Waterville Golf Links

Written on many bucket lists, Waterville Golf Links quickly rose in popularity amongst American travelers over the last 40 years. The club itself dates back much further than that, but it wasn’t until Eddie Hackett renovated the course in the 1970s and a new ownership group took over in the 1980s that golfers around the world would come to know Waterville. 

Set out on one of the southwesternmost points of Ireland, Waterville resides on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. During high tide, the course is surrounded by water on three sides, making the 18th hole your only way out. Twenty-first-century renovations by Tom Fazio give Waterville a distinctly modern feel, yet its location and climate are distinctly Irish. An old club, this course has survived a long and winding history with periods of turmoil. But today, Waterville is a bustling venue with golfers visiting from across the world. The nearby village, historically a holiday town, also has a huge tourism industry as it is part of the Ring of Kerry. In every sense, Waterville truly is a destination. 

Take Note…

Enjoy the view. While the scenery on the golf course itself is certainly stunning, the drive in is undoubtedly even better. Most will take a portion of the Ring of Kerry on their way to the course. If you have a driver, make sure to keep your eyes open and enjoy the ride. If you’re driving yourself, choose your spots to let your eyes wander.

Mass Hole. Not guys from Massachusetts. The par-3 12th hole at Waterville is a long one-shotter that plays over a hollow to a perched green. Catholics used to gather in that hollow to hide from religious persecution. A service is still hosted on that ground once a year during the club’s annual Father-Son tournament. In the Waterville clubhouse, you can find a tremendous photo of a priest riding on the back of a golf cart.

Mums the word. Film icon Charlie Chaplin often visited Waterville as a vacation destination with his family, and the village put a statue of him on the Ring of Kerry. The legend has it that Walt Disney told Chaplin to visit Waterville because of its great fishing.

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