THE LINKS OF SOUTHWEST IRELAND
THE LINKS OF SOUTHWEST IRELAND
JUNE 28, 2025 - JULY 5, 2025 | 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS | 9 ROUNDS | 8 GOLFERS
JUNE 28, 2025 - JULY 5, 2025 | 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS | 9 ROUNDS | 8 GOLFERS
THE RUGGED SOUTHWEST COAST OF IRELAND & THE CAPITAL CITY OF DUBLIN AWAIT YOU...
Royal Dublin, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Ballybunion (Cashen), Ballybunion (OId), Tralee, Dooks, Old Head & Waterville
Play nine of Irelands greatest links courses as you travel from Dublin to the Southwest of Ireland...
You don't have to look far to find amazing links courses in Ireland, the country has more links courses than any country in the world outside of Scotland. As compiled by The Links Association, of the 58 true links courses in Ireland, you'll be playing 10 of them.
With all but one of the courses ranked in the Top 30 in Ireland, and with 5 ranked in the Top 15, your golf experience will rank second to none.
YOUR GOLF COURSES
You'll play 9 of the Top 30 Golf Courses in Ireland
DAY 1
ROYAL DUBLIN GOLF CLUB
Ranked #27 in Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
The Dublin Golf Club, as it was originally called, was founded in 1885. The club moved twice before the course finally came to rest on Bull Island in 1889. Two years later, Queen Victoria granted the club royal patronage. The course was severely damaged during the First World War and was rebuilt by Harry Colt in 1920.
This is a classic traditional out and back links, relatively unusual for an Irish links. The course is fairly flat and narrow with long stretches of out of bounds, and the wind tends to swirl around Dublin Bay, generally making the course play tougher than the yardage would indicate. The greens are outstanding and there are some brutally deep greenside bunkers as well.
Martin Hawtree was engaged in course redevelopment work between 2004-2006 and Royal Dublin has improved as a consequence. Today's championship layout stretches to an impressive 7,269 yards from the tips and has hosted numerous Irish Open Championships, with Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer among the winners here at Royal Dublin.
DAY 2
JAMESON GOLF LINKS
Ranked #21 in Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
Jameson Golf Links is the ancestral family estate of the famous Jameson whiskey family. The Jameson’s once had a nine-hole golf course here and the land is now incorporated into the Jameson Golf Links and the Portmarnock Hotel Resort.
Jameson Golf Links was designed by Bernhard Langer and opened for play in 1996. The course borders its illustrious neighbor, Portmarnock Golf Club, but the two courses are separately owned and managed. For such a young layout, Jameson Links is a very natural and understated course. There is nothing showy about the design; the natural links land is used simply and effectively. The first eight holes play across gently-undulating ground with definition provided by varied grasses and pot bunkers. Then, around the turn, a cluster of shaggy sand dunes provides a much more dramatic playing field.
Bernhard Langer commented on his creation: “There are very few locations in Europe which could have allowed me the opportunity and landscape to design such a classic championship links. I hope all those who play it discover its magic and its challenging beauty.” We thoroughly agree and encourage you to add this links course to your itinerary.
DAY 3
LAHINCH CASTLE COURSE
A fun alternative to the championship (Old) course
Everyone naturally flocks to Lahinch to play the Old course and few have even heard about the club’s second course, the Castle. And while the Castle Course is not in the same league as the Old, it offers terrific views and challenging (yet friendly) play for golfers at every skill level.
The Castle Course is situated further inland and is shorter, more forgiving than the Old, but it is worth a look in its own right and is a course that should be sampled by any links aficionado.
DAY 4
DOONBEG GOLF CLUB
Ranked #9 in Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
The name Doonbeg is derived from 'Dun Beag', which roughly translated means small fort. So it's no surprise that this pretty seaside village grew up beside a castle, which was built in the 16th century for the Earl of Thomond. The course was designed by Greg Norman, his one and only architectural work in the entire British Isles, and it's a great legacy for him here.
This amazing piece of links land curves and tumbles for a mile and a half around the crescent-shaped Doughmore Bay. The design is totally in tune with nature - 14 greens and 12 fairways were simply mown, no earth was moved. The look and feel of the layout is old-fashioned and the routing follows an out-and-back style, synonymous with traditional links architecture.
