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Enniscrone (Dunes), Ireland |
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Enniscrone Golf Club
Enniscrone
Co. Sligo
Ireland |  | Eddie Hackett, Donald Steel |  | Charlie McGoldrick |
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 | +353 96 36297 |  | On coast road from Sligo to Ballina, 8 miles from Ballina |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Book in advance |  | Pat Sweeney |
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Enniscrone Golf Club started out in life in 1918 as a modest nine-hole course. But it was the prolific Irish architect, Eddie Hackett, who put Enniscrone on the map, when, in 1974, he extended the layout to 18 holes. Donald Steel has recently extended the configuration to 27 holes by using new land and adjoining dunes. He has also changed the original flat opening holes, which were out of keeping with the rest. The main course now plots its way through the gigantic dunes and across the folded rippled links land. Now, with 27 holes, there are a number of playing options but it seems fitting that the main course is now called Dunes (the third nine is called Scurmore).
The location is ravishing; Enniscrone is set on a promontory, which juts out into Killala Bay at the mouth of the Moy Estuary. Scurmore, one Ireland’s most beautiful beaches, borders the links, while the moody Ox Mountains provide a stormy backdrop to the east and the Nephin Beg Range dominates the westerly skyline.
The course itself complements its surroundings. The fairways pitch and roll between towering shaggy dunes. Greens are raised on plateaux and protected by deep valleys and ravines, whilst others nestle at the feet of high dunes. There are elevated tee shots and panoramic ocean views. Enniscrone really is a breathtaking golf course with a serious challenge attached.
Stretching out to more than 7,000 yards from the tips, it calls for some solid driving. There is nothing unnatural about Enniscrone; it’s in tune with its surroundings, where there is this ever-present sense of space and freedom.
You must expect a bit of wind here, and that will naturally bring another dimension to the challenge. If you are feeling weary and windswept after your round, why not visit Kilcullen's Seaweed Baths in Enniscrone village? Guaranteed to provide relief from the rigours of the round. Or try and unravel the giant and rampageous Enniscrone black pig myth. But whatever you do, take the time to play this course before it gets too well known and becomes the Ballybunion of the Western Seaboard.
Enniscrone Golf Club was voted 2008 Golf Course of the Year at the recent Irish Golf Tour Operators Association Awards Ceremony, held at the Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt. Click here for more. | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |   | | | superbe links; des trous incroyables et un entretien parfait. A découvrir |
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| 05 August 2012
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| | Stunning golf course, the best I have played in Ireland so far (including Waterville, County Sligo and Portmarnock). So many amazing holes between the dunes, although my favourites are the par 4 12th and 13th and the 15th. There are many good courses in the West Coast (Co. Sligo, Donegal...), but none gets close to Enniscrone. Una pasada de campo!!!! |
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| 03 January 2012
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| | An absolute hidden gem. My father and I did a Northwest/Northern Ireland Trip last year and I'm glad we played this wonderful course. The last 5-6 holes are absolutely magical. Great condition, a great partner and wonderful sand dunes. This course is one of the best values of any that I've played in Ireland. I'd strongly recommend this non tourist destination (Northwest Ireland) and this great course. |
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| 04 January 2011
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| | Played here last week on a trip that included Royal County Down and Portrush among others. You might think it wouldn't even come close. Boy would you be wrong! I truly loved this course. Such amazing massive dunes! The greens were some of the most severly undulating greens I've played outside the Old course and National Golf Links. There are a few hole in the middle of the round that come out of the dunes but before you know it you're back in them, for a fantastically fun set of holes. 11 through 18 are so great. Blind shots, big dune, rolling greens. What more could you ask for! Play here at such a rate and you are in golfing nirvana! Joey |
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| 10 October 2010
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| | My mistake, the two holes I mentioned that stood out for me were 13 and 14 not 12 and 13. |
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| 30 June 2010
