HOME AT FIRST's

  GOLF COURSES IN

Ireland

SPANISH POINT LINKS, COUNTY CLARE, WEST CENTRAL IRELAND         Home At First Photo

Golfing Gems on the Emerald Isle.

          Ireland ranks with Scotland as a world class destination for golfers. With over 200 golf courses, including several top-ranked championship seaside links courses and currently 7 courses ranked in the top 100 in the world, Ireland is a golfer's paradise. Excellent 9-hole and 18-hole courses are found throughout Ireland, in inland locations as well as along the coasts. Most of these welcome guests, primarily on weekdays (Monday through Friday), and offer club rental and motorized cart rental. The famed championship courses may require that guests provide a handicap card from the USGA certifying the candidate's proficiency at the game in order to obtain a tee time.
         See the following charts for information about some excellent courses within reach of HOME AT FIRST locations in Counties Tipperary & Clare (Central Ireland), Counties Cork & Kerry (Southwest Ireland), Counties Sligo & Donegal (Northwest Ireland), and the Antrim Coast (Northern Ireland).

FREE ADVANCE BOOKING OF TEE-TIMES!
          HOME AT FIRST can pre-arrange golf tee times at many of the courses listed below for its Ireland guests, who order by completing a special form after they sign up for their Ireland trip. There is no additional booking charge for this service, and golfers can arrange to play a different course each day if they wish, paying only the regular guest fees at each golf course.
          HOME AT FIRST also offers a special pre-paid 2-course package combining rounds over two days at the famed Ballybunion and Lahinch Old Courses.
        Guests also can arrange tee times independently in Ireland, as weather and their mood dictate, but it's best to do so at least 24 hours in advance (more for the internationally-famed courses).

CENTRAL IRELAND COURSES
Counties Tipperary, Kerry (north), Clare, Kildare, Limerick, Dublin, & Kilkenny

Greens
Fees* & Handicaps

ADARE MANOR
RESORT
« TOP INLAND COURSE «
Tel: +353 (0)61 605200
E-mail:
reservations@adaremanor.com

Adare Manor Golf Club, Adare,12 miles south of Limerick City on the Limerick-Killarney Road N21

Adare Manor (1995) is long (7,453 yards, although there are three progressively shorter alternate tee-boxes per hole), wooded, and involves water (3 lakes and the River Maigue) in the play of several holes. Architect Robert Trent Jones claims to have attempted to give Adare Manor "the flavor of Augusta National."

Adare Manor Golf Club, Adare,12 miles south of Limerick City on the Limerick-Killarney Road N21

Adare Manor (1902) is short (5,764 yards, par 69), tight, and mature, wooded, and involves water (the River Maigue) in the play of several holes. If the resort's course is likened to Augusta, the local course may be an Irish version of Merion.

1.6 miles south of Ballybunion village at the mouth of the Shannon in County Kerry.

Two great links courses. Both the par- 71 Old Course and the par-72 Cashen Course offer great challenge. The Old Course is currently ranked 7th in the world outside of the USA. Some rate the Cashen Course even higher.

Super
OLD COURSE
€180
Max Handicap:
Men-24 Women-36

High
CASHEN COURSE
€65

YES &
Caddies

3 miles N of Doonbeg village on the coast of County Clare between Kilkee and Lahinch.

New (2002) championship links course designed by Greg Norman. Built on pristine links land, this course is the center-piece of a resort designed to attract upscale (American) golfers. Par 72, 6,911 yards from championship tees.

Straffan on the River Liffey in County Kildare.

Two new (1991) Arnold Palmer's par 72 parkland courses (Palmer Course and Smurfit Course) on the River Liffey at Straffan west of Dublin. Setting: international resort with all the amenities. Palmer Course used for the Ryder Cup in 2006. Smurfit Course hosts annual Smurfit European Open.

Super
SMURFIT COURSE
€175

At Lahinch near the Cliffs of Moher on the coast of County Clare.

"The St. Andrews of Ireland", designed by Old Tom Morris (1894) and modified by Alister MacKenzie (1927) and Martin Hawtree (1999). The Old Course is a world class (ranked 41st outside of the U.S.) par-72 championship true links. 28km northwest of Ennis on N85/N67.

12 mi. SE of Kilkenny on N9 at Thomastown. County Kilkenny.

Challenging 7,300-yard, par-72 parkland resort course on elegant 1,500 acre estate. Designed by Jack Nicklaus (1991). Site of 3 Irish Opens and 2 AMEX World Golf Championships. Unique 18-hole putting course. Large practice area, restaurant, and complete facilities.

NENAGH

« VALUE LOCAL COURSE «
Tel: +353 (0)67 31476
E-mail:
info@nenaghgolfclub.com

4 mi. north of Nenagh on Old Birr Road at Beechwood, County Tipperary.

Fair but challenging 2001 upgrade of 1973 Eddie Hackett 18, itself an expansion of a 1929 9-hole Alister Mackenzie local course. Now a championship 18-hole, 6,625-yard, par 72 parkland course. Large practice area. Restaurant.

10 mi. north of Dublin and 10 miles east of Dublin Airport, on peninsula south of Portmarnock village, County Dublin.

Rated #24 in the world outside of the USA by Golf Magazine, this venerable (1893) links course has been the site of many great championships, including 19 Irish Opens. First 18 of its 27 holes are the original, and holes 14 through 18 are classics. Women may play as visitors but may not become members.

SE County Galway at the top of Lough Derg, principal lake of the Shannon waterway. One mile west of Portumna town on the R353 (Ennis Road).

