Ireland

West

Connemara (7161 yds, Par 72)
A late edition to Irish Championship Golf, golf was first played at Connemara in 1973. Like Waterville in the south of County Kerry, the youthfulness for this great links belies its strengths and classic architecture.

Rosses Point (6347 yds, Par 71)
Also known as County Sligo, it is first and foremost a true links course. The Atlantic on the west, Drumcliffe Bay to the north, and Ben Bulben provide magnificent backdrops. Other courses in the area which are worth playing are Westport, Enniscrone and Galway Bay.

Other courses in the area which are worth playing are Westport, Niscrone and Galway Bay.

South

Lahinch (6276 yds, Par 72)
Known as "The St. Andrews of Ireland," The Old Course at Lahinch has its share of peculiarities. Blind shots, enormous sand dunes, and the ever-present wind form the Atlantic makes Lahinch the classic Irish links.

Ballybunion Old (6603 yds, Par 71)
Tom Watson qualifies The Old Course this way,"It is a course you will always enjoy and never tire of playing. In short, Ballybunion is a course on which many golf architects should live and play before they build golf courses. I consider it to be a true test of golf."

Ballybunion Cashen (6477 yds, Par 72)
Its designer Robert Trent Jones, Sr. proclaimed it "the finest piece of linksland in the world." A course well worth staying in Ballybunion one more day to play.

Adare (7138 yds, Par 72)
This is a world class championship golf course designed with four tees on each hole to ensure that every level of golfer will enjoy their game.

Dooks (6572 yds, Par 70)
This is a testing links course situated in one of the most picturesque corners of the Ring of Kerry. The golf course is laid out on one of three stretches of sand dunes at the head of Dingle Bay.

Old Head Golf Links (6047 yds, Par 72)
The Old Head is ideally located on the South Coast of Ireland, 30 minutes drive from Cork International airport. The course reminds people of Cypress Point and Pebble Beach, two of America's most famous courses.

Tralee Tralee (6047 yds, Par 71)
Arnold Palmer designed this wonderful course just 30 minutes south of Ballybunion. The back nine provides some of the most scenic and awe-inspiring links holes in the world.

Killarney (36 holes)
The Killeen Course may be the best known of the two courses due to the fact that it has played host to the Irish Open. Mahoney's Point, however, is also quite a lovely parkland layout. Its 18th hold, a long par 3 over the lake, is one of the most photographed holes in Ireland.

Waterville (7239 yds, Par 73)
After playing the likes of Ballybunion and Lahinch, Waterville may at first appear easy. Its sand dunes are not so high, and its bunkers not so deep. It provides, however, one of the truest and hardest tests of links golf in all of Ireland.

While in the south of Ireland, you may consider playing Cork Little Island, Harbour Point, Fota Island, Shannon, Mallow, Ennis, Dromoland, Mount Juliet, and Ring of Kerry Golf Club.

North

Royal Country Down Royal County Down (6720 yds, Par 71)
This wonderful links laid out on undulating land between the beautiful Mountains of Mourne and the sea, is certainly one of the country's great courses, and has been the scene of many major championships.

Royal Portrush (6593 yds, Par 72)
This beautiful links course is laid out on a wonderful stretch of natural golfing terrain, with the course threading its way through a tangle of giant sandhills, dunes and wild dwarf roses. It is also the only course in Ireland to have hosted the British Open.

Portstewart (6804 yds, Par 72)
Located at the northernmost tip of County Antrim, Portstewart is one of the great unsung jewels in Irish golf. Portstewart hosted the qualifying rounds for the 1951 British Open. While in Ulster, play Castlerock, Ardglass, and Warren Point.

While in Ulster, play Castlerock, Ballyliffen, Ardglass, and Warren Point.

East

Portmarnock (7102 yds, Par 72)
Portmarnock has hosted the lions share of Irish Opens over the last several decades. Its greatness is measured in its variety of golf holes. Played in typical Portmarnock "squalls" the course can prove to be one of the toughest courses in the world.

Links of Portmarnock (6195 yds, Par 71)
This is the first course designed by Bernhard Langer and the only PGA European Tour course in Ireland. The links takes advantage of the natural beauty and immeasurable quality of the landscape.

Royal Dublin (6590 yds, Par 73)
One of Ireland's oldest courses, Royal Dublin is a typical "out and back" links course, where the wind may help going out, but it will cause you fits coming home.

Baltray (7216 yds, Par 73)
In essence, this is links golf at its best with the four short holes facing in different directions and the almost certain wind calling for power and accuracy. Also known as County Louth. Other courses well worth playing in the East are Druids Glen, The European, Laytown, The K Club Island.

Other courses well worth playing in the East are Druids Glen, The European, Laytonw, and The K Club Island.

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