Golf at The Hawthorn (Galway Bay)

About the course

The course, formerly Galway Bay Golf Resort, is now part of The Hawthorn by Galway Bay, a five-star hotel that opened in 2026.

Golf at The Hawthorn is the new name of the course long known as Galway Bay, set on the Renville peninsula near Oranmore on the eastern shore of the bay. Water surrounds much of the property, Galway city is in view across the bay to the west and the hills of the Burren line the southern horizon. It is a coastal course rather than a true links, and the wind-bent hawthorn trees scattered across the land give the new name its meaning.

Christy O’Connor Jr. designed the layout, which opened in 1993 and was refined during the 2000s to strengthen it for tournament play. In 1999 it hosted the West of Ireland Golf Classic on the European Tour, won by Costantino Rocca. A full bunker renovation has been completed more recently, faithful to the original design, as part of the investment that brought the new hotel to the estate.

The routing is built as two loops that head out towards the water and return to the clubhouse, so the wind rarely blows from the same direction for long. More than a hundred bunkers protect the landing areas and greens, and four sets of tees allow the length to be matched to the group. The 11th, 12th and 13th form the strongest stretch: the 12th is a downhill par 4 that bends from left to right towards the sea and is rated the hardest hole on the card, and the short 13th has a green that is far trickier than its length suggests.

Why we recommend it

Galway Bay is a sensible choice for golfers who want a sea-view round on the west coast without the severity of a championship links. The course sits on the Renville peninsula with the bay in view from many holes, mixing links-style mounding, crater-shaped bunkers and water hazards. When the Atlantic wind blows it becomes a real test of course management. It lies about 12 km from Galway city, so it combines easily with a stay in town.

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