Carne GC-Wild Atlantic Dunes- hole 2Carne GC- Wild Atlantic Dunes- hole 2

History

Erris Tourism is a community owned and controlled company which was set up in 1984 to develop and promote the tourism industry in the region of North Mayo, Ireland.

As part of this development, the company undertook the construction of Carne Golf Links on part of 260 acres of commonage that it purchased in 1985.

The company engaged Eddie Hackett, a well known Irish golf links designer, to lay out the 18 holes.

Carne Golf Links was the last links course to be designed by him.



The first nine holes was opened in 1992, and the second a year later.

Belmullet Golf Club was founded in 1925.

Up until 1992, the club played on a nine hole course at Cross near Binghamstown, but on invitation the club became resident at Carne Golf Links

 

An additional 9 hole course designed by Ally McIntosh opened to much acclaim in 2013.

Named the Kilmore course, some suggested it might be the best nine hole course in the UK.

It's dramatic routing took it through the large dunes not unlike the back nine of the championship course.

There was some suggestion that this nine might be combined with the back nine of the championship course to form a very dramatic 18 holes.

It was to be called The Wild Atlantic Dunes.

But the project languised for many years due to economic restraints, with The Kilmore course in poor condition and often closed.

But the Irish PGA championship was in 2021 held on the Wild Atlantic Links and the course was brought up to tournament condition.

When we played in June 2022 the course was quite magnificent and became an instant favourite

 

 

Course

Located near the village of Belmullet, Carne Golf Course is set in towering dunes set on a peninsula overlooking the Atlantic Coast.

The original course- known as The Hackett course is very much a tale of two nines with the front nine playing through more subdued rolling terrain with rural vistas.

The back nine however is a different story as it is routed through large dunes, and touches the coastline.

The front nine eases you into the round with a succession of nice links holes in low lying dunes, and a couple (holes 3 & 4 ) which skirt the dunes.

I thought the two par 3's were good holes- the second a semi blind tee shot to a raised green surrounded by small dunes, and the seventh which has an elevated green sitting on a ledge in the dunes.

It has a sharp fall off at the front and the green is quite narrow, so it's is a difficult target to hit...

 

Carne GC- hole 7Carne GC-Hackett course- hole 7

 

Hole 5 & 6 are gentle dog leg par 4's where the small dunes are used well to protect the green.

But I thought the best hole of the nine was the par 4 eighth hole with the green guarded by two slightly larger dunes.

 

The back nine of The Hackett course (and the front nine of The Wild Atlantic Dunes) is more demanding and quite dramatic.

The tenth is a par 4 with the green set in a huge dune ampitheatre. It looks good!

 

Carne GC- hole 10Carne GC- Hackett Course- hole 10

 

Hole 11 on The Hackett (hole 2 Wild Atlantic Dunes) is a par 4 which doglegs sharply right.

The view from the elevated tee is breathtaking!

A good tee shot between the dunes below sets you up for a look at the green (which is hidden by a large dune off the tee).

Again the green sits up high on a ledge in the dune making for a most unusual and dramatic golf hole.

 

 

The twelfth hole (Hackett) is similar in that the elevated tee has glorious views and the tee shot must be accurate to hit the tiny fairway below, with outer bounds long and right and dunes to the left.

The approach is to a high green behind the left dunes.

 

Carne GC- Wild Atlantic Dunes, hole 12Carne GC- Wild Atlantic Dunes, hole 12

 

The back nine continues through the largest of dunes, with heaving fairways and a number of elevated greens...

Fourteen (Hackett) is a nice par 3 with ocean views, and sixteen is a drop shot par 3 from an elevated green to a green set well below in a dell.

 

Carne GC- hole 16Carne GC- Hackett course- hole 16

 

The closing hole is a tumultous par 5 which summarises the back nine perfectly.

 

The Kilmore nine continues the drama from the Hackett back nine, and together as The Wild Atlantic Dunes can stake a claim for being amongst the most scenic, dramatic, photogenic course in Irish golf.

And it's great fun!

 

Notable holes in the Kilmore Nine (the back nine of the The Wild Atlantic Dunes) include:

 

- hole 10, a dramatic long downhill par 3.

- hole 14, another downhill par 3 to a green set in the dunes

- hole 15, a lovely short par 4 with the green set at the base of a huge dune

 

Carne GC- Wild Atlantic Dunes, hole 15Carne GC- Wild Atlantic Dunes, hole 15

 

 

 

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