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Golfing Gems on the Emerald Isle. |
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Ireland ranks with Scotland as a world class destination for golfers. With over 200 golf courses, including several top-ranked championship seaside links courses and currently 5 courses ranked in the top 100 in the world, Ireland is a golfer's paradise. Excellent 9-hole and 18-hole courses are found throughout Ireland, in inland locations as well as along the coasts. Most of these welcome guests, primarily on weekdays (Monday through Friday), and offer club rental and motorized cart rental. The famed championship courses may require that |
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guests provide a handicap card from the USGA |
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| certifying the candidate's proficiency at the game in order to obtain a tee time. See the following charts for information about some excellent courses within reach of HOME AT FIRST locations in Tipperary (Central Ireland), Cork (Southern Ireland, Sligo (Northwest Ireland), and the Antrim Coast (Northern Ireland). |
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FREE ADVANCE BOOKING OF TEE-TIMES!
HOME AT FIRST
can pre-arrange golf tee times at many of the courses listed below for its
Ireland guests, who order by completing a special form after they sign up for
their Ireland trip. There is no additional booking charge for this service, and
golfers can arrange to play a different course each day if they wish, paying
only the regular guest fees at each golf course.
HOME AT FIRST
also offers a special pre-paid 2-course package combining rounds over
two days at the famed Ballybunion and Lahinch Old Courses.
Guests also can arrange tee times
independently in Ireland, as weather and their mood dictate, but it's best to do
so at least 24 hours in advance (more for the internationally-famed courses).
CENTRAL IRELAND COURSES - |
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| COURSE NAME | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION |
Greens |
Motor Carts | Club Rental |
ADARE MANOR |
Adare Manor Golf Club, Adare,12 miles south of Limerick City on the Limerick-Killarney Road N21 | Adare Manor (1995) is long (7,453 yards, although there are three progressively shorter alternate tee-boxes per hole), wooded, and involves water (3 lakes and the River Maigue) in the play of several holes. Architect Robert Trent Jones claims to have attempted to give Adare Manor "the flavor of Augusta National." |
Extreme/Super €85–€150 — Dec-Mar: €85 Apr & Nov: €100 May-Sep: $150 |
YES & Caddies |
YES |
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ADARE MANOR LOCAL Tel: +353 (0)61 396204 info@adaremanorgolfclub.com |
Adare Manor Golf Club, Adare,12 miles south of Limerick City on the Limerick-Killarney Road N21 | Adare Manor (1902) is short (5,764 yards, par 69), tight, and mature, wooded, and involves water (the River Maigue) in the play of several holes. If the resort's course is likened to Augusta, the local course may be an Irish version of Merion. |
Moderate €40 (visitors only) — or — Low €20 (when playing with member) |
NO | YES |
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BALLYBUNION « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +353 (0)68 27146 info@ballybuniongolfclub.ie |
1.6 miles south of Ballybunion village at the mouth of the Shannon in County Kerry. |
Two great links courses, both the par 71 Old Course and the par 72 Cashen Course offer great challenge. The Old Course is currently ranked 7th in the world outside of the USA. Some rate the Cashen Course even higher |
Super |
NO;
Caddies |
YES |
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DOONBEG G.C. Tel: +353 (0)65 905 5602 reservations@doonbeggolfclub.com |
3 miles N of Doonbeg village on the coast of County Clare between Kilkee and Lahinch. | New (2002) championship links course designed by Greg Norman. Built on pristine links land, this course is the center-piece of a resort designed to attract upscale (American) golfers. Par 72, 6,911 yards from championship tees. | Super (€200+) |
NO; Caddies |
NO |
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THE K CLUB Tel: +353 (0)1 601 7200 resortsales@kclub.ie |
Straffan on the River Liffey in County Kildare. | Two new (1991) Arnold Palmer's par 72 parkland courses (Palmer Course and Smurfit Course) on the River Liffey at Straffan west of Dublin. Setting: international resort with all the amenities. Palmer Course used for the Ryder Cup in 2006. Smurfit Course hosts annual Smurfit European Open. |
Super PALMER COURSE €315
Super |
YES;
Caddies |
YES |
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LAHINCH GOLF CLUB OLD COURSE « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +353 (0)65 708 1003 info@lahinchgolf.com |
