A Bit About Irish Golf Courses

 We have all heard about how wonderful the golf courses are in Ireland and Scotland. At this time I can only comment on Ireland but hope to be able to add Scotland soon.

The first premise of this golf trip was to play smaller more local courses that cost €50 or less per person. Since our experience and research shows that rental clubs per round, if the have them and they are usable, tend to be as costly as the round itself. We have rented clubs long term in Portugal and found a service in Ireland that met our needs. We rented our clubs for the entire time in Ireland from a company called Clubstohire. The website is www.clubstohire.com   The clubs were delivered to us at the car rental station at Dublin airport by Billy, amiable young man with good information. The clubs were high quality and suited us well. I should have ordered a club between fairway 3 wood and 5 hybrid but that was my failure not theirs and I managed. 

The first course was Roundwood Golf Club in county Wicklow on May 8, the weather was cool but not unpleasant. A parkland course with lovely trees and water to play with, saw lots of trees but avoided most of the water. The course was in very good condition considering they seemed to be just opening for the season. We were unable to play a complete round as the ‘buggy’ petered out at around 14. We made it back to the clubhouse OK. Enjoyable track that I would certainly play again. >Jane’s assessment awesome views of the ocean improves as you climb up to the 13 tee, need to be in shape to walk this one. wish we could have replayed!

The next round was at Waterford on May 10, the Waterford Castle Island Course. Ireland’s only island golf course. Another parkland course with the usual ubiquitous trees to navigate and some water but being an island the water is mostly around the course (the castle is impressive too). Idyllic setting, very quiet and beautiful everywhere you turn. The course was in wonderful condition. Great fairways and troublesome but well tended greens. We would most certainly return here to play! > Jane’s assessment plan time to take the car ferry across to the island and make sure to check out the castle, after your game, as you do t see it during.  Don’t be surprised to her shooting as the clay pigeon range is on the island as well.  Walkable iwill return to play!

Round three on May 12 is at Kenmare, the Kenmare Golf Club. And again a parkland course, after all we are in the ‘Garden of Ireland’. Another beautiful track, lots of trees and some water but not an issue. Immaculately kept, beautiful views and great weather make playing here a treat. Another must return course in Ireland. > Jane’s assessment this feels like an Irish course the last 4 holes are played by a boggy riverbed. Lots of hills.    Great views from the top.  this course is easily a return to play!

Onward and onto the Wild Atlantic Way. The next course is a bit of a lark, the Ballyheigue Castle Golf Club, May 14. A 9 hole course that is played on the castle grounds. Well kept and a challenging blended links/parkland styles on the same course with trees, great views and open fairways. Fun to play with panoramas of the castle and bay. Playing here again would be fun. > Jane’s comments. Drive through the castle gates , the clubhouse is at the castle.  this course is easily a return to play!

A liitle further down the road is Ballybunnion, an old links course through the dunes. Unfortunately it is €400 to play, a little out of our league. We walked a bit of the course and it is impressive.Janes thought we also did not have a helicopters to fly in by.

 

We decided to go to Lahinch, another old links course. Once more the main course is beyond our means but they have another across the road, the Lahinch Castle course. It was a good track, some nice terrain, with tough but doable holes. Not as nice or well tended as some of the other courses we have played but fun and you get the feeling of the style of design. >Jane’s assessment they did not water the course very much, but the natural rough was interesting to play out of.  Had an electric push cart which was nice, it is the course we are least likely to return to!

On May 17 we return southward to a smaller set of cliffs and a links style course. These are The Cliffs of Kilkee and the Kilkee Golf Club. We had not booked a tee time as, on line, there appears to be plenty of space. On arrival it is quite busy. The wonderful woman in the pro shop squeezed us in and provided a buggy to boot. The situation is similar to some our previous cliff courses and experiences but here there are no barriers to keep you from the edge of the cliff. The course, at first hugs the cliff line and you have amazing views of ocean, cliffs and rugged farmland. >Jane’s assessment this is truly an Irish golf course, ocean, cliffs, cows and wild flowers.  Trent parred the signature hole over the bay!  is this course is a must to play.

After three days in a row it’s time to rest. A day at the races, see the other post about that. We take our final swings at another parkland course near the track called Craddockstown. This one is a little tighter than some of the others and has more water in play. They have an interesting looking old clubhouse but unfortunately it had a fire and they were operating  out of a temporary trailer type building. The track is beautiful, big trees many turns, a bit up and down and wonderfully kept. The fairways and greens are in excellent condition. >Jane’s thiughts, absolutely gorgeous ponds with ducks and birds, bit of a climb on the back 9,  loved the giant golf ball at 18 green, front easily walkable.   easily a return to play!

All things considered we had a great time golfing in Ireland. The weather was stupendous, the courses were wonderful. Everyone was very pleasant and accommodating. We will certainly come back again as we only covered about two fifths of the island and there is plenty more to see and drink as well as a bundle of good (relative term, the golf is variable) golf to play on many beautiful and inviting courses.

Now, Jane’s assessment final, the courses in order of condition and play worthiness;

Craddockstown

Kilkee

Kenmare 

Roundwood

Waterford Castle

Ballyheigue 

Lahinch

The courses we most enjoyed playing, for conditions, scenery and fun were;

Kilkee

The next courses are basically tied for second;

Waterford Castle

Kenmare

Ballyheigue

Roundwood

Craddockstown

Unfortunately this course did not impress us and was in the least playable condition. That is not to say it wasn’t a good round but you expect a little more from the sister course (right across the road) of a track like the Lahinch Old Course.

Lahinch

Thank you for joining us for the golf in Ireland!