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Tralee Golf Club, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Golf Breaks in Ireland

Why Book a Golf Break in Ireland

A golf break in Ireland is guaranteed to be an absolutely unforgettable experience. There is no doubt that the country is littered with some of the world's most fantastic golf courses, offering some of the purest golfing experiences, but the landscape is also adorned with many top resorts and hotels.

The Emerald Isle is home to an abundance of coastal Championship links, beautiful inland layouts and world famous hospitality, add to this the superb nightlife and numerous points of cultural and historical interest make Ireland interesting for all, and without doubt, the Irish golf break experience is truly magnificent.

Visiting the K Club's Ryder Cup complex, and the incredible resorts at Carton House & Druids Glen, not only will you experience the phenomenal courses, you will also understand Ireland's reputation for its warm welcome & legendary hospitality. Golf holidays in Ireland at these resorts are perfect for a relaxing Sunday Driver or while the golfers battle the famous Irish elements, fellow travellers can enjoy the first class leisure and spa facilities that the best golf break destinations ensure.

Wether you take a weekend break at a resort, a few days touring the wonderful courses or a week travelling full length of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland has so much to offer the visiting golfer.

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Golf in Ireland

Surrounding the lively & attractive capital of Dublin are numerous golf resorts offering spectacular countryside settings. If you fancy a bit of history and culture during your trip then Cork & the Blarney Stone is a must visit along with some wonderful layouts like Old Head & Fota Island Resort. Breathtaking scenery & spectacular courses can be found in the South West, Killarney is a tranquil & serene retreat of unimaginable beauty while the likes of Ballybunion, Lahinch & Tralee provide incredible golf.

The North West coast of Ireland may be slightly remote but it provides exceptional golf, Ballyliffin and Rosapenna are great traditional links, with fantastic scenery and of course great hospitality. Last but certainly not least is Northern Ireland, base yourself in the thriving capital city of Belfast and experience the wonderful layouts of Royal County Down, Royal Portrush and Royal Belfast.

Our guide to playing the best golf courses in Ireland.

Killarney Golf & Fishing Club
Killarney Golf & Fishing Club
Royal County Down, Northern Ireland
Royal County Down, Northern Ireland
Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland
Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland
Lahinch Golf Club, Co. Clare, Ireland
Lahinch Golf Club, Co. Clare, Ireland
Tralee Golf Club, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Tralee Golf Club, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Old Head Golf Links, Co. Cork, Ireland
Old Head Golf Links, Co. Cork, Ireland

Best Destinations for a Golf Break in Ireland

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Carton House, Co. Kildare

East Ireland

Vibrant lifestyle, picturesque countryside, exciting nightlife, world renowned golf courses and enjoy a drink of the black stuff at the Guinness Storehouse.

A golf break to the Dublin area can be enormously fun and is the perfect place to enjoy a golfing trip.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for an East Ireland golf break:

Golf Breaks in East Ireland
Killarney Golf & Fishing Club 1

South West Ireland

Ireland's South West tends to benefit from a warmer climate providing a greater variety of links and parkland courses than the rest of Ireland.

The vibrant town of Killarney is a popular base for golfing groups allowing easy access to some of Europe’s best links courses.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for a South West Ireland golf break:

Golf Breaks in South West Ireland
Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

A visit to the home of champions Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke & Graeme McDowell offers the chance of playing some of the best golf courses in the world.

The towns of Belfast, Derry and Portrush will provide visiting golfers with a warm welcome, great atmosphere, award-winning food and picturesque scenery.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for a Northern Ireland golf break:

Golf Breaks in Northern Ireland
Ballyliffin Golf Club 2

North West Ireland

North West Ireland combines an outstanding array of links courses with rugged coastlines accompanied by beautiful beaches for the perfect golf break.

Choose to play clifftop layouts with the wind whipping off the Atlantic or the more idyllic countryside courses with flowing rivers and loughs.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for a North West Ireland golf break:

Golf Breaks in North West Ireland
Old Head Golf Links, Co. Cork, Ireland

Southern Ireland

The area of Cork & Kinsale is regarded by many as the gem of the South of Ireland where golfers can expect a warm welcome and a true passion for the game of golf.