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| | A rollercoaster of a course! The course starts out with a par four along flat, open ground. The hole then doglegs right and turns uphill into the dunes. For the next few holes you travel between the huge dunes. during the middle part of the round your palying on flat open ground again wondering what happened. But then your taken back through the dunes for a tumbling finish along the ocean and the mountanous dunes. two holes really stood out for me, the 12th who's tee box is on top of the dunes with the ocean at your back and a narrowing fairway below. you just hit and trust the architect that he knew what he was doing when he designed the hole. at the bottom of the fairway it doglegs right at the last instant. If your tee shot is straight you have only a little wedge into the green. A fun hole that you'll remember. The very next hole also is a standout. It's a 542yd par 5 that is all uphill winding to the right and then left before turning right again. It took a solid tee shot, two good 3 woods and a chip to reach the green. You don't even see theflag stick for the first 490yds or so. It was agood course simply because it didn't overwhelm you with so much topography that it all melds into one giant smorgasborg of hills and dales. I would play this course over and over again. |
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| 30 June 2010
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| | Having enjoyed Rosses Point the day before, we thought it couldn't get any better. Enniscrone is longer and tougher. The back 9 is incredible. You get lost in the most incredible steep dunes. This is an absolute top notch Links. Having played all the biggies in England and Scotland, Enniscrone is as good as the best. Wow. |
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| 20 May 2010
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| | A great golf course. From the very first hole you can see that this is quality, when I played the greens had just been dressed but even still the ran very true after the severe winter. The first was a sharp dog-leg that runs parallel by the clubhouse before literally turning at 90 degrees to a green nestled in amongst the dunes. The second a shortish par 5 runs deeper into the rugged dunescape with the fairway set in amongst towering giants. The views from the greens are amazing with the ocean stretching out before you to the horizon. The course continues weaving through the dunes until the 7th where it plays down onto the flat links land with the 8th having a steeply elevated green.
The best holes for me though are the holes that run along side the ocean for example the 16th a sweeping par 5 that nestles close to the dunes with a heavily contoured green waiting.
This course has few bunkers but it really need none with the fairways running in valleys between dunes. This is a memorable course some may say that holes such as the short par 4 13 and 14 are a bit silly but they sit so naturally in the landscape. The land that Enniscrone is built on was made for a golf course. RC
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| 26 April 2010
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| | Played the course with my father in the Spring of 2009. We loved the course and the layout. The enjoyment starts with the very first drive on a hole that plays up a hill and doglegs slightly to the right (with OB all along the right side). This course has some excellent sand dunes and one of the best par 5's that I've played in Ireland (I believe that it is the Par 5 2nd on the front). An uphill Drive thru a chute in the Dunes sets up a 3 wood downhill to the green (that sits in a bowl with the Ocean just behind the green). The last 3 holes are fantastic finishing holes - A par 4 that has the ocean to the left, a downhill par 3 that plays to a very narrow green, and a beastly 18th with OB left and very long. Excellent course with excellent people running it. |
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| 23 January 2010
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| | I can’t believe that it has taken me 3 months to write this review. It would be natural in the passing of time that my feelings for this course could have diminished. But even after playing quality layouts like the Machrie and Machrihanish Dunes in the intervening period, my affection for this track has not been diluted one iota. Enniscrone will go down as one of the highlights of what has been, for me, a fantastic golfing year. Our day at Enniscrone was memorable for numerous reasons. The main reason is obviously the fantastic course the second, the club’s ebullient manager, Mr Pat Sweeney who, made sure that 2 very weary travellers were fed, watered and buggied up for their round. Pat very kindly joined us for the 18 holes which was a delight. Pat is excellent company on the golf course and I am convinced that he could sell sand to the Arabs if he had to, that was not required here as the course sells itself. The tone is set from the off with an opening 'L' shaped hole which sees you playing through a funnelled fairway to a slightly uphill green. This theme is continued at the 2nd but this time journey's end is a putting surface beside the sea. Marvellous! The 3rd is the first of Enniscrone's four, mid-length par 3's (3 and 11 being the best) which this reviewer found a refreshing throwback. Thankfully not every course feels that it has to Tiger up their par 3's. to make them challenging. The front 9 finishes with a simple but stunning par 4 which overlooks Bartragh Island . If anything, the back 9 eclipses the outward half with holes 11-16 inclusive simply outstanding. Weaving in and out of dunes, going up hill and down dale, and every, and I mean every, shot in your golfing armoury utilised. Now, I don’t like to disagree with the experts but after playing both courses in the same day I would humbly suggest that Enniscrone is a better overall course than Carne (Backspin Magazine and Ireland's Golf Digest agree with me). Carne does have the finest inward half I have ever played but, as an eighteen, I