This wonderful links course has a magnetic appeal for thousands of golfers each year. Doonbeg is a priceless jewel and one that simply must be played.
DAY 5
ADARE MANOR GOLF CLUB
Ranked #11 in Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
Masterfully designed, magnificently maintained, and perfectly set within the glorious estate of one of Europe’s most spectacular manor house hotels, The Golf Course at Adare Manor is among the best championship courses in the world.
Architect Tom Fazio's recent restoration has transformed Adare Manor into a course worthy of the Ryder Cup, which it is hosting in 2027!
The course has been recreated in harmony with the outstanding natural beauty of its surroundings: lush, softly rolling terrain, mature trees along the fairways and play along the sweeping banks of the River Maigue.
This magnificent course is at once strategic and soulful, playable in all conditions, and future-proofed in preparation for premier amateur and professional events. It is truly an outstanding work of art.
DAY 6
BALLYBUNION GOLF CLUB CASHEN COURSE
Ranked #30 in Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
If the Cashen Course at Ballybunion were situated anywhere else rather than adjacent to the world-famous Old Course, it would attract far more attention, fans and plaudits than it does.
Although built on similar, stirring terrain to the Old Course in the 1980s, this Robert Trent Jones course is more irascible, more spectacular, more brutal and more unforgiving than its older, more celebrated sibling.
Visitors can expect an eventful round, with testing crosswinds, formidable bunkers & hollows, tall sand dunes, thick grassy dunes, rolling greens & stunning views of the Atlantic. If you can appreciate the game of yesteryear then the Cashen Course is a place you will embrace with passion.
DAY 7
BALLYBUNION GOLF CLUB OLD COURSE
Ranked #1 in Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
Originally founded in 1893 as a 12-hole course, Ballybunion was extended to 18 holes in 1926. The Old remained relatively anonymous until it hosted the Irish Championship in 1937. Little has changed since.
Ballybunion is a thrilling challenge and a supreme test of golf. Tom Watson fell in love with Ballybunion and agreed to write an introduction for the course guide. He writes: "After playing Ballybunion for the first time, a man would think that the game of golf originated here. There is a wild look to the place, the long grass covering the dunes that pitch and roll throughout the course making it very intimidating... in short, it is a course on which many golf architects should live and play before they build golf courses. I consider it a true test of golf."
DAY 8
TRALEE GOLF CLUB
Ranked #16 in Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
Tralee Golf Club is a rugged and exhilarating creation and a must play.
Tralee stimulate the senses every bit as much as the enchanting and breathtaking scenery. According to folklore, Arnold Palmer, the architect, created the front nine and Mother Nature did the rest.
The front nine at Tralee Golf Club plays across fairly level links land, but the majority of the holes hug the coastline and the ground is elevated, affording magnificent views from the cliff top across Tralee Bay to the Atlantic Ocean beyond.
The back nine plays through mountainous dunes with fearsome carries across ravines to plateau greens.
DOOKS GOLF CLUB
Ranked #27 in Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
Environmentally, Dooks Golf Club is one of the most natural golf courses in the world. Everything is in harmony with its surroundings – it’s a beautiful place for golf.
The course is enchantingly located on a promontory on the southern side of Dingle Bay. The MacGillycuddy’s Reeks Mountains stand to the south and the sandy peninsulas of Rossbehy and Inch Point are to the north. The vista is simply breathtaking.
Dooks Golf Club provides a true and traditional links experience. Dooks is also one of the most sociable and friendly golf clubs you’ll ever visit, with a genuinely warm Irish welcome awaiting all.
DAY 9
WATERVILLE GOLF LINKS
Ranked #6 in Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
Waterville plays on a promontory surrounded by the sea. It’s a stunning, remote location with views to the northeast of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range and to the southwest across the Ballinskelligs Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The fairways are gently undulating, the front nine plays across relatively flat ground while the back nine weaves its way through avenues of tall dunes.
