Old Head golf course is bucking the trend nationally in green fees

Despite the downturn in the Irish golfing industry, the Old Head Golf Links had an outstanding year. 

In 2007 registered golfers in Ireland exceeded 300,000 making golf the country’s greatest participant sport ahead of Gaelic sports and soccer. However, with emigration and affordability, almost a third of golfers have left the 430 Irish golf clubs. The trend is for lower membership rates and green fees with fewer clubs commanding joining fees.

However, the Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale, built on a 220-acre promontory stretching out over 2 miles above the Atlantic Ocean, has enjoyed a very successful year. The club has said that bookings reached record levels and if it had three courses at its disposal it would have filled all. American golfers are the most frequent visitors and 70% of green fees were paid by them.

The Old Head’s success is attributed to the late John O’Connor and his brother Patrick.

The O’Connors ran a very successful marketing campaign in the United States and the Old Head Golf Links’ future was guaranteed when the prestigious Golf Digest magazine ranked the Kinsale course as the most spectacular golf course world-wide.

I was privileged to play the course in the past week, and despite the time of the season, the time-sheet was full.

The Old Head Golf Links is a great tourist attraction for golfers and economic asset for both county and country.

Michael O’Connell

Mansfield House

Passage West

Co Cork