The Best 7 Golf Courses In Ireland

Golf is a beloved sport in Ireland with a rich history and a thriving ecosystem. The country boasts over 400 golf courses, some of which are internationally renowned for their scenic beauty and challenging layouts. These courses are supported by more than 400 golf clubs, which range from small local organizations to large national groups. Many of these clubs have deep roots in their communities and contribute to the local golf culture.

In addition to the numerous golf courses and clubs, Ireland also hosts several significant tournaments each year. The Irish Open is one of the most prominent, and it is part of the European Tour. Another important tournament is the Dunhill Links Championship, which takes place on courses in both Ireland and Scotland.

Irish golfers have also made significant contributions to the sport. Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Darren Clarke are just a few of the notable golfers from Ireland who have achieved international success. Their accomplishments have helped raise the profile of golf in Ireland and have inspired a new generation of players.

The golf ecosystem in Ireland is thriving, with a rich history, world-class courses, and a deep passion for the sport among its players and fans.

Ballybunion Golf Club - Ballybunion, County Kerry, Ireland

Ballybunion Golf Club is a prestigious golf club located in the town of Ballybunion, County Kerry, Ireland. It was founded in 1893 and has since established itself as one of the top golf clubs in Ireland and the world.

The club has two championship courses, the Old Course and the Cashen Course. The Old Course is the club's flagship course and is considered one of the best golf courses in the world. It has hosted many prestigious events, including the Irish Open, the Palmer Cup, and the Curtis Cup.

The Old Course is known for its challenging layout, particularly its narrow fairways and undulating greens, as well as its stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the nearby cliffs. The Cashen Course, on the other hand, offers a more modern and challenging golfing experience, with wide fairways and strategically placed bunkers.

Ballybunion Golf Club has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades over the years. The Old Course is currently ranked as the No. 7 golf course in the world by Golf Digest, and has been consistently ranked among the top 10 golf courses in Ireland and the UK by various publications. The club has also been ranked among the top 100 golf clubs in the world by Golf World.

Royal County Down Golf Club - Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland

Royal County Down Golf Club is a private golf club located in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is situated in a stunning location on the eastern coast of Northern Ireland, with views of the Irish Sea and the Mountains of Mourne.

The club was founded in 1889 and has since established a reputation as one of the finest golf clubs in the world. The club features two 18-hole courses, the Championship Course and the Annesley Links Course. The Championship Course is widely regarded as one of the most challenging and scenic golf courses in the world, with the ninth hole often cited as one of the best holes in golf.

Royal County Down has hosted many prestigious golf events over the years, including the Walker Cup in 2007 and the Irish Open in 2015. The club has also been consistently ranked among the top golf courses in the world by publications such as Golf Digest and Golf World, and was ranked as the number one golf course outside of the United States by Golf Digest in 2016.

The club is known for its traditional and welcoming atmosphere, and its commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. It remains a popular destination for golfers from around the world who come to play on its world-class courses and experience the stunning scenery of Northern Ireland.

Royal Portrush Golf Club - Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Royal Portrush Golf Club is a private golf club located in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1888 and features two 18-hole courses, the Dunluce Links Course and the Valley Links.

The Dunluce Links Course is the club's championship course and is widely regarded as one of the best links courses in the world. It has hosted many prestigious events, including the Open Championship in 1951 and again in 2019, making it one of only 10 courses outside of Scotland to have hosted the championship.

Royal Portrush is known for its stunning coastal location, challenging courses, and warm and welcoming atmosphere. The club is committed to promoting the game of golf and offers a range of services and facilities for golfers of all ages and abilities.

Over the years, Royal Portrush has won numerous awards and accolades, including being named “Best Golf Course in the World” by Golf.com in 2019. The club is also actively involved in supporting local charities and community initiatives, and has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

Portmarnock Golf Club - Portmarnock, County Dublin, Ireland

Portmarnock Golf Club is a prestigious golf club located in Portmarnock, County Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1894 and has since established itself as one of the top golf clubs in Ireland and the world.

The club has one championship course, the Portmarnock Links. It is known for its challenging layout, with narrow fairways and fast greens, as well as its stunning views of the nearby coastline and the Dublin Mountains.

The Portmarnock Links has hosted many prestigious events, including the Irish Open, the Walker Cup, and the Canada Cup. It has been widely praised for its design and is ranked as one of the best golf courses in the world.

Portmarnock Golf Club has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades over the years. The Portmarnock Links is currently ranked among the top 30 golf courses in the world by Golf Digest, and has been consistently ranked among the top 10 golf courses in Ireland and the UK by various publications. The club has also been ranked among the top 100 golf clubs in the world by Golf World.

Lahinch Golf Club - Lahinch, County Clare, Ireland

Lahinch Golf Club is a prestigious golf club located in the town of Lahinch, County Clare, Ireland. It was founded in 1892 and has since established itself as one of the top golf clubs in Ireland and the world.

