Ireland – The Golfing Dream
For golfers, there are few places on earth that stir the soul like Ireland. Wind, rain, sunshine — sometimes all in the same round — these courses don’t just test your swing, they test your spirit.
With the 2027 Ryder Cup heading to Adare Manor, the buzz around Irish golf is only growing. At Fáilte Tours Ireland, we’ve spent many an evening debating which courses top the list. The arguments get lively, the pints flow, and somehow the list always changes. But there are nine that never leave the conversation.
1. Old Head, Kinsale
You don’t just play Old Head — you survive it, and then you fall in love with it. The course juts out into the Atlantic like a blade, with waves hammering the cliffs below. On a breezy day, which are common,, you’ll wonder how your ball stayed on the fairway at all. And yet, between the views and the adrenaline, there’s nothing else quite like it.
2. Waterville, Kerry
Down in Kerry, Waterville has a rugged beauty that sneaks up on you. The dunes roll like frozen waves, and the Atlantic never leaves your side. It’s been a favourite of Tiger Woods and Mark O’Meara, but truth be told, it’s the kind of course that makes every golfer feel like they’ve joined a long tradition and played a round in heaven.
3. Royal Portrush, Antrim
Step onto Portrush and you’re walking in the footsteps of champions. It’s the only Irish course to host The Open, and you understand why the moment you hit the first tee. The Dunluce Links are dramatic, punishing at times, but fair. On a clear day, the views stretch forever, but it’s the history that really gets under your skin.
4. Ballybunion, Kerry
Ballybunion feels like it grew out of the land itself. No manicured perfection here — just raw, natural links. The dunes are enormous, the fairways tumble, and the ocean is always in the corner of your eye. Many golfers say it’s their favourite not because it’s easy (it isn’t) but because it feels so honest.
5. Adare Manor, Limerick
Adare is different. It’s luxury, it’s polished, it’s parkland rather than pure links — and it’s going to be the stage for the Ryder Cup in 2027. Redesigned to perfection, with immaculate greens and a five-star Manor attached, it’s golf wrapped in elegance. Some purists sniff at it. Most of us just revel in all it has to offer but in order to play we suggest to book a night or two and enjoy the indulgence of it all.
6. Portmarnock, Dublin
Close to the capital, Portmarnock is where many Irish golfing stories begin. The course is steeped in tradition, and while it doesn’t have the wild drama of the Atlantic coast, it has a quiet dignity. It’s the sort of place where every shot matters and where the challenge comes from the subtleties, not just the wind.
7. Lahinch, Clare
Ah, Lahinch. Quirky, charming, occasionally maddening but yet still close to our hearts. Lahinch Golf Club, known as that wonderful relic in Lahinch, County Clare, a broken barometer with the message “See Goats” hangs outside the clubhouse.Goats still sometimes wander the course as if they own it, the layout has blind shots that make you shake your head, and yet, when you walk off the 18th, you’re grinning. It’s fun, it’s unpredictable, and it has character in spades.
8. Royal Tara, Meath
Royal Tara doesn’t make every international list, but for us, it deserves a place. Nestled in Meath, it’s not as wild as Ballybunion or as glamorous as Adare, but it’s welcoming, beautifully kept, and a joy to play. For visiting groups, it’s often the course where the craic is as good as the golf.
9. Royal County Down, Down
Many say this is the greatest of them all. The Mourne Mountains loom in the distance, the gorse frames the fairways, and the blind tee shots will humble you fast. It’s tough, no doubt, but if you only ever play one Irish course, this might just be the one. It lingers with you, long after the scorecard is forgotten.
More Than Just Golf
The truth? These courses are only half the story. The other half is what happens off the course: pints shared in a small-town pub, seafood chowder after a windswept round to warm up the bones, or the laughter of your group as you compare who lost the most balls to the wind.
That’s why Failte Tours Ireland’s golf tours are so special. It’s not just ticking famous courses off a list. It’s about the memories, the camaraderie, and the landscapes that stay with you long after you’ve flown home.
Get your rounds in Before the Ryder Cup Rush
With Adare Manor hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027, demand is already climbing. Prices will follow. If you’ve ever dreamt of a golf holiday in Ireland, now is the time to start planning. Gather your friends, polish the clubs, and let’s get the tee times locked in. Because in a couple of years, the world will be lining up for them.
