Nestled on the tranquil shores of Lough Ree, Glasson Golf Club offers a golfing experience like no other. Just a 90-minute drive west of Dublin, the journey itself is a scenic introduction to Ireland’s heartland, leading to one of the country’s most celebrated golfing destinations. Designed by the legendary Ryder Cup player Christy O’Connor Jr., the championship course is both a visual masterpiece and a true test of golfing skill. Combined with the luxurious Glasson Lakehouse, this resort seamlessly blends sport, relaxation, and hospitality, offering an unforgettable escape for golfers and holidaymakers alike.
A Course with Character
Glasson Golf Club’s course stretches from 5,375 yards to a formidable 6,731 yards for professional competitions, with a par of 71. The layout takes full advantage of the rolling hills, natural contours, and breathtaking lakeside views. Manicured fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and undulating greens make every shot a calculated challenge, while the pristine condition of the course ensures an exceptional playing experience year-round.
Having hosted numerous prestigious tournaments, Glasson has established itself as a must-play destination for golfers heading west from Dublin. For our round, we opted for the white tees at 6,379 yards—a balance of challenge and playability. PGA Professional Lynn joined us, cheekily inquiring about handicap shots. As it turned out, she needed none, while we might have benefitted from a few!
The Round: A Battle Against the Course (and Lynn!)
Approach to the 1st green
The honour of the opening tee shot for our match went to Lynn. She didn’t disappoint and striped one down the middle on this 378-yard opening hole. We went with 3 wood off the tee and pulled it towards the bunkers on the left of this right-to-left hole. A wedge to the green and we have a chance to go one up after a mishit second from Lynn. That hope was immediately trampled as she followed her chip in with a whoop of delight. We missed our putt. One down!
The 3rd hole
After halving the 2nd in pars, we stepped onto the 3rd tee, a 191-yard par 3. Lynn’s tee shot missed the green left, and we hit a sweet 6 iron into the middle of the green. Another chance, we thought. Just as before, Lynn chipped in again!! Another whoop of delight, and we missed the putt to half again! Two Down!
A three-putt bogey on the 4th and we were 3 down after 4. This could get embarrassing! Perhaps at this point, we should concentrate on the holes rather than the scores. That was our thinking anyway…
The 5th hole
The 5th is a lovely par 3 of 177 yards. It was playing slightly downwind and downhill, and we managed to dispatch a 7 iron onto the putting surface and made par. Bunkers left, right and short make it visually intimidating. Trust you clubbing, and you will be fine.
Tough End to the Front Nine
Looking back down the 7th
The 7th hole is a dogleg left, It plays uphill and even though it’s only 383 yards, it is the 2nd hardest hole on the course. We hit 3 wood and then an 8 iron to a green you couldn’t see. Our judgement was out and we ended up on the back edge putting down to a pin near the front. Needless to say, it didn’t end well, another 3 putt bogey.
Approach to the 8th green
The 8th is a 400-yard par 4. It plays right to left with the second shot downhill. The ideal line off the tee is to the right of the bunkers. Unfortunately for us, we pulled our tee shot, which avoided the bunkers but was in the rough, blocked out by the trees. A wedge to the front edge and yet another 3 putts led to our fourth bogey of the round. The greens were excellent, it was our golf that was the problem.
Still Down at the Turn
We reached the turn, ahem, a few down and hoped for better on the back nine. It started promisingly with two pars and then fell apart with a no score at the 12th. Could the 13th provide the start of a comeback?
Approach to the 13th green
The first 12 holes are played around and above the Lakehouse. The walk to the 13th tee takes you past the hotel, where it opens up to give wonderful views over the course to Lough Ree. The 13th is an uphill par 4 of only 341 yards. A decent tee shot left us 80 yards to the middle of the green. However, as we were a “few” holes down, we decided to take on the pin on the right. We missed the green, short and right with a sand wedge! Even though we managed an up and down, the writing was on the wall.
