IRELAND
Golf in the Emerald Isle offers a compelling mix of drama, beauty and value. We pull out 20 of the best
1 Royal County Down (Champ) 2 Royal Portrush (Dunluce) 3 Waterville 4 Lahinch (Old) 5 Portmarnock 6 Ballybunion (Old) 7 The European 8 Trump Doonbeg 9 County Sligo 10 Carne 11 Ballyliffin (Glashedy) 12 County Louth 13 The Island 14 Enniscrone 15 Rosapenna (Sandy Hills) 16 Old Head of Kinsale 17 Tralee 18 Lough Erne 19 Donegal 20 Mount Juliet 21 Portstewart (Strand) 22 Portmarnock Links 23 The K Club (Palmer) 24 Portsalon 25 Connemara 26 Ballyliffin (Old) 27 Druids Glen 28 Castlerock 29 Ballybunion (Cashen) 30 Headfort (New) 31 Ceann Sibeal 32 Carton House 33 Dooks 34 Rosapenna (Old Tom) 35 Killeen Castle 36 Killarney (Killeen) 37 Concra Wood 38 Narin & Portnoo 39 Ardglass 40 Royal Dublin 41 Royal Portrush (Valley) 42 Macreddin 43 Slieve Russell 44 Malone 45 Cork 46 Carlow 47 Fota Island 48 Belvoir Park 49 Cruit Island 50 Strandhill 51 Royal County Down (Ann’y) 52 Clandeboye 53 Palmerstown House 54 Bunclody 55 Dromoland Castle 56 Galgorm Castle 57 Portumna 58 Carton House (O’meara) 59 Seapoint 60 Rosslare 61 Druids Heath 62 The Heritage 63 Galway Bay 64 Royal Belfast 65 Tullamore 66 New Forest 67 Tulfarris 68 Rathsallagh 69 North West 70 Luttrellstown 71 Ballinrobe 72 Mount Wolseley 73 Westport 74 Mullingar 75 Laytown & Bettystown 76 Dun Laoghaire 77 Tramore 78 Castlemartyr 79 Castletroy 80 Coollattin 81 Woodenbridge 82 Royal Curragh 83 Bantry Bay 84 Gowran Park 85 Hermitage 86 Farnham Estate 87 The K Club (Smurfit) 88 Esker Hills 89 Birr 90 Shannon 91 Castle 92 Arklow 93 Kirkistown Castle 94 Powerscourt (West) 95 Grange 96 Killarney (Mahoney’s Pt) 97 Dundrum House 98 Moyola Park 99 Portarlington 100 Waterford Castle
COUNTY SLIGO
Why it’s special: Better known as Rosses Point, it’s staged the West of Ireland Amateur since 1923 with Rory Mcilroy and Padraig Harrington among the winners. Tom Watson fell in love with this place when he first visited in the 1970s. Green fees: From €50. 00353 7191 77171
www.countysligogolfclub.ie
CARNE
Why it’s special: Boasting 27 holes of thrilling links golf, Carne was the last course created by the late Eddie Hackett and is his greatest legacy. Provides cracking seaside action amid unspoilt dunes overlooking Blacksod Bay and the Atlantic. Green fees: From €45. 00353 97 82292 www.carnegolflinks.com
BALLYLIFFIN (GLASHEDY)
Why it’s special: Ireland’s most northern club boasts two mystical links with the Glashedy staging this year’s Irish Open, won by Russell Knox. Smart routing takes you up into the biggest dunes on both nines; they are home to the most spectacular holes with the par-3 5th and 14th absolute beauties. Green fees: From €50. 00353 7493 76119
www.ballyliffingolfclub.com
ENNISCRONE
Why it’s special: The beguiling Dunes links is sensational and has moved up a notch after Donald Steel improved weaker sections of the original layout. Plotted on a promontory that juts into Killala Bay, it offers gorgeous views and following the improvements, is starting to gain the acclaim it deserves.
Green fees: From €40. 00353 96 36297 www.enniscronegolf.com
ROSAPENNA (SANDY HILLS)
Why it’s special: High-octane modern championship links guaranteed to blow you away and not only due to the elements: it is magnificently routed through high dunes cloaked in marram grass, and many holes feature elevated tees with drives into the natural valleys below. Green fees: From €55. 00353 7491 55000
www.rosapenna.ie
DONEGAL
Why it’s special: In some ways, the ultimate links test: it’s long and demanding and regularly requires some seriously solid shots. In summary, if you relish a robust links among the dunes, you’ll love it here… Green fees: From €50. 00353 7497 34054 www.donegalgolfclub.ie
PORTMARNOCK HOTEL LINKS
Why it’s special: A great place to stay and play with a smart hotel overlooking a stunning Bernhard Langer-designed links which puts much better-known seaside tracks in the shade. A worthy neighbour of the fabled Old Course that offers terrific value. Green fees: From €50 (residents). 003531 846 0611 www.portmarnock.com