Curracloe Links
Alex Elias
Courtesy of Curracloe Links
Designed by Dana Fry and Jason Straka, Curracloe Links will anchor the new Ravenport Resort, a luxury hotel in Wexford, Ireland, owned and managed by Neville Hotels. With 50 rooms, a spa, and a leisure club, the resort overlooks Ireland’s famed Curracloe Beach—where Steven Spielberg filmed the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan.
“Wexford has a rich history and heritage, from famine ships departing South Wexford to the Irish Rebellion of 1798—battles were actually fought on this land,” said Edward Doyle, Director of Golf at Curracloe Links. “Today, Curracloe is a village many Dubliners travel to for their summer vacations.”
Despite Wexford’s proximity to Dublin, rich history, and popularity among Dubliners, even the keenest visitors often overlook Southeast Ireland.
“Golf in Ireland is what it is because of the Irish people,” said Doyle. “But many visitors have yet to experience the hospitality of the Southeast, instead opting for the Southwest. The Southeast has its own identity. The towns are smaller, still have the mandatory church and pub, but haven’t become culturalized by visitors. Guests can expect something different when they visit Wexford.”
Inland, less than a mile from the Irish Sea, Straka described the property as “unlike anything Ireland has seen before,” saying, “The land is bold, with great movement. Roughly half of the holes have sweeping vistas of the Irish Sea, while the other half is quintessential Irish countryside.”
On a sunny day, golfers can take in Wexford Harbour, yet Straka admitted he may like the gorse-lined fields to the north even more.
“When you think of lush, green Irish countryside, this is it,” said Straka. “My favorite time of year is spring, when the gorse is in bloom and the lambs have been born, running through the fields, chasing their mothers around the areas surrounding the golf course.”
It’s no surprise, then, that his favorite stretch lies inland.
“The stretch of No. 10 through No. 12 is pretty special for inland golf, with No. 12, a Par-3 at the highest point of the property, playing over a chasm of gorse to a green tucked against a rock wall,” said Straka.
With play set to begin on April 1, 2027, Doyle said, “Curracloe Links is a legacy property for Neville Golf,” while Straka added, “Curracloe Links will be a reason for golf travelers to visit the sunny southeast of Ireland.”
