Ireland sits at the edge of the Atlantic, and its links courses are shaped by that exposure. The wind, the turf, the dunes, and the sea combine to produce golf that is found nowhere else in the world. Two Irish courses sit in the global top 10. Several more would be internationally celebrated if they were easier to reach.
A golf break in Ireland — whether a long weekend in Northern Ireland or a full week on the Wild Atlantic Way — is one of the best trips a golfer can make.
Northern Ireland: Royal Portrush and Royal County Down
The case for Northern Ireland as a golf destination comes down to two courses within 90 minutes of each other:
Royal Portrush, County Antrim
Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush has hosted The Open Championship and regularly sits in the world's top 5. The course runs along the Antrim coast with views of the Giant's Causeway headland, the Scottish islands, and the ruins of Dunluce Castle. Dunluce is a proper examination — long, exposed, and requiring full invention from the rough.
The Valley course at Royal Portrush is a different proposition: shorter, more forgiving, and an excellent second day for a two-course trip.
Royal County Down, Newcastle
Royal County Down sits beneath the Mourne Mountains on the Co Down coast, and the combination of the setting — the mountains, the dunes, the links turf — and the golf (some of the most natural, challenging links in the world) makes it a destination that serious golfers plan for years.
The Championship course requires a high handicap limit for visitors. The Annesley Links — shorter and more accessible — provides a gentler introduction to the ground.
Extending a Northern Ireland Trip
Within an hour of Royal Portrush and Royal County Down, several other outstanding courses reward a longer visit:
- Portstewart Golf Club — Strand Course is a genuine world-class links, often overshadowed by its famous neighbours
- Ballycastle Golf Club — a quieter, characterful links on the north coast
- Ardglass Golf Club — a clifftop parkland course on the Co Down coast with extraordinary sea views
The Wild Atlantic Way: Republic of Ireland
The west coast of Ireland offers a different experience. The courses are more spread out, the scenery more varied, and the golf — if anything — more dramatic.
Lahinch Golf Club, Clare
Lahinch is one of Ireland's most beloved courses, a natural links on the Atlantic coast of County Clare. The Old Course is a links in the truest sense — blind shots, massive dunes, and holes that change personality with the wind. The Castle Course is a shorter, friendlier alternative.
The town of Lahinch itself is a small surfing and golf village — one of the most enjoyable places to base a west coast trip.
Ballybunion Golf Club, Kerry
Ballybunion's Old Course is among the ten or fifteen best courses in the world, full stop. It runs along clifftops above the Shannon Estuary with views of the Kerry and Clare mountains. Tom Watson, who played here many times, described it as the best links he had ever played. The Cashen Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr, is a worthwhile second day.
Waterville Golf Links, Kerry
Waterville is one of Ireland's most remote and most rewarding courses, situated on the Iveragh Peninsula with views of the Atlantic and the Kerry hills. It is not as accessible as Lahinch or Ballybunion, but the trip — particularly when combined with the Ring of Kerry — is unforgettable.
Old Head of Kinsale, Cork
Old Head is a unique golf experience: the course is built on a headland 300 feet above the Atlantic, with the sea visible from virtually every hole. The golf is secondary to the setting, which is the most dramatic of any course in Ireland. Worth visiting once.
Planning Your Irish Golf Break
Short Break (3–4 days): Northern Ireland
A long weekend in Northern Ireland concentrates two of the world's greatest courses into a manageable trip:
- Day 1: Arrive, play the Valley course at Portrush or Portstewart Strand
- Day 2: Royal Portrush Dunluce
- Day 3: Royal County Down Championship
- Day 4: Depart or play Ardglass
Base yourself in Portrush, Portstewart, or Newcastle. Belfast airport is 60–90 minutes from both courses.
Full Week: Wild Atlantic Way
A week on the west coast of Ireland, playing south to north (or north to south), is one of the great golf trips:
- Day 1–2: Kerry — Ballybunion and Waterville
- Day 3: Kerry — Tralee Golf Club
- Day 4–5: Clare — Lahinch
- Day 6: Connemara Golf Club, Galway
- Day 7: Depart from Shannon or Knock
When to Go
May to September offers the best combination of weather and course conditions. June and early July are the sweet spot: long evenings, firm turf, and courses at their best. March and April are workable on sheltered days but can be exposed and cold on west coast links. October is often underrated — firm, fast conditions and smaller visitor numbers.
Green Fee Reality
Irish links courses are priced for international visitors. A realistic budget for top-tier courses:
| Course | Approximate Green Fee |
|---|---|
| Royal Portrush (Dunluce) | £250–£350 |
| Royal County Down | £200–£300 |
| Ballybunion (Old) | £130–£170 |
| Lahinch (Old) | £100–£160 |
| Portstewart (Strand) | £100–£150 |
| Waterville | £120–£160 |
Gift an Irish Golf Break
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See also: golf break ideas UK, best golf courses in Scotland, hidden gem courses in Wales.
Golf Writer & Course Reviewer
Gavin has been passionate about golf since the age of 12, playing off a handicap of 5 by 15 and representing Wales and North Wales as a junior amateur. He brings a lifetime of playing knowledge to everything he writes. About Gavin →
