There are few countries that can rival Ireland as far as golf trips are concerned. With the 2027 Ryder Cup set to take place at Adare Manor many of us will be heading across the Irish Sea.
The temptation is to build a trip around all the big name high-end courses. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. But it won’t be cheap and tee times will be very hard to come by.
I would encourage you to think a little more broadly.
Some of the more exciting golf experiences can be found off the beaten track and at lesser-known courses that don’t automatically spring to mind. That’s particularly the case in the north-west corner of Ireland.
If I had to suggest one area of the country to someone for golf, that would be it – Donegal. It’s right up there on my list of golfing hotspots.
Rosapenna is a name you have likely heard of, but the likes of St Patrick’s Links might not be. Having recently returned to Rosapenna, somewhere I have always loved visiting, I was struck by how much the development of St Patrick’s Links has changed the dynamics of the region.
For me, it’s a good example of why Irish golf is in such an interesting place. And Rosapenna is not the only reason to head in that direction with a few other venues under going significant work.
Rosapenna offers 54 holes of top-class links golf all in the same place. Ballyliffin has two seaside courses – the Glashedy and the Old – that are NCG Top 100s GB&I material.
Then there are the likes of Portsalon, Narin & Portnoo, Donegal (Murvagh), North West and Cruit Island – to name just some of the supporting cast. All of them along the coast of Ireland’s most spectacular county, with its miles of beaches, mountainous interior and national parks.
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Northern Ireland should not be overlooked
The changing reputation of Northern Ireland is another reason to be excited about golf in Ireland.
On recent visits, I have been struck by how much the country has opened up to golf tourists. Twenty years ago, international visitors were simply not travelling here in the same numbers. Now, the perception of Northern Irish golf has definitely changed – and it is about time given the quality of courses.
The success of golfers on the world stage from this tiny country has undoubtedly helped raise its profile. The likes of Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke are all household names and they are a huge part of what is a natural spike in interest.
Your journey to Adare Manor, in the south-west of the country, may begin with sailing or flying into Belfast, and if so you will do well not to get distracted on your way across the country.
Finding somewhere to stay during the week is going to be quite the task. Galway is an intriguing option. It is around an hour from Adare, making it a solid option.
It’s a place I have always enjoyed visiting. It feels like a city, but one with a small and welcoming feel to it. The brilliant pub scene also adds to its charm, as does the harbour.
The golf’s not bad either with The Hawthorn at Galway Bay, a Christy O’Connor Jr design from the 90s, now being accompanied by a stunning, brand-new boutique spa hotel.
One of the things I enjoy most about compiling golf course rankings is the possibility that someone will visit somewhere they would not otherwise have considered and come away thinking it was absolutely worth the trip.
That is what makes golf travel so rewarding. It’s not always the stature of the name that counts the most – it’s easy to forgot that the experience itself can often be surprising. The Hawthorn at Galway Bay is just such a place.
The build-up to the forthcoming Ryder Cup will inevitably shift the focus of the golfing world onto the whole of Ireland. And that is thoroughly deserved.
But I implore you – look at Rosapenna and the wider north-west, and make sure Northern Ireland is under consideration too if you want to get the very most out of your trip on and off the course.
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Are you heading to the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland? If you were to go on a golf trip across the Irish Sea, which courses would you most like to play? Which Irish courses are at the top of your bucket list? Let us know in the comments or by getting in touch with us on X!
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