Glasson Golf Club is a scenic championship parkland course near Athlone in County Westmeath. Set on the shores of Lough Ree and Killinure Bay, the course combines rolling Irish countryside, mature woodland and beautiful lakeside views. Its central location makes it an excellent stop on a golf holiday crossing Ireland or a peaceful base for exploring the country’s Hidden Heartlands.

Designed by Irish Ryder Cup player Christy O’Connor Jnr, the course originally opened in 1993 and has since undergone further renovation. The current 18-hole layout plays to a par of 71 and measures more than 6,731 yards from its longest tees. Four sets of tees allow golfers to choose a suitable distance, helping the course provide an enjoyable challenge for both lower-handicap players and more occasional holiday golfers.

Glasson follows the natural rise and fall of its lakeside setting. Golfers encounter elevated tees, uphill approaches, sloping fairways, woodland, deep bunkers and several holes where water influences the safest route. The changing ground means the measured distance is only part of the challenge, with club selection regularly affected by elevation, wind and uneven lies.

The front nine offers repeated views across Lough Ree. The par-three third plays across a valley towards a well-protected green, with the lake and wooded Hare Island creating a distracting backdrop. The sixth is a strong par five where adventurous golfers may attempt to shorten the hole by challenging the trouble on the left, while the eighth drops towards a green guarded by bunkers and a lake.

Glasson’s closing stretch is the most dramatic part of the round. The par-four 14th begins from an elevated tee and plunges towards Killinure Bay, demanding accuracy before golfers can think about attacking the green. The short 15th provides a possible birdie opportunity, but deep rough and a strongly contoured putting surface can punish an overly aggressive drive.

The signature 17th is a memorable par three played across water. From the longest tee, golfers face a carry of around 185 yards towards a large green surrounded by reeds, rocks and lakeside scenery. Wind moving across the bay can make choosing the correct club difficult, so a committed shot towards the centre of the green is usually the sensible play.

Glasson has hosted numerous regional and national competitions, together with two televised European Challenge Tour events. Visitors are welcomed throughout the year, with tee times available to hotel guests, societies, groups and individual golfers. The course’s different teeing options mean it can host competitive golf without becoming unnecessarily punishing for visiting players.

Practice facilities include a ten-bay driving range, two nine-hole putting greens and two chipping greens. PGA tuition is available with TrackMan technology, while the club also has a private indoor TrackMan golf simulator for practice during poor weather or evening sessions.

Glasson Lakehouse sits beside the course and offers stay-and-play packages combining accommodation, breakfast and golf. Resort facilities include restaurants, a lakeside bar, gym, spa, outdoor pool and hot tubs. Paddleboarding, cycling and walks around the grounds provide further options for non-golfing partners and rest days.

At Hashtag Golf Travel, we recommend Glasson Golf Club for golfers who enjoy parkland courses with genuine personality. The opening holes ease players into the round before the layout becomes increasingly dramatic beside Lough Ree and Killinure Bay. The lakeside 14th and 17th are the holes most golfers will remember, but the changing elevations and strategic approaches provide interest throughout all 18.