Galway Bay Golf Resort

The course and hotel of the Galway Bay Golf Resort are located on former farmland beside Renville Park, near Oranmore, on the coast of Galway Bay. The course was built in 1993 with a 92-room hotel opening four years later. Christy O’Connor Jnr not only designed the course, he is a principal partner in the development and his brother Eugene was the golf professional.

Galway Bay has been described as “parkland by the sea” with a strong American design influence. Landing areas on fairways are wide and the generously sized USGA greens are not overly taxing. Mounding and artificial lakes are clear indications that substantial earth moving occurred during construction. If manicured tees, fairways and greens are high on your golfing priority list then Galway Bay is your sort of golf course.

There is said to be a number of old buildings on the site of the course; such as a 16th century copper mine located near the 13th tee box, historic stone huts behind the 16th tee and an ancient ring fort situated between the 2nd and 10th holes.

James W Finegan on the course: “The course is long (7,100 yards from all the way back), mildly rolling, and bunkered in the driving area as well as the greenside. Though the waters of Galway Bay wash three sides of the club property, this is not links golf, not sand-based terrain that was once covered by the sea. The land does not undulate and there are no dunes. Still, the sea is almost always in view and the wind is almost always a factor.” From Where Golf is Great – the finest courses of Scotland and Ireland. One of the most enjoyable golf course books we’ve ever read.

The 152-yard par three 7th may be the highest number on the stroke index but don’t think it will be easy to play. In order to reach the green – on the other side of a lake from the tee box – you will need to play a precise short iron over water. Too short and you are in the drink, too long and you will end up in one of the large back bunkers.

The 440-yard par four 12th is, at number 1, at the opposite end of the stroke index. It plays slightly downhill with a right dogleg in the fairway, after which the approach must carry a large expanse of water in front of, and to the right of, the putting surface. Discretion may well dictate a lay up with the second shot then a chip and putt for par.