Ballybunion in Ireland, Aberdovey in Wales: two spooky Halloween golf courses

To get myself in the Halloween spirit for the weekend I was just reading William K. Wolfrum’s feature on haunted golf courses, from Willbrook Plantation in Myrtle Beach for its old plantation ruins to Trilogy at Vistancia.

I’d like to add a couple more golf courses across the pond to the list, one of which I just played a couple weeks ago: Ballybunion’s Old Course in Ireland.

Those who have played Ballybunion know exactly why: the cemetery to the right of the first hole. It’s a little eerie and quite a fitting way to kick off a round on a 19th century links course. President Bill Clinton played the course and in front of about 10,000 onlookers and on the first hole hit his drive right and over the cemetery. That makes me feel better, Mr. President, I did the same damn thing, trying to play it safe with a 3-wood.

Aberdovey Golf Club, a charming links course in mid-Wales, has an old cemetery on a hillside that overlooks the course most of the way. There’s also old military lookouts along the coast as well between the beach and golf course. It’s all a little surreal, especially when we played it in the waning twilight on a gloomy day.

If you’ve got any more picks that make a great Halloween golf course we’d love to hear them.

Ballybunion’s first hole is lined by a cemetery on the right hand side of the fairway.

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