think that Enniscrone shades it, though not by much. Our time in Ireland had come to an end. The newly crowned King of Donegal and Mayo failed to add Sligo to his collection. That big bottle of Brasso will still come in handy some day. This was not a time for being downcast as two life affirming days had just been completed and filed away in the treasured memories section of the brain. If I may offer one bit of advice it is that if you ever get the chance to play golf in Ireland grab it with both hands. I have played 15 of our top 20 courses in Scotland and both Enniscrone and Carne are of equal if not better quality than many of the courses in Scotland’s top ten. It has taken me till middle age to get to Ireland. I urge you not to wait as long as I did. You will not be disappointed and, if you are in Enniscrone ask for Pat Sweeney. I am sure that he will be all too happy and willing to see you and if you are lucky, join you for a game. MPPJ |
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| 25 November 2009
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| I visited Carne and Enniscrone this week to complete my personal play list of Irish Top 20 links courses on this website. Having played the former in the morning and been really impressed, I journeyed from Co. Mayo to Co. Sligo in the afternoon thinking the course at Enniscrone would do well to come anywhere near the same standard. Well, was I in for a surprise as it far surpassed my expectations!
 The recently revamped 1st and 18th holes bookend a fabulous set of fairways made up of an amalgam of original (some very original) Eddie Hackett designs and half a dozen new holes from architects Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert, with the less interesting holes from the old layout forming part of the relief nine. Holes 7 to 9 on flatter land towards Scurmore Beach are an ideal trio to take a breather between the testing holes that are routed through the tall dunes. Whilst I loved the six modern holes (2-4 and 14-16) that have been carved out of the massive sand hills, it was the two back-to-back, old-fashioned short par fours at 12 and 13 that really took my fancy here - the first doglegging left to a green carved into the dunes, the second veering and dipping down to a punchbowl green on the right from a wonderfully high tee position – Hackett at his very best.
Enniscrone is a serious golf track that will test any golfer and its sensibly priced green fees should attract many who are keen to play high end golf for a reasonably modest outlay. If you’re visiting for the first time, you’d do well to ask for manager Pat Sweeney to give you a brief outline of the recent course changes and pass on any tips on how to shave a few shots of your score (like how to play the aforementioned 13th) - tell him the two Scotsmen who birdied his stroke index 2 5th hole sent you! Jim McCann |
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| 27 August 2009
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| | Wonderful course, the new holes are spectacular whether amongst the mountainous dunes or the shoreline. Played it just before the Irish close amateur championship and it goes without saying the conditioning was awesome. The greens and aprons were lighting fast. True Irish hospitality throughout at a 3rd of the price of some of the bigger named courses. Make this part of Ireland a must visit and play along with Carne and Rosses Point, you won’t be disappointed. |
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| 14 June 2009
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| | I played the course in perfect weather, sunny and with a light breeze. Having played most of the highly ranked Irish links courses, I can honestly rank Enniscrone on a par with better known courses such as Lahinch, Murvaugh, Ballyliffin and others. Why this course doesn't enjoy the same notoriety as the others is a mystery, since the duneland on which the course lies is some of the most dramatic I've seen (HUGE dunes define many of the holes). Perhaps like Carne, it may be considered out-of-the-way, or hard to reach. (Actually, the fact that the course is a relative unknown is probably to be cherished, as anyone who's ever played a six hour round on tourist-clogged Ballybunion can attect). The course conditioning was exceptional, with excellent putting surfaces. A real test off the tee, with long, straight drives rewarded and several wayward ones severely punished (i.e. re-tee). Anyone playing Murvaugh, Rosses Point or the numerous links gems in County Donegal should make a point of playing Enniscrone as well. As it lies within roughly an hour of Rosses Point, these two can be played on the same day. |
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| 05 November 2008
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| | A very good test of golf with some mountainous dunes in places, the new holes built by Donald Steel (2,3,4,14,15 & 16) are awesome. Enjoy some great food and guinness in the bustling clubhouse afterwards. |
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| 26 August 2008
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| | Fantastic - played this weekend, the wind blew the pull trollies over on several occassions - so not easy. The course was in great condition for the time of year. The holes winding through the dunes could not be better. The views accross the atlantic on the back 9 better still. The green were very tough especially when buffited by the wind. 4 weaker holes 5-9 but they did not spoil the enjoyment.
