Golfing weekends in Ireland

Whyner

My mates and I are planning on going away for some golf weekends in Ireland this summer. We intend to head off early Saturday morning, check into accommodation, have breakfast out at the golf club and play a game around noon. Chill out in the evening, dinner and a few quiet ones in the local and then hit the hay relatively early. Play a different course the next morning and arrive back in Dublin Sunday evening.

If you could provide some suggestions that would be great.

Spec:

Distance from Dublin: Not really an issue
Courses: Ideally, but not limited to, 1 links and 1 parkland. Near each other
Accommodation: Standard, some B&B’s or mid level hotels
Location: Any awl town or village with a restaurant & pub

I haven’t played many courses outside Dublin but something along the lines of Strandhill and Rosses Point would suit us, staying the night in Strandhill.

Cheers......

scrubber72

you have to try either and get to Belmullet for the links side of things and Westport is a very good parkland. Shouldnt cost any more than 50 euro to play on a saturday. Try Westport first for the saturday and Belmullet (www.carnegolflinks.com) for the sunday. If you get the weather you are in for a real treat. Stay in westport, plenty of great pubs and restaurants and lots of accomadation.

stockdam

It depends on how much driving you want to do.

If you want to be silly then try Portrush and Castlerock.

Or Newcastle and Ballymascanlon (stay in the Hotel).

Or Portmarnock and Skerries.

Or Wexford and St Helens Bay.

You really should narrow down the area you want to go to.

Or try reading Kevinmarkham's book (he's a member here).

Kevinmarkham

Thanks for the plug, Stockdam

Whyner, you'll be somewhat limited by (member) clubs that don't allow visitors to play on a Saturday or Sunday, or only offer very specific slots. You'll have to phone around and see what comes up.

Stockdam's suggestions are good - he mentioned Wexford and St. Helen's. You could switch one of these for Rosslare, which is a peach of a links.

Ballymascanlon is good too, and if you're not too fussy about excellent quality, I'd recommend Killin Park nearby.

Other near-Dublin collectives that spring to mind (not links) are
Rathcore/Moyvalley/Knockanally
Portarlington/The Heath/Dunmurry Springs/The Curragh
Macreddin/Woodenbridge

Other areas would be Waterford (Waterford/Waterford Castle/West Waterford), Galway (Galway/Bearna/Connemara (links)) and, in Northern Ireland, the Royal County Down Annesley Links and Ardglass.

Then again, County Sligo and Strandhill are a brilliant pairing, so I suggest you carry on with that plan.

Can't really help on the accommodation - but you can borrow my camper if you like!

f22

Some really good suggestions there Kevin, although I would avoid the Curragh like the plague at the moment. The greens are the worst I have ever played on and I feel for the members because it's a great course.

Ballyliffin have some cracking deals at the moment although it will be pure links.

Athlone/Glasson is another nice option that doesn't require much driving.

Carne/Enniscrone or throw in Wesport for some parkland.

Waterford Castle/ Faithlegg just a short hop from Waterford City.

Mount Juliet/Gowran Park

peejay1986

Sounds like you're going to have a ball! (excuse the pun)

I would recommend calling these guys:

Go Golf Event & Management
http://www.gogolfworldwide.com

I did some design work for them recently and had a look at all the stuff that they offer, some serious places! All the accommodation isn't on the website yet but call them and I'm sure they could arrange it all for you.

There are some nice courses in and around Dublin, enjoy it whatever you do

Whyner

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll deffo grab myself a copy of the book, sounds like a great read.

deko43

If you don't want to drive too far I would reccommend Mount Wolesely
in Tullow, Co Carlow. Good Hotel with leisure center. Very nice golf course
and they have houses for rent on site which work out great value
if you fill them with 5 or six people. Other courses nearby include killerig
castle and the always excellent Carlow.

Whyner

Have Strandhill and Rosses point booked for w/e of 26th.....might work on accuracy from now on in, heard the rough in the point can chew you up and spit you out...

Ichiro

Donegal! I know it's a fair old trek but check out this offer!

A group of 11 of us are going up to play so should be good craic.

2 Nights B&B 1 Dinner and 2 rounds of Golf all for €199 - Downing Bay Hotel

Rounds are at the Rossapenna Golf Course

holidayhere

stockdam wrote: »

It depends on how much driving you want to do.

If you want to be silly then try Portrush and Castlerock.

Or Newcastle and Ballymascanlon (stay in the Hotel).

Or Portmarnock and Skerries.

Or Wexford and St Helens Bay.

You really should narrow down the area you want to go to.

Or try reading Kevinmarkham's book (he's a member here).

For a week-end like this you need 4 or 8 people.
Select a base where there are a few good courses within a few miles.
All the major towns have this.
Get a minibus to and from the courses.
This gives you total freedom to have a snack / drink when you get in.
Also, arrange tee times for 12:00 to 1:00 so that you have the morning to rest, plus you have plenty of time after golf to relax before a meal and whatever you plan for the night.
Towns like Athlone, Tullamore, Kells are ideal.

kingshankly

As kevin suggests ballymascanlon is ideal to stay and as it has no members easy to get out on Sunday
On Saturday you could try greenore IMO a terrific course with great views . I know kevin has a soft spot for killan park but it isn't wonderful.
You could try the newmure hotel which has a decent course plus you have concra wood beside and my home course Mannan castle

holidayhere

kingshankly wrote: »

As kevin suggests ballymascanlon is ideal to stay and as it has no members easy to get out on Sunday
On Saturday you could try greenore IMO a terrific course with great views . I know kevin has a soft spot for killan park but it isn't wonderful.
You could try the newmure hotel which has a decent course plus you have concra wood beside and my home course Mannan castle

The private courses are definitely best for Sunday golf. All member clubs have Sunday competitions, plus thay tend to be expensive at week-ends anyhow.
The private clubs should be doing some good week-end offers.