Golf in Ireland

Ireland enjoys over 1,448km of spectacular coastline, surrounded by the mighty Atlantic on the west and the Irish Sea on the east. As well as towering cliffs, clear fresh waters, pristine sandy beaches, and an abundance of opportunities for the watersports enthusiast, the coastline enjoys lively fishing villages with some of the best seafood in the world. Areas of interest include Kinsale in County Cork, Dingle in County Kerry, Dunmore East in County Waterford, Roundstone in County Galway, Cushendun in County Antrim and Kilcar in County Donegal.

A country rich in history and heritage (some say dating back to 6000BC), Ireland has two capital cities. The capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. Dublin pulsates with energy thanks to its excellent restaurants, chic boutiques, pubs, art galleries, parks, historical architecture, fascinating and turbulent history, plus its unique scenic location perched at the edge of the Irish Sea. And Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, is legendary for its pubs, critically acclaimed restaurants, smart boutique hotels and shopping.

Whilst Scotland might be the home of golf, many will argue that the best links golf in the world can be found in Ireland. From the traditional charms of Royal Portrush and Royal County Down to the spectacular new developments of Doonbeg and the European Club, Ireland has everything to appeal to the avid golfer.

South West Ireland

Lahinch Golf Club is one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland and one of the most respected links courses in the world. Set alongside the Atlantic coastline, Lahinch is exposed to the ocean through all her moods and has been moulded and shaped over the centuries by nature's harsh elements and occasional touch of human genius. Lahinch, with its towering sand dunes, undulating fairways, rolling greens and fair share of blind shots, is the perfect natural golfing terrain a true links in the traditional meaning of the word. In 1894, Old Tom Morris was invited to Lahinch to examine the course. Having surveyed the terrain, Morris was deeply impressed and he insisted that when the proposed changes were carried out that Lahinch would be on a par with the five best links of the United Kingdom. Following subsequent design changes carried out by Dr. Alister Mackenzie in 1928, time has proved that Morris wasn't far wrong in his assessment.

The par-72 layout of Doonbeg Golf Club features a single loop of nine holes out and nine back and plays 6,885 yards from the back tees. The most natural routing within the existing dunes resulted in an uncommon combination of five par-3s and five par-5s. Variations in wind speed and direction ensure the course plays differently almost every day, and to allow for a range of conditions and abilities, most holes feature five or more tee locations. Like many traditional Irish links, Doonbeg Golf Club is a private club with some public play. There also is a local club component for Doonbeg-area residents. The course officially opened on July 9, 2002, when Greg Norman defeated Irish Ryder Cup star Padraig Harrington 2 and 1 in an exhibition match.

Located on the Shannon estuary, Ballybunion Golf Club is a true seaside links course, virtually treeless and a course of sharp contours throughout. There appears to be no man-made influence. It looks like a course laid out on land back in the 10th century. There is a wild look to the place; the long grass covering the dunes that pitch and roll throughout the course making it very intimidating. Yet the course is eminently fair. The contours, on the fairways and on the greens, are what make it a great golf course. You must play accurate iron shots into the greens, usually to a small target with not a lot of room to miss right or left. But there is room to roll a ball on to the greens in the true links manner. It is a course that will test your patience. It is not a course that favours one particular style of play over another, but one that simply rewards good play and good shots. In short, Ballybunion is a course on which many golf architects should live and play before they build golf course.

Opened in October 1984 Tralee Golf Course was the first European golf course designed by Arnold Palmer. The course boasts a clear view of the Atlantic Ocean from every hole on the golf course.  When he first saw the area upon which his company was to build Tralee golf links, Arnold Palmer was ecstatic about the possibilities. 'I designed the first nine but surely God designed the back nine', Palmer said. According to Peter Dobereiner, the famous golf writer 'I am happy that we have one of the worlds' great golf links here. The setting is quite the most magnificent backdrop for a golf course that I have ever encountered'.

Make no mistake about it; Waterville Golf Links in Kerry is one of the finest links golf courses in the world, never mind Ireland. Located on the Ring of Kerry, the surrounding scenery and quality of golf holes is breathtaking to say the least. Rich legends combine with a serene location to form a mystical aura that visitors to Waterville can sense to this day. Waterville Golf Links embarked on a new chapter of its fabled history when noted international golf architect Tom Fazio was commissioned to update the memorable Eddie Hackett masterpiece. Fazio has assisted many of the worlds leading clubs including Winged Foot, Pine Valley and Augusta National.  