At Lahinch near the Cliffs of Moher on the coast of County Clare. |
"The St. Andrews of Ireland",
designed by Old Tom Morris and modified by Alister MacKenzie. The Old Course is a world class (ranked 27th outside of the U.S.) par 72 championship links. 28km northwest of Ennis on N85. |
Super €165 Handicap: Men-28 Women-36 |
NO; Caddies |
YES |
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LIMERICK COUNTY Tel: +353 (0)61 351881 playandstay@limerickcounty.com |
Ballyneety, 5 mi. from Limerick on the R512, County Limerick. | New (1994) par 72 parkland course built to championship standards. Driving range, restaurant. |
Moderate €45 Mo-Fr €55 Sa-Su |
YES | YES |
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MOUNT JULIET Tel: +353 (0)56 777 3064 |
12 mi. SE of Kilkenny on N9 at Thomastown. County Kilkenny. | Challenging 7,300-yard, par-72 parkland resort course on elegant 1,500 acre estate. Designed by Jack Nicklaus (1991). Site of 3 Irish Opens and 2 AMEX World Golf Championships. Unique 18-hole putting course. Large practice area, restaurant, and complete facilities. |
High to Super €70–€150 dependent upon day and month of play |
NO | YES |
NENAGH Tel: +353 (0)67 31476 nenaghgolfclub@eircom.net |
4 mi. north of Nenagh on Old Birr Road at Beechwood, County Tipperary. | Fair but challenging upgrade of original 9-hole Alister Mackenzie local course into championship 18-hole, 6,572-yard, par 72 parkland course. Large practice area. Restaurant. |
Low €30 |
YES | NO |
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PORTMARNOCK « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +353 (0)1 846 2968 |
10 mi. north of Dublin |
Rated #24 in the world outside of the USA by Golf Magazine, this venerable (1893) links course has been the site of many great championships, including 19 Irish Opens. First 18 of its 27 holes are the original, and holes 14 through 18 are classics. Women may play as visitors but may not become members. |
Super €180 – Mo-Fr €215 – Sa-Su |
NO | YES |
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PORTUMNA Tel: +353 (0)90 974 1059 info@portumnagolfclub.ie |
SE County Galway at the top of Lough Derg, principal lake of the Shannon waterway. One mile west of Portumna town on the R353 (Ennis Road). |
New course (1992) for an old club (1913), carved out of the mature pine forest just north of the lake. Little sand, few hills, no much wind, and only one water hole (17th), but challenging due to tight fairways through the forest. |
Low €30 – Mo-Fr €35 – Sa (visitors: inquire about Sunday play) |
YES | YES |
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SHANNON Tel: +353 (0)61 471849 info@shannongolfclub.ie |
1/2 mile from Shannon International Airport, County Clare. |
6,874 yard, par-72
American-style course near the airport. Dining facilities. |
Moderate/High €55 – Mo-Fr €65 – Sa-Su |
YES | YES |
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SPANISH POINT Tel: +353 (0)65 84198 |
2 miles south of Milltown Malbay village on N67, County Clare. | 9-hole, 3,820 yard, par 32 seaside links course dating from 1896. 8 miles south of Lahinch. Advance tee times not required. Open to all golfers. Challenging. |
Low €25 – Mo-Fr €30 – Sa-Su (18 holes) |
NO | YES |
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THURLES Tel.: +353 (0)504 21983 thurlesgolf@eircom.net |
1 mile south of Thurles town on the N62 Cork Road. | 6,663 yards, par 72 parkland course in County Tipperary. Thurles is neither especially long, nor wet. Its primary challenge is its mature woodland setting. Essentially an moderate cost, local course, Thurles also occasionally hosts national and provincial championships. |
Moderate €40 – Mo-Fr €50 – Sa-Su |
YES | YES |
| NORTHWEST IRELAND COURSES - Counties Sligo & Donegal | |||||
| COURSE NAME | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION |
Greens |
Motor Carts | Club Rental |
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BUNDORAN Tel: +353 (0)71 9841302 E-Mail: info@bundorangolfclub.com |
24 mi. north of Sligo town; 12 mi. south of Donegal town on the N15. | 6,221 yard par 70 seaside links designed by the legendary Harry Vardon, 6-time British Open champion. |
Moderate €45–€55 |
YES | YES |
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DONEGAL (MURVAGH) « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +353 (0)74 973 4054 E-mail: info@donegalgolfclub.ie |
5 mi. south of Donegal town on the N15 at Murvagh. | New (1973), long (7,386 yard, par 73), beautiful and (when windy) difficult links course. Deserves to be the site of a major championship. |
Moderate/High €55–€70 |
YES | YES |
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ENNISCRONE « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +353 (0)96 36297 enniscronegolf@eircom.net |
