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Your chance to play twelve of Ireland’s greatest courses…
Royal Portrush, Ballyliffin, Royal County Down, The Island, Druids Glen, Portmarnock, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville and Old Head Links.
Your golfing pilgrimage starts in Northern Ireland at Royal Portrush the only course off the British mainland to have hosted The Open (1951); it’s not far from Royal County Down, the other ‘Royal’ for which Northern Ireland is justifiably so famous, as dramatically beautiful and challenging as any and always listed in the top ten of the world’s best links. In between you visit the Republic to play the lesser known Ballyliffin, but what a gem, carved out of terrain that Faldo described as the most natural linksland he had ever seen. The remainingnine rounds of your tour are all in the Republic. On your way to historic Dublin you stop to play The Island, a championship track built in 1890 amongst sweeping dunes.
Next, only about an hour away from the capital is Druids Glen, a stunning parkland course which hosted four Irish Opens in a row up to 1999 and which in ’06 was declared the European Golf Resort of the Year. Close to Dublin is also Portmarnock, the classic, revered links which has hosted eleven Irish Opens. Moving on you travel by coach to the west coast, to the golf-centric village of Lahinch. First up, right in the town itself is the classic links of Lahinch,originally laid out by Old Tom Morris. Next you play nearby Doonbeg, the new gem cut out of the dunes in minimalist fashion by Greg Norman (who is a member). Now you head south and a short ferry trip across the Shannon Estuary takes you to County Kerry, home of many of Ireland’s best loved courses, starting with Ballybunion. The writings of legendary American golf journalist Herbert Warren Wind, plus the ringing endorsements of Tom Watson, (recently Captain of Ballybunion) have ensured world renown for Ballybunion and have made it the most sought-after course in Ireland.
After playing, the coach takes you to Killarney, your base to play the rest of the best of County Kerry – Tralee, Arnold Palmer’s first European venture, cannot fail to excite with its daring layout and spectacular scenery which featured so prominently in the film epic, Ryan’s Daughter; and Waterville on the southern tip of the Ring of Kerry, Ireland’s most famous scenic drive. The drive itself is worth the 1½ hour journey, but to be able to play this wild links, nestled in a moonscape of dunes, is a very special bonus indeed. Your final destination is County Cork where the last course you play is incomparable Old Head Links, simply the most spectacular course on the planet.
The Golf of Your Dreams. Don’t Dream It. Do It!
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