Tralee Golf Club

If the front-nine at Tralee Golf Club was as good as the back-nine it would be in everyone’s top 10 best golf courses.

You may have heard Arnold Palmer describe his work at Tralee, but here goes, just in case: “I may have designed the first nine, but surely God designed the back nine.”

RELATED: Golf World Top 100 Links Courses in Great Britain and Ireland

And in case you missed this one, here it is again:

“I have never come across a piece of land so ideally suited for the building of a golf course.” 

These two quotes paint a very accurate picture of what awaits you at Tralee.

RELATED: Ballybunion Golf Club review

Part of the famed Ring of Kerry in south-west Ireland, Tralee is one of the most spectacular rounds a golfer can experience.

It is classed by most as a links but could easily be termed a clifftop course instead. Certainly, at times the turf becomes less sand and fescue and more lush and green.

RELATED: Killarney Golf Club review

It is perched on the rugged Atlantic coastline and the holes are varied by the fact sometimes you are playing between and over sand dunes and at other times to, from and alongside the bluffs.

The front nine is Top 100 Ireland material even though it is sometimes played down by some. The back nine is GB&I Top 20 stuff. Hence, Tralee gets into all our GB&I lists even though it does lose marks for ‘consistency’. Its mark for ‘setting’ is decent though…

A high-octane Irish course that always gets the pulse racing.

RELATED: Golf World Top 100 Best Golf Courses & Resorts

• Course has: Bar
• Course does not have: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course does not have: Handicap

• 4.5 out of 5 great golf 30 August 2010

  By dannyos

   tralee in my opinion is the one of the best links course in the south of ireland.. arnold palmer designed and true to form, the course is exciting and special..the back nine have to be some of  the finest golf holes ever created...a must play for the serious golfer visiting kerry..can't wait to get back.

• 5 out of 5 A great windy day! 03 November 2008

  By girwin

  We played a 2 ball in October, the welcome was great and facilities fantastic. The course was in great condition and proved to be a real challenge in the very windy conditions. There are many memorable holes and views around the course. We went into the clubhouse for some food and were pleasantly suprised at how reasonable it was. All in all, a great experince which I would recommend to everyone.