Mallow Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 72 parkland course in the Blackwater Valley, about 30 minutes (35 km) north of Cork city on the N20. Visitors are welcome seven days a week, with green fees from €30.
Mallow is the crossroads of Munster: the N20 Cork–Limerick and N72 Killarney–Fermoy roads meet in the town, and Mallow railway station is the junction of the Cork–Dublin and Cork–Tralee lines. The club is at Ballyellis, about 5 minutes from the station by taxi, so a round here fits easily into a day trip from Cork, Killarney or Limerick.
Directions & map| From | Road | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Cork city | N20 | ~30 min (35 km) |
| Cork Airport | N20 | ~40 min (43 km) |
| Blarney | N20 | ~25 min (25 km) |
| Fermoy | N72 | ~30 min (32 km) |
| Killarney | N72 | ~60 min (69 km) |
| Limerick | N20 / M20 | ~50 min (67 km) |
| Charleville | N20 | ~25 min (25 km) |
| Kanturk | N72 / R576 | ~20 min (18 km) |
Times are typical off-peak driving times to Ballyellis.
Mallow is a mature, tree-lined parkland course laid out by J. D. Harris on rolling ground above the River Blackwater. It plays to par 72 (out 37, in 35) and 6,493 yards from the blue tees, but it is not a course you overpower: mature trees frame most fairways, so the premium is on the right line from the tee and a sensible club into the green.
The greens are rated among the best in Munster, and the other thing visitors talk about is the set of five par 3s: holes 2, 4, 11, 16 and 18 range from 125 to 192 yards off the blue tees, and each asks a different question.
| Tee | Length | Par |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 6,493 yd | 72 |
| White | 6,234 yd | 72 |
| Yellow | 6,027 yd | 72 |
| Red | 5,301 yd | 72 |
The first real test of the round. Out of bounds waits on both sides, the ground falls away steeply left of the green and a bunker guards the front-left. A three here is a good score early in the day.
Hole 2 guide & flyoverThe shortest hole on the card and the easiest by index, but bunkers front-right and back-left punish anything half-hearted. It sets up a strong finish, ending with the par-3 18th played to the green below the clubhouse balcony.
Hole 16 guide & flyoverNorth Cork has a cluster of parkland courses within about half an hour of each other, which makes Mallow a natural base for a short break. A simple plan that works for most groups:
Visitors with a Golf Ireland or WHS handicap can also enter an open competition: the Wednesday and Friday Open Singles run through the summer, with the South Munster Seniors' Singles, the scratch cups and the August Bank Holiday Scramble spread across the season. Entry is €20.
A market town on the Blackwater with pubs, cafes and restaurants a few minutes from the club. Hotel and guesthouse accommodation is available in and around the town; the office is happy to suggest options for golf groups.
Mallow Racecourse (Cork Racecourse) is on the edge of town, so a race meeting can bookend a golf weekend. Doneraile Park, a large public estate park about 15 minutes north-east, is an easy afternoon walk for non-golfers in the group.
The River Blackwater runs east from Mallow through Fermoy to the sea at Youghal, with riverside walks and well-known salmon fishing along the way. Killarney is an hour west on the N72 for a longer day out.
The clubhouse bar and restaurant keeps normal licensing hours from 1 March to 31 October. From 1 November to 28 February the clubhouse closes at 6pm. Smart casual dress in the clubhouse.
Everything you need to book a round at Mallow is on the pages below. For anything else, ring the office on +353 22 21145 (ext 3) or email office@mallowgolfclub.ie.
Green fees from €30 for 18 holes, with 9-hole, twilight, junior and play-with-a-member rates.
See green feesVisitor tee times are booked online through BRS Golf. Book ahead for weekends and summer evenings.
Book a tee timeSocieties are welcome Monday to Friday and at weekends from March to October, with golf-only and golf-and-meal packages from €30 per person.
Society informationWeekly summer opens, seniors' and scratch events, and the August Bank Holiday Scramble. Visitors with an official handicap are welcome.
Open competitionsMallow Golf Club, Ballyellis, Mallow, Co. Cork, P51 FX53 · Dress code: golf attire on the course, see visitor information.