Oughterard

Oughterard golf course sits between Lough Corrib to the east and the Connemara mountains to the north in County Galway.

The Oughterard Golf Club was established in 1974 with members playing over a 9-hole layout designed by John Harris but within ten years the course was extended to a full 18 holes. The club decided to upgrade the tees and greens to USGA standard at the end of the 1990s and the esteemed Irish golf course architect Patrick Merrigan carried out this work.

It is a parkland track with large, undulating greens that test the very best of putting strokes. Bunkers are intelligently placed on all holes, demanding good course management. Hazel, birch, oak and many other types of trees line many fairways, giving definition and character. Traditional limestone walls are boundaries on some holes whilst others have ponds as the main feature.

Measuring 6,463 yards and with a par of 70, Oughterard has two par threes and a par five on both the front and back nine. A staggering nine of the twelve par fours measure over 400 yards in length so this is not a course for the faint hearted!

The 490-yard par five 8th, called “Carraig Eibhir” is a double dogleg that will definitely take three shots to reach the green whilst the 432-yard par four 18th, entitled “An Fear Gortach” has a green protected front left, right and back right by bunkers designed to keep a closing par off the card.