Where should you begin if you are looking to play golf in Ireland? Ireland has some incredible courses dotted around the country, including several with iconic sea views. Anyone planning a trip should check our list of the ten best golf courses in Ireland.
Thanks to the dramatic coastline and hilly nature of the Emerald Isle, picturesque golf courses are in abundance. If you can time your trip with pleasant weather, there are dozens of iconic Irish golf courses to try. Below is a list of the best golf courses in Ireland for experienced players. If you are an amateur looking for a good day out, some of the courses are very punishing for the average player.
10. Enniscrone Golf Club
The Enniscrone Golf Club lies in Sligo, the Northwest of Ireland. The Championship Links course has one of the most dramatic views of any golf course in the world. Founded in 1918, the course champions the very challenge links courses encapsulate. It has punishing rough, lots of hills and valleys, plus some incredibly challenging pot bunkers.
This is a breathtaking course situated on a peninsula, which means it fully utilises the space. That results in tight fairways, thick rough, and a mix of long and short holes. What makes this golf course special is the combination of the views and the difficulty. Given the proximity to the Ocean, sea breezes can play havoc with ball flight. However, they mix up the layout to ensure some holes are covered from the breeze while other greens are elevated and exposed. This is not the course for a beginner, but it is one of the best in Ireland for sure.
9. Tralee Golf Club
Located in Kerry, Tralee Golf Club was the first course in Europe designed by one of the best golfers of all time, Arnold Palmer. The course is one of many that fully utilises the surroundings, incorporating fescue and undulating surfaces to great effect.
Tralee Golf Club is another with spectacular sea views but with a bit more protection. Barrow Beach hugs most of the course, sparing players from the immediate danger of the crashing waves from the Atlantic. The most iconic hole is the third, affectionately known as the castle. It features an old turret and the short par three pokes out into the ocean itself. There is no doubt Tralee is one of the best golf courses in Ireland. It is such a great track for your average and above-average golfer.
8. Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort
Adare Manor is a five-star hotel located in Limerick. The iconic luxury hotel was built in 1862, but the golf course was not introduced until 1995. While it might be too early to lock in your golf bets, now is a perfect time to play as they gear up to host the 2027 Ryder Cup. Besides having fantastic golfing facilities and a sensational hotel, there is a Michelin-star restaurant to help ease any course woes.
The course itself is immaculate. It combines the aspects of some of the most iconic courses ever created and features a fantastic river winding through the holes. There are plenty of water hazards, large bunkers, and fantastic opportunities for Instagram stories. If you are searching for a golfing trip unlike any other, the Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort is one of the best golf courses in Ireland for a reason.
7. Old Head Golf Links
Many of the best golf courses in Ireland will boast sea views and fantastic experiences, but this one is special. The Old Head Golf Links is south of Cork, on a spit of land that juts out around two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The course is some 300 feet above sea level with countless caves snaking their way under your feet.
The course offers one of the best views in Ireland, and the Links style makes for a challenge. However, compared to Enniscrone, this is a far more accessible course for beginners. Yes, there are plenty of hazards and thick rough to punish errant tee shots, but there is more space on the fairway and less extreme hills to contend with.
6. The European Club
Founded in 1987, the European Club has quickly become one of the best golf courses in Ireland. The course is in County Wicklow in Ardanairy. It shares around a mile of coastline facing the Irish Sea and is a stunning place to play golf.
The course has features similar to those listed above. It’s another track with a clear links theme. Meaning there is lots of fescue, tight holes with narrow fairways, and undulating surfaces. The approach shots into the greens must be on point, and staying out of the rough can be a massive advantage. If you are looking to try a real links course, the European Club offers a pure experience. That includes deep and tricky bunkers, lots of hills, and thick grass to punish errant tee shots.
5. Waterville Golf Links
Waterville Golf Links is one of the further west courses in Ireland. Located in county Kerry, Waterville is one of the best golf courses in Ireland. The course emblem is an Irish Hare, and there are plenty of furry friends around to watch golfers in action.
