At Dromoland Castle
OTHER GOLF COURSES TO EXPLORE
"My favourite place to play golf is in Ireland," says Bill Murray. "It’s the most beautiful country to play golf in. And when you come as a guest, you’re treated like a king.” Home to over 400 courses, Dromoland Castle puts you in easy reach of some of the country’s finest.
Combining the historical parklands of Dromoland Castle with the wild and wonderful links of Ireland’s west coast makes a wonderful partnership for any golfer. Links land may be a rarity, but with Ireland’s windswept coastline, the natural conditions of the Wild Atlantic Way mean some of the greatest and most challenging links courses in the world are here on the doorstep of Dromoland Castle.
Lahinch Golf Club
Lahinch Golf Club, in County Clare, is a popular spot for visiting golfers, attracting tour professionals like Luke Donald, Davis Love and Jim Furyk, with Phil Mickelson an Honorary Lifetime Member.
The Old Course is home to the South of Ireland Amateur Championship, where many of Ireland’s top golfers first tasted success. Winners of note include Darren Clarke (1990), Paul McGinley (1991) and Graeme McDowell (2000), with Padraig Harrington finishing runner-up here on two occasions.
Ranked no. 5 on Golf Digest’s “Top 100 golf courses in Ireland”, the Old Course offers up a unique combination of towering sand dunes, blind shots and the unpredictable Atlantic breeze. Lahinch’s Castle Course is interesting too, though not quite as remarkable at the Old Course.
Ballybunion Golf Club
With two beautifully maintained links golf courses, Ballybunion’s picturesque setting makes it a perennial favourite. Especially popular with American visitors the guest book boasts some of the world’s top players, alongside US president, Bill Clinton, who played here in 1998.
Consistently ranked as one of the world’s top ten golf courses, The Old Course represents a breath-taking challenge. Set amongst towering dunes by the roaring Atlantic Ocean, Tom Watson famously declared: “Nobody can call himself a golfer until he has played at Ballybunion; you would think the game originated there!”
Tralee Golf Course
Another Kerry favourite, this challenging golf course offers up spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean from every hole. Dotted with historical landmarks, the course includes a tower behind the 3rd green that dates back to the 1100s.
A deceptively flat front 9 is followed by a challenging back 9, ensuring a thrilling game. “I designed the first nine but surely God designed the back nine,” said course designer Arnold Palmer, of his first, and arguably his best, European designed course.
Trump International Doonbeg
Owned by US President, Donald Trump, Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg is one of Ireland’s top links resorts. The impressive Martin Hawtree-designed links course is influenced by the wilderness surrounding it – winds whistling in from the Atlantic Ocean and massive sand dunes that bound its 400 acres. Views of the ocean accompany 16 of the 18 holes, ensuring a challenging course that is both spectacular and satisfying.
Adare Manor
Ireland’s newest golf course, redesigned by Tom Fazio for 2018, is located on the grounds of Adare Manor in County Limerick. Completely redesigned and remodelled, the magnificent parkland course is cut through by the River Maigue and enjoys water features at 14 holes and acres of mature woodland. With 50 green keepers, the conditions are immaculate at this smart new course.