The emerald isle is home to 7 of the worlds top 100 courses, however trying to play all of them in one trip requires at least 4 different hotels, or a lot of driving on small country roads. With the help of a Halcyon Golf Travel trip planner this is of course possible to organise, but for optimal “Craic” we recommend picking 2 locations to stay and play. This allows you to play a handful of world famous courses along with some amazing hidden gems you’ve probably never heard of. Not only does this bring down the cost of your golf vacation to Ireland, it gives you some time to explore, relax and enjoy a pint of Guinness at the local pub. The four main golfing locations are Dublin, Northern Ireland, North West Ireland and South West Ireland.

If you’re travelling all the way across the Atlantic for a once in a lifetime golf tour of Ireland, your first reaction will be to ignore this tip. Please read on, you should trust us on this one!

• • • • • A lot of the top courses in Ireland don’t allow golf carts, so walking 1 or 2 rounds every day (especially if you’re used to riding) can get tiring. Leave a rest day for a massage!
        • Especially on the West coast, the weather can get a little wild. Leaving a free day gives you the option of skipping golf one day and moving it to the free day if the weather is too bad.
        • Leaving a free day gives you the option of spontaneity! You might fall in love with a place and want to spend an extra day there, or meet a local who invites you to their home course.
        • Ireland is full to the brim with hidden gems. Having a free day allows you to play that course you drove past that looked awesome.
        • Ireland is famous for its castles and churches, amazing pubs and beautiful feats of natural beauty such as The Giants Causeway. Not to mention the Guinness factory and Irish whisky distilleries. Use your day off to explore Ireland.

A golf trip to Ireland wouldn’t be authentic without at least one day of lousy weather. Layering up with thin layers is the best way to go for links golf as the weather can change quickly. Rain gloves, waterproofs and a snood are essentials for golf tours in Ireland.

In parts of Ireland the roads can be very small, windy and of course you drive on the left. If you opt for a self drive option then planning to drive when its light can prove very useful. If you’re used to driving an automatic transmission, make sure thats what your rental is (it usually costs a little more). The rental cars here are smaller than in the USA, so pack accordingly. If you’re in a group larger than four then its definitely worth paying extra for a driver guide. It will be a much more relaxing experience and means everyone can enjoy a drink after their round. Your personal Halcyon Golf Travel trip advisor will be at hand to help you choose the most appropriate transport option for your golf trip to Ireland.

Remember Northern Ireland uses pounds (£) and Ireland uses Euros €. The pound is generally around 10-20% stronger than the euro. It’s cheaper to exchange your cash at home rather than at the airport / cash machines in Ireland. You only need cash for paying caddies and tipping; most other things can be paid by card. We recommend downloading an app such as Revolut for card payments, this ensures you get the best exchange rates and minimal fees for spending abroad.

Ireland is very well connected with the USA and the rest of the world. From the USA you have 2 direct flight options. Dublin (flights from 16 US cities) or Shannon (Flights from 5 US cities). The golfing geography of Ireland is easiest to understand split into four sections. Dublin, Northern Ireland, Southwest Ireland and Northwest Ireland. Dublin airport is obviously best for golf in the Dublin area and its easy to nip up into Northern Ireland to play Royal County Down and Royal Portrush. Shannon is best located for a Southwest tour of Ballybunion, Lahinch and Waterville. Its also easy to head directly North to play Rosapenna, County Sligo and Ballyliffin from Shannon.