The course
A par 72 in the rolling meadows of the Bandon valley.
The score card
- yards
- 6,935
- par
- 72
- course rating
- 74.3
- slope
- 133
| Hole | Blue | White | Yellow | Par | Index | Red | Par | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 372 | 365 | 347 | 4 | 12 | 284 | 4 | 18 |
| 2 | 429 | 387 | 310 | 4 | 2 | 400 | 5 | 8 |
| 3 | 372 | 336 | 330 | 4 | 18 | 292 | 4 | 14 |
| 4 | 214 | 188 | 155 | 3 | 6 | 151 | 3 | 16 |
| 5 | 334 | 311 | 290 | 4 | 16 | 280 | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | 368 | 358 | 347 | 4 | 8 | 296 | 4 | 10 |
| 7 | 431 | 370 | 346 | 4 | 4 | 346 | 4 | 2 |
| 8 | 556 | 548 | 500 | 5 | 10 | 461 | 5 | 12 |
| 9 | 560 | 550 | 491 | 5 | 14 | 419 | 5 | 4 |
| Out | 3636 | 3413 | 3116 | 37 | 2929 | 38 | ||
| 10 | 375 | 325 | 318 | 4 | 11 | 318 | 4 | 7 |
| 11 | 216 | 206 | 191 | 3 | 9 | 191 | 3 | 13 |
| 12 | 438 | 372 | 336 | 4 | 3 | 326 | 4 | 3 |
| 13 | 395 | 387 | 369 | 4 | 5 | 362 | 4 | 1 |
| 14 | 421 | 401 | 377 | 4 | 13 | 304 | 4 | 9 |
| 15 | 183 | 168 | 153 | 3 | 15 | 110 | 3 | 17 |
| 16 | 368 | 361 | 281 | 4 | 7 | 280 | 4 | 11 |
| 17 | 411 | 404 | 349 | 4 | 1 | 348 | 5 | 15 |
| 18 | 492 | 482 | 472 | 5 | 17 | 424 | 5 | 5 |
| In | 3299 | 3106 | 2846 | 35 | 2663 | 36 | ||
| Total | 6935 | 6519 | 5962 | 72 | 5592 | 74 |
All measurements in yards. Red tees have their own par and stroke index.
Hole notes are written from the men’s tees. The yards, par and index follow the tee you choose.
Hole 1
Trees run down the left of the fairway and out of bounds down the right. A 200 yard tee shot leaves a clear view of the green, so a long iron or rescue club with the prevailing wind is the better first shot of the day. From 150 yards there is a bunker left and right of the green, with out of bounds over the back. The green slopes gently from front to back, with a slight tier in the middle.
Hole 2
A long hole with a slight dogleg to the right. Drive left of the bunker, with out of bounds left all the way from tee to green and a large grove of trees on the right. It is a demanding tee shot. The green slopes from back to front across a few tiers, and anything above the hole leaves a treacherous putt down the slope.
Hole 3
Uphill, with three fairway bunkers: two on the right and one on the left. A 230 yard shot carries the bunkers on the right, but the one on the left is about 245 yards to carry. The green is slightly bowl shaped, with a slope from front to back.
Hole 4
A testing par 3 that plays all of its length. Pot bunkers protect the front of the green, with severe slopes off the back and right. Downwind it is hard to stop a ball here, so short is a good option. The green slopes from back to front with plenty of little borrows, and a par is always a good score.
Hole 5
A very narrow fairway with out of bounds left, a large tree in the middle, and a ditch and trees on the right. A 180 yard long iron leaves you far enough back to go over the tree. A driver needs to go past it and must be straight. The green slopes severely from back to front, which makes for a very slow putt uphill when the pin is at the back.
Hole 6
A straightforward-looking hole heading back towards the clubhouse. The fairway is generous with room on the left, but it slopes from left to right, and a large spinney of trees waits for a wayward drive. The green slopes from back to front and from left to right.
Hole 7
A good driving hole, with out of bounds left in the clubhouse car park and out of bounds right on the road. The fairway is narrow, with plenty of trees on both sides. The green slopes from right to left, with a slight tier on the left side.
Hole 8
Hit your tee shot down the tree-lined right-hand side. That leaves you right of centre on the fairway and helps with the second, which must go towards the right-hand bunkers and leave 100 yards to the green. The green is very receptive and slopes from right to left.
Hole 9
A true par 5, only reachable in two by the longest of hitters. The very generous fairway doglegs from right to left. Do not cut the corner: the grove of trees on the left has trapped many a hooked drive. A large bunker protects the front and left of this long green, which has a tier in the middle and slopes from back to front.
Hole 10
Short-looking but a tight drive, with a ditch on the left and trees on the right. A 200 yard tee shot makes the widest part of the fairway, and after that it gets very narrow. A long straight drive leaves a short pitch to a green with a gentle slope from back to front.
Hole 11
A long par 3 of over 200 yards that needs a straight tee shot. A ball landing short has a great chance of running on, and the green is receptive enough to reward those who carry it. Two greenside bunkers on the left protect it, with a slope off the right. The surface is relatively flat with some little slopes, and tends to be very fast.
Hole 12
A slight dogleg to the right. A good tee shot finishes just right of centre, where the fairway slopes from right to left. Anything left of centre kicks down to the mound or into the trees, and a ball pushed right leaves a blind second. This is the most difficult green on the course: a severe slope from right to left makes any putt above the hole almost impossible, so an uphill putt is a must to save par.
Hole 13
A severe dogleg from right to left. The sensible tee shot goes between the tree on the right of the fairway and the corner of the ditch on the left. A 220 yard drive gets beyond the corner and gives a view of the green. Club selection is vital, and a miss to the right leaves a very difficult third. The green slopes from left to right with a little ridge through the middle, and the lower side tends to be faster as it falls away to a hollow.
Hole 14
Downhill from an elevated tee. With a driver you must aim left of centre, but do not overdo it: a large grove of trees and out of bounds wait on the left. The green is quite flat to walk onto but has some little slopes on it.
Hole 15
The signature hole of Kinsale Golf Club, and a par 3 that has it all. From the tee you see a small green with out of bounds over the back, a stream running across the front and beautiful planting all around. The green is receptive, with a slope from right to left. Check the wind when you choose your club, because the tee box is sheltered.
Hole 16
A daunting hole with out of bounds on the left, a large tree in the middle of the fairway and a ditch on the right. Forget the trouble in view, because you have a very large area to aim at. From 150 yards the green is elevated and plays a club longer than it looks, especially with a blue flag. Most of the trouble is short: a bunker short right and a steep slope short left. The green slopes from back left to front right, with lots of little undulations.
Hole 17
Difficulty everywhere, with out of bounds on the left from the tee box all the way to the green, a tree plantation on the right and a large run-off to the left of the green. Hit your drive right of centre, as the fairway slopes from right to left. Just left of the right-side mound is always a good line, and anything right of the mound means a lay-up. The green is small and two-tiered.
Hole 18
A par 5 that normally plays downwind, so the bigger hitters can get home in two. The fairway is generous and slopes a little from left to right. Hug the left-hand side for the best approach, because a drive up the right leaves the longest carry to a green with a large mound across the whole of its front. Enjoy your round.
Ready to play it?
Neat and tidy dress is essential. Please rake bunkers and repair plug marks and divots.