The Golf Course at Adare Manor is a Tom Fazio-redesigned parkland stretching 7,509 yards across the River Maigue estate in County Limerick, Ireland. Originally built by Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1995, the course was comprehensively rebuilt in 2016–17 and will host the 2027 Ryder Cup. Priority access is given to resort guests.
The Golf Course at Adare Manor is a Tom Fazio-redesigned parkland stretching 7,509 yards across the River Maigue estate in County Limerick, Ireland. Originally built by Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1995, the course was comprehensively rebuilt in 2016–17 and will host the 2027 Ryder Cup. Priority access is given to resort guests.
This is the only course in the Republic of Ireland purpose-built to host the Ryder Cup. Water comes into play on 14 of 18 holes. Pure Distinction bentgrass putting surfaces are augmented with SubAir technology installed beneath every green, ensuring playing conditions consistent with a major championship venue. This is as close to Augusta National in GB&I.
The estate's golfing history predates the current layout by nearly a century. In the late 1890s, the 4th Earl of Dunraven commissioned Scottish professional Ben Sayers to design a nine-hole course on the Adare grounds, which opened for play in 1900. That layout served the estate until a full 18-hole replacement was required.
Robert Trent Jones Sr designed the modern course, which opened in 1995 across 230 acres of the parkland estate. Measuring 7,453 yards from the championship tees, Jones's layout incorporated his trademark cloverleaf bunkering, American-style mounding, and extensive water features, including a 14-acre lake anchoring the front nine. Jones considered the 510-yard par-five 18th hole among the finest finishing holes he had designed.
Following the Irish Open appearances in 2007 and 2008, the course's profile faded somewhat. In 2015, Limerick businessman J. P. McManus purchased Adare Manor and immediately initiated a comprehensive reconstruction programme. Work began in March 2016 under Tom Fazio, the American architect who has overseen Augusta National's ongoing maintenance since 1998.
Fazio retained the existing routing but rebuilt the course from the ground up. Over 200,000 tonnes of sand were used to cap the entire site, 50 miles of drainage pipes were installed, and fibre-optic conduit was laid around each hole to support future broadcast infrastructure. The rebuilt layout features 42 bunkers, elevated green sites, and bent grass tees and fairways. The course reopened in May 2018.
In July 2019, Adare Manor was announced as the host venue for the Ryder Cup, originally scheduled for 2026. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a one-year delay to the 2020 matches at Whistling Straits, pushing Adare's staging to September 2027. It will be the first time Ireland will host golf's most prominent team competition since the K Club in County Kildare staged the 2006 matches.
The course plays to a par of 72 and measures 7,509 yards (6,866 metres) from the championship tees. The routing follows the River Maigue through the back nine, with the river directly in play on several holes and water hazards present on 14 holes throughout the round.
The front nine plays on more open ground, with wide fairways and a prominent visual presence from the 14-acre lake. The back nine tightens through mature tree corridors and along the river, with the 18th returning alongside the manor house. The setup follows principles similar to those at previous European Ryder Cup venues, such as Le Golf National and Celtic Manor, notably featuring long, risk-reward holes with water as the primary threat.
Green complexes are a defining feature of the Fazio rebuild. All 18 putting surfaces feature SubAir technology, providing constant air movement through the root zone, and Pure Distinction bentgrass provides exceptionally true rolling surfaces. There is no conventional rough — a wide band of intermediate-length grass flanks the fairways, creating shaved run-off areas around the greens.
A large team of greenkeepers maintains the property, with tees and greens hand-cut daily. The conditioning output is widely cited as the most consistent parkland surface in Ireland and among the best-presented golf facilities in Europe.
The 14-acre lake dominating the front nine is the most prominent single feature, coming into direct play on multiple holes and defining the strategic approach to the par-five 7th, where players must calculate how much water to carry from the tee. The River Maigue frames several holes on the back nine, most notably the par-three 11th and the par-five 18th.
The bunkers are large, visually prominent, and positioned to influence both tee-shot strategy and approach angles. Elevated green sites with firm surrounds create recovery situations from short-sided misses.