There are few courses that can boast such a fine collection of unique and great golf holes. Waterville has three outstanding par threes and three excellent par fives, the par fours are pretty good, too. The 11th is a short par five with a rippling fairway protected on both flanks by towering dunes. The 366-yard par four 16th was once called “Round the Bend” because it follows the natural curvature of the Atlantic coastline. .
YOUR LODGING
7 nights on the rugged southwest coast & 2 nights in the capital city of Dublin
THE GREEN HOTEL
Located on the corner of St. Stephen’s Green right in the center of the city, the 4 Star Green Hotel is a contemporary boutique hotel that is perfect for any stay in Dublin City.
The hotel comprises two magnificently restored Georgian buildings, with a heritage of great historical and cultural importance to Ireland. One was home to the great Irish playwright, George Fitzmaurice, while 4 Harcourt Street was the birthplace of Lord Edward Carson, one of the founders of Northern Ireland and a central figure in Ireland’s Unionism movement
You can walk to dozens of pubs, restaurants and shops in a matter of minutes, with the famous Grafton Street and it's buskers right around the corner.
All guest rooms feature walk-in rainforest showers, 49" smart TV's, fast WiFi, comfy King Koil beds and premium Paul Costello toiletries.
LAHINCH COAST HOTEL
The Lahinch Coast Hotel is a 4 Star Hotel located in the picturesque seaside village of Lahinch, Ireland. It has recently undergone a major renovation and is by far the best accommodations in the area.
The hotel offers various room types from Standard or Deluxe rooms to spaciously designed Two Bedroom Family Suites with a private lounge and kitchenettes.
The Hotel is a stone's throw away from Lahinch's famous Blue Flag beach and a short walk from the Lahinch Golf Club. The famous Cliffs of Moher, Unique Burren landscape, Aran Islands, Aillwee Cave and Loop Head are all gems of the County Clare Coastline.
DUNRAVEN ARMS HOTEL
The Dunraven Arms Hotel is a 4 Star Hotel that offers stylish and luxurious accommodations located in the heart of Adare in Co. Limerick. There are a host of activities from sight-seeing, to fine dining, to live traditional Irish music in many wonderful pubs, to high-end boutique shopping. The Dunraven is one of the oldest hotels in Ireland, dating back to the 18th century.
This family-run establishment offers 89 unique rooms ranging from Luxury Doubles to Executive Suites. The hotel includes modern amenities and all rooms come complimentary with breakfast, Wifi, parking, and unlimited use of a leisure center with a 17m swimming pool.
The Dunraven is perfectly situated allowing guests to conveniently visit the Adare Manor Golf Club, Desmond Castle, and many other attractions a short drive away in Limerick, including the 13th-century King John’s Castle—one of Limerick’s most recognizable sites.
KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL
The 4 Star Killarney Plaza Hotel reigns over Killarney Town with grace and glamour. It is located adjacent to Killarney National Park and the gateway to the Ring of Kerry and in the heart of Killarney town center. The hotel offers stylish bedrooms, superb restaurants, bars, conference and banquet facilities and an exclusive and luxurious Spa and private Leisure Center.
This flagship hotel for the family-owned O'Donoghue Ring Hotel Group certainly impresses on many levels. Although opened in 2002, the property's traditional-style architecture exudes a old-fashioned quality. Stepping inside, early 20th-century elegance prevails, awash with ochre marble, polished brass, and Art Deco accents.
The hotel has almost 200 rooms, all of which are decorated in traditional furnishings with navy carpeted floors, antique-style furnishings and brass lamps. Rooms are spacious and clean, with desks and seating areas, while amenities include safes, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are clean and topped with Italian marble and provide high-end Comfort Zone toiletries, robes and slippers.
THINGS TO SEE & DO
Ireland is much more than just golf, so be sure to spend some time enjoying the sights & sounds
CLIFFS OF MOHER
One of Ireland’s favorite visitor experiences and tourist attractions, the Cliffs of Moher tower over the rugged west County Clare coast.
Visually spectacular, the Cliffs of Moher sit astride the striking landscape of the Burren on one side and the Wild Atlantic Ocean on the other. Rising out of the Atlantic waters to a height of over 700 feet at O’Brien’s Tower and running along the coast of Clare for almost 8 miles, the Cliffs of Moher were formed over 320 million years ago, and today form part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.
