Carne Golf Links: Play Ireland's Wild Atlantic Dunes By Brian Weis

Carne Golf Links: Play Ireland's Wild Atlantic Dunes

Discover Mayo's Legendary Golf Course with Stunning Links Golf and Dramatic Coastal Scenery

By Brian Weis

Carne Golf Links, set amid the rugged dunes of County Mayo's wild Atlantic coastline, epitomizes authentic Irish links golf. Located near the village of Belmullet, Carne was designed by the revered Irish course architect Eddie Hackett, whose minimalist philosophy embraced nature's shaping of the land, avoiding heavy machinery to preserve the untouched character of the terrain. First opened in 1993, Carne was Hackett's final project and is often regarded as one of his finest.

In 2013, an additional nine holes, known as the Kilmore nine, were crafted by American architect Jim Engh, complementing Hackett's original eighteen and further showcasing the property's dramatic dunes, considered among the tallest in Europe. Together, these 27 holes provide golfers with a deeply rewarding and varied experience, challenging strategic play while immersing visitors in the remoteness and raw beauty of Mayo's windswept coast.

Following storm damage to the Kilmore nine, which resulted in a two-year closure, the holes reopened for the 2019 season. Two years later, Carne proudly hosted the Irish PGA Championship, utilizing the newly named Wild Atlantic Dunes layout-an exciting 18-hole routing combining the Kilmore nine with the back nine of Hackett's original course.

Today, visitors to Carne Golf Links have a uniquely dynamic golfing experience: the club alternates daily between layouts, meaning golfers can play either Hackett's classic original 18 or the acclaimed Wild Atlantic Dunes combination. Each routing highlights Carne's distinctive personality, weaving through towering sandhills and undulating fairways sculpted by centuries of relentless Atlantic winds. Signature holes include the par-4 11th, a narrow fairway protected by steep dunes, and the dramatic par-3 16th, where a small, elusive green demands precision amid coastal gusts.

Known for its welcoming spirit and sense of adventure, Carne Golf Links retains a natural charm untouched by commercialism, capturing the true spirit of Irish golf as it once was-remote, unspoiled, and unforgettable.

Getting Here: The Journey to Carne Golf Links

Most golf travelers visiting Carne Golf Links fly into Dublin Airport, embarking on a scenic yet challenging journey across Ireland's countryside. The route from Dublin to Belmullet winds through narrow, twisty roads that hug the rugged landscapes of the West Coast-definitely not for the faint of heart, but absolutely worth the adventure.

To make your trip even more memorable, pair Carne with rounds at other celebrated northwest courses such as Enniscrone, County Sligo (Rosses Point), Strand Hill Golf Links and experience some of the best links golf Ireland has to offer.

For a hassle-free experience, it's recommended to arrange your golf tee times, lodging, and transportation through the trusted tour operator, Links of Ireland, who specialize in curating authentic and seamless Irish golf vacations.

More Information
Carne Golf Links
Links of Ireland

Revised: 04/28/2025 - Article Viewed 183 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.