Trump Doonbeg
A wild Atlantic links on the County Clare coast, designed by Greg Norman and threaded through some of the biggest dunes in Irish golf above the crescent of Doughmore Bay. Part of a resort with a comfortable hotel and suites, Doonbeg pairs raw, exposed links golf with soft landings, and sits an easy drive from Lahinch and the Cliffs of Moher.
Photo: Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Doonbeg via Google.
The verdict
Doonbeg is one of the most dramatic settings in Irish golf, a Greg Norman links that opened in 2002 and tumbles through towering dunes along Doughmore Bay on the west coast of County Clare. The geography did most of the work; Norman fitted the holes into the existing duneland with as little disturbance as possible, and after damaging Atlantic storms the architect Martin Hawtree reshaped several holes to make the course more resilient. The result is a par 72 of around 7,026 yards that feels both ancient and modern.
It suits the travelling golfer who wants big, theatrical links scenery with the comforts of a resort to return to, a softer landing than the purist links villages but no less spectacular underfoot. Pair it with Lahinch a short drive north and Tralee and Ballybunion down in Kerry, and Doonbeg anchors one of the great stretches of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Trump Doonbeg at a glance
- Opened
- 2002
- Designer
- Greg Norman
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,026 yds
- Green fee
- From €250
Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and course databases; the links was designed by Greg Norman, opened in 2002 and plays around 7,026 yards, par 72, with the unusual mix of five par 3s and five par 5s. Green fees are indicative, from around 250 euros midweek in the low season rising to about 425 euros in the June to September peak in 2026. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
What stays with you at Doonbeg is the scale of the dunes. Several holes run in narrow corridors between sandhills tall enough to hide a bus, and the links plays an unusual rhythm, with five par 3s and five par 5s rather than the regulation balance, so the round swings between brawny three shot holes and exposed, exacting short holes. The wind off the Atlantic is the great variable; on a calm day Doonbeg is generous, on a blowing day it is a serious examination.
The short holes are the signature. The 14th, played to a green perched in a natural amphitheatre of dune, is among the most photographed par 3s in Ireland, and the closing stretch back toward the hotel along the bay gives a grandstand finish. The greens, rebuilt and refined since the early years, run true and the conditioning is resort standard throughout.
Add the long beach of Doughmore curling beside the course, the ruined castle on the skyline and the soft Clare light, and Doonbeg delivers the full theatrical Atlantic links experience with a luxurious base a few steps from the eighteenth.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to visitors and hotel guests; tee times booked through the resort, with guests given priority |
| Green fee | From around 250 euros midweek in the low season to about 425 euros in the June to September 2026 peak (indicative) |
| Booking | Book well ahead for summer; stay and play packages with the hotel and suites are the usual route |
| On the day | Walking with caddies available; a full resort with hotel, suites, spa and dining at the clubhouse |
| Getting there | Doonbeg, County Clare, about forty minutes from Shannon Airport and a short drive from Lahinch |
| Best months | May to September for the warmest, longest days, though the Atlantic wind can blow in any season |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the resort; they change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking with Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest plan is to stay on site. The resort has a hotel and a spread of suites and lodges a few steps from the first tee, a spa and several places to eat, so you can play, lunch and head back out in the long western evenings without moving the car. It is the obvious luxury base for a Clare golf trip.
For a wider tour, the links village of Lahinch is twenty minutes north with its own famous Old Course and lively pubs, while the Cliffs of Moher and the limestone Burren are close enough for a non golfing day. Drop into Kerry for Tralee and Ballybunion and Doonbeg becomes one leg of a southwest Ireland journey of the highest order.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Doonbeg.
Plan a Wild Atlantic golf trip
We arrange Doonbeg alongside Lahinch, Tralee and Ballybunion, secure the tee times before they fill and sort a Doonbeg or Lahinch base and the transfers from Shannon. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Trump Doonbeg questions
Who designed Trump Doonbeg?
The links was designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2002, fitted into the existing duneland with minimal earth moving. After Atlantic storms damaged the dune frontage, the architect Martin Hawtree reshaped several holes to make the course more resilient. The property, formerly Doonbeg Golf Club, was bought by Donald Trump in 2014 and rebranded as Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Ireland.
What is the par and length of Doonbeg?
Doonbeg plays as a par 72 of around 7,026 yards from the back tees, with an unusual routing of five par 3s and five par 5s. Its real defence is the Atlantic wind and the narrow dune corridors, which can make a modest yardage feel a great deal longer when the breeze is up.
How much does it cost to play Trump Doonbeg?
Green fees are indicative and seasonal, from around 250 euros midweek in the low season rising to about 425 euros in the June to September peak in 2026, with hotel guests given preferential access through stay and play packages. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play Trump Doonbeg?
Yes. Doonbeg is a resort course open to visitors as well as hotel guests, with tee times booked through the resort and guests given priority, especially in summer. The simplest route for most travellers is a stay and play package with the on site hotel and suites.
How far is Doonbeg from Shannon Airport and Lahinch?
Doonbeg is about forty minutes by road from Shannon Airport and roughly twenty minutes south of the links village of Lahinch, which makes the two famous Clare courses an easy pairing. The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren are also close by for a non golfing day.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.