Ireland’s top ten best golf courses in Ireland - play a round with that “wow” factor

Not to miss courses on an Irish golf vacation - America’s top vacation destination for golfers

By: MICHELLE K SMITH | Published Saturday, September 29, 2012, 7:55 AM | Updated Saturday, September 29, 2012, 7:55 AM

Earlier this years Ireland was named as the top destination for American golfing tourists. It is no surprise that Ireland came up on top of this list with stunning golfing facilities like the Royal County Down coure and idyllic spots such as Portmarnock, located just outside of Dublin.

We’ve put together a list of the top ten golf courses around Ireland:

1. Royal County Down (Co. Down)

Located in Newcastle at the foothills of the Mountains of Mourne, Royal County Down enjoys a drier climate than the rest of the Emerald Isle.

The course has attracted many professionals. Tiger Woods and Tom Watson have played there for preparation for the Open Championships Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland’s current star, often plays a round.

2. Portmarnock (Co. Dublin)

The Canada Cup, The Walker Cup, and The Irish Open are just some of the championships that have been played at this course located outside of Dublin’s fair city. The practice facilities boast of a driving range, short game area, putting and chipping green, which are all at a championship standard.

3. Royal Portrush (Co. Antrim)

The Royal Portrush, which is the only club in Ireland to have hosted The Open Championship, houses both the challenging Dunluce Links championship course and the lesser known but also challenging Valley Links course. The Dunluce Links were voted number 12 in the world by Golf Magazine.

4. Waterville (Co. Kerry)

Located in the south of Ireland, Waterville hosts a practice facility and short game area with fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding hills. The practice facility is surrounded by a hedge walls which provide some relief from the winds and prolongs the playing season.

5. Ballybunion (Co Kerry)

The Old Course features challenging holes nestled in grassy dunes and has been frequently rated among the top courses in the world. The Cashen Course on Co. Kerry’s shoreline is a more wild looking course with rolling dunes.

6. Lahinch (Co Clare)

Called the “St. Andres of Ireland” by Herbert Warren Wind, Lahinch features some two challenging courses and hosted the South of Ireland Championship. Also on the green are some goats, who are descended from the coats of an old Lahinch caddie.

7. Tralee (Co Kerry)

The Tralee Golf Club was named to the Top 10 Ocean Courses with good reason. Each hole has a picturesque view and a story behind it. Designer Arnold Palmer said about the course, “I designed the first nine [holes] but surely God designed the back nine.”

8. K Club (Co Kildare)

Arnold Palmer designed the two courses at this club located in the Kildare countryside. The courses provide plenty of challenges with water hazard, rolling fairways, and long greens. After a round of golf, guests can stay at the five star Kildare Hotel, Spa, & Country Club. 

9. County Louth (Baltray, Co Louth)

County Louth, sometimes called Baltray, has hosted both National and International events at the amateur and professional level. The natural beauty of the area combined with the strength of the course led “Golf World” magazine to call the course, “one of the best kept secrets of Irish golf.”

10. Adare (Co Limerick)

Robert Trent Jones, Senior’s masterpiece sits against the backdrop of the castle Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort. The 18 hole championship course features aquatic challenges of a 14 acre lake in the first nine holes and the River Maigue throughout the course. Adare is a short drive from Shannon Airport.

Source: Top 100 courses in Ireland from Golf Digest Ireland.