New course (1992) for an old club (1913), carved out of the mature pine forest just north of the lake. Little sand, few hills, not much wind, and only one water hole (17th), but challenging due to tight fairways through the forest.

1/2 mile from Shannon International Airport, County Clare.

6,874 yard, par-72 American-style course near the airport. Dining facilities.

2 miles south of  Milltown Malbay village on N67, County Clare.

9-hole, 2,640-yard, par-34 seaside links course dating from 1896. 8 miles south of Lahinch. Advance tee times not required. Open to all golfers. Challenging, friendly, pure.

1 mile south of Thurles town on the N62 Cork Road.

6,663 yards, par 72 parkland course in County Tipperary. Thurles is neither especially long, nor wet. Its primary challenge is its mature woodland setting. Essentially an moderate cost, local course, Thurles also  occasionally hosts national and provincial championships.

NORTHWEST IRELAND COURSES
Counties Sligo & Donegal

LOCATION

DESCRIPTION

Greens
Fees & Handicaps

22 mi. north of Sligo town; 12 mi. south of Donegal town on the N15.

6,221 yard par-70 seaside links designed by the legendary Harry Vardon, 6-time British Open champion.

5 mi. south of Donegal town on the N15 at Murvagh.

New (1973), long (7,386 yard, par 73), beautiful and (when windy) difficult links course. Ranked #16 in Ireland and deserves to be the site of a major championship.

1/2 mi. from Enniscrone on the Ballina road. 45 min. west of Sligo Town in far western County Sligo near the border with County Mayo.

7,033 yard par 73 true links in NW County Sligo. Can be quite challenging in the wind. Known for its beauty at sunset. Ranked #10 in Ireland and has appeared on the top 100 list of golf courses outside of the United States.

25 mi. NW of Donegal town just off the R261 at Narin.

Natural links on peninsular setting with water & wind affecting most holes. Not long (6,856 yard, par 73), but plays long when windy (which is much of the time). Friendly, local welcome to visitors. What you should be looking for in classic Irish links golf.

COUNTY SLIGO
(Rosses Point)
« TOP LINKS COURSE «
Tel: +353 (0)71 9177134
E-mail: teresa@countysligogolfclub.ie

5 miles northwest of Sligo town at the end of the R291, Rosses Point Rd.

Famous 6,818-yard par 71 links on the tip of Rosses Point peninsula in Drumcliffe Bay. Scenic, challenging Ranked #11 in Ireland.

NORTHERN IRELAND COURSES
Counties Antrim & Londonderry

LOCATION

DESCRIPTION

Greens
Fees & Handicaps

6 mi. west of Coleraine on the A2.

6,747 yard par 73 links course with scenic views. A challenging and relatively well-kept secret on the Causeway Coast.

1 mi. west of town center of Portstewart.

3 18-hole courses including the Strand Course, one of the gems in the 3-pointed crown of Causeway Coast links courses. 6,895 yards, par 72. Overshadowed by neighboring Portrush's fame, but almost equal in challenge.

Riverside & Old (Town) Courses:
LOW
RIVERSIDE: £20–£25
OLD (TOWN): £10–£15

Dunluce Course ranked #3 in Ireland. Valley Course shorter, easier and much less expensive. 1/2 mi. east of Portrush town along the A2 Bushmills Rd.

Both courses designed by Harry S. Colt. Dunluce Course is currently rated #13 in the world outside of the USA. Only off-Britain site of British Open
in history (1951). Tight driving with devilish rough. 7,143 yards, par 72, SSS 73.

Valley Course: Moderate
£37.50–£45

SOUTHERN IRELAND COURSES
Counties Cork & Kerry (south)

LOCATION

DESCRIPTION

Greens
Fees & Handicaps

BANTRY BAY
« VALUE COURSE «
Tel: +353 (0)27 50579
E-mail:
info@bantrygolf.com

1 mi. N of Bantry town on west (sea) side of the N71.

6,719 yard par 71/73 cliff top seaside course with scenic views. Opened 1975. Designed by Eddie Hackett and Christy O'Connor, Jr.

FOTA ISLAND
« TOP INLAND COURSE «
Tel: +353 (0)21 488 3700
E-mail:
reservations@fotaisland.ie

10 mi. east of Cork City on Fota Island,
County Cork

Three long (7,000+ yards) inland resort course layouts with scenic views. Site of Irish Open 2001 and 2002. Newly (1999) refur-bished; challen-ging, and open to all levels of visitors.

OLD HEAD
« TOP SCENIC COURSE «
Tel: +353 (0)21 477 8444
E-mail:
reservations@oldhead.com

20 min. south of Kinsale 40 min. south of Cork City on the Old Head of Kinsale,
County Cork.

7,159 yard par 72 cliff top resort course with spectacular ocean views that ranks it with the world's most stunning golf locations. The late, great Eddie Hackett participated in designing the course. Very expensive. Caters to well-heeled visiting golfers. New in 1997. Ranked #60 in the world outside of the USA. Challenging — especially in high winds — but 5 tee positions help.

Waterville, Iveragh Peninsula, on the Ring of Kerry about an hour west of Kenmare, Co. Kerry.

7,311 yard, par 72, true links at the SW extreme of Ireland. Original 9-hole ITT company (transatlantic cable) course was redesigned into 18 holes by Eddie Hackett in 1973 and Americanized into a golf links resort by Tom Fazio (1990s-2006). Ranked #45 in the world outside of the USA.

   *GREENS FEES RATINGS: LOW=€15-35 MODERATE=€36-55; HIGH=€56-80; EXTREME=€81-130; SUPER=€130+
a
CURRENCY CONVERTER
a
Note: In Ireland, greens fees often are available per day, as well as per round (so play 36!)