County Clare Golf Packages and Breaks
One county, two world class links 40 minutes apart, and the Cliffs of Moher in between. Clare is the most concentrated golf trip on Ireland's west coast: fly into Shannon, warm up at a castle, then give Lahinch and Doonbeg the days they deserve. Here is where to stay and play, what it costs in 2026, and how to time it around Lahinch's Walker Cup September.
Photo via Google.
Who this trip suits
Clare is for the group that wants Ireland's great links without Ireland's great drives. From Shannon airport you are 25 minutes from Dromoland Castle, 50 from Lahinch and just over an hour from Doonbeg, so a five night trip spends its hours on fairways and in pubs rather than on the N roads. It suits buddies trips of four to twelve who want two marquee courses played properly, couples pairing golf with the Cliffs of Moher and Doolin's music bars, and any golfer making a Walker Cup pilgrimage in 2026.
It is not the trip for course collectors chasing six links in six days; for that, widen the loop into Kerry or up the coast, and our Ireland golf holidays planner maps those longer routes. Clare's pitch is depth over breadth: play Lahinch twice and you will understand why members never leave.
The courses to build around
Lahinch's Old Course is the headline: Old Tom Morris ground reworked by Alister MacKenzie in 1927, home of the Klondyke and the Dell, the goats, and the 2026 Walker Cup. The 2026 high season visitor fee is €450, the season runs 27 April to 16 October, and caddies are part of the culture. Trump International Doonbeg is the second anchor, Greg Norman's 2002 dunescape on Doughmore Bay, about €250 to €435 by season in 2026, with resort guests getting tee time priority, which is why most Clare packages base there at least two nights.
Around them, the county stacks up gentle supporting rounds: Dromoland Castle's parkland by the Shannon at €80 to €90 published, Woodstock outside Ennis at €40 to €45, and the holiday links at Spanish Point and Kilkee from about €25 to €35, perfect for a half day leg loosener. If you are torn between the two big names, our Doonbeg vs Lahinch head to head settles it.
A five night Clare structure that works
| Day | The plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Land at Shannon, 25 minutes to Dromoland Castle. Afternoon warm up round on the estate parkland, €80 to €90, first pint of the trip in the castle bar. |
| Day 2 | Drive 50 minutes to Lahinch. Old Course with caddies, €450 high season 2026. Stay in Lahinch village, dinner and music in Doolin. |
| Day 3 | Rest the legs: Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in the morning, then an optional afternoon nine at Spanish Point, about €25 to €35. Transfer 40 minutes south to Doonbeg. |
| Day 4 | Trump International Doonbeg as a resort guest, €250 to €435 by season. Spa, beach walk on Doughmore Bay, lodge dinner. |
| Day 5 | Second round at Doonbeg or return to Lahinch if tee times allow; alternatively Woodstock at €40 to €45 for a soft finish. Final night in Doonbeg or Ennis. |
| Day 6 | One hour back to Shannon for departure. No dawn alarm needed. |
All green fees indicative 2026 rates verified June 2026; always confirm directly before booking.
What a package costs in 2026
Third party operators and hotels published a wide spread for 2026. At the value end, guesthouse based packages near Lahinch, the Doolin Inn for example, start around €372 per person sharing for three nights and roughly €772 for five, accommodation led with golf booked alongside. In the middle, a self drive five nighter with rounds at Lahinch, Doonbeg and Dromoland plus good three and four star beds typically prices between €1,500 and €2,500 per person once the €450 Lahinch fee and caddies are counted. At the top, fully hosted programs, five nights at the Doonbeg lodge, two rounds each at Lahinch and Doonbeg, chauffeured transfers from Shannon and dinners included, were advertised at about $4,895 per golfer sharing for 2026.
Those numbers are indicative, gathered June 2026 from operator and hotel published rates, and they move with season and availability, so always confirm directly before booking. The honest lever is timing: April and October trim the Lahinch fee and lodge rates sharply, while a September 2026 trip collides head on with the Walker Cup, glorious to attend, near impossible to book around.
When to book
Lahinch releases visitor times far ahead and the prime May to September mornings go eight to twelve months out, so a summer 2027 group should be enquiring now. Doonbeg is kinder, a few months usually suffices, but resort guests book first, which decides where you sleep. Caddies at Lahinch should be requested with the tee time, one per group at minimum. For the full access playbook, timing, ballots and the shoulder season tricks, see our guide to how to play golf in County Clare, and our ranking of Ireland's best links shows exactly where these two sit in the national order.
Get this trip costed
Lahinch and Doonbeg tee times, the castle opener, the right beds in between and a Shannon pickup. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge prices the whole week to the head, with no obligation.
Prefer a packaged operator deal? Compare Ireland golf packages, or see our recommended Clare hotels.
County Clare package questions
How much does a County Clare golf package cost?
Third party 2026 packages run from about €372 per person sharing for three nights at a Doolin guesthouse near Lahinch, through roughly €772 for five nights, up to about $4,895 per golfer for five nights at Trump Doonbeg with chauffeured transfers and four marquee rounds. A realistic self drive week with rounds at Lahinch and Doonbeg lands between €1,500 and €2,500 per person. All figures are indicative; always confirm directly before booking.
How far in advance should I book Lahinch and Doonbeg?
Eight to twelve months for summer tee times at Lahinch, whose visitor windows sell out fastest of any course on Ireland's west coast, and several months for Doonbeg, where resort guests get priority. September 2026 is exceptional: Lahinch hosts the Walker Cup that month, so build around it or avoid it.
What courses should a County Clare golf trip include?
Lahinch's Old Course and Trump International Doonbeg are the two anchors, 40 minutes apart. Around them, Dromoland Castle gives a soft parkland opener near Shannon at €80 to €90, and Woodstock, Spanish Point and Kilkee add cheap, charming supporting rounds from about €25 to €45.
When is the best time for a Clare golf trip?
May, June and September give the best blend of daylight, weather and availability. July and August have the warmest days and the highest demand. April and October are the value windows on the links, with Lahinch's main season running 27 April to 16 October in 2026.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Green fees, seasons and package ranges verified June 2026 from the clubs and published operator rates; all figures indicative. Last reviewed June 2026.