Opening in July 2020, the Pollan Links is a 9-hole par three course at Ballyliffin Golf Club in County Donegal, designed by Irishman Pat Ruddy.

The course was constructed by the club’s greenkeeping team and is intended to complement the two full-length 18-hole courses at Ballyliffen and provide a fun challenge for members and visitors.

Ballyliffen Golf Club General Manager John Farren says the course will; “cater for the demand from holidaymakers, beginners getting into golf, our busy youth academy, and our older members who may find the two championship links too challenging in their later years. There is great excitement amongst all the members, many of whom look forward to honing their short game skills on the Pollan Links.”

Farren adds, “the routing is designed to make the most of the 14-acre site and incorporate much of the natural features of the terrain’s dunescape whilst, at the same time, considering safety implications with the proximity to the clubhouse and eighteenth fairway of the Old Links. Avoiding low lying areas susceptible to standing water in winter has also been considered.”

Holes at Pollan Links range from 90 to 146 yards and the greens were designed to accommodate a variety of pin positions, and to allow for creative shot making.

Pat Ruddy has previously both designed the Glashedy Links at Ballyliffin and also redesigned many holes on the Old Links, which was originally created by Eddie Hackett. He says of the new par three course, “The Pollan Links is just that – a true links – as it sits into the calm end of the great Ballyliffin dunes and designed to provide the club player with an opportunity to sharpen 70 per cent – a lot more for high handicappers – of their entire golf game.”