If you want challenging links golf this is a must. It also has to be the top course for value for money. |
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| 26 February 2008
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| | I played the course back in 2005. Its one of the best links courses in Ireland now. The holes through the towering dunes are amazing. It is a tough challenge and the stand out hole for me was the par 5 16th thats runs along the sea. The staff at Enniscrone were very welcoming and very proud of their new course. The secretary took my father and me out for a walk on the dunes and explained the work that they had done to complete the new course. Not to be missed if visiting the area. |
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| 03 January 2008
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| | My wife and I played Enniscone on a rainy, windy Aug17. I distinctly remember 3 holes: the par4 13th plays downhill from a very elevated tee and doglegs hard right. It ws raining so hard that my gloves were like squeegies as I hit a perfect drive to the bottom of the hill and a perfect wedge to the green . I actually 2 putted for a par. The par 5 14th was a 7x for me but my wife holed out her pitch for a par and on the par 4 18th I hit a perfect 240 yd drive into a stiff wind but was unable to reach the green with a well struck 7 wood. A wonderful, scenic test of golf . and a great value for a couple (95 euros). |
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| 07 September 2007
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| | I`ve been to a lot of courses that Donald Steel has had a hand in remodelling, and to be honest I`m not a huge fan of some of the things he`s done. But this is brilliant- he has turned an already good links into one that fully utilises the great site upon which it sits. The poa greens were excellent too, and in general the course was in good shape. Good clubhouse, good shop, and one of the friendliest professionals you will ever meet. Great day out if you love blind shots, big dunes and a friendly club atmosphere. |
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| 19 August 2007
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| | One of Ireland's greatest links. Enniscrone has it all. A terrific combination of brawn and quirk. The towering dunes and views of Killala Bay, the Moy estuary and the Nephin and Ox Mountains add to the feeling that one is playing golf in its most natural state. The course is difficult but the final stretch of 12 through 18 presents a great finish for match play. |
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| 13 June 2007
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| | This course is mint. The re-designed back 9 through the dunes is what golf is all about and so much better than parkland target style golf courses. Good value too. Make sure you couple with a trip to Carne for the ultimate links experince in north west Ireland. |
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| 31 May 2007
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| | This is the second time I have play this course since
it was redesigned. This is truly my favorite gem in
Ireland, we played in late Sept 2006 during the Ryder. This course is special the way in runs thru
the dunes. Excellent value for your money, watched
the Ryder Cup in the member friendly lounge. Will
play here again. |
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| 04 December 2006
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| Response: | | | Cedric | 05 December 2006 | | why do you give it "3 balls" then???? |
| | | Of the 15 links courses that I've played in Ireland this one is my favorite. I love the big dunes on both nines. This is a sporty layout with some quirky short par fours that never gets boring. I could play it for a week. Friendly accomodating clubhouse also. Nice Jr. caddy program in the summer. |
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| 12 September 2006
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| | One of my favourites in the area!! 2 fairways in bad shame and 2 flattish holes in the front 9 are the only relative negative points I would mention. All the rest is world class at a third of the price of Ballybunion. Great Pro too!!! |
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| 05 September 2006
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| | I’m not so sure on Enniscrone. On a recent trip that contained plenty of highs (the excellent Sandy Hills and Carne coming top of the bunch), you can’t help but feel Enniscrone is a nearly good. The back 9 is excellent, but by that point I was feeling very let down by the poorer sections of the front 9. Holes 15 and 16 are quite something, so my advice would be to hang in there during your round knowing the best holes are yet to come. |
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| 08 June 2006
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| | I played the old design in 2000, so I can't comment on the changes which have been made. The first three holes were quite bland and out of character, so I'm sure that the changes have been for the better. The course I played was a wonderful treat. There are some magnificent dunes on the property and they are ingeniously incorporated into the layout. The course has a nice feel and flow to it.
