Fota Island Resort occupies part of a wooded island in the upper reaches of Cork Harbour, about 15 kilometres east of Cork city. Its Deerpark course is the one the professionals know: the Irish Open came here in 2001, 2002 and 2014. The resort also has a five-star hotel, self-catering lodges, a spa and a golf academy, so it works as a single base for a Cork golf trip. Unlike the links further west, the Deerpark is a tree-lined parkland, which makes it a sensible choice when the Atlantic wind is up.
Fota Island Resort: Deerpark Course green fees and tee times.
Tee times are booked through the resort’s online booking page, which uses Chronogolf, or by contacting the ProShop on 021 488 3700 or PShop@fotaisland.ie. The booking system states that every player needs a World Handicap System handicap. Visitors in parties of up to eight can cancel free of charge up to seven days before play; groups of nine or more need 14 days, and visitor cancellations must be made by email. The resort may pair you with other golfers to fill tee times. Individual green fees are not printed on the website; the resort quotes them through its booking page and a rate sheet, and advertises group rates from €95 per person. Stay-and-play offers are sold through the hotel.
The courses at Fota Island Resort: Deerpark Course.
Deerpark Course
The championship 18 that hosted three Irish Opens: par 71, designed by O’Connor Jr and McEvoy and refined by Jeff Howes. This is the course most visitors come to play and the one this guide focuses on.
Barryscourt nine and Belvelly 18
The resort’s booking system lists two more options. Barryscourt is a nine-hole loop, par 37 and 3,778 yards from the championship tee. Belvelly is an 18-hole layout, par 72 and up to 7,183 yards. The resort describes its golf as two courses in any combination, so ask the ProShop which layout is on the sheet for your day.
The round, in perspective.
Christy O’Connor Jr, the Irish Ryder Cup player, and Peter McEvoy, twice an English Amateur champion, designed the course, which dates from 1993. Jeff Howes redesigned it in 2000 and later added a further nine holes, creating 27 holes in all. The original 18 kept the Deerpark name, and the resort lists it at par 71 and 7,075 yards. The setting is the old Fota estate, with mature woodland around many holes. Colin Montgomerie won the 2001 Irish Open here by five shots at 18 under, Søren Hansen took the 2002 title in a play-off, and Mikko Ilonen won by one stroke in 2014.
Know before you go.
Handicap
WHS handicap required for all players
Cancellation
Free up to 7 days (parties up to 8) or 14 days (9 or more); by email only
Pairing
Resort may pair groups to fill tee times
Dress
Golf attire and golf shoes throughout the facility
Make the trip work.
Fota works well as the first or last stop of a south-west Ireland trip, because Cork Airport is close and the hotel is on site. If you are travelling with non-golfers, Fota Wildlife Park and Fota House and Gardens share the island, so a partner’s day needs no car. The resort has a golf academy for a lesson or practice before the round. Groups should talk to the ProShop about packages that include meals or spa time, since the published €95 group rate is the most concrete price the resort gives online.
Cork Airport is roughly 20 to 25 minutes away by road via the N25, depending on traffic. Fota has its own railway station on the Cork to Cobh commuter line, a short ride from Cork Kent station, although the resort is a walk or short taxi from the platform. Shannon and Dublin are the main long-haul alternatives.
Fota Island Hotel and Spa is on the estate and is marketed as a five-star hotel, with rooms, suites and self-catering lodges for larger groups. For a city base, the resort’s golf booking page offers packages with an overnight stay at The Kingsley in Cork, about 20 minutes away. Cobh, the harbour town on the next island, has smaller hotels and guesthouses with water views, and Midleton to the east is another option.
Make a trip of it.
Cork Golf Club at Little Island, a MacKenzie course, is about ten minutes away across the harbour channel. Old Head Golf Links near Kinsale is roughly an hour to the south-west for a clifftop day. Off the course, Cobh was the last port of call of the Titanic in 1912 and has a Titanic Experience in the old White Star Line offices, and the Jameson Distillery in Midleton offers tours a short drive east.
Find your season.
April to October is the main visitor season, when the parkland drains best and the days are long. The resort’s booking page invites groups to plan around its 2026/27 calendar, so societies should fix dates early. Cork’s climate is mild and wet; the oaks on the Deerpark give some shelter from the wind that affects coastal courses.
Which course at Fota Island hosted the Irish Open?
The championship course now called the Deerpark. Fota hosted the Irish Open in 2001, won by Colin Montgomerie, in 2002, won by Søren Hansen after a play-off, and in 2014, won by Mikko Ilonen.
Do I need a handicap to play Fota Island?
Yes. The resort’s booking system says a World Handicap System handicap is required for every player. Carry proof of your current index, especially if you are booking as an overseas visitor.
How much does it cost to play Fota Island?
The resort does not print individual green fees on its website. Prices are shown when you search the online booking page or are quoted by the ProShop. Group golf is advertised from €95 per person, and stay-and-play packages are sold through the hotel.
How do I get from Cork Airport to Fota Island?
By taxi or hire car it is about 20 to 25 minutes via the N25. Without a car, take a bus or taxi to Cork Kent station and then the Cobh line train, which stops at Fota.
Last checked 10 November 2026. This is an independent planning guide, not a first-hand review or a booking service. Check live availability, access, fees and travel details with the operator before booking. Airport suggestions are starting points for route planning.