1/2 mi. from Inniscrone on the Ballina road. 45 min. west of Sligo Town. | 6,948 yard par 73 true links in NW County Sligo. Can be quite challenging in the wind. Known for its beauty at sunset. Ranked #20 in Ireland and has appeared on the top 100 list of golf courses outside of the United States. |
High €60–€75 |
YES | YES |
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NARIN & PORTNOO « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +353 (0)74 954 51074 E-mail: narinportnoo@eircom.net |
25 mi. NW of Donegal town just off the R261 at Narin. | Natural links on peninsular setting with water & wind affecting most holes. Not long (6,856 yard, par 73), but plays long when windy. Friendly, local welcome to visitors. What you should be looking for in Irish golf. |
Moderate/High €55–€60 |
YES | YES |
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COUNTY SLIGO (Rosses Point) « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +353 (0)71 9177134 E-mail: hugh@countysligogolfclub.ie |
4 mi. northwest of Sligo town. | Famous 6,710 yard par 71 links on the tip of Rosses Point peninsula in Drumcliffe Bay. Scenic and challenging. |
High/Extreme €75–€90 Handicap Certificates required |
YES | YES |
| NORTHERN IRELAND COURSES- Counties Antrim & Londonderry | |||||
| COURSE NAME | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION |
Greens |
Motor Carts | Club Rental |
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CASTLEROCK « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +44 (0)28 7084 8314 mark@castlerockgc.co.uk |
6 mi. west of Coleraine on the A2. | 6,747 yard par 73 links course with scenic views. A challenging and relatively well-kept secret on the Causeway Coast. |
EXTREME £60–£75 |
YES | YES |
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PORTSTEWART « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +44 (0)28 7083 2015 bill@portstewartgc.co.uk |
1 mi. west of town center of Portstewart. | 3 18-hole courses including the Strand Course, one of the gems in the 3-pointed crown of Causeway Coast links courses. 6,895 yards, par 72. Overshadowed by neighboring Portrush's fame, but almost equal in challenge. |
Strand Course:
EXTREME £70–£90 Max Handicaps: Men: 28 Women: 45
Riverside & Old (Town) Courses: |
YES | YES |
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ROYAL PORTRUSH « CLASSIC LINKS « Tel: +44 (0)28 7082 2311 info@royalportrushgolfclub.com |
Dunluce Course: 1/2 mi. east of Portrush town. |
Dunluce Course is currently
rated number
4 in the world outside of the USA. A Harry S. Colt
re-design. Only off-Britain site of British Open in history (1951). Tight driving with devilish rough. 6,818 yards, par 72, SSS 73. |
Super £110–£125 Max. handicaps: Men: 18 Women: 24 |
NO | YES |
| SOUTHERN IRELAND COURSES- Counties Cork & Kerry (south) | |||||
| COURSE NAME | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION |
Greens |
Motor Carts | Club Rental |
BANTRY BAY |
1 mi. N of Bantry town on west (sea) side of the N71. |
6,719 yard par 71-73 cliff top seaside course with scenic views. Opened 1975. Designed by Eddie Hackett and Christy O'Connor, Jr.. |
Moderate €35–€40 No handicap requirements. |
YES | YES |
FOTA ISLAND |
10 mi. east of Cork City on
Fota Island, |
Three long (7,000+ yards) inland resort course layouts with scenic views. Site of Irish Open 2001 and 2002. Newly (1999) refurbished; challenging, but open to all levels of visitors. |
High from €60 No handicap requirements. |
YES | YES |
OLD HEAD |
15 min. south of Kinsale 40
min. south of Cork City on the |
7,215 yard par 72 cliff top resort course with spectacular ocean views that ranks it with the world's most stunning golf locations. The late, great Eddie Hackett participated in designing the course. Very expensive. Caters to well-heeled visiting golfers. New in 1997. Ranked #55 in the world outside of the USA. Challenging—especially in high winds—but 5 tee positions help. |
Super €295 Men's Handicap: 24 or under Ladies' Handicap: 36 or under. |
YES | YES |
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WATERVILLE GOLF LINKS Tel: +353 (0)66 947 4102 wvgolf@iol.ie |
Waterville, Inveragh Peninsula, on the Ring of Kerry about an hour west of Kenmare, Co. Kerry. |
7,309 yard, par 72, SSS 74 true links at the SW extreme of Ireland. Original 9-hole ITT company (transatlantic cable) course was redesigned into 18 holes by Eddie Hackett in 1973 and Americanized into a golf links resort by Tom Fazio (1990s-2006). Ranked #48 in the world outside of the USA. |
Super €180-€190 No handicap requirements. |
YES | YES |
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*GREENS FEES RATINGS:
LOW=€15-35 MODERATE=€36-55;
HIGH=€56-80;
EXTREME=€81-130;
SUPER=€130+ a CURRENCY CONVERTER a Note: In Ireland, greens fees often are available per day, as well as per round (so play 36!) |
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Click for more information about HOME AT FIRST's travel program to: IRELAND
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