Best Golf Courses in Ireland: Top 20
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Top 10 courses in Ireland
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The Best Irish Golfers of All Time
The top-rated links golf course in Ireland is Ballybunion Golf Club in the South West. Home to some of the biggest sand dunes you'll ever see anywhere on a golf course, this golfing masterpiece is not only well-ranked in Ireland but also features within the Top 20 Golf Courses in the World.
The Curragh Golf ClubThe Oldest Club – Members of The Curragh Golf Club play their golf over the Oldest Golf Course in Ireland, dating from 1852, when a course was laid out “on the links near Donnelly's Hollow” by David Ritchie, from Edinburgh.
ROYAL COUNTY DOWN G.C.1 [1] ROYAL COUNTY DOWN G.C. (CHAMPIONSHIP) On a clear spring day, with Dundrum Bay to the east, the Mountains of Mourne to the south and gorse-covered dunes in golden bloom, there is no lovelier place in golf.
1. Rory McIlroy – the best Irish golfer of all time.
South West Ireland This region put Irish golf on the map globally and is centered around County Kerry but also takes in courses in County Clare and also County Cork. The south west region put Irish golf on the global golf map and is the most popular for Ireland golf vacations.
Golf in the modern world originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland during the 15th century.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is the oldest and most prestigious golf club in the world. It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf" founded in 1754.
Countries Where Golf Is Most PopularIRELAND. Despite the fact that golf was invented in Scotland, their next door neighbor, Ireland, is the most popular country for the sport. ... CANADA. ... UNITED KINGDOM. ... UNITED STATES. ... SOUTH AFRICA. ... JAPAN.
Besides the scenery and the "forty shades of green", there are over 300 golf courses on the island of Ireland.
Daly played his first full season of tournament golf in 1946. The highlight of the season was winning the Irish Open at Portmarnock Golf Club, where he finished four ahead of Bobby Locke, becoming the first Irish winner.
40thThe result in only his second ever Major appearance has lifted Power to 40th in the latest Official World Golf Rankings, matching his ranking after the Masters in Augusta. It represents a jump from the status of 72nd at the end of 2021 and from 342nd this time last year.
Holywood, United KingdomRory McIlroy / Place of birthHolywood is a town in the metropolitan area of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a civil parish and townland of 755 acres lying on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby. The town hosts an annual jazz and blues festival. Wikipedia
The top-rated links golf course in Ireland is Ballybunion Golf Club in the South West. Home to some of the biggest sand dunes you'll ever see a...
The K Club near Dublin has hosted not only The European Tour but also The 2006 Ryder Cup where Team Europe claimed a memorable victory. Other prev...
Adare Manor , following its redesign by Tom Fazio, is now the most expensive golf course to play. A green fee is now 395 euros plus a caddie fee of...
The number one golf course in the Republic of Ireland is The European Club in County Wicklow, according to the Golf Monthly UK&I Top 100 Golf Cours...
Ireland has a total of 494 golf courses according to 'Golf Around the World 2019', which was released by The R&A.
Royal Curragh Golf Club in County Kildare is home to the oldest golf course in Ireland. The course sits on the Curragh plains, which is the oldest...
It is situated on a rugged headland just off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
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It was purchased in 1989, before John and Patrick O’Connor spent nearly ten years creating the breathtaking course. It finally opened in 1997. The track reaches out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean and is home to the most spectacular world-class golf course. Located in County Cork on the South West Coast of Ireland, the Old Head of Kinsale has developed into one of the most recognised and sought after golf experiences anywhere on earth.
It is a classic links course set in a rugged terrain & nestled between the highest sand dunes along the east coast of the country. Only 15 minutes from Dublin Airport and 30 minutes from Dublin City Centre, The Island is one of the Ireland’s oldest courses and enjoys an excellent international reputation. The club currently hosts Regional Qualifying games for The Open Championship and has co-hosted strokeplay qualifying for the British Amateur Championship in 2019. Consistently ranked among the top courses in Ireland, it is required playing for those wishing to gain a true links experience.
Concra Wood Golf & Country Club. The club is the latest stage in the evolution of Castleblayney Golf Club. Initially founded as a 9 hole course in 1905, Concra Wood Golf & Country Club was located opposite the entrance to Concra Wood.
The 18 hole traditional links layout – designed by Harry Colt – measures 6,136 metres with the 9-hole course at 2,785 metres. Bordering the Atlantic Ocean with Benbulben and Knocknarea as the backdrop, the course utilizes the natural contours of the dune-covered landscape. There are especially scenic views of five Irish counties from the third tee. The course provides a challenge to the best of golfers while fun for all. County Sligo is open to visitors all year round and comes equipped with its own floodlit driving range.
