2 Championship Links Golf Courses At Famous Ballyliffin Golf Club

2 Championship Links Golf Courses At Famous Ballyliffin Golf Club

John, there’s places to go that kind of feel like even if the golf course was built in relatively recent times, say in the last century or century and a half in some cases, kind of feels like they’ve always been a golf course. Yeah, that’s true about certainly, Matt. Uh it very much settles into the natural environment here. You see surrounded by hills and pollen bay and the Atlantic Ocean in the background. So, we do feel that we’re part of the the natural environment. It’s so varied here in in some ways. It’s almost like a a Lynx menu and and you you choose what particular flavor you you want to devour on that day. How is it that on on this dunescape that we’re on that you’ve been able to offer such variety? Yeah, I suppose using the dunescape has been a key to that, Matt. The the old links settles very much on the lower ground. So, it’s it’s uh you know, it’s an easier walk, an easier track. Uh whereas Glacidi goes up onto the tops of the dunes and you’re fully exposed to the light breezes we get here. So, you get the the the wide variety and there’s a bit of climbing in in Glaci. So, it’s ups and downs, lot of downhill par 3 threes, lot of long par fours, um and some spectacular par fives. So, you know, variety is key to keeping the golfer interested and we think we have everything here. In 2018, you hosted the best players in the world. you had the Irish open here. Uh what did that do for the golf course? Uh was it in some ways, I suppose, a validation of just how wonderful this place is? It certainly was. It was a massive achievement for the club to to bring the European tour, the Dubai duty-free Irish Open here in 2018. Um it certainly broke a glass ceiling for this part of the world, not just Balen. um it shone a light on on an area that has been long forgotten and certainly it has opened the doors uh for a lot of visitor interest from you know far and wide and that’s good for everyone good for the entire county of Dunny Gaul but good for the entire region of the north and west coast how would you describe Bal Lifen in terms of being different than any other links golf experience yeah I suppose the key to balif you know if you’re coming to Bal Lifen that’s the only place you’re going to, you know, we are not uh central to very much, but that’s true of most Lynx courses. Um, so I suppose it’s a destination as opposed to somewhere you pass by. Um, and golfers that know what Lynx golf is all about know where Valley Lif is. And I suppose what sets it apart is is it’s a memberowned club and the members are very proud of what they have here. And and that that sentiment, that feeling, that pride is very evident to visitors who meet members as they play the courses or maybe their caddies are are members also. And and you know that that hospitality is unique to Bal Defin. I believe that remoteness that you were alluding to lends itself to discovery once you’re on the property here. John, what what is it like when you’re talking to people and they come in and they just had the full breath of that experience out on the links? What what reactions do you get? I suppose the the main reaction we get is wow. You know, it’s just they can’t believe what they’ve discovered if it’s their first time here. Uh particularly if they’ve played both courses, they can’t believe two courses of this stature are on one site. Um the facilities are well improved with the practice facilities, the driving range and now the new power three pollen links course which Pat Ruddy opened uh in 2020. There’s everything here and people can’t believe that they’ve discovered this. Everyone thinks it’s their own and they don’t want to tell anyone because they don’t want to spoil it. But we want to tell everyone because we we need to continue developing it and improving it for members and visitors alike. You mentioned the name of Pat Ruddy, the legend, and you’re standing in front of uh a a replica of a monolithic uh shrine to him. Now, this this concept that’s behind you, it is so quintessentially Irish for all that it represents there, too. Uh why did you do it for Pat? Why do you hope that it represents the world? Well, I think Pat’s contribution to golf, not just Irish golf, but golf worldwide has been immense. Um, and Pat Pat’s a very unique character. And, you know, the European club is his pride and joy. But, um, privately, I’d say he would tell you that Lashidi is is is is his favorite son or daughter. Um, so the European club is a dolman at its entrance. Um we felt that it was time that we uh marked Pat’s contribution which has been colossal in this part of the world but particularly here in Balen uh with a tribute to him so the people coming here recognize what he’s done for us what he’s done for golf and it’s a statement uh it needed to be big enough to make a statement but uh not too big to be goddy because Pat doesn’t like goddy. How heavy is that capstone? That capstone’s eight 8 ton. 8 tons. Yeah, to his tribute and rightfully so from May of 2024 when it was officially dedicated. When it’s all said and done, John, what message do you want to send to the world about Valley Lifen? Uh, come and discover us. Um, you will not be disappointed. It’s as good as it gets in terms of Lynx golf and when the weather’s like this, it’s unbeatable.

Ballyliffin’s GM John Farren shows off the beautiful and challenging links courses that the club has to offer.