Ireland
Ireland is quite simply a golfers paradise. Golf courses are everywhere - and their numbers are growing as each year passes. Whether it is coastal links gems you are looking for, usually complete with stunning sea views, or parkland treasures away from the coast, no country is better equipped than Ireland to meet your needs.
If quantity and variety are well catered for, so to is quality. Every golf course in Ireland, including all the great name courses, are accessible to visiting golfers. There are no courses here which are exclusively for "members only". If you are on a tightish budget, there are always good value courses to be found in any neighbourhood, and many hidden gems can be counted in their number. To make the most of your golfing trip, and to help in your planning, you can look up the location of the best courses in Ireland on our customised maps.
Visitors welcome
Limerick
Original design by Robert Trent Jones Sr (1995); significantly revamped by Tom Fazio (2017).
Wkends restrictd
Belfast
David Jones
Visitors welcome
Athlone
J. McAllister
Wkends restrictd
Killarney
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Wkends restrictd
Killarney
Original layout by club professional James McKenna. After 8 yrs of closure, a new 9-hole layout was designed by Lionel Hewson (1906), and extended to 18-holes in 1926. Additional modifications made by Tom Simpson (1937) and Tom Watson (1995).
Visitors welcome
Londonderry
Pat Ruddy & Tom Craddock
Visitors welcome
Londonderry
Original layout dates back to 1947, which was significantly remodelled by Eddie Hackett (early 1970s), with inputs from Frank Pennink, Charles Lawrie and Martin Hopkins. Recent modifications by Nick Faldo.
Visitors welcome
Dundalk
Pat Ruddy & Tom Craddock
Visitors welcome
Limerick
Des Smyth & Declan Branigan
Visitors welcome
Galway
Robert J. "Bobby" Brown
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Original design by Arthur Spring (1994). Course redesigned by Tom Mackenzie of Mackenzie & Ebert Golf Course Architects (2007).
Visitors welcome
Belfast
Harry Colt
Visitors welcome
Kilkenny
Original design by Cecil Barcroft (1899). Later modifications to greens and bunkering by Tom Simpson & Molly Gourlay (1937).
Visitors welcome
Sligo
Eddie Hackett
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Colin Montgomerie & Stan Eby
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Mark O'Meara & Tim Lobb
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Dr Arthur Spring
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Jonathan Gaunt
Wkends restrictd
Coleraine
Ben Sayers
Visitors welcome
Dundalk
Christy O’Connor Sr & Jr
Visitors welcome
Galway
Eddie Hackett
Visitors welcome
Cork
Dr Alister MacKenzie redesigned the course, extending it to 18-holes in 1927.
Visitors welcome
Dundalk
Current layout by Cecil Barcroft (1914); substantially modified by Tom Simpson & Molly Gourlay (1938).
Visitors welcome
Sligo
Original 18-hole layout by Capt William Campbell (1906); substantially redesigned by Harry Colt (1927-31).
Visitors welcome
Londonderry
Michael Doherty
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Eddie Hackett & Christy O'Connor Jr.
Not Mondays
Sligo
Eddie Hackett
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Original layout designed by the club members, with several subsequent makeovers. Substantial redesign by Martin Hawtree (2005).
Visitors welcome
Limerick
Original layout designed by American course architect Brook L. Wigginton (1961). Significant improvements made by Ron Kirby and Joe Carr (2003).
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Pat Ruddy & Tom Craddock
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Pat Ruddy
Visitors welcome
Limerick
Philip Walton
Visitors welcome
Waterford
Five Enterprises (Dublin)
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Original course designed by Harry Colt (1920). New course at the current Ballyman Glen location, designed by Hawtree Ltd (2006).
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Mel Flanagan
Visitors welcome
Sligo
Eddie Hackett designed the expansion from nine to 18 holes (1974). Donald Steel added a further nine holes (1999).
Visitors welcome
Athlone
Christy O'Connor Jr.
