Thurles Golf Club

Golf Course

A Legacy of Excellence

For those who appreciate the game, truly great golf courses hold a special significance. Thurles Golf Club is steeped in tradition, known not only as one of Ireland’s finest parkland courses but also for the significant contributions its members have made to the sport over the past century. This par-72 course presents a rewarding challenge for golfers of all levels, blending strategic design with natural beauty. While the inward nine holes have long been regarded among the best in Irish golf, the outward nine underwent a major redevelopment in 2006-07, enhancing the course’s playability while preserving its classic character.

Key developments include:

USGA-standard tee complexes and undulating greens for improved playability.
Additional land integration to extend the course length and enhance strategic options.
New water features, seamlessly incorporated with natural stone bridges on four holes.
Over 300 trees planted, further refining the landscape and course aesthetics.

As the outward nine continues to mature, it further strengthens the reputation of Thurles Golf Club, a course that honours its rich history while embracing modern golfing standards.

Course Overview

1st Hole – Par 5

Accuracy, not length, is the key for successful playing of this hole. Go for the green in two shots at your peril. Avoid the left hand side at all costs. Position your second shot to suit the pin position. An undulating green rewards accurate pitch shots which might best be played from full shot distance.

2nd Hole – Par 4

Position your drive on the left side of fairway. Short left is the safe position for your second shot. Difficult par four. Bogey is not a bad score here. Long hitters keep tight to the right.

3rd Hole – Par 3

Beautiful scenic par three. Be careful to observe the wind direction before you go to the tee. A shot with plenty of backspin will be an advantage. Play an extra club if the pin is on the right half of the green.

4th Hole – Par 4

Play a lay-up shot off the tee to be short of water which is 230 yards away. A difficult 2nd shot awaits against the prevailing wind to a well-guarded green. Use a club more than it seems. Left of the green is the safe option.

5th Hole – Par 3

Excellent uphill par three to a testing green. A spine runs through the middle of the green. To avoid three putting make sure to be on the correct side of the green. Putting can be fun on this undulating green.

6th Hole – Par 4

Short but very tricky par four. Optimum line for your drive is over the big beech tree in front of the tee. An extremely demanding pitch shot awaits to a shallow green guarded by bunkers front and back. Clean grooves on your club are essential for this difficult shot!

7th Hole – Par 4

Tough par four. Drive should be slightly left for the longer hitters. The second shot to a slightly elevated green is longer than it seems.

8th Hole – Par 5

Long par five with two options off the tee. Drive left for the shorter route, but carry the bunkers at 220 yards with out of bounds close by. The safer line is right towards the old quarry. Position your second shot short and right, leaving a straightforward pitch to the narrow green. Water left, bunker right — only the brave attempt to reach in two.

9th Hole – Par 4

Challenging picturesque par four along the banks of the Suir. An undulating fairway leads to a narrow left sloping green perched on the side of the river. Courage and skill will be rewarded on this excellent golf hole.

10th Hole – Par 4

Difficult par four. A demanding second shot to the right hand side of the green requires that you hit enough club! A bogey is not bad here.

11th Hole – Par 3

Spectacular, difficult par three. Playing your tee shot short of the green can yield dividends. Missing the green pin high almost inevitably leads to a bogey. Observe interesting ruins called “Jacks House” on route to the green.

12th Hole – Par 4

Short par four that demands quality shots. Tee shot favours a slight fade of approximately 220 yards around the trees on the right to land short of punitive fairway bunkers. The approach shot is deceptive. Use one more iron than you think you need.

13th Hole – Par 5

Long par five. Keep away from the left hand side. A well placed iron for your second shot is often advised. An extremely narrow green demands that you must not miss it on the wrong side, particularly the left. The green slopes from front to back.

14th Hole – Par 3

Demanding par three to a narrow green. Do not miss it at the wrong side. Be careful of your alignment on your tee shot.

15th Hole – Par 4

The longer hitters will attempt to shorten the dog-leg by driving over the trees on the left. A straight drive will run out of fairway at approximately 220 yards. The narrow bunkered green ensures that nothing but an approach from the centre of the fairway is rewarded.

16th Hole – Par 4

Accuracy is at a premium on this hole. The green is long and narrow. A quick check on the pin position as you pass the green when playing the thirteenth hole is often of value.

17th Hole – Par 4

A long demanding par four. For most golfers two woods are required to reach the green. Keep slightly left off the tee. The green slopes from front to back so be careful of your club selection for your second shot in firm conditions.

18th Hole – Par 5

Short but tricky par five with the N63 guarding the left. A precise tee shot and second shot are essential. Many players play safe down the tenth fairway, but this leaves a demanding approach. Your second shot position is crucial — a third shot from the right must clear the bunker and land on the down-sloping green. Not for the faint hearted.