The Cliffs of Moher Experience offers the perfect day out with friends or family in a stunning natural environment. The 1,000 feet of safe, paved pathways lead to beautifully appointed viewing areas from which the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, the Maamtaurks and even faraway Kerry can be viewed on clear days.
THE RING OF KERRY
Ireland's longest circular route covers some staggeringly beautiful scenery, including lakes, beaches, glens, castle ruins, off-shore islands, mountains and, of course, the Atlantic Ocean to the west. A journey around the Ring of Kerry is a must for any first-time visitor to Ireland.
In a car or bus, the Ring of Kerry's 180 km can provide distractions enough to fill a day, but there is no shortage of places to stay overnight and, depending on your interests, you can certainly find plenty of interesting diversions to make it a trip of two or more days.
THE BLARNEY CASTLE & STONE
Built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland's greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy, and has been attracting attention ever since. Over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney making it a world landmark and one of Ireland's greatest treasures.
Now that might have something to do with the Blarney Stone, the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of the tower. For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence. Its powers are unquestioned but its story still creates debate.
Blarney Castle's gardens are one of the most visited in Ireland and the 60 acres are a joy to explore. Visit the prehistoric Fern Garden, a deadly Poison Garden, and the magical Rock Close with its ancient Yew trees and druidic stones. Stroll by the lake, river side and woodlands or in the dazzlingly beautiful arboretums.
THE GUINNESS STOREHOUSE FACTORY, DUBLIN
Located in the heart of St. James’ Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Ireland. In fact, the interior is designed to look exactly like a pint of Guinness itself and is known to be the largest pint in the world.
A ticket to the Guinness factory (roughly €18) will take you on a tour through seven floors of Irish brewing history, where you will learn all about the Guinness family, as well as how the beloved stout beer is meticulously crafted to perfection. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped off at the Gravity Bar on the 7th floor, where you can enjoy a refreshing pint of Guinness with a 360 degree view of the Dublin skyline.
THE OLD JAMESON DISTILLERY, DUBLIN
Another historical gem is the Old Jameson Distillery, located just off Smithfield Square. This location previously used to be the original site where Jameson whiskey was manufactured and distilled until it stopped production in the early 1970s.
Learn the story of John Jameson and his adventures in whiskey making on a guided tour of the Jameson Distillery. Since his brave first steps into the brewery building in 1780, the Jameson brand has been focused on its founder's ambition to create unforgettable experiences.
A tour of the old distillery will take you through the history and process of creating the refined whiskey, along with the unique opportunity to take part in a comparative whiskey-tasting experience. At the end of the tour, you will be given an exclusive Whiskey Taster Certificate to officially certify your knowledge in traditional Irish whiskey.
GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN
A bit like Dublin city itself, Grafton Street presents something of an enigma to visitors. In other major capitals, people gather along grand boulevards to shop, lunch, drink and eat. In Dublin, locals head to Grafton Street, a narrow winding road that’s been at the heart of the city’s social life for more than a century.
Grafton Street is home to all varieties of shops, both locally owned and national brands. It's also home to countless restaurants, cafes and pubs. And, most famously, Grafton Street is home to the many buskers that entertain visitors with a variety of music, magic and street performances.
Entering from Stephen’s Green in the south, Grafton Street meanders by a series of street-level shops, twisting and turning, before sloping down to the broad sweep of College Green and the grand entrance to Trinity College.
On a busy Saturday afternoon it can be hard work negotiating a path from one end of the street to the other, so dense are the crowds strolling about or gathered around the multiple street entertainers.
DUBLIN CASTLE
Erected in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of English, and later British, administration in Ireland. In 1922, following Ireland’s independence, Dublin Castle was handed over to the new Irish government.
With over 800 years of Irish memories encapsulated within its walls, this incredible structure has borne witness to some of the most pivotal events in all of the country’s history.
Spanning an area of over 11 acres, the Castle stands proudly on the highest ridge in the locality and offers self-guided and guided tours of the grounds, including the Castle’s many rooms, gardens and museums such as the Chapel Royal, the Chester Beatty Library, the Garda Museum and the Revenue Museum.