The club has two championship courses, the Old Course and the Castle Course. The Old Course is the club's flagship course and is considered one of the best links courses in the world. It has hosted many prestigious events, including the Irish Open and the South of Ireland Championship.

The Old Course is known for its challenging layout, with undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and fast greens. It also offers stunning views of the nearby Atlantic Ocean and the nearby Cliffs of Moher. In addition to the Old Course, the Castle Course is also a popular course among golfers, offering a different but equally enjoyable golfing experience.

Lahinch Golf Club has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades over the years. The Old Course is currently ranked as the No. 15 golf course in the world by Golf Digest, and has been consistently ranked among the top 10 golf courses in Ireland and the UK by various publications. The club has also been ranked among the top 100 golf clubs in the world by Golf World.

Waterville Golf Links - Waterville, County Kerry, Ireland

Waterville Golf Links is a prestigious golf club located in the town of Waterville, County Kerry, Ireland. It was founded in 1889 and has since established itself as one of the top golf clubs in Ireland and the world.

The club has one championship course, the Waterville Links. It is known for its stunning location on the Ring of Kerry, with views of the Atlantic Ocean and nearby mountains. The course itself is a challenging links course, with undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and fast greens.

The Waterville Links has hosted many prestigious events, including the Irish Open and the Senior British Open. It has been widely praised for its design and is ranked as one of the best golf courses in the world.

Waterville Golf Links has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades over the years. The Waterville Links is currently ranked as one of the top 100 golf courses in the world by Golf Digest, and has been consistently ranked among the top 10 golf courses in Ireland and the UK by various publications. The club has also been ranked among the top 100 golf clubs in the world by Golf World.

Tralee Golf Club - Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland

Tralee Golf Club is a prestigious golf club located in the town of Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. Since its establishment in 1896, Tralee Golf Club has become renowned as one of the leading golf clubs in Ireland and the world.

The club's 18-hole championship course, the Tralee Links was designed and built by Arnold Palmer. It is known for its stunning location on the Wild Atlantic Way, with views of the nearby mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. The course itself is a challenging links course, with undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and fast greens.

The Tralee Links has hosted many prestigious events, including the Irish Open and the Kerry Scratch Cup. The club has also been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades over the years. The Tralee Links is currently ranked as one of the top 100 golf courses in the world by Golf Digest, and has been consistently ranked among the top 10 golf courses in Ireland and the UK by various publications. The club has also been ranked among the top 100 golf clubs in the world by Golf World.

The European Club - Brittas Bay, County Wicklow, Ireland

The European Club is a prestigious golf club located in Brittas Bay, County Wicklow, Ireland. It was founded in 1987 by Pat Ruddy and has since established itself as one of the top golf clubs in Ireland.

The 18-hole championship course is known for its challenging links layout, with undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and fast greens. The course has been designed to provide a true test of golfing ability, with a variety of challenges to suit golfers of all levels.

The course has hosted numerous high-profile golf tournaments, including the Irish PGA Championship, and has been consistently ranked among the top golf courses in Ireland and Europe by golf publications such as Golf Digest.

The club has received numerous accolades for its outstanding course design and maintenance, including being named one of the “Top 100 Courses in the World” by Golf World magazine.

County Sligo Golf Club - Rosses Point, County Sligo, Ireland

County Sligo Golf Club, also known as Rosses Point, is a prestigious golf club located in County Sligo, Ireland, on the northwest coast of the country. The club was founded in 1894 and boasts a championship links golf course that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Benbulben Mountain.

The golf course has hosted several major national and international golf tournaments, including the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship. The club has also produced several notable golfers, including West of Ireland champions Cecil Ewing and Shane Lowry, who went on to win the 2019 Open Championship.

County Sligo Golf Club has been recognized for its exceptional course design and maintenance, receiving accolades such as being named one of the “Top 100 Courses in Ireland” by Golf Digest.

The K Club - Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland

The K Club is a prestigious golf club located in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland. It was founded in 1991 by businessman Michael Smurfit and has since established itself as one of the top golf clubs in Ireland and the world.

The club has two championship courses, the Palmer North Course and the Palmer South Course. The Palmer North Course designed by Arnold Palmer has hosted many prestigious events, including the Ryder Cup in 2006. The Palmer South Course is a challenging parkland course that has also hosted many prestigious events, including the Smurfit European Open.

In addition to its world-class golf courses, The K Club also features luxurious accommodations, spa facilities, and dining options. The resort has won numerous awards and accolades over the years, including the title of “Best Luxury Golf Resort in Ireland” by the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

The K Club has been the recipient of many golf-related awards and accolades as well. Both the Palmer North Course and the Palmer South Course are ranked among the top golf courses in Ireland and the UK by various publications. The Palmer North Course is also ranked among the top 100 golf courses in the world by Golf Digest.