Apparently the old 16th is now the 1st, which would have to qualify as one of the most difficult opening holes in all of golf. This hole is a dogleg right with out of bounds hugging the right side. The green is guarded by mounds and difficult to hit even from the middle of the fairway.
I thoroughly enjoyed Enniscronne, and it looks like they have improved the course since I was there five years ago. This is a course I would seek out to play again. |
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| 20 November 2005
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| | Played this course with 30 mph winds and it's the toughest golf course I have played by a country mile. Shooting in the 100's off 12 is hardly ideal. With its impenetrable rough and huge changes in elevation this is a test for mid to low handicappers. Choose a gentle day and your experience will be amazing. Playing in the wind its damage limitation so choose wisely.
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| 04 September 2005
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| | Enniscrone was certainly one of the highlights of our trip to northwest Ireland - I can't compare the new Enniscrone to the old one but what they have at the moment is a cracking links course. Make sure you put this one on your list and also play the nine-hole course if you get the chance... a couple of corking holes in the dunes and a good test of links golf. |
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| 13 August 2005
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| | Enniscrone is a fantastic golf course set in the most spectacular sand dunes. Tight narrow fairways and punishing rough place a premium on straight driving but don’t be too short, this is still a long course from the white tees, as always on a links course the wind plays a factor in every shot. The greens are beautifully cut and very true almost making putting a pleasure when you eventually get there. If your in the West of Ireland this is a must play course, in fact we cancelled our afternoon round elsewhere to play another round here, stunning. |
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| 03 July 2005
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| | Played this course in May 2005 on a trip which also included Carne and Westport. While Carne has attracted superlative reviews, rightly so as it is excellent, Enniscrone was the highlight of the trip. Holes 6-8 are the 'weak' holes on the course as they are neither in the dunes or on the estuary. However they are still decent holes. The remainder range from very good to sensational. How Golf World see fit to not rank this course in the top 100 is beyond me. Aberdovey, Isle of Purbeck, and many others on that list are not a patch on this great course. The new holes in the dunes make this a top 20 course at least - play it now. At 50 euros for a round, combined with 50 euros for a day at Carne, you won't find a better value golf trip anywhere. |
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| 01 June 2005
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| | I have been lucky enough to play Enniscrone prior to Donald Steel’s changes and after, so I can say that Enniscrone was good but now it’s excellent. It’s a serious test from the back tees but it is enjoyable from any of the tees mainly because the tee shots are elevated and thrilling, which entice us to open our shoulders. Steel added six new holes in the dunes but at the same he’s left Hackett’s best holes intact. I have to say that it is now a superb course and one which should be more highly recognised. One of the best things about the new 18 is that they are so varied and enjoyable. I’m not sure what the club intend to do with the other nine holes, which are OK but nowhere near up to the standard of the main course. But if you are travelling all this way why not play them anyway, perhaps in a morning warm-up. Dave. |
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| 24 April 2005
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| | Links golf at its very best. Two tough par fives into the prevailing wind will take you to the sea and then on into the dunes. This is where the rollercoaster starts for five or six holes before you head out onto some flat ground before returning into the dunes for the final three holes. This is a great golf course and so much fun. It's oh so tough when the wind blows. |
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| 07 April 2005
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| | A fantastic course - we loved it here. The people were really friendly and we had a super meal before our round. The opener looks straightforward from the tee, but when you'll need a good uphill approach approach to a well bunkered green that's sandwiched between the dunes. Fantastic series of holes in the dunes and there's no doubt that Enniscrone is the complete package. |
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| 07 April 2005
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