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Pat Ruddy
Visitors welcome
Waterford
Patrick J. Merrigan
Visitors welcome
Cork
Original Deerpark course designed by Christy O'Connor Jr & Peter McEvoy; modified by Jeff Howes (1999). Howes also designed Fota Island's nine new holes (2006).
Visitors welcome
Coleraine
Simon Gidman
Visitors welcome
Galway
Christy O'Connor Jr.
Wkends restrictd
Galway
Dr Alister MacKenzie laid out the current course in the early-1920s.
Visitors welcome
Athlone
Christy O'Connor Jr.
Visitors welcome
Waterford
Original nine hole layout from 1939. Extended to a full 18 by Maurice Fives (1997).
Not Saturdays
Dublin
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Dundalk
New course designed by Christy O'Connor Jr (2000); the Old courses dates from 1930.
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Seve Ballesteros & Jeff Howes
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Original layout created by various members; major redesign and improvements subsequently made by Fred Hawtree, Eddie Hackett (1985) and Martin Hawtree.
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Palmer North course: designed by Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay (1991).
Palmer South course: Arnold Palmer Design Company (2003; lead designer Harrison Minchew).
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Palmer North course: designed by Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay (1991).
Palmer South course: Arnold Palmer Design Company (2003; lead designer Harrison Minchew).
Visitors welcome
Kilkenny
Jack McDaid and Jim Cassidy
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Original design by Dr William (Billy) O'Sullivan & Fred Hawtree, with a subsequent redesign by Tom MacKenzie (2006).
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Donald Steel
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Sir Guy Campbell & Henry Longhurst
Visitors welcome
Dublin
A Jack Nicklaus Signature Course
Visitors welcome
Limerick
Redesigned by Dr Arthur Spring in 1994.
Visitors welcome
Belfast
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Christy O'Connor Jr.
Not Saturdays
Belfast
Current course designed in the early 1920s by the firm of Colt, Mackenzie & Alison (Harry Colt, Alister Mackenzie and Charles Hugh Alison).
Visitors welcome
Limerick
Original layout by Old Tom Morris. Significant later modifications by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1920s); MacKenzie left untouched Morris's best holes (e.g. par-5 4th, par-3 5th). Further enhancements by Martin Hawtree (2003).
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Nick Bielenberg
Visitors welcome
Sligo
Tony Carroll
Visitors welcome
Sligo
Nick Faldo
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Tom MacKenzie (of Donald Steel & Co) designed the 2005/06 revamp of the Luttrellstown Castle course.
Visitors welcome
Belfast
Original course at this location designed by Commander John Harris from C.K. Cotton & Assocs (1962). Later modifications by Hawtree & Son (1965).
Visitors welcome
Kilkenny
Jack Nicklaus
Visitors welcome
Athlone
Michael Dolan
Visitors welcome
Galway
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Londonderry
The layout has evolved over the years with inputs from Hughie McNeill, Leo Wallace, various members, and most recently Eddie Connaughton (2004).
Visitors welcome
Athlone
Peter McEvoy
Visitors welcome
Cork
A collaborative design involving Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan, Liam Higgins, Eddie Hackett and Dr. Joe Carr.
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Christy O'Connor Jr.
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Original layout by founders George Ross (Capt) and William C. Pickeman (Secretary), assisted by Scottish professional Mungo Park (who stayed for a year as the Club's first pro). Third nine added by Fred Hawtree (1971); modifications to the Championship layout by Fred's son Martin Hawtree (2002).
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Bernhard Langer
Visitors welcome
Londonderry
Original design by Charles Thompson (golf professional at Portrush GC); substantial improvements designed by Pat Ruddy (2000).
Visitors welcome
Coleraine
Willie Park Jr (early 1920s) & Des Giffin (1986).
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Peter McEvoy
Visitors welcome
Dublin
David McLay-Kidd
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Christy O'Connor Jnr & Peter McEvoy
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Eddie Hackett
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Christy O'Connor Jr.
Visitors welcome
Londonderry
Front-nine (Strand-nine) designed by Pat Ruddy (2009). Back-nine (Valley-nine) originally designed by Old Tom Morris (1893), with later modifications by Harry Vardon & James Braid (1906), and Harry Colt (1911).
