SOUTH WEST IRELAND

For many a golf trip to the Ireland is a trip to the South West of the country. Ballybunion has long been a favourite of golfers from both sides of the Atlantic and, in recent years, the fame of courses such as Lahinch and Tralee has grown as more and more golfers are discovering the wonderful courses in the area.

But a trip to South West Ireland is about far more than just the golf. This is the Ireland that you have dreamt about. It’s the Ireland of mountains and wonderful beaches; the Ireland of pints and great craic. You will get the warmest of welcomes and will build memories to last a lifetime. From the US it’s well worth looking at flights into Shannon as that will leave you right in the thick of the action from the moment you land!

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS

No trip to the South West of Ireland is complete with a visit to Ballybunion (ranked 24th in the World). It’s one of the most spectacular courses you will ever play but it’s also one of the best routed courses. For all that, there are some who prefer playing at Lahinch (ranked 36 in the world). Lahinch has legions of fans who have discovered this fun, quirky course. If you love your golf unpredictable then Lahinch is for you!

Adare Manor, Waterville, Old Head and Doonbeg are all relatively modern creations but all have quickly established themselves as firm favourites. While they may vary in style, the stunning setting and condition is a feature of them all.

  • Ballybunion

    Ballybunion

    GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 24
    OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 20
    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 9

    The dunes and ocean views are stunning, but there are other courses built on great land. Rather, it’s the variety with which the dunes are incorporated into the routing that really makes Ballybunion stand out. There are holes along the tops of the dunes as well as holes playing through the valleys, greens perched high on ridges and some at the base of the dunes (all with challenging green surrounds, testing your short game). Each hole feels like a new, exciting adventure – certainly a recipe for greatness.

  • Lahinch

    Lahinch

    GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 36
    OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 31
    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 11

    With stunning views to match the amazing, natural landscape, Lahinch stirs the senses as well as the mind right from the start of the round. It’s home to two of the most distinctive holes found anywhere in golf. The par 5, fourth hole, is a blind drive followed by a blind second shot over the aptly named Klondyke sand dune (with someone stationed at the top signalling when the landing area is clear) and the par 3, fifth hole, the Dell, is played to a completely hidden green. Enchanting golf.

  • Waterville

    Waterville

    OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 56
    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 39
    GOLF WORLD GB & I RANKING - 22

    A difficult links, on exceptional land, with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Ballinskelligs Bay, Waterville is an Eddie Hackett design with a modern rework by Tom Fazio, an extremely rare foray into the international market. Standout holes are many, but the course really takes off when you enter the dunes at the eleventh hole. This stretch includes the famous “Mass Hole” twelfth, where Catholic parishioners gathered for mass, hidden by the dunes, when Catholicism was outlawed by the British monarchy. Waterville is simply a wonderful test.

  • Old Head

    Old Head

    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 83
    GOLF WORLD (UK) GB & I RANKING - 74

    Old Head may well be one of the most photographed golf courses on the island of Ireland. Perched on clifftops, at the edge of the Atlantic, this course will keep you reaching for your camera. It’s a setting that will absolutely thrill - just don’t look down!

  • Adare Manor

    Adare Manor

    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 68
    GOLF WORLD (UK) GB & I RANKING - 55

    Adare Manor has shot up many people’s ‘must play’ lists since the club was awarded the 2027 Ryder Cup. It will be a fantastic test for the world’s elite players. Fazio’s creation is unlike anything else in Ireland, the parkland course is kept in the most incredible condition. It needs to be seen to be believed!

  • DOONBEG

    DOONBEG

    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 64
    GOLF WORLD (UK) GB & I RANKING - 58

    Doonbeg is a revelation. The setting is great and it has some spectacular holes on the water which will stick in the mind. There is great variety, including short par 4s and par 3s ranging from short to long mixed up with reachable par 5s and certain three-shotters. This variety keeps you entertained all the way round.

WHERE TO STAY

There is a fair bit of ground to cover in South West Ireland so choosing your base carefully is important. It will probably make sense to have a couple of locations for your trip - one in or around Limerick then heading south to Killarney or Kinsale.

