01
Royal County Down
Routinely ranked the finest course on earth, laid beneath the Mourne Mountains with blind drives, gorse framed fairways and the bearded bunkers of the Championship links.
Photo: Lahinch Golf Club / Google
Trip planning · Ireland
Ireland Golf Holidays
The greatest concentration of links golf on earth, from the Mourne Mountains to the cliffs of Clare. Here is how to build a week of it, costed to the head.
May to SepBest months
Royal County DownSignature links
5 to 7Rounds in a week
about $3,750From / head
Who it suits
A links pilgrimage for golfers who travel
Ireland suits the group that wants the real thing: firm, fast, windblown links played in the place the game grew up. It rewards ball strikers and good company in equal measure, and it forgives a poor score if the craic and the scenery hold up.
It works for buddies trips, society trips and serious couples. What it is not is a warm weather certainty, so pack for four seasons in a day and treat a calm, dry round as a gift rather than a right.
The Irish courses to build a week around
A shortlist of the links and one or two parklands that anchor most great Irish trips. Pick three or four headline courses, then route the rest around them.
02
Royal Portrush, Dunluce
Host of the 2019 and 2025 Open Championships. Calamity Corner and the dunes of the north Antrim coast make it the most complete test in Ireland.
03
Portmarnock
A flat, exposed peninsula links north of Dublin where the wind decides the score, long a host of the Irish Open and a regular in the world top fifty.
04
Ballybunion, Old Course
Tom Watson's favourite, a tumbling stretch of dunes above the Atlantic where the par 4 eleventh plays straight along the cliff edge.
05
Lahinch, Old Course
The St Andrews of the west, a hundred and thirty years of quirk and charm with the blind Dell and Klondyke holes still intact.
06
Tralee
Palmer's first European design, a cliff top front nine and a wild duneland back, with beaches that have doubled for film sets.
07
Waterville
A remote Ring of Kerry links beloved of touring pros for pre Open tuning, big and beautiful in equal measure.
08
Old Head of Kinsale
A headland that juts two miles into the Atlantic, with three hundred foot cliffs on nine of the eighteen holes. Spectacle first, but unforgettable.
09
Adare Manor
The five star parkland chosen to host the 2027 Ryder Cup, immaculate and resort smooth, a welcome change of pace from the links.
10
Trump International Doonbeg
A modern dunes links along Doughmore Bay, dramatic and photogenic, paired with a comfortable resort base.
Indicative green fees and package range
Ireland is premium links golf, and the fees reflect it. Budget for the green fees below, then add hotels, a hire car or driver, and caddies where you want them. We fold all of it into one number per head so there are no surprises.
| Course | Type | Indicative green fee |
|---|---|---|
| Royal County Down, Championship | Links | from £315 |
| Royal Portrush, Dunluce | Links | £275 to £350 |
| Portmarnock | Links | €250 to €325 |
| Ballybunion, Old | Links | €200 to €250 |
| Lahinch, Old | Links | €230 to €290 |
| Tralee | Links | €175 to €235 |
Package guide. Tour operators price a seven night southwest links trip with five to six rounds, hotels and transfers at roughly €3,750 to €8,000 per golfer for 2026, depending on hotel grade, room sharing and the courses chosen. Marquee links and single rooms sit at the top of that band. These are third party ranges, not our prices, and you should always confirm directly before booking.
Booking individual rounds instead? Compare live tee times through our partner: [TEE_TIME_AFFILIATE_LINK]. Resort stays: [HOTEL_AFFILIATE_LINK].
Seven nights, southwest Ireland
A classic loop from Shannon or Kerry through the Kingdom of Kerry and into Clare. Swap in the Antrim coast for a northern week.
Days 1 to 2
Kerry: Ballybunion and Tralee
Land at Shannon or Kerry and settle around Killarney or Ballybunion. Open with Ballybunion Old, then Tralee's cliff top stretch the next morning.
Day 3
Waterville and the Ring
Drive the Ring of Kerry to Waterville for a big remote links, with the scenery doing as much work as the golf.
Days 4 to 5
Clare: Lahinch and Doonbeg
North into County Clare for Lahinch's quirk and a modern dunes round at Doonbeg, with the Cliffs of Moher in between.
Day 6
A parkland change of pace
Ease off with Adare Manor or Dromoland on the way back toward Shannon, then a final dinner in Adare or Bunratty.
Day 7
Fly home or head north
Depart from Shannon, or extend with a transfer to the Antrim coast for Royal Portrush and Royal County Down.
When to book
The 2026 reality: book early, stay flexible
Demand for the marquee links has never been higher. For 2026, visitor tee times at Royal County Down and Royal Portrush are extremely limited, and Ballybunion, Tralee and Lahinch fill quickly outside the shoulder months. If your dates are fixed, secure the headline courses first and route the rest around them.
The prime window is May to September for the longest days and the best conditions, with late April and early October offering quieter fairways and softer fees. Groups happy to play Portstewart, Castlerock and County Sligo alongside the giants have far more flexibility for 2026.
Ireland golf holidays: common questions
How many rounds should we plan in a week in Ireland?
Most groups play five to six rounds across seven nights, leaving room for travel between regions and a rest day. Links golf in wind is tiring, so a marquee course every single day is ambitious for all but low handicappers.
Do Irish links courses require a handicap certificate?
Several championship links ask for proof of handicap, commonly around 24 for men and 36 for women, and most prefer advance booking. Limits and dress codes vary by club, so always confirm directly before booking.
What does a week of Irish golf cost per person in 2026?
Operator packages with five to six rounds, hotels and transfers run roughly 3,750 to 8,000 euro per golfer for 2026, depending on hotel grade and the courses chosen. These are indicative third party ranges, not our prices.
When is the best time to go?
May to September gives the warmest, driest conditions and the longest evenings. Late April and early October are quieter and cheaper, with a higher chance of wind and rain.
Can you combine the southwest and the north in one trip?
Yes, but it adds long drives. Many golfers split a longer trip into a Kerry and Clare leg and an Antrim leg, or fly between Shannon and Belfast to save time.