If you’re planning a golf trip to Ireland, chances are you’re dreaming about rugged links golf, crashing waves, and wind-whipped dunes. And fair enough — Irish links are legendary. But just a little inland, away from the coastal drama, there are some truly world-class parkland experiences waiting to surprise you. One of those is Headfort Golf Club, tucked away in the charming town of Kells, County Meath, less than an hour from Dublin.
Headfort isn’t just one course — it’s two. The Old Course and the Christy O’Connor Jr Championship Course offer a full 36-hole day of golf in a peaceful, tree-lined setting that feels miles from the bustle of the capital. Whether you’re after classic Irish countryside vibes or top-tier tournament-level conditioning, Headfort delivers in spades.
The Setting: Tranquility with a Touch of Heritage
Set on the historic Headfort Estate, the club is surrounded by towering trees, lush meadows, and the River Blackwater that winds its way through the grounds, adding both beauty and bite to the layout. You’re playing on land that once belonged to the Earls of Bective, and you can feel the quiet sense of history around every corner — it’s like playing golf in the grounds of a stately home.
The peaceful setting is perfect for switching off and just enjoying your round. You’ll hear birdsong more than traffic, and even on a busy day, it never feels crowded. It’s no wonder the club has earned a strong reputation among locals and savvy international visitors alike.
The New Course: Designed by Christy O’Connor Jr., Built for Champions
Now if you’re looking for a championship challenge, the New Course is where things step up a notch. Designed by the late, great Christy O’Connor Jr., it opened in 2001 and has drawn praise from all corners ever since.
It’s longer, tighter, and packed with personality. The water hazards become more prominent, the greens get trickier, and the bunkering becomes more strategic. It’s a proper test from the back tees — one that demands good decision-making as much as ball-striking. There are four sets of tees to choose from ranging from 5474 yards to the back tees at 6747 yards. We chose to play from the back tees. As always, choose the tees to suit your game and handicap.
The Front Nine
We have chosen to feature the 4th, 5th and 9th on the front nine and the 11th, 12th and 17th on the back nine. Special mention to the 3rd, (our header photo) and the 7th and 8th on the first nine and the 10th, 13th and 16th on the inward nine. Any of these holes could have been included but we like to stick to three on each nine. Apologies for our bias towards par 3’s, we love a good par 3.
The 4th hole
At 168 yards, the 4th is quite a short par 3 however there is no real bailout. The water hazard stretches from the tee to just short of the putting surface. Miss right and you are in the water, miss left and the bunker awaits. We were lucky, it was downwind and a good 8 iron to 15 feet gave us a chance of a birdie. We didn’t convert. Thank you the guys who waved us through on this hole.
Tough Par 4
The 5th hole
Measuring 419 yards, the 5th hole is a toughie and it’s stroke index 2. The pond isn’t really in play for most but it does make you focus. The fairway is reasonably wide but be aware of the fairway bunkers left and right. You second shot is uphill and you must carry the distance to the centre of the green. We didn’t and were left with an awkward chip. This hole gave us our first bogey of the round.
Approach to the 9th green
The 9th is a shortish par 4 of 365 yards. You tee off over water and there is a bunker on the left you need to avoid. The Pro had told us to hit less than driver off the tee so we went with 5 wood. There is more water over the ridge at about 260 yards. As we had laid up we were left with a 9 iron in to a front right pin. Our approach went a little long on the pin and we had a tricky downhill left to right putt. We managed to two putt for a welcome par.
The Back Nine
Looking back down the 11th hole
The 11th is a 169 yard par 3. The tee sits back in the trees and you tee off through a narrow gap to a green that is slightly above you. We went with a 6 iron and it was the right club although we were 35 right of the pin. This left us a downhill right to left putt which we knocked 3 feet past. Thankfully, the return putt was holed for a par.
Approach to the 12th green
The 12th is a pretty hole of 378 yards. It’s all about your shot into the green on this hole. The water encroaches in at the front of the green and all the way around the right side and at the back. There is mounding in the green on the left, is best described as a dead elephant under the green. The pin was back left. We hit 9 iron to the centre right of the green and managed to two putt. You could easily catch the downside of the mounding and finish in the water. This is a short but tricky par 4.
Lovely Par 3
The 17th hole
At 166 yards, the 17th is a visual treat. The water shouldn’t be in play unless you hit it fat off the tee. We went with 6 iron and finish around 30 feet past the pin. Probably 7 iron was the right club as the wind was helping slightly. We managed to two putt for our par.
In Our Opinion
We loved the Christy O’Connor Jr championship course at Headfort Golf Club. The course was in excellent condition and the greens were fantastic to putt on. Many consider the New Course one of the best inland courses in Ireland. And it’s not just hype — it’s hosted top amateur events and has the kind of polish you’d expect from a top-tier resort, minus the resort prices.
We hope to return in 2026 to take on the Old Course at Headfort as we didn’t have the time to play both on this trip.
The Clubhouse Experience
The 18th green with the clubhouse
One of the best parts of the Headfort experience is the atmosphere. The welcome is genuine, the staff are friendly, and there’s a down-to-earth charm about the place. This isn’t a stuffy club — it’s a golfer’s club. You’ll find members happy to chat, visitors soaking up the scenery, and a clubhouse that serves up great food and a well-earned pint post-round.
My steak ciabatta with pepper sauce
I had the steak sandwich which was recommended by Headfort’s GM David Reilly. I have to say David was right, it was awesome and it was washed down with the obligatory Guinness.
The Sea Bass
My wife Sandra had the sea bas which was a special on the menu. She said it was excellent. Hers was washed down with a coke!!. Fantastic food at the end of a fantastic day.
Final Thoughts
Headfort Golf Club might not be on every international golf tourist’s radar — but that’s part of its appeal. It’s a genuine Irish golf experience that combines heritage, hospitality, and two superb courses in one tranquil setting.
Whether you’re starting your Irish golf tour near Dublin or looking to add a peaceful inland day to your links-heavy itinerary, Headfort is well worth the detour. And then there’s the value. Compared to some of Ireland’s headline-grabbing resorts, Headfort offers an incredible day’s golf for a very fair green fee — particularly if you take advantage of weekday or shoulder-season rates.
Thank You
Our thanks go to David Reilly, the Headfort Golf Club’s General Manager, for hosting us at short notice. Next time we will give you plenty of notice David… Thank you also to Brendan in the proshop for his advice on how to play the course. It helped me get round in a reasonable score.
At a Glance
- 36 hole members club
- Par of 72 on both courses
- Short game area, practice nets and putting greens
- One hour north west of Dublin city centre
- Visit the Headfort Golf Club website here
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
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