Golf MAINia

This is one of Ireland’s classic Golf Clubs founded in 1894, it’s recognition and testament to it’s fine quality golf course is founded by being the venue for the first ever Irish Open Amateur Championships done in 1896.  Barely two years after it was opened, then almost a century after, the Walker Cup was hosted by the Portmarnock Golf Club in 1991. One of the greatest honors the course has received was being ranked number 30 in 2005 by the famous Golf Digest in its annual top 100 courses outside the US.

The Portmarnock Golf Club started initially with only 9 holes, two years after, 9 more were added making it a complete 18 hole championship course. Eight decades after, another 9 holes were added making it a total of 27. Each of the 9 holes done in stages were an effort collaborated by the amateur members and professionals who joined their efforts to provide the club a golf course that was not only beautiful, but extremely challenging as well.

Many golfers, pros and amateurs, have acknowledged the fact that the Portmarnock is one of the justly dubbed great links in Ireland. The seaside breeze provides a cool refresher and it is also one of the natural enemies of every golfer. A gust of strong wind can easily sway a ball in flight. This course offers little blind curves and some classic bunkers. What you get is a course that will truly test your skills and define you as a golfer.

The course is situated 12 miles from the center of the city and is hugged on one side by the Howth peninsula coastline. While playing, a golfer is rewarded with stunning views from Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island. Taming the course is a delectable experience mixed with the peace and pensive ambiance, the well manicured greens, the tended landscape and the winds that abruptly changes both in direction and strength constantly.

Aside from the golf course which make the club well known. The Portmarnock Golf Club offers a variety of amenities and facilities as well. Backed by a dedicated and smiling staff, the Portmarnock Golf Club provides high international standard service to its members and guests.  A golfer may head on to the clubhouse straight to the locker rooms after a round to get refreshed in it’s shower facilities. They can also go to the bar and restaurant where fine dining on authentic Irish fare can be had. Or they can just go for some drinks and talk about the day’s events.

A well stocked pro shop also offers a wide range of top quality golf equipment like clubs, balls and tees. You can also be able to purchase great Portmarnock Golf Club clothing encrusted with their name and logo. They have in store different colors and designs of hats, shirts, pull-overs, jumpers and other gift packs as souvenirs or gifts.  There is also practice facilities which includes a putting and chipping green just adjacent to the clubhouse. You will also be able to rent pull carts and if they are available, caddies would be able to assist you as you play.  When it comes to a golf vacation in Ireland, the name Portmarnock is not to be missed.

Ranked number 16 in the world as one of the best golf courses, number 8 in the top 10 courses for welcome, number 6 in the worlds 10 most difficult courses and number 1 in the world in the 10 best value courses, indeed, the Dooks Golf Club is one of Irelands best attractions.  It has continued to draw in tourists to it’s vast and rolling greens.  Found along the Dingle Bay with mountains bordering it’s three sides, the Dooks Golf Club offers a course that combines flat and wide greens on some holes and highly elevated greens on the others. It’s length of 6500 yards is filled with blind shots and trees and contradictory flat and easily visible holes.

Established in 1889, the Dooks Golf Club was promoted by the Royal Horse Artillery to the nearby aristocratic golfers while being stationed and training in the area. It is now one of the oldest golf links in Ireland. It’s location itself has provided many of it’s members and visitors a chance to experience true Irish traditional culture and the famed traditions. For every golfer that has been looking for a golf course that can offer a tranquil environment, the Dooks Golf Club epitomizes this concept.  Starting out as a 9 hole course, it has evolved into an 18 hole course almost a century after in 1970 when it’s members decided to add some holes.

This golf club has never failed to leave a good impression in every golfer that has played a round in its course and has left a lasting mark with its habitat, amazing wildlife and features of it’s lands. There you will see the vast number of flora that dots its courses and captures the imagination and appreciation of those that have walked its greens.  For those who love bird watching as much as they do golf, this is a nesting ground for many beautiful birds like the Skylark, Pennyroyal and the Whimbrel among a host of others.  Aside from its natural beauty, the Dooks Golf Club also offers modern state of the art amenities that are affixed with traditional designs that showcase the history of Dooks Golf Club and it’s evolution to a world class link golf course.

It’s clubhouse alone has been the recipient of extensive remodeling in the past years but still is able to retain its rustic and friendly ambiance and atmosphere. You can get superb Irish and other meals in their restaurant or have a relaxing drink at the end of the day in their bar.  Many golfers have neglected this course and have set their sights to the more popular golf courses in Waterville. But to those who have decided to slow down and check out Dooks, they have made one of the best decisions they could ever make.

Rarely would those golfers who have had a taste of Dooks have a bad thing to say about the course. Many of them have been returning since then and have regarded the place as one of the best golf vacation spots in Ireland.  Found in Glenbeigh, County Kerry, this Irish golf gem should always be on top of a golfer’s vacation wish list. The next time you have the time to experience golf at its finest, check out Dooks Golf Club and play golf the way it should be played.