The Killeen course in Killarney is the jewel in Killarney’s crown.  The course re-opened in 2006 offering both spectacular lakeside scenery and also challenging golf to long hitters - with water features on nearly every hole and fast greens. Nick Faldo, on winning the first of his two successive Irish Opens in 1991, was one of only three players to finish under par. That was before the changes in 2006 which provided an even tougher challenge. Tight tree lined fairways with water features on nearly every hole require accurate golf. Large, fast undulating greens, add challenge in equal measure to the beauty of this course.

North West Ireland

The Strand Course at Portstewart is a championship links designed to challenge the most proficient golfer in every aspect of the game. The opening of seven new holes in the huge sand hills above the Atlantic, coupled with commanding views of Portstewart Strand and the Donegal Hills, combine to provide a quality of golf that is truly superb.

Royal Portrush golf course is one of the best and most challenging links golf courses in the world. Situated on the beautiful North Antrim Causeway coast, Royal Portrush Golf Club occupies a triangle of giant sand hills which present magnificent views in all directions. The course is overlooked by the ruins of 13th century Dunluce Castle and this gives its name to Royal Portrush's famous Dunluce course. It is the only golf course outside Great Britain to host the British Open Championship in 1951. Royal Portrush is now ranked in the top 12 golf courses in the world.

Two outstanding, contrasting links course and 36 wonderful holes make up Ballyliffin Golf Club. The Old Links undulates in the glory of its natural terrain, presenting an immensely enjoyable challenge to every golfer. Work recently undertaken by Nick Faldo and Faldo design on the Old Links has refined and improved this fantastic course. The new Glashedy Links is fashioned around the incredible dunes, and is already notorious for its peat riveted bunkers and its opening three challenging par fours. The expansive panoramic views of countryside, coastline and ocean savoured by these magnificent links course will not easily be forgotten.

Donegal Golf Club is an outstanding links course that offers a genuine challenge to the accomplished golfer and is an all round “true” test of golf. Being one of the longest courses in Europe it is ideally suited to big hitters of the ball. The reputation of Donegal Golf Club designed by the legendary course architect Eddie Hackett, has been further enhanced by the new designs of Pat Ruddy. Continually featured in Golf Worlds Top 100 Course in Ireland & Great Britain, this is a real challenge not to be missed.

A centenarian with all the dignity and maturity of age, County Sligo is one of Ireland’s great championship golf links. The club has hosted most of Ireland’s major championships over the years. Three extended beaches beneath the cliffs keep the Atlantic at Bay to the west of the course while towering Benbulben competes with the ocean for scenic splendour on the land side. The wind from the sea is a constant factor but the 3rd, 5th, 10th, and 14th holes have satisfying downhill drives to compensate.

Enniscrone Golf Club can easily be included among such exalted company as Ballybunion, Connemara, Lahinch, and Waterville as the premier links on the Western seaboard. Once you step on to the first tee prepare yourself for the ultimate golf experience. Dramatic Dune lands, inspired design, superb greens and breathtaking views combine to make golf at Enniscrone an absolute delight. With such a true flavour of links, it has few peers.

Carne Golf Links lies in magnificent unspoiled sand dunes overlooking Blacksod Bay and the wild Atlantic Ocean near Belmullet Co. Mayo in the west of Ireland. Carne was the last links course to be designed by the late Eddie Hackett and it is now believed by many who have played it to be his greatest challenge. The building of Carne has caused little disturbance to this wild and ancient landscape. Tees and greens occurred naturally and very little earth moving was involved in the course construction. There are some breathtaking views over the Atlantic and the legendary islands of Inis Gloire and Inis Geidhe.