The infrastructure installed during reconstruction extends beyond the playing surfaces. Fibre-optic cables, tournament power supply points, media and telecommunications conduit, and spectator pathway networks were built into the course fabric specifically to support a Ryder Cup-scale event. This investment in sub-surface infrastructure distinguishes Adare Manor from most European parkland venues.
Adare Manor is strategically located for touring golfers in the south-west of Ireland, between the Atlantic links courses of County Clare and County Kerry. The course functions effectively as a parkland counterpoint to the surrounding links, and most multi-course itineraries in the region incorporate it as a base or a contrasting round.
Within 50km (31 miles):
Dromoland Castle Golf & Country Club is approximately 44km (27 miles) north, a 35-minute drive via the N18. Doonbeg (Trump International Golf Links) is approximately 101km (63 miles), around 1 hour 45 minutes to the north-west.
50–100km (31–62 miles):
Lahinch Golf Club is approximately 87km (54 miles) north, a 1-hour 20-minute drive via the N18 and N67. Ballybunion Golf Club is approximately 76km (47 miles) south-west, a 1-hour 15-minute drive. Tralee Golf Club is approximately 85km (53 miles) south, a 1-hour 20-minute drive. Killarney Golf & Fishing Club is approximately 93km (58 miles) south, a 1-hour 20-minute drive.
100km+ (62+ miles):
Waterville Golf Links is approximately 155km (96 miles) to the south-west, about 2 hours and 45 minutes away. Old Head Golf Links (Kinsale) is approximately 121km (75 miles), approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.
Adare Manor serves as a base for itineraries combining County Clare courses, namely Lahinch and Doonbeg, with County Kerry links at Ballybunion, Tralee, and Killarney.
Priority access is granted to hotel guests, particularly during peak seasons.
The course operates from late May through mid-October. Caddies are compulsory for all visitors. Booking is strongly recommended, especially for non-resort guests, given the priority access structure. The course does not offer public access on the same basis as member clubs.
Shannon Airport (SNN): approximately 43km (27 miles), around 35 minutes driving via the N18 and M18. Shannon operates transatlantic services with US pre-clearance, allowing passengers to arrive in the United States as domestic travellers. Major car hire facilities are located at the airport with direct motorway access.
Dublin Airport (DUB): approximately 196km (122 miles), approximately 2 hours driving via the M7 motorway. Dublin provides the widest range of international connections, including all major European hubs and transatlantic routes.
Cork Airport (ORK): approximately 82km (51 miles), approximately 1 hour driving. Kerry Airport (KIR) at Farranfore is approximately 87km (54 miles), approximately 1 hour 10 minutes — the closest regional airport for those combining Adare with the Kerry links.
Private aviation: Adare Manor has a dedicated helipad on the estate grounds. Westair Corporate Jet Centre operates from Shannon Airport for private jet access.
Spring (April–May): The course typically opens in late May. Early spring visitors to the region may find the resort closed for golf. April is an excellent time to complete the surrounding links courses before the Adare season commences.
Summer (June–September): Peak season with the longest daylight hours and warmest average temperatures. Booking well in advance is essential throughout the summer months.
Autumn (October): The course typically closes in mid-October. Autumn conditions can produce firm, fast surfaces and reduced visitor numbers.
Winter: The course is closed outside the operating season. The surrounding links courses, namely Ballybunion, Lahinch, and Tralee, operate year-round and provide winter golf alternatives across County Kerry and County Clare.
The Golf Course at Adare Manor is a purpose-built Ryder Cup venue within a five-star resort. Robert Trent Jones Sr's original 1995 design and Tom Fazio's complete 2016–17 rebuild produced a 7,509-yard parkland with SubAir greens, 42 bunkers, water on 14 holes, and tournament-grade infrastructure throughout.
The course is not a links and does not attempt to be one. For travellers combining it with Ballybunion, Lahinch, or the Kerry links, it provides a sophisticated parkland that is better maintained than virtually any comparable inland facility in Europe.
The 2027 Ryder Cup will be the definitive assessment of whether the Fazio rebuild performs at the highest level of the game. For travelling golfers, the opportunity to play the venue before that event is an exciting prospect for many.
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
California, United States
New Jersey, United States
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
New York, United States
New York, United States
Overall rating
5.0
Overall rating
5.0
