Focus on Ireland

FOR a country that possessed relatively few courses little more than 20 years ago, Ireland now boasts a remarkable variety of golf options. It possesses a number of historic links – many of which feature in this focus on Emerald Isle – but plenty of other courses within our biggest ever guide to golf in Ireland are surprisingly young.

This combination of new and old means Ireland has every corner covered. Whatever you want from a break, it can provide – with ease. We start our focus by entering The European, (pictured) opened only at Christmas 1992, to our Classic Course series.

We then select our favourite links on the island – and this a very, very competitive category – before highlighting the premier play and stay venues. Finally we pick out some terrific courses you might never have heard of and also suggest some ideal golf hotels.

We hope you find it an enjoyable read but more importantly a useful one as you plan your Ireland trip.

From north to south

To complete our most extensive Ireland focus ever, Will Spence suggests some of the best places to play you might not ha...

The complete package

We highlight the best places to play and stay in the Emerald Isle...

European honours

The European is a course like no other. Dan Murphy asked its creator and designer, Pat Ruddy, to explain all...

Links with the past

Whether modern or historic, here is our guide to the very cream of seaside golf in the whole of Ireland...