Golf MAINia

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.

When it comes to the ideal golf vacation spots in Ireland, the Southwest area is riddled with amazing golf courses filled with great links and stunning views. In these parts you will see Ireland’s most sought after golf courses all eager to line up for some tee time, the Ballybunion Golf Club, particularly it’s old course.

Many popular names in the world of golf have experienced the wondrous allure of Ballybunion and have continually used it as a warm up course to unwind and relax before The Open. Names like Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods and Tom Watson have registered in it’s log book.  Providing great reviews and comments to this wondrous and mesmerizing Irish golf vacation spot.  Being the millennium captain of the Ballybunion Golf Club, Tom Watson said that it is one of the best and most beautiful tests of links he has played in, having played there since 1981.  Here in the old golf course, you will find very challenging links where the winds are constant factors and the land is surrounded by the captivating view of the Atlantic.

Opened in August 18, 1893, The Ballybunion Golf Club has had it’s shares of ups and downs. In it’s early days, The Ballybunion Golf Club did not enjoy the popularity it does today and has fallen into financial oblivion. It’s first eight years reeled the course to it’s all time low and was soon revived only by the changing of the officers of the club.  As more developments and land links were laid out, the reputation of The Ballybunion Golf Club grew and grew. By 1926, the course had plans to extend to a full 18 holes, barely a year after, those plans were realized. It’s national level of recognition started in 1932 when the Irish Ladies Championship was held there. Five years after, Irish Mens Close Amateur Championship followed suit.  The first most significant level of competition came at 1957 when the course was chosen as the venue for the Irish Professional Championship. Soon after, waves of other competitions and golf organizations recognized its high quality links and have given it high accolades.

After more than 60 years, The Ballybunion Golf Club finally got the recognition it so rightly deserves and things were never quite the same. Golfers now come in droves from all over the world to experience what the lucky Irish people have had for more than a century now. The Ballybunion Golf Club would always be recognized as Ireland’s greatest golf vacationing spot.  But aside from it’s majestic and amazing rolling dunes, and the mesmerizing backdrop set by the Atlantic Ocean, the tradition and culture that has made Ballybunion Golf Club what it is today is what keeps the people coming in.

Ballybunion has world class amenities that can cater to the needs of so many golfers from all over the world. There you would find a newly built clubhouse that has a dining room that can seat 120 persons, two bars and some very relaxing lounge areas. There is also a Pro Golf Shop that carries every golfing needs that you may have.  Being a championship golf course, you will be able to find some practice facilities such as, putting greens, a sand bunker practice facility, driving range, and a chipping green.  The Ballybunion Golf Club is located at Sandhill Road, Ballybunion, Country Kerry, Ireland. For the greatest golf vacation spot in Ireland, this is a century old choice for the pros.

The competition to be regarded as among the best golf courses in Ireland is fierce. In a country where there is only about 6 million people, Ireland has about 410 golf courses that caters to golfers from all over the world. They offer both parkland and links golf courses and is a premier golf vacation spot where game styles and accommodations vary.

Situated in Killarney and is a part of The Churchtown Estate, The Beaufort Golf Club is a parkland championship course that is engulfed by the renowned McGillycuddy Reeks Mountains that provides spectacular scenery laden all throughout the course. Along the scenic views, the ruins of The Castle Core sit beside the 13th green. Entering the course, you will see 200 year old trees lined up.  With it’s exceptional mild climate and the natural drainage of this par 71 course, playing in the Beaufort Golf Club will most certainly be very enjoyable. The first nine holes can be found at the west side of the avenue while its back nine provides more eye candy as they are nearer to the highest mountains in Ireland on the south side.

Measuring 6,587 yards, The Beaufort Golf Club is a great alternative for the many beautiful link courses that abound in Ireland. You could also lounge around in their cozy clubhouse that permeates an aura of mixture of tradition, history and modern developments. The clubhouse is easily located being nearby to the main house of the club. Beyond it is a formal rose garden and inside the clubhouse, you will be able to see the practice putting green. Here you will be able to find many facilities that you could go to for all your golf needs, fine dining or maybe just a couple of pints of Guinness.

Just four miles from Killarney, Ireland’s most vibrant town, the site for The Beaufort Golf Club is in a valley that was said to be created 10,000 years ago by the Ice Age. Getting there is easy but living the warm welcome and the great environment can be pretty hard.  You and your family will be able to enjoy a golf vacation together. It doesn’t matter if not all of you plays golf. The rich culture and history of Ireland and the town of Killarney coupled with it’s many fine dining restaurants and countless points of interest can cater to all the needs of the group.

The nearby Killarney Golf Course also can offer you an alternative choice as you can alternate from each course to the other for variation. Both are just stone’s throw away from the town of Killarney and can be easily gone to everyday.  After your round of golf, you can just go back to the town, dress up and explore the many wonders and forms of entertainment that the town offers.

Going to Ireland for a golf vacation trip can be quite costly. But with all the wondrous sites, great accommodations and the warm welcome you will get will make every penny spent truly well worth it.  You can check out the internet for contact information to The Beaufort Golf Club or you can just visit their website. You may also talk to your local travel agency or to any other online agency to see about travel golf packages to Ireland.