Lough Erne Resort was awarded ‘Best Hotel’ at the 2011 Northern Ireland Tourism Awards and ‘IGTOA 2010 Golf Resort of The Year’ by the Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association. The resort is the ultimate expression in old world heritage and new world luxury, set on its very own 600 acre peninsula, between Castle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne, with stunning panoramic views from almost every vantage point.

“A great place to play, a great place to stay”

Facilities include 120 luxury Rooms and Suites , two Championship Golf Courses including The Faldo Course and a great Spa using the best Thai products and techniques. Your dining experiences vary from the Catalina Restaurant, the Blaney Bar and the Loughside Bar & Grill.

For the golf enthusiast The Faldo Course is an exciting challenge.

Home to two championship golf courses – The Faldo Course and Castle Hume Golf Course – designed by Nick Faldo, his first golf course design in Ireland. With a spectacular setting, nestled on a private peninsula, you will remember every shot on every hole with stunning views over the Lough.

The course was designed to take full advantage of the natural topography.

BANTRY BAY GC

Don’t get distracted by the views of Whiddy Island and Beara.

In the very south west of Ireland, near the town of Bantry overlooking the spectacular Beara Peninsula, is the beautiful Bantry Bay Golf Club. Designed by Christy O’Connor Junior and Eddie Hackett this championship course will test all comers. Just over an hour’s very scenic drive from Killarney, Bantry enjoys an unspoilt view of one of the most panoramic scenes to be found on any golf course.

As you play, the whole panorama of the Beara Mountains is revealed – a truly memorable golfing experience. Further your discovery of Ireland by visiting one of the wildest, most romantic golf courses and areas…..Bantry Bay Golf Club.

Bantry claims an ancient connection to the sixth-century Saint Brendan, who was the first person to discover America.

MACHRIE

Machrie is listed as one of the top ten courses to play in Scotland.

Your next adventure should be a trek to Islay, off the west coast of Scotland where the traditional links of Machrie has rewarded golfers for 120 years. This majestic location will test all your aspects of your game as the course is set amid dramatic sand dunes and has few equals.

In 1901 in order to attract publicity to the golf course, a tournament was conceived where the prize money was to be a record £100 . This was four times greater than the prize for the British Open and it took 45 years for the Open to match this.

Once your round is over you will find a welcome bed in one of the local hotels as you enjoy the company of the friendliest islanders in Scotland. The next day you can do it all over again as the links will provide new tests and more stories to tell. Machrie is where you will fall in love with Scotland.

Machrie takes its name from the Gaelic word machair, which means the links.

Welcome to the ‘would be greatest course’ in the world, the Trump International Golf Links. Donald Trump asked Martin Hawtree to create a links just north of Aberdeen worthy of Scotland and in a short time since opening in 2012 the course is already getting high praise.

The breathtaking dunes that tower up to 100 feet above the course were stabilized by hand-planting five million sprigs of marram grass.

The stunning links threads its way through some of the highest dunes in Scotland and often offers magnificent views of the Scottish coastline. Each of the 18 holes provides a worthy challenge and if the wind picks up will definitely test your game as you enjoy the rich surrounding wildlife habitat. Future plans for the 2,000 acre resort include a hotel and an additional 18-hole course.

A caddie is a must here as there is a lot of nooks and crannies so it’s helpful to have someone familiar with the yardages.

St Andrews, the Home of Golf, welcomed a great addition to its rota of courses in 2008 when the Castle Course was opened for play. Offering spectacular views over St Andrews Bay and the town itself, the Castle course is set on a cliff and has proved popular with golfers looking for a new and exciting test of golf in St Andrews.

Very few links courses in the world is more strikingly situated than the Castle.

Designed by David Kidd, creator of Bandon Dunes, The Castle Course won several numerous awards since 2008 and was included within the prestigious Golf Digest Top 100 rankings.

The Castle Course’s setting is one of a kind, and for many, the views of the ancient town of St Andrews will be worth the green fees. The par-3 17th hole, which demands a tee shot over seaside cliffs to the green, uses the town backdrop as well.

The finishing holes on the Castle Course is nothing short of spectacular.

