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 →
Island green: great Ireland golf vacations start here.
Since so many Ireland golf vacations begin in the early morning hours after landing at Dublin Airport, it’s nice to kick things off at a course that avoids a long, jet-lagged drive.
Dublin’s premier track is the famed Portmarnock Golf Club, just ten to 15-minutes from the airport. While it’s certainly the most convenient course to play on a Dublin, Ireland golf vacation, we think there’s an even more enjoyable and dramatic (and less expensive) experience to be had just a few more minutes away. Read more →
Knock, knock: Who's there? You are.
Taking a western Ireland golf vacation just got a whole lot easier and cheaper, especially if the great golf courses at Rosapenna, Donegal, County Sligo and Enniscrone are on your play list.
That’s because the first-ever direct flights from New York and Boston to Ireland West Airport – Knock will begin on May 27, 2007.
The routes were lobbied for by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as a way to bring Irish tourists and their shopping dollars to New York City, but there’s no reason why Americans seeking an Ireland golf vacation can’t take advantage of them, too. Read more →
The Carton House Hotel's stately exterior...
The 2006 Ryder Cup focused the spotlight on Ireland’s Kildare Resort and its 36-hole K Club. Nearby, however, there’s a similarly scaled, far less publicized, and perhaps even better stately golf resort to visit on an Ireland golf vacation. Read more →
St. Patrick's could be the best-kept secret in Ireland.
Few people outside of County Donegal, located in the northwest corner of Northern Ireland, have ever heard of St. Patrick’s Golf Links, much less played there. But, if you’re looking for a true adventure and one of the purest golf experiences available on an Ireland golf vacation, you’ll want to put it on your list.
Dermot Walsh, proprietor of the Hotel Carrigart, in the same-named village about two miles away, owns the two, 18-hole links courses, called Maheramagorgan and Trá Mór. They both have their share of strong holes dipsy-doodling through the sandhills along with bold elevation changes, doglegs and spectacularly sited greens. Read more →
