Ballybunion named 'best Irish course' at World Golf awards

The awards are the ultimate achievement in global golf tourism and hospitality, and the reach is truly global

The famed Ballybunion links in north Kerry has been named 'Best Irish course 2025' at the World Golf awards ceremony in Madeira

BALLYBUNION Golf Club was among the big winners at the weekend's 12th World Golf Awards at the Savoy Palace, in Funchal, Madeira.

These are the Oscars of the golf world - winning an award is the ultimate achievement in global golf tourism and hospitality, and the reach is truly global. While many of the most recognisable names in golf appear in the winners’ circle – Ballybunion, for example – courses and companies from as far away as Mauritius, Fiji and Chile are recognised. It gives everyone a flavour of the quality of golf courses and businesses around the world, and for travelling golfers it helps to shine a light on potential new destinations, as well as how to get there.

In total, over 400 awards were handed out on the night. Some were brand new winners – the Torre course at Terras da Comporta, designed by Sergio Garcia, won World’s Best New Golf Course – while others were back to reclaim their 2024 title – Ireland’s Fairways and FunDays received World’s Best Golf Tour Operator for the second year in a row. They already boasted nine consecutive wins as Ireland’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator, as well as four awards for Europe’s Best Golf Tour Operator. The step-up to ‘World’s Best’ seemed inevitable.

Another Irish world-beater is Destination Golf Guide, which has received the World’s Best Golf Travel Magazine award for the past five years.

The other Irish winners on the night were Ballybunion (Ireland’s Best Golf Course), which also won in 2015, Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Links (Ireland’s Best Golf Hotel), and Golfbreaks.ie (Ireland’s Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator).

“We’re honoured to be named ‘Ireland’s Best Golf Hotel’ – a first for Portmarnock Resort,” said a resort spokesperson. “Thank you to everyone who’s been part of our journey. Here’s to world-class golf and coastal luxury on Dublin’s doorstep.” 

The award comes on the back of the resort’s transformation into one of Ireland’s leading golf and coastal escapes, following a major course upgrade by Jeff Lynch, and renovation work in the hotel.

Fairways and FunDays have received over a dozen awards at this stage. Founded in 2014, it is a tour operator that sells golf in Ireland, and nowhere else, and is clearly rather good at it.

“To be named the World’s Best Golf Tour Operator for the second-year running is an extraordinary honour,” said Joe O’Carroll, Director of Fairways and FunDays. “This recognition reflects the incredible dedication of our talented team, the strong partnerships we’ve built across Ireland, and our shared passion for delivering life-changing experiences to golfers and non-golfers alike.” 

Other past Irish winners of Best Course include Waterville, The European Club, Lahinch, Doonbeg and The Golf Course at Adare Manor, which has won the award several times since receiving the accolade of World’s Best New Golf Course, in 2018.

The Adare Manor has also claimed Ireland’s Best Golf Hotel on four occasions, which will come as no surprise to anyone who has been lucky enough to stay there. It is the epitome of luxury and Irish hospitality. Other winners include The K Club, Doonbeg, and Dromoland Castle.

Ireland claimed the award of Europe’s Best Golf Destination in 2020, but the most prolific winner is Portugal, which has won Best Destination ten times, including 2025, when it also picked up World’s Best Golf Destination. With celebrated courses such as West Cliffs (2017), and Terras da Comporta’s two courses – Dunas (2023), and Torre (2025) – as well as more to come, it is a title which Portugal is unlikely to relinquish any time soon.

The awards have become an important annual event, showcasing the best of what is on offer – the fact that much of that is in Ireland, will remain an important boon to our golf industry.

Some of the other keys awards for 2025 - World's Best Golf Hotel Heritage - Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort (Mauritius); Best 9 Hole - Ben Brown’s Golf Course at The Ranch at Laguna Beach (United States); Best Par 3 Hole - Club de Golfe Santo Da Serra, Madeira (Portugal);  Best Eco-Friendly Facility - Terras da Comporta (Portugal); Best Panoramic Clubhouse - Palheiro Golf - Madeira Island (Portugal); Best Halfway House - The Lake House @ Österåkers Golf Club (Sweden); Best City Destination - New York (USA); Best New Course - Terras da Comporta - Torre Course (Portugal); Best Golf Venue - Costa Navarino (Greece); Best Clubhouse - Palmares Ocean Living & Golf (Portugal); Best Par 3 Golf Course - Azuri The Nine (Mauritius)