Getting a booking in the old course of the Ballybunion Golf Club can be quite difficult especially in the peak season. A long list is filled up months before the season and most of them are seasoned golfers looking forward to the difficult yet very relaxing links. But if you don’t get the chance to have some tee time on the old course, you may find that the Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen Course, it’s new course, can be quite as challenging and some might say its more challenging.  Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen course features spectacular yet difficult long links dotted with enormous sand dunes.  Which means you have to make the ball fly when you play to the number of greens that has been elevated in these treacherous course.

While scores of golfers from all over the world flock to Southwest Ireland for the old Ballybunion Golf Club Course, local golfers tend to prefer the new Cashen Course. Many low handicapped golfers have also expressed their preference for the new course, but the old still remains as a must go to and play course for all golfers, for maybe at least once.  The Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen Course has traditional links and like the old course, it is exceptionally unique and is set with the greatest sand dunes found in golf courses world wide. Both are also designed along the Atlantic Ocean offering a calming back drop.  The Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen Course is also a private members only club like the old course, but they do sometimes allow limited public access during weekdays. Limited guest plays are also allowed but must always be accompanied by a member.

The Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen Course has set booking conditions so that other golfers can be accommodated as some of them come from different parts of the globe. Some of the conditions are:

·    All payments are non-transferable and non-refundable.
·    Bookings not paid by the due date will be removed from the list
·    Payment in full must be given 28 days after reservations has been made.
·    Payments can be done via cash, cheque or credit cards.
·    A handicap limit is observed. 24 for males and 36 for females.
·    The certificate of handicaps should be presented on the day of reservation.
·    A group of four would only be the allowable number in each play.

Being one of the most sought after golf clubs in Ireland and the world, members, guests and visitors are expected to follow a dress code that would met the clubs high standards and should be neat, tidy and clean.

You will not be accepted in the club if you were the following:

·    Sleeveless, singlets and shirts with no collars.
·    Outfits with slogans.
·    Shorts that are not tailored.
·    Untucked shirts
·    Leisure or track suits.
·    Also, pant legs should not be tucked inside the top of the socks.

Carts are now also available to be used around the Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen course, it will only set you back 3.50 Euros for each cart for each round. You can also ride on buggies in the Cashen which is prohibited on the old course.  When it comes to golf courses, the Ballybunion Golf Club has more than a century of experience in the industry.  Whether it’s the old or new, you can be sure that you will get one of the more satisfying golf vacation trips in Ireland that you’ll ever have.

Many Irish golf historians would agree that it’s vast number of golf courses is a direct influence of the stay of the British forces in the latter part of the 1800s. Wherever there was a garrison stationed, the game of golf was surely to be played. That is why there are many golf courses in Ireland that is more than a century old yet provides modern facilities and technologies and has received many reconstruction to keep up with the modern times and to maintain its natural beauty.

There is a golf links course at the edge of the northwest side of Ireland that has less history and age but is at par with the rest of them. Started in 1973, the Connemara Golf Links is a great challenge to anyone who swings their clubs at her greens. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and back dropped by Irish mountains, this par 72 links course provides an invigorating golf game that would surely entice those who have played there to come back for more.  Adding more elements to this memorable course is the breathtaking views that abound the entire 7,000 yard course. Raising from the Atlantic Ocean are mesmerizing rainbows that makes a golfer feel one with his surroundings.  The continual gusts of winds can be very refreshing, but they can also be the scourge for many golfers. A golfer can never expect the directions of the wind, much less the weather all year round.

The 27-hole Connemara championship golf links course shall also expose the golfer to many of natures wonders as Connemara ponies and swans can be seen and even a castle is bound to be seen as you play along. The course takes so many twists and turns as well as ups and downs through rocky and rolling hills with mesmerizing ocean and mountain scenes.  After a round of golf and viewing the scenery, a member or a golfer can go to the Connemara Golf Links clubhouse for more sightseeing as well as some fine dining. The clubhouse restaurant offers a wide array of Irish dishes as well as other dishes from around the world, sure to tickle the palate of the most discriminating eater. There is also a bar where you can have a drink or two to swap stories and unwind with your golf buddies.

Didn’t bother to take your clubs with you? That’s okay, the Connemara Golf Links has a pro shop that can offer rental clubs and other things that a golfer may need. You can get souvenir items as well as caddy cars, motorized buggies, and get caddies to accompany you while you play.  The Connemara Golf Links newly renovated locker rooms are also world class quality and there is also practice fairway and putting greens where you can warm up and get ready before setting your foot in the actual course.  There are many accommodations that are set up near the Connemara Golf Links so you won’t have to drive too far just to get in a game. All of them provide excellent service and fantastic rooms.  Enjoy the Irish welcome and great culture as you go to the Connemara Golf Links on your next golfing vacation. This will be a golfing experience you will never forget.