for a rejuvenating trip to the Kilcullen Seaweed baths in town. You might not be familiar with Enniscrone, but it is one course you will never forget on your Ireland golf trip.