Hole 16
Coosgorm
Par 3
186 | 178 | 163 | 160 | 120 yards
The 16th is the final of the beautiful par 3 holes at Old Head. A longer hole with the coast running all along the right side of this hole. You continue to play towards the lighthouse.
The green is tucked in at the bottom of a large hill that frames the back and left boundary of the green. The hole falls off just right of the green to a small ledge before the land falls of at the cliffs to the sea.
Guarding the front edge of the green is a single large bunker to persuade against playing short.
Missing left is an option but there is not a lot of room to work with between the green and the hill running down that side. A small collection area falls off to the left immediately next to the green.
A view back down the hole towards the tees.
You can see here the hill to the left side of the green. You must climb the hill to get up to the 17th tee.
You can see here how long this green is. It is 20 yards wide but over 40 yards deep. You can also see here how the green is crowned with fall offs on all sides but the front where the bunker sits.
Lisa chipped in from off the green on this hole for a birdie. It was a pretty impressive shot that she chipped on and rolled about 20 yards right into the hole. I could only manage a par, the second in a row.
Hole 17
Lighthouse
Par 5
623 | 600 | 575 | 464 | 464 yards
The penultimate hole is the longest hole of the day. A winding par 5 that plays as a 3 shot hole for all but the longest (and bravest) of players. Make your aiming point right at the lighthouse tower on this shot. A generous landing zone awaits on your first shot. There is of course water all down the right side so don't stray too far down that side.
The fairway slopes from left to right, towards the sea. The left side of the hole is guarded by thick shrubbery. The carry from the tee to the fairway is fairly long, around 220 yards so make a good opening swing.
As you move up the fairway towards the green the fairway starts to run downhill a bit more as it starts to wind gently to the right. The hole continues downhill the rest of the way after you get to about 300 yards from the hole..
Your third shot into the green can be a blind one over a large mound down the left side of the hole. If you play down the extreme right of the fairway this mound is not in play, however you then bring in the lateral hazards and the cliffs.
After John hit in from about 120 yards (a great shot that banked off the front right corner of the green, and rolled to about 8 feet) Lisa hit her shot from about 110 yards. Her results were even better, rolling it in the hole again for a second consecutive birdie. Both caddies said they couldn't remember the last time they saw someone birdie 16 and 17! That was pretty special.
Here you can see the mound that covers the left side of the hole. This picture was taken from atop the hill. On my second shot I hit directly over this hill blindly, only to discover my shot was nowhere near the green, and was up in the wispy brown grass to the left of the green shown here.
You can see how the kidney shaped green is elevated from the fairway, and how it wraps around the large bunker in the crook of the green. Small ridges to the right of the green can be used to bring the ball back towards the green and could come into play for those crazy enough to try to get home in 2.
These shots were taken from the 18th tee looking back up the 17th hole. You can see how the hole tumbles downhill after the large landing area off the tee.
Hole 18
The Sanctuary
Par 4
434 | 411 | 385 | 309 | 309 yards
After the tremendous string of holes from 12 through 17 (save for the oddball 14th), you have now reached the end of the journey. A walk from the 17th green to the 18th tees takes you along the shore and right under the shadow of the lighthouse that has dominated your views around the course.
If you have time and aren't playing them, head back to the tips to check out the tee shot that is required here! Yowzers!!
This tee shot is a truly impressive and nerve-racking experience. Before you swing, admire the great light towering above and the view along the coast back up 17 and beyond.
Now turn your attention back to the task at hand. The hole demands an accurate and lengthy tee shot. The right edge of the hole is framed by a stone wall and OB. Down the left side are thick grasses and paths that will cause all kinds of problems if you stray that direction.
The fairway itself plays uphill from the landing zone to the green. It is a dogleg left with a large bunker sitting on the corner of the dogleg. That bunker could by in reach if you are not playing into the wind (which we were). I hit a great drive, maybe the most solidly struck of the day and I still had 130 yards in.
John tees off for the lest time with Owen watching.
Walking towards the fairway you can see how the hole rises after the tee shot to the green. The Old Head resort sits perched above the hole.
A shot across the corner bunker towards the green. The green is another very deeply shaped affair, similar in size and shape to the 16th hole and being 40 yards deep again.
Another postcard perfect picture on the 18th fairway.
The green is once more crowned with a large bunker sitting on the left edge. The green has two tiers with the back tier being higher, though the elevation differences between the plateaus are not dramatic.
Both Matt and I hit our approaches into the left greenside bunker. I hit a nice shot out that trundled down the slope and came to a stop close enough for a one putt par.
A couple of shots of the 18th taken from up on the clubhouse deck. This is probably the pretties spot on a golf course I have been.
An one more showing the run-offs around all sides of the crowned green.
The Clubhouse
After the round say goodbye to the ram statue that is perched to the left of the 18th green.
If you have the time you have to stay and sample the clubhouse and its offerings.
The view from inside is amazing.
The bar is large and very well stocked.
Of course, it was time for the daily Guinness after this round.
The charcuterie plate we shared was really good.
As was the very delicious crab cake sandwiches. That is one thing about Ireland- the seafood is outstanding.
After eating we had to go out on the deck to finish our drinks. With the sun setting, the lighthouse was beautifully lit in golden tones.
