An Brief Review on Ballybunion Four holes to watch

8th hole
(Champ 153yd Par 3)
It looks so simple from the elevated tee to hit the green far below with as little as a 9 iron, especially as the prevailing wind helps. But the green is dangerously narrow, surrounded on the front and to the left by deep pot bunkers. Anything cut or pushed breaks away into a deep chasm on the right from which saving par is almost impossible.
It's best to play a club more than you think - there's little trouble at the back. Even then, it's difficult to get down in 2 putts on a green full of little borrows and undulations.

11th hole
(Champ 449yd Par 4)
One of the great par 4s in Irish golf, the tee is situated right on the cliff edge with the Atlantic clashing against the rocks far below. The tee shot is intimidating: a slice winds up in the sea and a hook in the dunes and thick rough. But a good drive sets up a magnificent challenge for the second, almost certainly with a wood.

The dunes continue down both sides of the fairway so thread your shot between them to reach the green - one of the few at Ballybunion that draws the ball in. There's no need for bunkers at this hole - it's tough enough without them.
 
15th hole
(Champ 216yd Par 3) This is one of the hardest par 3s in golf. The tee shot, usually into a crosswind, often demands a perfectly struck driver that must carry all the way to the two tiered green. There are no escape routes, no safety nets at this great hole.

The green itself, located alongside the sea, is surrounded by bunkers, dunes and thick rough. If you are on the same tier as the flag the putting isn't too demanding; if you aren't you'll do well to avoid taking 3.

16th hole
(Champ 490yd Par 5)
A sporting par 5 where accuracy is far more important than length. Still, it takes a big drive to make it to the fairway where the hole turns sharply left away from the sea. It winds its way through the most imposing 100ft (30m) high duneland to a large back to front sloping green. The fairway gap is the narrowest on the course.

The prevailing wind helps at this hole and two straight shots get you close. Stray left or right, however, and recovery is extremely difficult.