Golfing holidays in Ireland The game of golf began in Scotland, but it wasn’t long before the little white ball found its way to the neighbouring shores of Ireland. It quickly caught on not just in aristocratic circles, but also among ordinary people. To this day, many of the finest clubs in Ireland, for example, the famous Ballybunion in County Kerry, are members clubs, and many of those members are local people from the area, and not the millionaire jet-set that commonly reign in America’s top private clubs, for example.
The exact date of the beginning of the game in Ireland is a matter of some dispute. The Royal Belfast Golf Club claims the title of the oldest golf club, founded in 1881. The Curragh Golf Club in County Kildare has the oldest course (dating from 1852), but Bray Golf Club members argue that the game was played on their grounds well before that date.
Ireland is a popular destination for golfing holidays. Visitors come predominantly from the US, the UK and Western Europe, and typically play a few golf courses in a particular region of Ireland. Luckily, there is a good smattering of top clubs in every province of Ireland, so golfing holidays in Ireland can be quite varied. Those organised by travel agencies, or specialty golf tour operators, often follow a theme, for example ‘Oldest Clubs in the West’, or ‘Top Links Courses in the North’.
Other services are available for golfers on vacation to make the trip more enjoyable. Lugging around several full-sized golf bags in a rental car from hotel to hotel might not be everyone’s idea of a good vacation – but chauffeurs and transport services are provided by several specialty companies, who will take tourists around the country and maybe even give a few tips on the local courses and best places to visit. Golf tours are best accompanied with visits to local attractions and sights. Many visitors like to tee off early in the morning, so they have the evening for sight-seeing.
Green fees and bookings can be difficult to get for some clubs. Several top clubs do not directly sell green fees, and the only route to buy them through tour agencies. Local accommodation and hotels also often sell spots, and often bundle the accommodation with tickets, for special deals and discounts.
There are many fine parkland (inland) courses in Ireland, but since it’s an island, the real gems are links (coastal) courses. The links courses offer challenging terrain for any seasoned golfer, with rugged fairways and thick rough, covered with dune grass. Golfers are often treated to breathtaking views of cliffs and coastal scenery, while making their way through the 18 courses. The wind by the coastal areas makes the courses particularly challenging, and it’s further compounded by the rain. Many of the world’s top golfers cite Ireland as the most challenging terrain for golf, and it attracts both pros and amateurs for that very reason – a far cry from the calm, sunny conditions of a course like Pebble Beach in California!
As a spectator sport, the Irish Open offers enthusiasts the chance to see the top names in international golf compete every summer. Three of Ireland’s most well known golfers are Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.
And it’s all finally capped off at famous 19th hole – in other words, a drink and banter at the clubhouse after the game!
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