  • Adare Manor

    Adare Manor

    Adare Manor is the ultimate in luxury - a Gothic manor house converted into a magnificent hotel. The accommodation is sumptuous and the hospitality legendary.

  • The Killarney Park Hotel

    The Killarney Park Hotel

    One of Ireland’s finest 5-star hotels where old-world elegance meets modern-day luxury. You can look forward to open log fires, flawless service and a wonderful welcome.

  • Old Head Suites

    Old Head Suites

    The Suites at Old Head Golf Links offer luxury accommodation with incredible views across the golf course to the Old Head Lighthouse and the Atlantic Ocean.

 SAMPLE ITINERARY

DAY 1

We will meet at Shannon Airport and transfer to your hire car or private vehicle with driver.

You will take the short drive to your base for the next three nights - Adare Manor. Host to the 2027 Ryder Cup, Adare Manor is a wonderful hotel with a fine selection of restaurants and bars. The range and practice facilities are second to none so you will be able to prepare well for your Irish adventure!

The first round will be at Adare Manor. The course is the only parkland course you will experience on the trip but the conditioning will be impeccable - they have 48 greenkeepers for the one course! The finishing holes in front of the Manor are particularly thrilling and it will be a great venue for the Ryder Cup.

After the round you can unwind in the spa before enjoying an evening in one of the four restaurants on site - from fine dining to casual.

DAY 2

After breakfast you make the drive north to Lahinch - just over an hour away. This is a special course and would be a good course to play twice if you wanted a 36-hole day! It’s worth spending some time after the round exploring the town of Lahinch, maybe stopping off for a couple of pints before heading back to Adare Manor.

Picture - www.lahinchgolf.com

DAY 3

After a leisurely breakfast it’s a trip to Doonbeg, just over an hour to the north of Adare. This course has recently undergone significant redevelopment from Martin Hawtree and really is a treat to look at, as well as to play.

DAY 4

You will check out of Adare Manor and head to the world-class Ballybunion. This is a special course with imposing dunes, intriguing holes and a simply exhilarating run of holes. Tom Watson summed it up well when he said, ‘After playing Ballybunion for the first time, a man would think that the game of golf originated here. There is a wild look to the place, the long grass covering the dunes that pitch and roll throughout the course make it very intimidating... in short, it is a course on which many golf architects should live and play before they build golf courses. I consider it a true test of golf’.

Picture - www.ballybuniongolfclub.com

After the round you will head to the Killarney Park Hotel - your base for the next three nights. It’s a great location in the middle of Killarney - a town with plenty of pubs with live music and great restaurants.

DAY 5

In the morning you can spend a bit of time exploring the area - perhaps visiting the nearby Killarney National Park or Torc waterfall - before heading to Tralee Golf Club. Situated on the rugged Atlantic coast, this links features towering dunes, undulating fairways, punishing rough and clifftop tees and greens. It’s an Arnold Palmer course, although he was happy to share the praise for the course saying ‘I may have designed the first nine, but surely God designed the back nine’.

It’s back to Killarney in the evening for another night to explore the town and meet the locals!

DAY 6

After breakfast you head directly west to the far tip of Ireland and the modern classic that is Waterville. In some ways Waterville flies a little under the radar. It is a hard course to get to and, as such, many never get to see it. That is their loss. And, while you will have got the idea by now that this trip is full of spectacular views and settings, Waterville is up there with the very best. Recent work by Tom Fazio has elevated its standing still further. One for the bucket list.

Picture - www.watervillegolflinks.ie

DAY 7

Today you drive down to Old Head of Kinsale for the final round of your trip. You will have seen many pictures of this course and you will definitely be taking a few of your own! The setting is fantastic, a small peninsula that extends 2 miles into the Atlantic and which, at times, may take your breath away. After the round you can spend your last night in Kinsale, a town which comes alive in the summer. Reminisce about the brilliant golf courses you’ve played, and hopefully the equally brilliant shots you’ve hit!

DAY 8

It’s a two hour drive back to Shannon airport for your departure home - or we can arrange an extension of your trip to another part of the Emerald Isle!

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