Waterville Golf Links

The origins of golf at Waterville reach back to the 1880s, when employees of the transatlantic telegraph cable company stationed at the village began playing on the natural duneland between the ocean and the bay. The cable station, which provided a vital communications link between Europe and America, brought a small but golf-minded workforce to this remote corner of Kerry, and the game took root in the community from that time onward. The course underwent sporadic development over the following decades but remained a local facility of modest ambition. The transformation of Waterville into a world-class destination came in 1972 through the vision and resources of John A. Mulcahy, a successful Irish-American businessman with strong ties to Kerry. Mulcahy engaged Claude Harmon Sr., one of the most respected figures in American golf as both a player and teacher, to design a layout that would do justice to the extraordinary natural terrain. The result was a course of genuine international quality. Tom Fazio was subsequently engaged to refine and improve several holes, further elevating Waterville's reputation. The association with Tom Watson brought the course to the attention of golfers worldwide, and its position in the top tier of Irish and world links rankings has been firmly established for decades.

The eleventh hole, Tranquility, is the course's defining moment and one of the finest holes in Irish golf. From a tee elevated above the surrounding duneland, the golfer looks out over a sweeping view of Ballinskelligs Bay with the mysterious outline of the Skellig Islands visible on the horizon on clear days. The fairway falls away through the dunes on a par five that asks the player to plot a careful route through the terrain before a final approach to a green set among the dunes. The name Tranquility is perfectly chosen — few holes anywhere in golf produce such a profound sense of peace and beauty. The seventeenth, Mass Hole, is a par three played over a hollow in the dunes to a green that requires a precise iron shot to hold. Its name recalls a time when Mass was celebrated secretly in the hollow during the Penal Laws era.

May through September is the prime window for Waterville, with June and July offering the most favourable combination of long daylight, warm temperatures, and the greatest chance of calm Atlantic conditions. The course is at its most spectacular in the golden light of early evening in midsummer, when the Skellig Islands glow on the horizon and the bay reflects the setting sun. September is a favourite month for seasoned visitors, with the crowds thinning and the course in excellent condition after the summer. The Ring of Kerry is at its least congested in May and September, making travel through the peninsula more relaxed. Winter rounds are possible but the remote location and challenging weather mean the course is firmly in summer mode for most visitors.

Waterville is a remote destination that requires planning. The nearest airport is Kerry Airport at Farranfore, approximately seventy kilometres away, and Cork Airport is around two and a half hours by road. Car hire is essential. Waterville village has a small selection of hotels and guesthouses, with the Butler Arms Hotel being a historic favourite with long associations with Charlie Chaplin and later Tom Watson. Book accommodation well in advance for summer visits. Caddies are available and highly recommended. Allow time after the round to explore the village and consider taking a boat trip to the Skellig Islands, one of the most extraordinary natural and historical sites in Ireland.