Scenic countryside, vast mountain ranges and tranquil lake settings combined with a rugged coastline and breathtaking courses means the area is well worth a visit.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for a Southern Ireland golf break:

Golf Breaks in Southern Ireland
Connemara 1

Popular Golf Destinations in Ireland

West Ireland & Galway

South East Ireland

Irish Heartlands & Shannon

Dublin

Belfast

Portrush & Derry

Ballyliffin & Letterkenny

Doonbeg & Co. Clare

Wicklow & Arklow

Best Golf Courses for a Golf Break in Ireland

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Royal County Down, Newcastle

Royal County Down

Newcastle, Co. Down

  • Ranked best course in Europe and 4th best worldwide
  • Designed by Old Tom Morris, 3 time Irish Open host
  • Sensational backdrop of the Slieve Donard Mountains and The Irish Sea
  • Rory Mcilroy's favourite golf course
More info
Royal Portrush Golf Club, Antrim

Royal Portrush

County Antrim

  • Dunluce Links course is ranked 2nd best in Ireland, 15th in the world
  • Only Irish course to host The Open Championship (2019 & 1951)
  • Home course to both Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell
  • A classic Harry Colt designed seaside links with sensational ocean views
More info
Lahinch Golf Club, Lahinch

Lahinch Golf Club

Lahinch, Co. Clare

  • Ranked 2nd best course in Ireland, top 20 in the UK and top 50 worldwide
  • Founded in 1892, traditional links in style
  • Host to the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
More info
Tralee Golf Club, Tralee

Tralee Golf Club

Tralee, Co. Kerry

  • Current layout opened in 1984, the course was the first in Europe to be designed by Arnold Palmer
  • Traditional links in style, with undulating fairways and towering dunes
  • Picturesque views across the course
More info
Portmarnock Golf Club, Co. Dublin

Portmarnock Golf Club

Portmarnock, Co. Dublin

  • Championship course ranked 3rd best in Ireland and in the worlds top 50
  • Host to the Irish Open (19 times), The Walker Cup, and the British Amateur Championships
  • Views across the Irish Sea from the majority of holes
  • 10 miles North of Dublin and 15-minutes from Dublin airport
More info
European Club, Wicklow

European Club

Brittas Bay, Co. Wicklow

  • The 4th ranked course in Ireland and within the world top 100
  • Designed by the famous architect Pat Ruddy in 1993
  • The course feels very natural and as though it has been there for a century
More info

Reasons to visit Ireland for a Golf Break

  • Home to the Irish Open
  • Best collection of links golf courses on the planet
  • Six courses ranked in the Top 50 in the World
  • Perfect for extended golf tours
  • Outstanding pubs and music
  • Enjoy legendary Irish food and hospitality
Reasons to visit Ireland for a Golf Break
Number of Golf Courses
More than 400
Open Championship Courses
1
Number of Ryder Cup Courses
1
Flight Time from UK
60-90 mins

Golf Breaks in Ireland are recommended for

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Portmarnock Golf Club 1

Championship Golf

Ireland generally plays host to one tournament each year on the European Tour: the Irish Open. The event enjoys one of the largest galleries on the tour & moves around the country’s top courses, with Portmarnock hosting the tournament an unprecedented 13 times.

In addition to hosting the Irish Open, Mount Juliet has hosted the World Golf Championship twice; which saw Tiger Woods set a tournament record of 25 under-par. Other tournament venues include the Heritage Golf Resort & Druids Glen Golf Resort, both hosting the Seve Trophy.

The K Club's Palmer course hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup. Darren Clarke produced a courageous performance inspiring Europe to a 18.5 to 9.5 victory. Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland remains the only Irish venue to have hosted the Open Championship.

Ireland free night & buggies

Societies

Druids Glen is home to two parkland gems, one of which is ranked among the best inland courses in the country, and a top class hotel that serves as the perfect base for tour of Dublin or simply a top value weekend trip with a group. Carton House is a similar prospect, with two vastly different courses (always a winner with societies) located within 40 minutes from Dublin.

One of the real hidden gems of the Emerald Isle is the unheralded Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Links. Situated on the north west coast, these two outstanding links courses are simply spectacular. Not recommended for the faint hearted, but if you ask any Irish golfer for the best layouts in the country, these two will definitely feature.

Adare Manor

Couples

Whether you are looking for relaxation or a spot of romance, there are few better settings for it than Ireland’s gorgeous countryside. The award-winning restaurant & spa at Powerscourt Hotel caters perfectly for couples with brilliant facilities, stunning scenery & close proximity to Dublin while another great golf hotel close to the Capital is Knightsbrook Golf Resort.

Mount Juliet, situated just a short drive south from the medieval city of Kilkenny, is another beautiful hotel offering comprehensive facilities. Set in raw Irish countryside, Adare Manor offers the full 5* experience with the added convenience of easy access to Killarney's selection of restaurants & bars.

