Waterville Golf Links

Waterville Golf Links — a modern great rooted in transatlantic cable history

Waterville occupies a vast natural peninsula between Ballinskelligs Bay and the estuary of the River Inny, in County Kerry. The course is surrounded by water on several sides, offering views towards the mountains, dunes, and the Atlantic. The initial holes traverse relatively open terrain before the course enters higher dunes and more dramatic relief.

Organized golf emerged in Waterville in 1889, as part of the Waterville Athletic Club, established in a village then bustling with transatlantic cable stations. The initial course remained modest and eventually declined after World War II. Its revival began in the early 1970s when John A. Mulcahy commissioned Eddie Hackett and Claude Harmon to create a true championship course on the lands of Ballinskelligs Bay. Tom Fazio later intervened to restore and reinforce the layout without altering its spirit.

The architecture by Hackett and Harmon combines wide fairways with greens that are more demanding than they appear. Bunkers are often offset from the hole's axis, making positioning from the tee essential. Tom Fazio’s work reinforced contours, restored dune areas, and improved angles without transforming Waterville into an overly modern course.

The course gradually increases in intensity. The holes on the back nine make greater use of the dunes, elevation changes, and views of Ballinskelligs Bay. The greens are firm, often exposed, and defended by slopes that repel imprecise approaches.

Waterville offers a complete destination experience, featuring a renovated clubhouse, the 1889 restaurant, Waterville House, and a strong tradition of welcoming international visitors. Nevertheless, the location remains deeply connected to the village, fishing, and the history of southwest Kerry.

The Round selects Waterville because it successfully brings together two eras: a local history dating back to the 19th century and a great championship course primarily shaped in the 20th century.

Organized golf since 1889; course revival in the early 1970s; design associated with Eddie Hackett and Claude Harmon; subsequent restoration by Tom Fazio.