Lower prices at top venues such as Ballybunion, above, are making Ireland golf vacation packages extremely attractive.
In the January 2009 issue, Golf Odyssey tipped readers off about one of the best bargain regions to visit when taking Ireland golf vacations.
This region boasts a trio of fantastic golf courses, and Golf Odyssey’s editors proclaimed, “each is a jewel, more highly polished now than ever, and each can be played for an average weekday green fee of only $66.” Read more →
The Fairmont St. Andrews is an example of UK and Ireland golf resorts that can seem very "American."
The tip you are about to read dispels one of the commonly held misconceptions about UK and Ireland golf vacations.
You see, in addition to the historic qualities and purity of UK and Ireland golf courses, we Americans are often lured across the pond by the romantic notion that overcrowded courses and slow play are never an issue over there. Read more →
You can literally walk in the footsteps of giants on a Northern Ireland golf vacation.
While we would advocate for playing as much golf as possible on a Northern Ireland golf vacation, one of our golden rules of traveling is to never leave a place without experiencing at least a few of the off-course sights, sounds, activities, and tastes that make it famous or unique.
One of the great things about a Northern Ireland golf vacation is that you don’t have to go very far from some of its best golf courses to find its most famous sight, the Giant’s Causeway.
Just seven miles east of Northern Ireland’s great Royal Portrush Golf Club, on the scenic Antrim Coast Road, is the Giant’s Causeway, a network of 40,000 basalt (i.e. volcanic) columns packed together, their tops forming “stepping stones” that lead away from the shore and disappear under the sea. Read more →
Portmarnock Golf Club is the tougher test on a Dublin, Ireland golf vacation.
When deciding where to play on a Dublin, Ireland golf vacation, the name Portmarnock will undoubtedly arise. What many people don’t know, however, is that there are two worthy courses in the Dublin area which carry that name, and it’s important to know the difference.
The Portmarnock Golf Club was established in 1894 and its course has hosted more important golf competitions than any other in Ireland. Despite being virtually flat (the overall elevation change is no more than 12 feet) it’s length, wind, bunkers, forced carries, and overall demand on accuracy also make it one of the country’s most difficult. Read more →
From the tee, the green at Lahinch
More times than not, when you hear someone rattling off names of the golf courses they’ve played, or are planning to play, during an Ireland golf vacation, Lahinch is on the list. But why, exactly, is this course a perennial favorite?
Well, it doesn’t hurt that Lahinch is one of the most convenient courses to play when you’re on a southwestern Ireland golf vacation. It’s located only about 30 miles from Shannon Airport, which handles the bulk of air traffic to that region. Read more →
Q: Is it possible to use a golf cart at St. Andrews or other golf courses in Scotland or Ireland? Russel H.
A: As you probably already know, golf carts (or buggies, as they are called in Europe) are not widely found or used in Scotland and Ireland like they are here in the United States (although they are widely available in other European countries such as Spain and Portugal).
That being said, some golf courses in Scotland and Ireland have one or two carts available provided you have a doctor’s note explaining your need for one. Such is the case at St. Andrews. The following policy regarding golf carts
appears on the St. Andrews Links Trust website: Read more →
The Slieve Donard hotel is back in play on Northern Ireland golf vacations.
In the past, we couldn’t wholeheartedly recommend the Slieve Donard hotel when playing Royal County Down on a Northern Ireland golf vacation. Despite being located next door to the famous golf course, the quality of the imposing, red sandstone Victorian inn had fluctuated over the years.
Thanks to the recent completion of an 18-month, £15 million refurbishing program, however, it seems like good things are, literally, back on track. Last summer, our Golf Odyssey operatives found that many of the 50 new rooms were spacious, well-appointed, and have stunning sea and/or mountain views. The public spaces, too, were opulent — crystal chandeliers, Oriental rugs and elegant architectural details — but with welcoming fireplaces. Read more →
To find upscale, intimate accommodations, such as Moy House, for your Ireland golf vacation, check out Ireland's Blue Book.
One of the joys of taking an Ireland golf vacation is experiencing the warmth and hospitality for which the Irish are famous. And, one of the best ways to ensure you experience it is to stay in one of the country’s historic hotels, castles, small inns, and guesthouses rather than a large, generic hotel.
Of course, the choices are many, the quality varies wildly, and it’s hard to know exactly what you’ll be getting for your Ireland golf vacation just by looking at a website. To aid in the selection process, we recommend requesting a free copy of Ireland’s Blue Book, a comprehensive guide published by a group of Ireland’s better “independent” innkeepers. Read more →
