Instituted October 1, 1896, Tralee Golf Club opened its present Arnold Palmer-designed course for play at Barrow in October, 1984, after moving from its nine-hole course at Mounthawk near Tralee. It was a great feat of achievement for the Club. Since the members (led by John Kelliher, Karl Condon) decided to buy land at Barrow back in 1980, their dream of seeing the Club attain world-wide status has been realized.Back in 1896 the Club had its first nine-hole course in Tralee, believed to be where the Sports field is now located. A year later, in 1897, it opened a nine-hole course in Fenit – on the south-western side of Barrow Harbour. There were 120 members then (compared to today’s 1,300) who paid a subscription of 10 shillings a year, with visitors having one week free play as introduction.

During the ‘Troubles’, in the 1920’s, a Captain Lionel Hewson was hired to design a new course in Oakpark, Tralee. He was suspicious of the men who sat around on the demesne walls watching him while he measured and made notes. He wrote later that ‘bullets used to fly in those days on little provocation.” He had reason to cast a wary eye – a Major McKinnon in the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary was shot dead on the course in March, 1921, while playing golf. (An excerpt from a book on the local area entitled “Links: Barrow & Hinterland”)

The Couse Designer

Arnold Palmer is one of the best known sportsmen and businessmen in the world today. As a professional golfer, he has won 92 national and international championships - 61 of them on the U.S. Tour. His golf titles include four Masters, two British Opens and the 1960 U.S. Open. He has also represented the U.S. seven times in the Ryder Cup Matches as either a player or Captain. He was recognized for his achievements in an Associated Press poll as the "Athlete of the Decade" for the 1960's. Read more about Arnold

Opened in October 1984 Tralee Golf Course was the first European golf course designed by Arnold Palmer. When he first saw the area upon which his company was to build Tralee golf links, he was ecstatic about the possibilities. "I have never come across a piece of land so ideally suited for the building of a golf course" he said.

"I designed the first nine but surely God designed the back nine", Palmer explained. "I am happy that we have one of the worlds' great golf links here."

"The setting is quite the most magnificent backdrop for a golf course that I have ever encountered", wrote Peter Dobereiner, the famous golf writer, not long after the course was opened

Each hole has a story associated with it so be sure to check out our hole by hole guide.