I mean, really. Look at this view. Best patio view on a golf course of all time?
Conclusion
The sort answer? Old Head is AMAZING.A quick recap of the course:
The opening hole eases you into the round. With no dramatic vistas to distract you it still demands accuracy off the tee and a good second shot to do well. Soon after you leave the first green, cross the road and pass the ruined lighthouses you experience what makes Old Head to special.
Holes 2-4 are tremendous. A string of holes that would be outstanding pinnacles of any course in the world, yet on this amazing tract, these are just a taste of what proves to be more great holes to come. Hole 2 is your first ocean hole and the I will always remember stepping to the tee feeling that nervous flutter as I tried to ignore the left side. The second shot here is daunting no matter where you play your tee shot. The 3nd is the first glimpse of the wonderful run of par 3s you will meet today. There is no easy par on any of these three shotters. The 4th hole is spectacular. As pretty a hole as you will find on any course in the world. To me this may be the best visual hole on the course. While 12 may be more intimidating, the 4th is an early pinnacle in a string of 3 all-world holes.
The 5th and 6th holes are less spectacular. Still very strong designs, it is just the fact they play back into the interior of the headlands, and lack the eye popping vistas of the previous 3 holes. However 5 is a killer tee shot that plays just as hard on your second, with the long hole rising all the way to the green. 6 is a cool par 5 with a narrow chute at the start. It too slowly rises its entire length.
7 is a gem of a hole, a really demanding par 3 with no margin for error. 8 is perhaps the most forgettable hole on the front, a straight forward par 5 that does feature a pretty cool finish with a picket of bunkers guarding the green that sits with the glittering Atlantic as the back drop. 9 is a strong finishing hole in the interior. It plays atop maybe the highest point of land and atop this ridge you have great views all around. With the sun breaking our fully here, I will always remember walking the enormous striped fairway below the brilliant blue sky dotted with billowy white clouds.
Turning to the second 9, the 10th is a great par 5 that has a scary semi blind tee shot with the ocean off in the distance. As you turn the corner on this dogleg right, the hole plays brilliantly between hills that frame the borders of the hole. This hole even incorporates a thousand year old burial ground right into its design. How special is that?
11 is the longest but most unremarkable par 3 of the day. A hole requiring you to carry the distance to the green that is well protected for anything hit short. This hole is the calm before Old Head's most triumphant string of holes. One that I would argue could stand toe to toe with any course on Earth.
The 12th is maybe the most famous hole on the course. The tee shot here is truly Herculean. With your vision dominated by the 200+ foot cliffs falling near vertical to the sea below, hitting a good drive here requires steely nerves. This hole is considered by many to be one of the greatest golf holes in the world. For me the memories I will cherish playing this one are: standing on the tee and taking in this view, and following Fargle's advice and hitting my ball off the edge of the cliff and watching the wind grab it and pull it right back onto the center of the green.
13 continues the amazing stretch of closing holes. If what I have heard is true that this hole used to play 250 yards, it must have been the hardest hole in the world. Even at its present length it is another tremendous par 3 on a course full of them.
14 is the once chance you have to catch your breath between the demanding 12th and 13th holes, and the spectacular string of finishing holes. 14 is probably the most unremarkable hole on the back nine.
After 14, the course offers maybe its strongest string of seaside holes. 15 is a tremendous short par 4 that falls from the elevated tees all the way to the green. A drivable par 4 I'll always remember that tee shot I hit. The back drop on this hole (as well as 16 and 17) is out of this world. It is impossible to take a bad picture on this part of the course. I am really glad we had the clear skies we did as the splendor of Old Head is fully on display along this stretch.
16 is a really hard and beautiful par 3 nestled on a shelf between the higher part of the headlands to the left and the cliffs sliding into the sea on the right. Lisa chipping in for bird from short of the green, rolling it all the way to the back and into the cup here, eclipses my par as far as memories go.
17 is the longest par 5 of the day and one of the most demanding. Maybe better than the design of the hole is the view as you play to the green. Lisa's second back to back birdie here makes the hole all the more memorable.
The final hole on the course brings you back down to earth. A really tough tee shot makes this finisher nothing to scoff at.
And there it is. I find it hard to fathom that Old Head is not the most spectacular golf course on the planet. I have been to Pebble Beach and it is tremendous yet I find Old Head to be Pebble on steroids. The vistas here are unrivaled. This course is blessed by perhaps the finest real estate you could possibly have for a course. The design is wonderful. Demanding yet playable for most skill levels.
I have been immensely blessed to play the courses I have. This year alone has taken me to Streamsong, Old Head, and Lahinch. While Streamsong blew me away with the golf experience, and it remains my favorite golfing experience of all time, I have to say that Old Head is the most jaw-droppingly beautiful course I have ever seen or played. To be able to share it with my wife was really a special, special thing.
As we left we got one more beautiful treat, a spectacular sunset to match the spectacular day. We're now off to the beautiful Dingle peninsula but the memories of Old Head will always be with me. Maybe If I win the lottery, I can come back here again....
I can't recommend playing here highly enough. A true bucket list experience.
Old Head Part 1
Old Head Part 2
Old Head Part 3
Old Head Part 4
Old Head Part 5
Old Head Part 6
Old Head Part 7