Visitors welcome
Londonderry
Pat Ruddy with input from owner Frank Casey Snr.
Visitors welcome
Wexford
Fred Hawtree and J.H. Taylor
Sat'day restrictd
Belfast
Harry Colt
Not Weds or Sat
Belfast
Championship Links: original nine-hole layout by George L. Baillie (1889); extended to 18 holes by Old Tom Morris (1890). Various modifications made by George Combe (Club Capt), James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Harry Vardon and Ben Sayers (early 1900s). Harry Colt made further modifications (1925), creating the famous par-3 4th and par-4 9th holes. Further changes by Donald Steel (1997 & 2004).
Annesley Links: laid out by Old Tom Morris.
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Original course at the Curragh laid out by David Ritchie from Scotland (1852).
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Original Harry Colt design dates from 1921. Modifications by Martin Hawtree (2002).
Visitors welcome
Coleraine
The current Dunluce Links layout is largely the work of Harry Colt's 1929 redesign.
Visitors welcome
Coleraine
Harry Colt (1932).
(Closed in 2017)
Wexford
Peter McEvoy
Wkends restrictd
Dundalk
Des Smyth & Declan Branigan
Visitors welcome
Sligo
Paddy Merrigan
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Wexford
Philip Walton's debut course as a golf designer.
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Pat Ruddy & Tom Craddock
Visitors welcome
Sligo
Original 9-hole layout redesigned in 1939 by John McAlister from Dublin; course extension to 18-holes by Eddie Hackett (1973).
Not Sundays
Killarney
Arnold Palmer designed the course at Tralee's current Barrow location (1984).
Not Sundays
Waterford
Capt. H.C. Tippet
Visitors welcome
Limerick
Greg Norman
Visitors welcome
Dublin
Patrick J. Merrigan
Visitors welcome
Waterford
Visitors welcome
Waterford
Des Smyth & Declan Brannigan
Visitors welcome
Killarney
Eddie Hackett & Claude Harmon designed the current layout (early 1970s). Significant changes made by Tom Fazio (2006/7).
Visitors welcome
Galway
Fred Hawtree
Visitors welcome
Waterford
Eddie Hackett
Mon, Thur, Fri, Sun
Dublin
Major improvements made by Peter McEvoy (1990s).
Wkends restrictd
Dublin
Paddy Merrigan designed subtantial revisions to the course in 1993.
Tournaments:
2021 Opens: whether by accident or design, four of the top five mens’ Open Championships played in the British Isles occupy consecutive weeks in July: the Irish Open (1-4), Scottish Open (8-11), The Open (15-18) and Wales Open (22-25). The recently relaunched English Open is scheduled for early-August.
Hoag Classic: Ernie Els defends his title in this prestigious PGA Tour Champions event, played since 1991 at the Newport Beach Country Club, CA (Mar 5-7).
Who's Who:
Brooks Koepka: won his second Phoenix Open title, with a chip-in eagle at TPC Scottsdale’s short par-4 17th included in his final round.
Annika Sörenstam: the legendary Swede makes a return to the LPGA Tour in the Gainbridge LPGA, to be played at Lake Nona, her home club (Feb 25-28).
New course opens for play at Barnbougle
Bill Coore designs 14-hole layout with “sporty” holes on dune ridge above Lost Farm.
New links course planned for Scottish Highlands. Landowner aims to appoint a ‘world-class architect’ to work on site next to Cromarty Firth.
New Faldo Design layout in Vietnam set for summer completion. Nine holes of the course at Thanh Lanh are routed across a the lake peninsula.
Dundonald Links Scotland: Construction work is in progress on new practice facilities and course changes at Dundonald Links in Irvine, Scotland, as part of a £25 million investment by new owners Darwin Escapes that also includes the construction of a new clubhouse with rooms, plus eighteen lodges. Read more ...
R&A submits planning application for new golf facility in Glasgow.
Look up the Top Golf Courses in Scotland.
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