South of Ireland
Playing golf in the south of Ireland provides golf enthusiasts with a unique experience, featuring a rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. Visitors can explore charming towns such as Adare and sample traditional Irish cuisine. Golf courses such as Adare Manor, Ballybunion, Dooks, Doonbeg, Lahinch, Old Head, Tralee, and Waterville provide challenging rounds amidst breathtaking scenery. The Old Head Golf Links, for example, features stunning cliffs and panoramic ocean views. These courses offer a mix of classic links-style courses, parkland courses, and resort courses. Southern Ireland's golf courses are among the best in the world, attracting golfers from all over the globe.
Adare Manor
Adare Manor is an 18th century manor house turned luxury hotel, set in 800 acres of stunning parkland with towers and turrets. The Robert Trent Jones Snr-designed golf course is huge, challenging, predictable but pleasant, with cloverleaf bunkers, mounds, water, and a meandering River Maigue. Come play and stay!
Ballybunion
Ballybunion Golf Club started in 1893 as a 12-hole course designed by James McKenna, later redesigned as a 9-holer by Lionel Hewson in 1906. In 1926, the Old course was extended to 18-holes. Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay made minor tweaks for the 1937 Irish Championship, and it remains a thrilling challenge today.
Dooks
Dooks Golf Club is a natural wonder, blending perfectly with its surroundings. The MacGillycuddy’s Reeks Mountains stand watch to the southeast while Rossbehy and Inch Point sandy peninsulas stretch out north and west. It’s stunning. At 6,500 yards, it’s not championship length, but it’s a fun and engaging course.
Doonbeg
Head west from Shannon airport and you'll reach the stunning Doonbeg Golf Club, situated right by the Atlantic. You'll know you've arrived when you see the towering sand dunes. The course is a unique blend of five par 3s and five par 5s, measuring 6,885 yards from the back tees. In 2014, the course underwent a major facelift under the watchful eye of architect Martin Hawtree, for a cool €5 million.
Lahinch
Lahinch Golf Club has a rich history, with a course dating back to 1892. Old Tom Morris himself made the most of the giant sand dunes to create a stunning course. In 1927, Dr Alister MacKenzie redesigned the course and Martin Hawtree restored it in 1999. Lahinch is a must-play for golfers who want a rugged and entertaining challenge, with the lovely beach of Liscannor Bay right next door.
Old Head
Old Head Golf Links was created by a group of golf-loving legends, including Dr Joe Carr and the late Eddie Hackett. Opened in 1997, the course is perched on a narrow headland, jutting out for two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. It's an adrenaline-fueled experience – with some tees so high, vertigo sufferers beware!
Tralee
Arnold Palmer said, "I've never seen land more perfect for a golf course!" when he created Tralee Golf Club in 1984. This course has it all. Palmer is said to have designed the first nine, and let Mother Nature handle the rest. You'll play across fairly level links land on the front nine, but be prepared for the back nine's mountainous dunes, ravines, and plateau greens - it's a real adventure!
Waterville
Get ready to tee off in the beautiful and remote Waterville, a stunning promontory surrounded by the sea. Golf has been played here since 1889, but the present course was designed by Claude Harmon and Eddie Hackett. The "beautiful monster" course opened in 1973 and has since been updated by Tom Fazio. You'll enjoy stunning views of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range and Ballinskelligs Bay.