Golf vacations allow you to combine your time off with a chance to play some of the best and most famous courses in the world. Next to Scotland, no country has a deeper history or connection to the game of golf than Ireland. Golf travel in Ireland combines magical landscapes, the best championship and local courses and a feeling that you’re golfing in one of the most historic regions of the world.
It’s been said that golf is a good excuse for a walk, and if that’s all you’re looking for on your vacation, Ireland provides it in full measure. The Irish links are situated on some of the most beautiful land in the world. From courses located on the rugged Northern Coast to links style greens that inhabit the misty inner reaches of the Emerald Isle, every Irish golf course provides stunning views and vistas. You may find yourself teeing off with your back to the prevailing sea winds one day and trying to concentrate on a putt surrounded by eerie mists and ancient trees the next.
If, on the other hand, the game of golf is all about the skills, Ireland golf won’t disappoint. The greens and links of the Emerald Isle are some of the trickiest in the world—they had to be to fit into the rights of way on which the original public golf courses were built. Many of the courses feature narrow, bent greens that require you bring your top skills to the game to play anywhere close to par on each hole.
If neither the skills nor the scenery are enough to bring you to Ireland for the golf, then the hospitality surely will. The golf clubs in the Emerald Isle are reputed to be among the most hospitable in the world. From the smallest village to the grand cities, Irish golfers are always ready to raise a pint with you while they regale you with tales of the country’s golfing past. If you think that fishermen’s tales of the one that got away were entertaining, it’s only because you’ve never heard an Irish golfer tell the tale of the hole-in-one that almost wasn’t.
If you’re convinced that you’ll find the luck of the Irish on an Irish golf course, these tips may help you enjoy your vacation all the more.
If you play the links courses, be prepared to walk. Most links courses do not allow buggies. Some may allow you to pull a golf cart, and the more luxurious will provide a caddy to carry your clubs.
Prepare yourself for the wind if you play seaside links. No matter which direction you’re playing in, the wind always seems to be in your face. It may not be a manly thing, but be sure to pack along moisturizer to diminish the chapping and windburn. No one can have fun when their face is smarting and burning.
If you’re considering Irish golf vacations, contact a tour operator who specializes in organizing tours of the Irish links. They’re in the know about the best deals and best courses to play on the greenest little island on earth.
