Find me a better links par 4 in Ireland than the 11th at Ballybunion Golf Club

I’ve yet to play all of Eire’s links courses, but I’ve played a good amount of the best in two trips in the last few years. And after a round at Ballybunion last week, I’m convinced I’ve seen the isle’s top links hole: The long, tumbling, seaside 11th.

Most links courses tend to have a dynamite par 3, like Doonbeg’s 14th and nearby Lahinch’s wacky “Dell.” Ballybunion has several great one-shotters, including two back-to-back on the home nine.

But I’m more impressed with a long, snaking par 4 that tumbles through dunes, and Ballybunion’s 11th has it all. The tee box sits exposed right on the edge of the coastline, then the fairway tumbles along the coast but into the dunes, gently downhill, with a drop-off (Ballybunion has several steep drop-offs in the fairways) to a green site slightly elevated and fit snugly between more dunes. Thankfully, this 450-plus yard hole played with the wind, which made for a simple 9-iron approach after a waxed drive. Into the wind, I might not be so fond of it.

My two other favorite long par 4s in Ireland: No. 9 at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland, which has one of the great “reveal” moments as you trudge uphill from a blind tee shot over the crest and once you reach the top, can finally see the hole well below, backdropped by the mountains of Mourne and Slieve Donard Hotel.

Another great “reveal” hole in Ireland is No. 6 at Lahinch. It’s right after the famous “Dell” par 3 and after trudging uphill on the tee shot, you hang a left towards the sea, and you’re shot is downhill to the green with an enormous pot guarding the front. I played this shot into the wind, and it was a nutted, out-of-my-shoes 3-wood to get home.

All three of these holes, in my opinion, are worth the price alone to tee it up at these great courses. And the good news is the price isn’t as steep as it used to be at Lahinch and Ballybunion (though rack rates at R.C.D. have actually gone up to £160 for peak season mornings. The economic downturn and lukewarm response to the 2006 Ryder Cup mean most of Ireland’s golf courses and hotels have scaled back their rates a pretty good deal.

Ballybunion’s par-4 11th hole has everything a links golf hole can offer.

Lahinch’s dramatic 6th hole heads out to sea on the second leg.

Royal County Down’s beautiful 9th hole plays over a hill downhill to the green in town.

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