The best golf courses in Ireland (GolfWRX.com)
For a tiny island with fewer than 10 million people, Ireland has an abundance of magnificent golf courses.
But which ones are the best?
Pinning down 10 to even 50 of Ireland’s best courses is a thankless task, with a country that boasts so many hidden gems along with world-renowned tracks. The island is split into four provinces—Leinster, Munster, Connaught, and Ulster—and here I’ll highlight two courses you must visit in each region for anyone heading to the Emerald Isle.
C/o: @golfmountjuliet
Host of the 2021 Irish Open, the Jack Nicklaus designed golf course is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in all of the country. With five lakes and over 80 bunkers, the challenging course measures over 7,200 yards and features a unique ‘bunker walled green’ protecting the pin on the 16th hole.
C/o: @golfmountjuliet
Speaking on the course while playing the 2002 WGC-American Express Championship, Tiger Woods said
C/o: @brendanboyle79
You don’t get the nickname the ‘Augusta of Europe’ without being a little bit special, and Druids Glen is undoubtedly that. The perfectly manicured inland course boasts some of the most picturesque holes with each hole offering stunning backdrops.
C/o: @breandanboyle79
The course also offers up an incredible challenge. It helps to be a high-quality ball-striker, with the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia winning titles when the course hosted professional events.
C/o: @evanschiller
Founded in 1883, the Ballybunion Old Course lives up to its tag as ‘One of a kind’. Measuring 6,739 yards from the tips, the wonderful dunescape sets the scene for a true links challenge, with the golf course often touted as possessing the best back nine in the country.
C/o: @womensgolf
President Bill Clinton on Ballybunion
C/o: @kevinmarkham
The remote Waterville Golf Links is situated on a promontory surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. With undulating fairways, the course sets out relatively flat on the front 9 with tall dunes welcoming players home for the back 9.
C/o: @greagolfholes
One of the most impressive and picturesque links courses that you will set your sights on that will instantly provide you with a mystic feel that only Ireland can provide.
Sam Snead on Waterville:
C/orosapenna1893
An incredible setting for a course that offers up a wonderful mix of a traditional and modern links feel. Measuring over 6,900 yards from the back tees, the course only offers up relief on the three par-fives.
C/o: @eigtravel
The course runs along Tramore beach overlooking Sheephaven Bay and offers up sensational views no matter what hole you are on during your round. Blustery conditions can turn this into a brutal links test.
C/o: @eigtravel
Often cited as the best golf course in the country and even the world. Royal County Down offers up monstrous blind shots, several bunkers and glorious views. The ultimate links golf test.
C/o: @eigtravel
Rickie Fowler on Royal County Down:
C/o: @greatgolfholes
Lahinch Golf Club is a step back in time golf course often compared to the Old Course of St. Andrews. The course offers up a quirky test wth a classic out and back layout, while providing stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.
C/o: @vinnyfiorino
Phil Mickelson on Lahinch:
C/o: @jmgolfcoach
Co. Sligo Golf Course features traditional links layout, designed by Harry Colt. The dune-covered landscape sets the scene for a course packed with undulations, elevated tees, and raised plateau greens for a stunning test of golf. The golf course is famed for its tremendous par 3s.
Pokračovat ve čtení...
For a tiny island with fewer than 10 million people, Ireland has an abundance of magnificent golf courses.
But which ones are the best?
The best golf courses in Ireland
Pinning down 10 to even 50 of Ireland’s best courses is a thankless task, with a country that boasts so many hidden gems along with world-renowned tracks. The island is split into four provinces—Leinster, Munster, Connaught, and Ulster—and here I’ll highlight two courses you must visit in each region for anyone heading to the Emerald Isle.
Leinster
Mount Juliet Golf Course, Kilkenny
C/o: @golfmountjuliet
Host of the 2021 Irish Open, the Jack Nicklaus designed golf course is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in all of the country. With five lakes and over 80 bunkers, the challenging course measures over 7,200 yards and features a unique ‘bunker walled green’ protecting the pin on the 16th hole.
C/o: @golfmountjuliet
Speaking on the course while playing the 2002 WGC-American Express Championship, Tiger Woods said
“I think the golf course is absolutely gorgeous, the fairways are perfect, the greens are the best greens we’ve putter on all year, including the majors. These things are absolute pure.”
Druids Glen Golf Course, Wicklow
C/o: @brendanboyle79
You don’t get the nickname the ‘Augusta of Europe’ without being a little bit special, and Druids Glen is undoubtedly that. The perfectly manicured inland course boasts some of the most picturesque holes with each hole offering stunning backdrops.
C/o: @breandanboyle79
The course also offers up an incredible challenge. It helps to be a high-quality ball-striker, with the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia winning titles when the course hosted professional events.
Munster
Ballybunion Golf Club, Kerry
C/o: @evanschiller
Founded in 1883, the Ballybunion Old Course lives up to its tag as ‘One of a kind’. Measuring 6,739 yards from the tips, the wonderful dunescape sets the scene for a true links challenge, with the golf course often touted as possessing the best back nine in the country.
C/o: @womensgolf
President Bill Clinton on Ballybunion
“I love Ballybunion. It’s perfectly Irish: beautiful, rough, and a lot like life — you get breaks you don’t deserve both ways. You just have to keep swinging and know it will all even out.”
Waterville Golf Links, Kerry
C/o: @kevinmarkham
The remote Waterville Golf Links is situated on a promontory surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. With undulating fairways, the course sets out relatively flat on the front 9 with tall dunes welcoming players home for the back 9.
C/o: @greagolfholes
One of the most impressive and picturesque links courses that you will set your sights on that will instantly provide you with a mystic feel that only Ireland can provide.
Sam Snead on Waterville:
”The beautiful monster – one of the golfing wonders of the world.”
Ulster
Rosappena Old Tom Morris Links, Donegal
C/orosapenna1893
An incredible setting for a course that offers up a wonderful mix of a traditional and modern links feel. Measuring over 6,900 yards from the back tees, the course only offers up relief on the three par-fives.
C/o: @eigtravel
The course runs along Tramore beach overlooking Sheephaven Bay and offers up sensational views no matter what hole you are on during your round. Blustery conditions can turn this into a brutal links test.
Royal County Down
C/o: @eigtravel
Often cited as the best golf course in the country and even the world. Royal County Down offers up monstrous blind shots, several bunkers and glorious views. The ultimate links golf test.
C/o: @eigtravel
Rickie Fowler on Royal County Down:
”Royal County Down is my all-time favourite.”
Connaught
Lahinch Golf Club, Clare
C/o: @greatgolfholes
Lahinch Golf Club is a step back in time golf course often compared to the Old Course of St. Andrews. The course offers up a quirky test wth a classic out and back layout, while providing stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.
C/o: @vinnyfiorino
Phil Mickelson on Lahinch:
“Some of my fondest memories of great golfing holes in the world include the number four and five holes at Lahinch.”
Sligo Golf Club, Rosses Point, Sligo
C/o: @jmgolfcoach
Co. Sligo Golf Course features traditional links layout, designed by Harry Colt. The dune-covered landscape sets the scene for a course packed with undulations, elevated tees, and raised plateau greens for a stunning test of golf. The golf course is famed for its tremendous par 3s.
Pokračovat ve čtení...