Ballybunion Golf Club. Republic of Ireland, County Kerry — from €180.00 2 golf courses — 36 holes. On the north west coast of County Kerry lies one of the most well known golf courses in Ireland, Ballybunion Golf Club . It sits perched on a beautiful stretch of sand dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Home to the spectacular and challenging championship Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. A golfers dream. Voted Best Parkland Course in the greater Dublin area , Killeen Castle Golf Club is located only 30 mins from both Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport. The course measures over 7,700 yards from the back tees and the substantial investment in the drainage system has provided a course that is playable 365 days of the year. Killeen Castle hosted the prestigious Solheim Cup in 2011, attracting some of the greatest female golfers in the world. This course is not to be missed.
The Island Golf Club. Established in 1890, The Island Golf Club enjoys a unique setting bordered by the Irish Sea on 3 sides. It is a classic links course set in a rugged terrain & nestled between the highest sand dunes along the east coast of the country.
Host of the West of Ireland, one of the country’s most prestigious amateur tournaments, it was here that Rory McIlroy, 15, won the 2005 “West,” becoming the youngest player ever to do so. And then he won it again when he was 16.
Matt Ginella's 10 best golf courses in Ireland-Northern Ireland. The 9th hole at Royal County Down is one of the world's most awe-inspiring. Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor. Resting peacefully at the base of the Mountains of Mourne, Royal County Down wreaks havoc on the holes in your game.
Ultimate Itinerary: San Francisco. Our guide to the ultimate in public and resort golf in the San Francisco Bay Area, featuring legendary municipal courses and world-class resort courses. By Matt Ginella.
Old Course at Ballybunion Golf Club. Located on the outskirts of Dublin and only 20 minutes from the airport, there are a lot of Irish golf enthusiast who have this course on the top of their list. Host of the 2019 Amateur Championship, 1991 Walker Cup and 19 Irish Opens, including the first, which was in 1927.
The 12th hole at Waterville in southwest Ireland. Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor. I look at this perfect routing in six three-hole narratives. Depending on the conditions, within each short story there’s a hole that plays as a low-side half par, par, and a high-side half par.
Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor. Host of the 2018 Irish Open, on the northernmost point of Ireland, this course was full of surprises and exceeded expectations. Looking out to the Glashedy Rock, you play alongside the humps and bumps of the Old Course.
Lahinch (Old Course) A standout at Lahinch is the par-5 12th hole where you can take aim at the distant castle. Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor. Neighboring a charming little surfing town, which is a rarity in Ireland, it’s hard to imagine an Irish golf itinerary without Lahinch.
9. Dooks Golf Club. Set on the waters of Dingle Bay, Dooks, often referred to as a ‘hidden gem’, is an authentic Irish golf links and experience. Beautiful and tranquil, and perhaps is perhaps a little more gentle that some of its Southwest neighbours and is not to be missed when in the region.
Host to the 2006 Ryder Cup (yes Europe won that one too!) and numerous European Tour events, The K Club is located less than an hour from Dublin on the banks of the river Liffey. Another Palmer design, Real Irish Golf rates it as one of our Top 2 parkland golf courses in Ireland, the other one being Druids Glen.
No explanation required here. An Arnold Palmer masterpiece of which he famously declared “I designed the front nine, but surely God designed the back none”. It is fair to say that you will never play a better back nine holes that the back nine holes at Tralee Golf Club.
The Old Head Golf Links Cork has got to be the ultimate scenic golf course in Ireland. Recognised as a world-class course, the course draws big names in the sport and is certainly bucket-list material for golfing enthusiasts.
Located in the lush surroundings of Bull Island in Dublin is the Royal Dublin Golf Club. This 18-hole private members’ club sits in one of the most stunning settings and offers panoramic views of Dublin Bay, the surrounding leafy suburbs and the sparkling Irish Sea. Address : Clontarf East, Dublin. 2.
If spellbinding views of the sea, which sits snug beside the course, sounds like your cup of tea, the Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin is bound to impress.
Lahinch Golf Club in County Clare is a haven for nature enthusiasts who love to enjoy awe-inspiring scenery while taking a swing. The 18-hole course is considered one of the finest in Ireland, too. It is home to the Irish Dubai open in 2019 and has been ranked time and again as being a champion course.
The island of Ireland’s small size and dramatic scenery make it a great place for golf trips. Being super accessible and offering some of the most stunning course-side backdrops you could imagine, golfers are in their element when playing in Ireland. For those of you who revel in the majesty of a dramatic backdrop while taking a swing, ...