Dublin and The East

County Louth is one of the best kept secrets of Irish golf. Sometimes also referred to as Baltray this has to be one of the most enjoyable Links in Ireland.  There is not a weak hole on the course and some of the holes merit greatness. The course is laid out in two loops covering some 190 acres with no two holes running in the same direction. It speaks highly for Simpson's design that he saw need to introduce only fifty bunkers in the course's defences the rest was taken care of by the natural terrain. The 14th hole is regarded as the signature hole a short par four measuring only 332 yards where you can drive all the way to the green and then end up taking six or more, wondering what did you actually do that was wrong. The four par threes are superb. Averaging 160 yards it is seldom one will have a good score that does not include a par at each of these.

The Island Golf Club was among the first twelve Golf Clubs to be founded in Ireland. The early course was laid out generously in terms of land as the founder members, precluded from any serious earthmoving, followed the valleys and laid out eighteen individual holes.  The course has altered many times since that time to become the championship course of today.  The existing clubhouse is the fifth pavilion in an evolution which began with members taking lunch in a bell tent beside the first tee over 111 years ago.

Universally acknowledged as one of the truly great links courses, Portmarnock Golf Club is situated to the north side of Dublin, about 12 miles from the city centre. Its quality and location have made it a splendid venue for some of the games great events, including the British Amateur Championship of 1949 and The Irish Open. Founded in 1894, the championship course offers a classic, traditional challenge. There are no tricks or nasty surprises, only an honest, albeit searching test of shot-making skills. Invariably rated as Ireland’s best course, Portmarnock takes justifiable pride in its 27 holes, which are maintained to the highest standards. Within the curve of the coastline formed by Howth peninsula, it offers stunning views of Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island, rising sharply from deep waters. But above all, there is the charm of its delightful turf, the wildness, the solitude of the sand hills and the sea, and the ever-present challenge of the wind.

If ever a golf course reflected the personality of its architect, it is surely The Kildare Club - Smurfit Course  designed by Arnold Palmer.  The course exudes charisma from the instant you arrive at the first tee.  The Palmer Course is, quite simply, one of Europe's most spectacular courses. It charms, it entices and invariably, brings out the very best in your game. It is unlikely that you will be asked to tackle the course from the championship tees, but this should in no way diminish the excitement of pitting your wits against Arnold Palmer, for, in a sense, this is precisely what you are about to do. The best way to describe the Smurfit Course at The K Club is that of an inland links. However, its true attributes do not stop there. The Course has many dramatic landscapes with dune type mounding throughout. Coupled with this point, some fourteen acres of water have been worked into the design especially through the final phase of Hole No's: 13 to 18. A watery grave awaits many a golfer on the home stretch.  

The Links of The European Club presents a stunning golf and visual experience as it tumbles through almost 200-acres of glorious sand dunes and runs along the beach on Ireland's lovely east coast just south of Dublin. This is the first links to have been built on Ireland's east coast this century. An important happening in view of the fact that only 150 of the world's almost 40,000 golf courses are links! The European Club has been designed to be the greatest links of the 21st century and great care has to be taken to move links design into new age with great sensitivity to the traditions and skills of links land golf.  Blind shots are notably absent at The European Club but all the thrills of pitch-and-run golf, pot bunkers of cavernous proportions, tall dunes and the opportunity to slice your ball onto the beach provided for an unforgettable round. 

Northern Ireland

Royal County Down Golf Club sits beneath the Mountains of Mourne, which loom heavily in the sky just west of the links themselves. Close by Dundrum Bay, an inlet of the Irish Sea, you'd be remiss not to take heed against the vagaries of the weather. Rare is the day without some wind or rain, and if the sea is boiling, watch out. The gusts on this magnificent course will topple the trolley, bend the flagstick, bend the ball flight and bend, perhaps even break, a player's will to continue.

Useful Facts and Figures

• Winter: Cold and windy. Wet in the West but drier in the East. This is for the brave golfer only! Pack lots of layers and waterproofs! Woolly hats and mitts will also help to keep you warm. 
• Summer: Changeable, but not cold. Temperatures can get into the 70’s and 80’s. High winds aren’t uncommon and rain is fairly regular. It never rains for long in Ireland though, just enough to keep it green!
• Autumn: Similar to spring – mild and dry in The East, with rain in The West. Pack shirts and sweaters along with the waterproofs. Short sleeved waterproof tops are ideal for the autumn. This is the busiest time for golf in Ireland so book well in advance!