Ireland Golf Vacations: Top 10 Ireland Golf Trip CoursesIreland Golf Vacations: Find 10 of the top Ireland golf courses to build your Ireland golf trip around. Plan part of your golfing vacation around some of these courses if they are located near where you are staying. Given the great number of magnificent Ireland courses you can plan your golf vacation around, it is impossible to make a perfect list for everyone. However, the courses listed below are definitely at the top of many golfers’ list of courses open to the general public.
Ten Ireland Golf Vacation Courses For Your Ireland Golf TripRoyal Portrush (Dunluce) (County Antrim) – This Ireland golf course hosted the on Open Championship held in Ireland in 1951, so you know it is a great course. You will need you’re a game, however. Straight drives are required here, which is made all the tougher by the constant winds.
Ballybunion (Old) (County Kerry) – This is another seaside course with few trees and constant winds. Its a 6500 yard, par 72 situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Shannon River. The penalty for a wayward shot is often one of these bodies of water. For those also looking for lodging, the golf course is located on a family resort. Portmarnock (Old) (Dublin) – This course is located just outside of downtown Dublin on the coast of the Howth peninsula. It surrounded on three sides by the ocean. It is comprised of 3 nines (Yellow, Red and Blue). The Red and the Blue course make up the Championship course. The course has hosted many Irish Opens. The course is semi-private, which means open to the public, but you will need to try to book well in advance an enquiry request to be accepted at the course for your Ireland golf trip. It is worth it, though. Tom Watson loves this links course. Lahinch (County Clare) – This 6700 yard, par 72, 18-hole Ireland golf course is known as the "St Andrews of Ireland.” This course, while originally created on dunes unsuitable for golfing, has been redesigned with more bunkers, reshaped fairways and large and more sloping greens. Nonetheless, the flavor of the old fashion and blind shot holes from the original design has been preserved. If you are a surfer, planning your Ireland golf vacation around Lahinch is also great because Lahinch is equally known as a surfing hot spot.
Royal County Down (County Down) – This 7000 yard, par 71, 18 hole links course has the Mourne Mountains as it backdrop affording incredible scenery. Bring your camera, you will want to snap some pictures. Also bring your game; this is considered one of the hardest courses in Ireland. In addition to the yardage, the undulating greens, tight fairways and deep bunkers, the wind will blow strongly, despite the surrounding hills.
Ballyliffin (County Donelgal) – This 7135 yard, 18 hole course is known for its ridiculously deep bunkers. I will mention the ridiculously deep bunkers again so that you get the point. Otherwise, it offers what you might expect from an Ireland links course.
Druids Glen (County Wicklow) – This 7000 yard, par 71, 18-hole course is loacated 25 miles south of Dublin and in the “Garden of Ireland” with waterfalls and white sands. It is a multi-year host to the Murphy’s Irish Open. You will need to be long and accurate if you plan on playing from the championship tees. You will only be required bring your eyes on your ireland golf vacation to appreciate the stunning beauty of the course and clubhouse.
European Club (County Wicklow) – This is a 20 hole, 7490 yard, par 77 golf course. The par 4s are the most memorable holes. Its location in the middle of the sand dunes of the Irish Sea is its most memorable scenery and natural hazards. Its slender fairways and sea breezes are tough to deal with.
The K Club (Dublin) – This course known as “Arnold Palmers Jewel” is riddle with a number of ponds. Bring your ball retriever and lots of balls. It is also a golf resort full with all the amenities anyone would need inside its estate.
County Sligo (Rosses Point) – This 6600 yard, par 71, 18-hole Ireland golf course is known for its cliff top plateaus, its famous stream called the “drain”, and its perfectly true and beautiful greens. Save your confidence and mistake free golf for the signature 17th hole’s blind shot to a well protected green. Save your camera shots for the Benbulben Mountains overshadowing the 10th hole.
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