The 14th green
The 14th hole is a 433-yard par 4 and is statistically the hardest hole of the course. It plays massively downhill and doglegs to the right. We hit one of our best tee shots of the day, caught the downslope and finished at the bottom of the slope, only 100 yards from the green. Aha, we thought fleetingly. A pulled sand wedge and a bad bounce off the slope, and we were in the deep rough, left of the green. Another bogey from a great position.
Game Over
The 16th hole
It’s probably a toss-up whether the 16th or 17th hole is the signature hole at Glasson. Even Lynn wouldn’t offer an opinion. Both are stunning holes. The 16th played 385 yards for us, and as you can see from the photo, there is no future left off the tee or on your second shot. This hole is where our game ended. Officially, it was 3&2, unofficially, it could have been a lot more if Lynn had wanted to demoralise me.
The 17th hole
The 17th is another stunning hole. Playing 172 yards over water, this hole really summed up how our golf was the day we played. After shaking hands on the 16th, we stood on the 17th tee and confidently hit a 6 iron onto the green. It took one bounce and went off the back edge. When we got up there, it was nowhere to be seen. What was a decent shot had ended in disaster. A wee par on the last was little consolation, and we headed to the bar for lunch and a post-mortem on my game.
Glasson Course Summary
We thoroughly enjoyed playing at Glasson, and Lynn and her team were wonderful hosts. They say that the guest should never beat the host; well, there was no chance of that after the chip-ins at the first and third holes. Glasson has some cracking holes and can be very tricky. The course comes into its own from the 13th to the last. With fantastic views and danger lurking on every hole, if you need 6 pars for a score, good luck to you!
Glasson Lakehouse – A Luxurious Retreat
Glasson Lakehouse is a luxury hotel and resort that provides accommodation and a range of amenities for visitors. It offers a relaxing retreat with stunning views of Lough Ree and the golf course. It’s a blend of modern architecture and natural surroundings, creating a serene and relaxing atmosphere with a distinctive Californian vibe. We loved it here.
Our room
Guests can enjoy amenities such as spa facilities, fitness suites, an outdoor heated swimming pool and hot tubs as well as a covered BBQ area. It also has other outdoor activities like a play park for the kids, fishing, boating, kayaking and walking trails. It’s very family-friendly and they have lots for the kids to do.
Bonnie’s
The main restaurant, Bonnie’s, serves delicious food with locally sourced ingredients and has a circular bar in the centre of the room. We had a late dinner after our drive from Dublin. There is another bar, an Irish Shebeen called Tom’s Fish and Tackle, which is a great place for a Guinness or two.
When Sunny, Outside is Best
The BBQ area
Just outside Bonnie’s is the outside BBQ area with comfy sofas and chairs and a covered area. When we say BBQ, it doesn’t mean guests have to cook; it’s all manned by the staff. You just have to sit there with a cold drink and choose what you want to eat. Perfect on a sunny day! Glasson has so much to offer that we would have loads more to talk about and photos to show you. We have put some of our highlights into a short video to give you a flavour of what’s on offer!
Families are also well-catered for, with a play park, fishing, kayaking, and scenic walking trails. Whether you’re here for a golfing getaway, a family retreat, or a wedding, Glasson Lakehouse offers an unmatched blend of relaxation and adventure.
Final Thoughts
Glasson Golf Club and Lakehouse is a truly special destination. The course is challenging yet fair, offering unforgettable holes from start to finish. The facilities are world-class, and the hospitality is second to none. Whether you’re a serious golfer looking to test your skills or simply in search of a scenic escape, Glasson delivers on all fronts. If all golf resorts were like this, they’d have waiting lists a mile long!
We can’t wait to return.
Lynn McCool has just recently moved on from Glasson to become the General Manager at Donegal Golf Club. We wish her every success in her new role.
Jim Callaghan CCM is a former Club Manager with experience overseeing several top Scottish Golf Clubs.
Now, as European Editor of Golf Operator Magazine and World’s Best Golf Destinations, he shares insights into club operations and his golfing adventures across Europe.
Jim is also an Ambassador for premium clothing brand Fenix Xcell Clothing and also for the Spanish local DMC, Costa Verde Golf.
If your club/resort or brand wants to reach over 400,000 golfers, contact Jim at [email protected] or call 0044 (0) 78522 88732.
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