Make a comment
Larger Text
Print
E-mailGreat golfing vacations in Ireland
Ireland’s golf courses are a mecca for golf lovers.
There are about 440 in the country - and according to Ireland’s official tourism agency, the Emerald Isle has more golf courses than any country of comparable size on the planet.
No wonder then that the sport is a major draw for tourists - hundreds of thousands of golfers come here each year.
In recent years, these have included Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Both played in the Ryder Cup when it was hosted at one of Ireland’s most exclusive golf clubs, the K Club, in 2006. Europe won, by the way!
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who won the British Open in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship in 2008, also played in that Ryder Cup. Harrington can arguably lay claim to being Ireland’s most successful living sportsman on the global stage.
In addition to the Ryder Cup, the K Club has also hosted the Smurfit Kappa European Open, which became one of the flagship events on the European Tour. This was staged here from 1995-2007.
Many of Ireland’s golf courses are attached to some of the country’s most luxurious castles, hotels and resorts. There are also plenty of country guesthouse retreats as well as B&Bs, which can be more affordable. Some golf courses in Ireland also have self-catering units attached to them, ranging from traditional Irish thatched cottages to modern apartments.
In the east, which includes the Dublin area, try the Island Golf Club, Portmarnock Golf Club and Royal Dublin Golf Club. Baltray, also known as the County Louth Golf Club, is due to host the Irish Open this May – well worth a visit to see Ireland’s (and indeed the world’s) best golfers in action.
Northern Ireland is well known as a golf-lover’s haven. Try Ballycastle Golf Club, in Co. Antrim, founded in 1890. Consider also the Royal Portrush Golf Club, in Co. Antrim, as well as one of the oldest golf courses in the island of Ireland, Royal County Down.
Related Items