Many resorts in Ireland offer Golf & Spa options so there is something to keep both you & your partner entertained.

Nightlife - Donegal & Sligo

Nightlife

Dublin is the obvious and best choice for night time entertainment in Ireland, with countless bars and pubs crammed into the city centre. There are a huge selection of venues located within a short drive of a the capital, headed by Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links which is just 15 minutes from the city and only five minutes from Malahide with its bars, restaurants and nightclub.

If venturing to the north, the Hilton Templepatrick Hotel & Country Club is only 10 minutes from Belfast and while it’s a 5* venue, it’s certainly fantastic value for money. In the west, the Killarney Plaza Hotel is situated bang in the middle of Killarney in walking distance of all the town’s bars, pubs and restaurants, and is a great base to access the wealth of brilliant golf courses in the area.

Slieve Russell Hotel, Golf & Country Club 14

Luxury Golf Hotels

For a luxury Irish golf break, it’s hard to look past The K Club Golf & Spa Resort. One of the finest resorts in the world, with two championship courses, Ryder Cup pedigree & 5* accommodation, this really is a bucketlist venue for the serious golfer.

Fota Island Golf Resort & Spa is situated in a beautiful corner of County Cork boasting picturesque 27-holes of golf with lots of water. This is very much a new age 5* venue with the highest quality rooms, dining & spa facilities.

The Heritage Golf Resort & Spa is another top-class 5* destination, popular with weddings due to its quality, with a fantastic spa & championship golf course designed by Seve Ballesteros and Jeff Howes.

Slieve Russell is one Ireland's leading all round resorts offering guests both luxurious accommodation alongside plenty of excellent amenities.

Talk to an Expert on Ireland

Sam Brooks - Golf Travel Team Manager - UK & Ireland

Sam Brooks

So many links courses to choose from, you could spend weeks here playing a different course each day.

Give Sam a call on 0800 043 6644 to arrange your next golf break to England.

More about Sam

Golf Travel tips for Ireland

The Emerald Isle sees golf reach it's high season from May - September with thousands of golfers heading to the great links golf courses and Championship layouts which have features within so many of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World.

Some courses do restrict or close during the winter months so planning well in advance is recommended. With many of the golf courses within easy reach of bustling towns and cities, golf is enjoyed in Ireland year round but you can expect a shower or two during the course of your stay.

Travel by Ferry
With 28 daily sailings over 4 routes on the Irish Sea why not swap the stresses of airline travel, pack the clubs into the boot and travel over to Ireland with Stena Line ferries.

Golf Travel tips for Ireland
Best Golfing Weather
May - September
Best Value
April & October
High Season
May, June & September
Low Season
November - March

Frequently asked questions about Golf Breaks in Ireland

Where to play golf on a golf break in Ireland?

Ireland is home to numerous Top 100 Golf Courses, the best golf resorts in Ireland are Druids Glen Golf Resort (Co. Wicklow), Carton House (Co. Kildare), Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Links (Co. Donegal), The K Club Resort (Co. Kildare), Castle Dargan Golf Resort (Co. Sligo), Castlemartyr Resort (Co. Cork), Lough Erne (Northern Ireland), Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg (Co. Clare) and Galgorm Resort (Northern Ireland).

Some of the best golf courses in Ireland include Royal County Down (Championship), Royal Portrush (Dunluce Links), Lahinch Golf Club (Old course), Portmarnock (Championship course), The European Club, Waterville Golf Links, Trump International Golf Links, County Sligo, The Island and Ballyliffin (Co. Donegal), (Glashedy Links).
What are the best stay and play golf packages in Ireland?

Golfers looking to stay in Dublin will find the best stay and play resorts at Portmarnock Links just North of the City and Carton House and The K Club just South of Dublin. Those venturing into the South East will find a superb championship resort at Fota Island and those seeking some links experiences can head East to play Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg in the South and Rosapenna Golf Resorts in the North.
What are the best golf and spa breaks in Ireland?

Golfers looking for both a day on the golf course and a relaxing spa before or after are going to find their excellent options at The K Club near Dublin, Druids Glen just South of Dublin and Fota Island in the South East near Cork. These spas include a host of facilities to enjoy with a range of treatments as well as access to some of the best championship golf courses in Ireland.

Custom fit your holiday!

Contact us today and we'll start helping you plan your very own custom golf holiday.

Call 0800 043 6644 now