You can easily imagine the rolling green meadows and parkland boasting over 350 golf courses in a land known as the Emerald Isle. There’s a reason that golfing has shot up to number six on the Lonely Planet’s guide to Ireland’s “must see/do” attractions.
As golfing has been a popular sport in Ireland nearly since its birth in nearby Scotland, Ireland golf has produced several top players in recent years, with players like Padraig Harrington, Paul, McGinley, and Darren Clark. Led by Clarke, they were part of the European team that successfully defended the Ryder cup. A young star to watch is Rory McIlory, who just turned 21, and who has already hit the World’s Top Ten. (Note: He beat out Phil Mickelson by four shots in April 2010 when he won the Quail Hollow Championship on the PGA Tour, shooting a course record 62 on the final day.)
Small wonder that there are so many good golfers as the country is punctuated with links and parkland courses from Northern Ireland to the south of the Republic of Ireland. Some of the most famous golf courses include the very exclusive Royal County Down Golf, Ballybunion, and Portmarnock.
Backspin Golf Magazine, an Irish publication, has started ranking the links and parkland courses separately. This year Mt Juliet, K Club (Palmer), and Adare topped the parkland courses, while Portmarnock, Royal County Down, and Royal Porthrush (Dunluce) headed the links list. Portmarnock has a truly privileged location, curving along a stretch of coastline on the Howth peninsula just 12 miles from downtown Dublin and has hosted twelve Irish Opens. The course has three nines -- Yellow, Red and Blue, with the latter two combined to make up the Championship course.
Even so, there are less well known ones to be savored. Kevin Markham, author of Hooked, in a recent blog describedThe Island Golf Club as “the most fun links on Dublin's shores.” As Markham put it, “Portmarnock and Royal Dublin get the hype and the awards, but there's a dash of adventure and considerably more impressive dunes at The Island.”
When it comes to adventures in Ireland, there’s a lot more than golfing, of course. When you plan your golf vacations, consider some of the other great things to do in this small jewel of an island. How about visiting a castle (and even kissing the legendary stone at Blarney Castle) or ancient abbey? Naturally after some great golf you deserve some Guinness and singing at an authentic Irish pub!
Explore the natural wonders of the Aran Islands or the lonely heath, or stroll on the banks of the Liffey and take in the Dublin architecture. My own favorite Dublin experience is the Abbey Theater, home to great dramas and dramatists. Are you more into the outdoors? For hiking, surfing, sailing, biking, Ireland offers plentiful gorgeous venues.
So get in your golf and Guinness, but don’t forget to see more of Ireland! There are some great golf packages that can put it all together for you. And on the courses, may the luck of the Irish be with you!
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