Pack your clubs and hit the greens! An excellent golf tour of Ireland starts in Dublin, which is a short drive from the fine golf resorts of Wicklow, such as the Marriott's Druids Glen. The Mount Juliet Golf Course, designed by Jack Niklaus, is the golfing highlight of Kilkenny, while the gem in Kinsale's crown is the spectacular Old Head Golf Links. Waterville Golf Links and Tralee Golf Club's world-class links are next on the golfing agenda, before you enjoy the ultimate challenge at Ballybunion Golf Club. No Irish golfing road trip would be complete without a stop-off at Lahinch Golf Club, which features some of the world's most famous golf holes. Finally head back to Dublin to complete a superb tour of Ireland's best golf clubs.
Golfer's Paradise
Have you ever imagined teeing off on magnificent greens, where top golfers have played? Have you imagined lining up your shot with breathtaking countryside or spectacular ocean views around you?
This will sound like a dream to you if you're a keen golfer, and Ireland's top class golf courses allow you to live out that fantasy.
Many of Ireland's golf courses were designed by famous golf architects, and they rank amongst the best in the world. Golfing in Ireland is a must-do experience for any one with a taste for greens and clubs. Ireland's courses are both challenging and scenic, so you can enjoy a superb round of golf in magnificent landscapes. A good number of the Irish courses are situated at the seaside, so you'll be able to gaze across majestic sea cliffs and dunes while you're waiting to take your shot.
Inspiring Settings, Challenging Courses
Would you like to play on golf courses that have hosted both the Ryder Cup and the European Open? You can do just that at the K club, in County Kildare, a top-class golf club that offers challenging courses and excellent facilities. A keen golfer's holiday to Ireland would be incomplete without a visit to this world-renowned club, which has been the venue for the European Championship since 1994, and had the honourof hosting the Ryder Cup in 2006. The Palmer and Smurfit Courses, designed by famous American golfer Arnold Palmer, are situated along the River Liffey and include man made water hazards that make for a challenging and interesting game. The K club also boasts an elegant country house that has been refurbished as a country club and luxurious hotel, so you can really relax and unwind in between some brilliant games of golf.
Another top-notch golf destination is Ballybunion Golf Club, a spectacular coastal links course situated on the Shannon estuary, which is considered one of the world's best links courses. Their Old Course is a contoured course that is a real challenge and requires a great deal of patience and skill to master. The club's Cashen Course was designed by famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones Senior, and also uses the natural contours of the landscape to full advantage. Ballybunion has been highly rated by various golf magazines, and its seaside setting provides a truly inspiring place to play some exciting golf.
A magnificent seaside course is the Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale, a golf experience not to be missed. The course is built on a promontory extending into the Atlantic Ocean, and is framed by breathtaking cliffs. The design team who laid out the links included Irish golfers Eddie Hackett and Liam Higgins, and all the well-designed holes provide incredible ocean views.
The Adare Manor Golf Club has a unique and beautiful setting: the golf course is situated against the backdrop of the majestic 12th century Desmond Castle. Just to add to the course's historic romance, you can also see the ruins of a 15th century Franciscan Abbey from the centre holes. Of course there's also Adare Manor itself, a grand 1830's house that has been transformed into a sumptuous hotel. The River Maigue runs through the excellent course, which was also designed by Robert Trent Jones.
If you're keen to experience the best Irish golf courses, don't miss Lahinch Golf Club in County Clare, which is set in the midst of sand dunes and bordered by the sea. The historic course features two of the most famous holes in golf: 'the Klondyke' is a par five that includes a drive into a scenic valley and a blind shot over a massive sand dune, while 'the Dell' is a par three that is played onto a green surrounded by towering dunes.
Northern Ireland's world-class courses
A great number of Ireland's top courses are located further North. One of the oldest courses in Ireland is Royal County Down in Newcastle, set dramatically in the foothills of the Mountains of Mourne. The club has two eighteen hole links courses, the Championship Course and the Annesley Links. The Championship Course has some of the best ranked golf holes in the world. The Annesley links is shorter but equally challenging, and one of the most scenic courses in Ireland with its amazing mountain backdrop.
County Antrim's Royal Portrush Golf Club is known as a wonderfully challenging course, and has hosted the Open Championship, one of the world's oldest golf competitions. Situated on the beautful North Antrim coast, it is laid out on three giant sandhills with amazing views over Donegal and the Giant's Causeway, and the natural contours provide a unique challenge.
Another glorious seaside course is Castlerock Golf Club, on the north coast of Northern Ireland. This is a brilliant links course that has frequently hosted the country's National Championships. It's known as one of Ireland's most scenic courses, and on a clear day, there are views from the course's sand dunes all the way to Scotland.
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