As for the golf course, it is situated on dunes near bog land. While this might not sound fantastic, the result is a truly iconic link experience. The area has some undulation, but every hole is laid out clear as day in front of you. That means no blind shots, and plenty of forgiveness compared to most links courses in Ireland. That does not mean the course is without its challenges. There are narrow fairways, wild fescue, and plenty of hills to contend with. But, thanks to the five tee boxes, there is an appropriate level for every golfer.
4. Jameson Golf Links
The Portmarnock Resort is the proud home of the recently rebranded Jameson Golf Links. The golf course is one of the most accessible, located within touching distance of Dublin Airport and the city centre. It is situated on a peninsula with the Irish Sea on one side and an undisturbed wetland on the other.
The golf course is another links style, but once again, we are favouring accessibility. Jameson Golf Links is a lot flatter than most courses listed so far. There are still hills and valleys to contend with, but the overall feeling is more empowering than some of the other courses discussed. While many of us know what it’s like to struggle on a links-style course, there is an undeniable feeling at Portmarnock that the course is not out to get you. That you can have a fantastic round even if you miss the fairway. That is why it makes it on our list of the ten best golf courses in Ireland.
3. Rosapenna – St. Patrick’s Links
The Rosapenna Golf Pavilion is in the North of Ireland. There are several courses in the area, but the one we are focusing on is St. Patrick’s Links. Rosapenna has several courses for members to enjoy near a fantastic clubhouse. However, St. Patrick’s Links is situated further south away from the beaten path.
Although it opened as recently as 2021, it is one of the best golf courses in Ireland because it encapsulates what playing golf in the old days would have felt like. It is far away from civilisation and feels like a breath of fresh air, which is saying something compared to the other courses on this list.
The course itself is immaculate and offers a challenging track for every type of golfer. The bunker has a more natural feeling, less prim and proper, versus the courses you will find on the tour. It is perfect for players looking for an authentic golfing experience and a genuine test of ability. Even high handicappers will enjoy playing at St. Patrick’s Links, as there are very few golf courses like it.
2. Lahinch Golf Club
One of the best Irish golf courses is in County Clare. The Lahinch Golf Club faces the Atlantic Ocean and features the Inagh River, which snakes around the far side of the course. This course has been a favourite of ours for some time as it features elevated tea boxes, forgiving fairways, and fantastic greens.
It is yet another links-style course with perfect conditions to challenge every part of your game. The greens have multiple hills and valleys to make every putt more difficult, plus a range of small bunkers require accurate approach shots. The Lahinch Golf course is one of the greenest on our list, with a mix of long and short holes. Yes, there are plenty of hazards, but that only adds to the fun.
1. Ballybunion Golf Club
The best golf course in Ireland must be The Old Course at Ballybunion Golf Club. Founded in 1893, the course had a long period of flying under the radar. However, that all changed in the late 60s and the course has been rated among the best in the world for the last 60 years. Located in Kerry, Ballybunion Golf Club is a must-see for any golfing fan.
Heaven on earth! @BallybunionGN @SWINGolfIreland @wildatlanticway @GaryLisbonGolf pic.twitter.com/iAHA2O5J69
— Ballybunion Golf Club (@BallybunionGN) June 7, 2024
What makes this course so special is how dramatic the holes are. We are talking about elevation in all the right places. That includes fantastic views of the coastline, incredibly exposed greens, and supreme undulating surfaces throughout. If you were trying to fill up your social media account with gloat-worthy golfing photos, Ballybunion is not to be missed. You could fill an entire calendar after the first nine holes.
Conclusion
Several Irish golf courses have a unique feel as they blend into the local architecture. The hills and valleys of the Emerald Isle feel ever present when golfing in any of the ten courses listed above. However, Ballybunion Golf Club has a special place among the best courses in the world. It offers a pure and uninterrupted feeling you won’t find in America or the rest of the golfing world.
There is something incredibly special about links golf. It is the closest any of us will get to how players used to golf in the 1800s, while still using modern equipment. These courses require skill, luck, and incredible thought to avoid heavy punishment. Whether it’s fescue encroaching on the fairway, an errant tee shot ending up at the bottom of the sea or scouring the rough for your ball, Irish golf must be celebrated.
