The Carne Golf Links of Belmullet Golf Club can be found in a remote corner of North West Ireland along ‘The Wild Atlantic Way’. Opened in 1992, it’s regarded as one of the world’s greatest links courses. The natural tee and green sites combine with dramatic, towering dunes, creating a landscape so perfectly suited to golf that very little needed moving during its construction.
Sitting on a peninsula almost 450 feet above sea level, Carne Golf Club overlooks Blacksod Bay and the historic islands of Inis Gloire and Inis Geidewild. Its layout was the last design of the late, great Eddie Hackett, and it takes pride of place among some of the best courses in the North West Ireland Golf Tour.
Well worth the pilgrimage to reach, Carne Golf Links traverses a variety of linksland, and elevation changes and plays amongst some of the most dramatic and towering dunes to be found anywhere.
A perfect example is the signature 11th, a 363-yard par 4, one of the most unusual and confounding holes you will ever encounter. From an elevated tee you hit down to the corner of an extreme dogleg where you will see the approach shot to a previously hidden elevated green. Brave long hitters can take their chances to hit the green in one with a drive directly over the dunes that must clear at least 320 yards.
The course was the brainchild of the community to bring golf dollars to this hauntingly beautiful but remote section of Ireland. The original nine holes opened in 1992 and Hackett completed and opened the second nine in 1993.
Today this 18-hole course is known as ‘The Hackett 18’ and is played as the featured course every other day.
In 2013, the third nine, known as ‘The Kilmore 9,’ designed by Jim Engh and Ally McIntosh was opened to much fanfare as it traverses some of the largest dunes in the world. When this nine is combined with the front nine of The Hackett 18, it is known as ‘The Wild Atlantic Way Dunes Course’ and is played on alternate days from The Hackett 18.
When planning your North West Ireland golf trip allow two days for Belmullet. The best way to experience all that Carne Golf Links has to offer is to spend the night in the charming town of Belmullet. Take time to enjoy the Irish craic and fantastic local seafood, then play The Hackett 18 and The Wild Atlantic Dunes Course over two days. You will not receive a warmer welcome at any club in Ireland.
Carne was the final masterpiece of the legendary Eddie Hackett, and many believe he saved his best for last. Now, the new “Wild Atlantic Dunes” course weaves together the dramatic Kilmore nine, designed by Ally McIntosh and Jim Engh, with the back nine of Hackett’s original layout.
Inspired by Hackett’s early sketches, this new routing is already being praised as one of the finest natural links experiences in the world.
Ranked in the top twenty courses in Ireland, Carne is raw, untamed, and unforgettable. Its towering dunes, the largest of any course globally, create a thrilling, scenic challenge along the Atlantic coastline. Located in the rugged North West of Ireland, in County Mayo, Carne is widely regarded as one of Hackett’s greatest creations alongside Waterville.
The “Wild Atlantic Dunes” delivers eighteen breathtaking holes of traditional links golf, offering dramatic views and a truly unique golfing experience in one of Ireland’s most unspoiled regions.
This course begins with what was once the back nine, followed by a run through newer holes before rejoining the original layout for the final stretch. The result is a seamless blend of old and new, with no weak links across the routing.
Set among striking dunes, it offers a strong mix of challenge and scoring opportunities. Fairways are generous but often partially hidden, adding strategic tension. The five par threes are visually dramatic and varied, while the par fives strike a smart balance between risk and reward.
Bunkering is minimal, with the natural topography providing most of the challenge. Greens are thoughtfully shaped, with visible run-offs and pin placements that demand accuracy.
Like Rosapenna and Ballyliffin, this course embraces the raw beauty of Ireland’s northwest coast, using elevation, wind, and natural routing to create a memorable and fair test of golf.
Allan O’Connor, Ireland Operations Manager
Tucked into the woods just outside Ballina, Mount Falcon feels like a proper country escape, but with all the comforts you’d expect from a luxury stay. Each morning started with a proper Irish breakfast that set me up for a full day’s golf. After a long day on the links, coming back to Mount Falcon felt like coming home. Whether it was a quiet pint by the fire, a walk through the grounds, or just sinking into a deep armchair in the lounge, everything about it was relaxed and personal.
North West Ireland is a hidden gem of a golfing destination. In comparison to better know tours of Northern Ireland or the South West, unearth some of the finest links on the emerald Isle, including Enniscrone, Rosapenna, Ballyliffin and Donegal.
6 nights accommodation and 5 rounds of golf
From $4,608 per golfer
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To book a tee time at Carne Golf Club, you can conveniently arrange it through Premier Golf as part of a Northwest Ireland golf package.
The green fees at Carne Golf Course vary depending on the season and day of the week. In 2023, the high season (April to October) commands €140, while January to March (the low season) costs €65.
Yes, you can. Carne Golf Course provides access to more than just golf clubs. You can also rent a caddy, a buggy, and a trolley. You can also buy tees, gloves, golf balls, and other necessary equipment at their pro shop.
Carne has two courses, the Hackett and Wild Atlantic Dunes. Both courses are 18-hole links courses situated on the remote Mullet peninsula. The Hackett Course was designed by the late Eddie Hackett and opened in 1992.
The Wild Atlantic Dunes Course was created by combining the front nine holes of the Hackett Course with the newer Kilmore Nine Course, designed by Jim Engh and Ally McIntosh and opened in 2013.
Both courses have a par of 72 and a length of 6,000 yards from the white tees. The Hackett Course has a rating of 71.9 and a slope of 129, while the Wild Atlantic Dunes Course has a rating of 72.9 and a slope of 131.