Ireland

Ireland is home to some of the world’s finest golf courses, with each region offering a distinct flavor of the game. Whether you're teeing off along the wild Atlantic coast or navigating parkland fairways inland, every corner of the country offers unforgettable golfing experiences. Here’s a regional breakdown of the best golf courses across Ireland.

The Southwest of Ireland is home to a number of iconic courses. Ballybunion Golf Club has two courses, the Old and Cashen. The club is a crown jewel of Irish golf.

With towering dunes, narrow fairways, and punishing rough, it’s a true links challenge. The Atlantic backdrop and ever-changing winds make each round unique. Golf legends, including Tom Watson, have praised it as one of the best in the world.

Waterville Golf Links is situated on the Ring of Kerry and blends history and scenic beauty with challenging design. Overlooking Ballinskelligs Bay, the course features rolling links terrain and strong coastal winds. It’s both beautiful and demanding—a favorite among professionals preparing for The Open.

Lahinch Golf Club is affectionaley know as the “St Andrews of Ireland,” thanks to design influences from Old Tom Morris and Alister MacKenzie. The course features blind shots, rolling dunes, and constant winds from Liscannor Bay.

Old Head Golf Links juts into the Atlantic Ocean and offers one of the most dramatic settings in golf. Perched on sea cliffs, the course is visually stunning and strategically designed. Though newer than other classics, its setting makes it a must-play.

On the East Coast around Dublin lies Portmarnock Golf Club, a course amongst Ireland’s most historic and prestigious courses. Its classic links layout is traditional and straightforward, with natural defenses like wind and subtle undulations. The Irish Open and Walker Cup have both been held here.

Royal Dublin Golf Club, founded in 1885 and located on Bull Island in Dublin Bay, is one of Ireland’s oldest and finest links courses. Redesigned by Harry Colt in the 1920s, its fair yet strategic layout features deep bunkers and coastal breezes. With a championship pedigree—having hosted multiple Irish Opens—it offers a classic, city-accessible links experience rich in history and character.

The European Club is located south of Dublin in Brittas Bay and is a modern links course with old-school toughness. Designed by Pat Ruddy, it features huge dunes, innovative holes, and some of the longest par-4s in Ireland. It’s a stern test in a stunning setting.

The Northwest of Ireland contains a number of "under the radar" courses best characterised with remote beauty and rugged challenge.

Carne Golf Links is one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets and is a remote masterpiece in Belmullet. Surrounded by towering dunes and the wild Atlantic, the course feels untouched and natural. It’s pure links golf at its most raw and thrilling.

Enniscrone Golf Club is a stunning seaside links, originally designed by Eddie Hackett and later refined by Donald Steel. Set amid towering dunes on Killala Bay, its par-73 Dunes Championship course delivers dramatic coastal views, challenging layouts, and a top‑100 Irish links experience.

Rosapenna Golf Resort is a renowned links destination featuring three exceptional 18-hole courses set along the rugged Sheephaven Bay coastline. The most recently opened course is St. Patrick's Links designed by Tom Doak and celebrated as one of the top course sin the country rising to number 49 globally with bold dunes and stunning ocean views. The other two courses onsite (Old Tom Morris Links and Sandy Hills Links) complement their younger sibling.

From the windswept links of the southwest to the elegant courses of the east and the wild beauty of the northwest, Ireland offers a golf experience like no other. Each region delivers its own version of magic—making Ireland a must-visit for golfers everywhere.