18-Hole Golf Course
Designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr. the beautifully landscaped golf course at Galway Bay Golf Resort is a quiet oasis located just 9 miles from the city of Galway.
Its tranquility belies a challenging par 72 golf course, with particularly strong opening and closing holes. Excellent fairways and true, fast greens guarantee an enjoyable and interesting play for golfers of all abilities.
The Course
Par 5, 456 Yards, Stroke Index 10
For the first hole, your tee shot needs to favour the left-hand side of the fairway.
For a positive outcome, the ideal lay-up is to the right of the fairway.
Your third shot is into a raised green.
You should do your utmost to avoid the deep bunker to the front left.
Here’s to a solid start on Hole 1!
2nd Hole
Par 4, 392 Yards, Stroke Index 6.
Here, your tee shot will normally be into the prevailing wind.
You need to favour the right-hand side of the fairway.
An uphill second shot awaits you, so an extra club is recommended.
On this hole, the green slopes from back to front.
So landing short of the pin will set up a solid birdie attempt.
Best of luck!
3rd Hole
Par 4, 402 Yards, Stroke Index 12.
This tee shot is where you need to be at your sharpest.
Here, there are obstacles like ‘out of bounds’ to the right and gorse bushes down the left.
The second shot is again uphill into a raised green.
So an extra half club is recommended.
It’s worth noting that the bunkers are a must to avoid left and short right.
4th Hole
Par 3, 166 Yards, Stroke Index 18.
According to the index, this is the easiest hole on the course, but don’t be fooled as this little gem can reward you with a birdie 2 as easily as it can give you a head-scratching double bogey.
It plays downhill and normally with the wind, but you need to avoid the bunker short right and bunker green-side left. Play to the heart of the green and try to escape with a par.
5th Hole
Par 4, 418 Yards, Stroke Index 2.
This Par 4 plays like a Par 5 as it’s normally into the wind. The ‘Out of Bounds’ to the right and gorse bushes to the left require an accurate tee shot.
A cautious approach might be warranted as this green has a narrow entrance and deep bunkers left and right, so the ideal shot is to hit up short of the green. Your chipping will be tested with a sloping back to front green with some three different levels to negotiate.
6th Hole
Par 5, 476 Yards, Stroke Index 14.
This Dogleg left Par 5 requires an accurate tee shot to the right of the fairway.
The lay-up should favour the right-hand side of the fairway as the lake on the left comes into play from 120 yards out from the green.
This three-tiered green requires an accurate third shot to the correct level to have a chance at a two-putt par.
And that’s Hole 6
7th Hole
Par 3, 140 Yards, Stroke Index 16.
This short Par 3 needs your undivided attention as this island green needs an accurate tee shot which typically has a right-to-left wind to contend with also.
The ideal shot is to hit to the back-centre of the green and ignore the pin placement wherever that may be. Take your two putts with a smile on your face.
8th Hole
Par 4, 418 Yards, Stroke Index 4.
This tee shot is not for the faint of heart as you have a lake short left and a lake 200 yards up to the right. The ideal tee shot is to hit towards the bunkers on the left side of the fairway.
A smart second shot is key as you need to avoid the deep bunker front right and the left green-side bunker. The green slopes from back to front and left to right. No question, par is a terrific score here.
9th Hole
Par 4, 400 Yards, Stroke Index 8.
Again, this is a tee shot where precision is key as you have bunkers up the left – if you hit into them, you are left with a lay-up shot only. The ideal tee shot is to favour the right-hand side of the fairway. However, be mindful of the gorse bushes all the way up the right-hand side. This green is the biggest on the course and if you go long on it, a three-putt might not be a bad takeaway from it.
10th Hole
Par 4, 395 Yards, Stroke Index 9.
The ideal tee shot is to favour the left-hand side of the fairway. Your second shot is tricky as there is a large bunker short right and a deep swell green-side left that will test your short game to get up and down.
The Green does slope from back to front, but do not go long over the green as your ball will never be seen again.
11th Hole
Par 4, 404 Yards, Stroke Index 3.
This Dogleg left Par 4 is normally into a cross-wind from the right, so an accurate tee shot up the right is the optimal play. There is ‘out of bounds’ to the left and more gorse bushes all the way up the right to avoid.
Your second shot is very tricky so don’t go short as you can avoid coming back down a large slope – and steer clear of the deep bunker green-side right. Aiming for the heart of the green or going long is the play.
12th Hole
Par 4, 431 Yards, Stroke Index 1.
This is our signature hole and it’s the hardest on the course. The reward for this challenge is the accompanying stunning views of Galway City, the Burren, and the Aran Islands.
This par 4 plays into the wind the second shot is over water. Because the green slopes from back to front, the safest second shot is to try to hit the back portion of the green.
13th Hole
Par 3, 174 Yards, Stroke Index 11.
This Par 3 has an exposed tee box with stunning views of the Burren and then a carry of 150 yards over the natural lake in front to a two-tiered green.
There are swells both left and right.
So, if you miss the green, you will need an expert touch to get a par.
14th Hole
Par 5, 521 Yards, Stroke Index 13
This Dogleg right Par 5 is another with an exposed tee box and you need an accurate tee shot to the left-hand side of the fairway, so avoid the ‘Out of Bounds’ to the right.
The second shot needs another precise lay-up; try not to be put off by the boats sailing by as you walk. Again, try to hit the heart of the green and ignore the pin placement as a par will be a great score here.
15th Hole
Par 3, 186 Yards, Stroke Index 17.
This Par 3 is the longest of them all and requires an accurate tee shot to the heart of the green. It severely slopes from back to front, so anything long will test the best golfer to make a two-putt par.
Try to avoid the bunkers short left and right, and make sure to steer clear of the valley to the left which all leave a very tricky up-and-down.
16th Hole
Par 5, 538 Yards, Stroke Index 15.
This Par 5 is the longest on the course, normally down-wind; the big hitters have a chance to get home in two with a tee shot down the right of the fairway. Laying up with your second shot is the best option. To have a view of the green, you need to lay up down the right of the fairway.
Importantly, this has the most undulated green on the course and every pin position can cause you trouble, so accuracy here is key for your third shot.
17th Hole
Par 4, 383 Yards, Stroke Index 5.
This is the shortest Par 4 on the course but is always into the wind and uphill; hitting the fairway is a premium here. Avoid the ‘Out of Bounds’ to the right and try to peel one down the left-hand side of the fairway to give yourself the best chance of hitting this raised green in two.
This is our most exposed green to the wind, so even though it’s a flat green, the wind can cause you moments of terror even over that one-footer for par.
18th Hole
Par 4, 418 Yards, Stroke Index 7.
Nice easy hole to finish? Think again! Our 18th has ‘Out of Bounds’ to the right and ‘Out of Bounds’ to the left. The fairway is narrow but to get the best angle into the green, you need to try and keep your tee shot down the left-hand side. Once you hit the fairway, the hard work starts.
You’ll need to avoid the dangerously deep bunkers front right and left and just try to hit the middle of the green.
Hollow-tining
Course Updates
To ensure our greens are in perfect condition we aerate our greens, and twice annually hollow-tining is carried out. Please see below hollow-tining dates for 2024.
- 4th – 5th March 2024
- 7th – 8th October 2024