As the world’s leading golfers prepare to compete for the Amgen Irish Open, Waterford is putting its own golfing credentials in the spotlight – with the prestigious tournament trophy once again being handcrafted in Ireland’s oldest city.
Designed by Waterford Senior Product Designer Matt Kehoe and introduced in 2022, the Amgen Irish Open trophy is created entirely from Waterford crystal at the House of Waterford. Its sculptural design represents the journey and progression of a golfer’s career, with intricate cuts rising towards the peak in a contemporary expression of sporting achievement.
The trophy begins life at the Waterford factory, where molten crystal heated to more than 1,400°C is mouth-blown by master craftspeople before being hand-cut, engraved and polished to its distinctive brilliance. The result is a unique meeting of Irish sporting heritage and generations of world-renowned Waterford craftsmanship.
With the trophy once again being created in Waterford City, Visit Waterford is inviting golfers to discover another side of the county – its exceptional collection of courses stretching from the banks of the River Suir to the Atlantic coast.
Waterford offers an unusually diverse golfing landscape within easy reach of one another, combining historic parkland courses, island golf, coastal fairways and dramatic mountain backdrops.
Chair of Visit Waterford Clare Barrett says, “Waterford has a very special connection with the Irish Open through the trophy created at the House of Waterford, but it also gives us an opportunity to tell a much wider story about golf in the county. Within a relatively small area, golfers can experience historic parkland courses, island golf, coastal courses and spectacular mountain and river scenery. Combine that with our accommodation, food, heritage and attractions, and Waterford has all the ingredients for a memorable golf break.”
Overlooking Waterford City, Waterford Golf Club dates back to 1912, with its front nine designed by Open Champion Willie Park Jr. and its back nine by five-time Open winner James Braid. The 18-hole parkland course offers sweeping views across the city, River Suir and Comeragh Mountains, while remaining just minutes from the city centre.
For a very different experience, Waterford Castle Golf Resort & Club is set on a private 310-acre island reached by complimentary car ferry across the River Suir. Designed by renowned Irish golfer Des Smyth, the 18-hole, par 72 course winds through mature woodland, parkland and water, with the historic castle and island accommodation making it particularly suited to a golf getaway.
In West Waterford, the Dungarvan Golf Triangle offers perhaps the county’s strongest proposition for a multi-course golf break, with three distinctive clubs within a 10-minute drive of one another.
Dungarvan Golf Club is an 18-hole championship parkland course set between Dungarvan Bay and the Comeragh Mountains, while West Waterford Golf Club combines mature, tree-lined fairways with newer, more demanding holes in a peaceful riverside setting. The coastal Gold Coast Golf Club completes the triangle with an 18-hole, par 72 championship course offering spectacular views and a challenging finish.
Together, the three courses give golfers the chance to play three very different layouts without lengthy transfers – moving from mountain-backed parkland to riverside fairways and dramatic coastal golf within the same weekend.
With scenic courses, quality accommodation, excellent local food and the dramatic landscapes of Waterford’s coast and countryside, the county offers a compelling proposition for golfers looking beyond Ireland’s traditional golfing destinations.
And while the world’s best will be competing for a trophy crafted in Waterford, visitors can take their own shot at discovering where the Irish Open trophy was created and see this world-renowned craft in the making, take the House of Waterford Guided Tour Experience, where visitors can go behind the scenes and watch master craftspeople bring Waterford crystal to life.
For those looking to make a stay of it, Waterford offers a wide variety of accommodation to suit every type of golf break, from hotels and luxury resorts to charming guesthouses, self-catering stays and unique countryside escapes. With many of the county’s golf courses within easy reach of the city, coast and countryside, visitors can combine a round of golf with great food, heritage, culture and plenty of time to explore. Discover the full range of accommodation options and golf breaks at VisitWaterford.com
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