IRELAND OFFERS TRAVELERS seeking a golf getaway a number of options. Whether to golf for pleasure, on a break from business or as part of a dream golf vacation, it’s all achievable while visiting the Emerald Isle. Consider the facts: Ireland is home to 7,119 golf holes, 428 golf clubs and seven courses in the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World. Those impressive statistics are ripe for a traveling golfer’s discovery. IRELAND: HOME OF CHAMPIONS Ireland is the land where many of today’s golf legends got their start. Homegrown heroes include Rory McIlroy, who learned the game’s lessons on his home course of Holywood in Down, and Graeme McDowell. Recent headline-making names such as Shane Lowry, 2015 WGC Bridgestone Champ, and Paul McGinley, 2014 Ryder Cup Captain, also began on the country’s courses. And the list continues, boasting the likes of Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and many more. Ireland is an island paradise for links golfers. With fewer than 200 links courses in the world, it’s amazing to note Ireland boasts 50 of them. During your visit, check out these stellar links courses, accessible to all. Famed course designer Greg Norman crafted the links course at Trump International in Doonbeg, County Clare, while legendary Tom Fazio is behind the links course at Waterville in County Kerry.
At Lahinch, also in County Clare, golf either the Old Course or the Castle Course. Ballybunion in County Kerry is considered one of the world’s finest golf courses. Golf like a champion at a course that has hosted every major domestic championship, Portmarnock in County Dublin. Just outside the city, The K Club is home to two championship courses, Palmer Ryder and Palmer Smurfit. In County Cork, on Ireland’s southwest coast, Old Head Golf Links, the brainchild of John and Patrick O’Connor, is one of the world’s most sought-after experiences. In Northern Ireland, experience two links courses with worldwide reputations. Named the world’s No. 1 course by Golf Digest, Royal County Down boasts an illustrious 114-year history amid the backdrop of the Mourne Mountains. Both Old Tom Morris and Harry Colt had a hand in the course design. Scot Old Tom Morris is also the man behind County Antrim’s Royal Portrush, where his design embraced the flow of the land along Derry-Londonderry’s scenic coast. The course started as just nine holes in 1888. The course will host the Open Championship in 2019. THE 19TH HOLE Sharing a round of golf doesn’t mark the end of the day in Ireland. Carry on to the 19th hole and share your feats from the course while experiencing genuine Irish hospitality. To learn more about golf in Ireland, visit ireland.com/golfnow.
Read This Next
Women in Travel
2016
Sep 22, 2016All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All

Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Apr 18, 2025Grand Hyatt Atlanta Buckhead Completes Renovation
Grand Hyatt Atlanta Buckhead unveils the completion of its multiphased renovation. With help from leading design firm DLR Group and architectural experts at designONE studio, the renovation features thoughtfully curated upgrades such as improved accommodations and new dining, socializing and relaxation spaces.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Introduces Groundbreaking Safety Video: A Captivating Invitation to Discover Moroccan Heritage
Royal Air Maroc continues to elevate the passenger experience with the launch of its new in-flight safety video — a cinematic journey that seamlessly blends essential safety instructions with a celebration of Moroccan cultural heritage.
April 2025
Apr 18, 2025Wellness Comes Naturally in Greenville, South Carolina
Strolling through downtown Greenville, South Carolina, it’s easy to see why the city ranks high among the best places to live in the United States: Shops, restaurants and coffee bars line the streets; there are also performance venues, hotels and outdoor plazas. But what really sets this upstate city of just more than 78,000 residents apart are the easily accessible parks and walking trails encouraging both residents and visitors to explore the city by foot or cycle (both handcycles and adaptive bikes are available to rent). Even better, as Greenville continues to grow, city planners and major employers work together to expand these opportunities. When Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail, for instance, opened in 2009, the paved, multiuse pathway ran about 9 miles from the heart of Greenville to the town of Traveler’s Rest.
Daily
Apr 18, 2025California’s Pebble Beach Company to Renovate The Links at Spanish Bay
California’s Pebble Beach Company unveiled the timeline for its highly anticipated renovation of The Links at Spanish Bay. The golf course will close March 18, 2026, and reopen in spring 2027, a few months before the U.S. Open will be played at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the seventh time.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Marks Five Years with oneworld: Strengthening Connectivity Between USA and Africa and Expanding Global Reach
Royal Air Maroc proudly enters its fifth year as a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance. Since joining in April 2020, RAM has demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as a dynamic airline that enhanced its digital services and expanded its network. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, reinforcing its global presence.
Daily
Apr 18, 2025Azamara Cruises Announces Shore Excursions for Maiden Voyage to Greenland
Azamara Cruises has unveiled its new shore programming for its Greenland sailings, which start this July. The cruise line is known for its Destination Immersion experiences and Extended Destination Days; all the immersive shore excursions for Greenland sailings have been created in collaboration with local communities to showcase Greenland’s natural beauty. Due to Azamara’s commitment to locally driven experiences, guests will engage with the destination’s unique culture while supporting the local people.
Exclusive St. Barts Hotel Offers for 2025
Daily
Apr 17, 2025eFlyer Reviews
Apr 16, 2025Grand Hotel Des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz Review
Switzerland’s most storied ski town (the one, in fact, credited with pioneering the very concept of Alpine tourism), St. Moritz legendarily attracts the rich, the famous, celebutantes and the wannabes. Yet, there’s something compellingly earthy about the place, a town on a lake rich with natural environs, where winter sports and summer activities draw athletes and mountain lovers aplenty. As at the mountain restaurants (where some arrive by chairlift rather than muscle movement, and all types of diners and imbibers convene), Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz straddles the old and new, the lavish and the understated. The hotel, one of St. Moritz’s oldest, opened as a spa haven in 1864, set atop a healing mineral spring.
Sponsored Content
A Summer Sojourn Along Europe’s Rivers with AmaWaterways
This summer, elevate your vacation experience with award-winning AmaWaterways. Offering a seamless blend of unparalleled luxury, authentic cultural experiences and unrivaled service, AmaWaterways cruises are the perfect way to uncover the heart of Europe during the sunniest season with itineraries that glide along the continent’s most iconic rivers, including the Danube, the Rhine, the Seine and the Douro.
eFlyer News
Apr 16, 2025Aranui Announces Expansion with Second Ship
Aranui Cruises, the original cruise company in French Polynesia, just announced a second luxury ship set to sail the South Pacific in 2027. The new ship, Aranoa, expands the cruise line and will journey across the Austral Islands.
ShareThis