Every year many of the golf magazines take a poll of numerous experts to see which courses they would rate the best. In 2012 Golf Monthly announced its Top 100 UK and Ireland golf courses. Feel free to agree or disagree with them but as you can see there is some legendary courses in their list.

1 Muirfield – Golf was first played here in 1891 on 18 holes laid out by Old Tom Morris.
2 Royal County Down – Championship
3 Old Course, St Andrews Links
4 Turnberry – Ailsa
5 Royal Birkdale
6 Royal St George’s
7 Royal Lytham & St Annes
8 Carnoustie – Championship
9 Royal Dornoch – Championship
10 Sunningdale – New

11 Waterville – Over 100 years old, Waterville is rated among the top 5 courses in Ireland and the top 20 links courses in the world.
12 Royal Portrush – Dunluce
13 Ballybunion – Old
14 Sunningdale – Old
15 Royal Liverpool
16 Kingsbarns
17 The European Club
18 Woodhall Spa – Hotchkin
19 Royal Aberdeen – Balgownie
20 Ganton

21 Loch Lomond – The scenery at Loch Lomond is idyllic, with the mountains rising up behind the water to create a dramatic backdrop.
22 Doonbeg
23 Lahinch – Old
24 Royal Troon – Old
25 Castle Stuart
26 St Georges Hill – Red & Blue
27 Walton Heath – Old
28 Royal Porthcawl
29 Portmarnock – Red & Blue
30 Hillside

31 North Berwick – Steeped in tradition dating from 1832, providing generous hospitality and a testing golf challenge.
32 Nairn – Championship
33 Old Head
34 Swinley Forrest
35 Wentworth – West
36 Gleneagles – King’s
37 Burnham & Berrow – Championship
38 Formby
39 Saunton – East
40 The Berkshire – Red

41 St Enodoc – Church is a James Braid design that enjoys a justified reputation as one of the West Country’s finest links layouts.
42 Rosapenna – Sandy Hill
43 Prestwick
44 Hankley Common
45 Royal West Norfolk
46 Royal St David’s
47 Royal Cinque Ports
48 Notts
49 Walton Heath – New
50 Machrihanish

51 Tralee – This stunning setting represents a true paradise for those willing to challenge what is widely acclaimed as one of the finest links courses in the world.
52 Western Gailes
53 Silloth On Solway
54 West Sussex
55 The Alwoodley
56 County Loth
57 Saunton – West
58 Aberdovey
59 Blairgowrie – Rosemount
60 The Berkshire – Blue

61 Rye – The Old course remains substantially the same as the 1938 shape except for further gravel working to the right of the 11th hole.
62 Gleneagles – Queen’s
63 Lough Erne
64 Southport & Ainsdale
65 K Club – Palmer Ryder Cup
66 New Course, St Andrews Links
67 Worplesdon
68 Moortown
69 Hunstanton
70 Trevose – Championship

71 Druids Glen – Known as “The Augusta of Europe” this famous course designed by Pat Ruddy & Tom Craddock, opened in 1995.
72 Gullane – No.1
73 Liphook
74 Ballyliffin – Glashedy
75 Royal North Devon
76 West Lancashire
77 Aldeburgh
78 The Belfry – Brabazon
79 The Island
80 Woburn – Marquess

81 Bearwood Lakes – Bearwood Lakes meanders through a backdrop of mature pines, beach and oak trees with water coming into play on seven of the 18 magnificent holes
82 The Grove
83 Mount Juliet
84 Ladybank
85 Wentworth – East
86 Renaissance
87 Killarney – Killeen
88 West Hill
89 Cruden Bay
90 Portmarnock Links

91 The Castle Course, St Andrews Links – Set on a rugged cliffline overlooking the ancient town of St Andrews, the course combines breathtaking views with a memorable golfing challenge.
92 Sherwood Forest
93 The Wisley – Church & Mill
94 Woburn Duchess’
95 Nefyn & District – Old
96 Carne
97 Woburn – Duke’s
98 Adare Manor
99 Woking

100 Royal Worlington & Newmarket – The golf course was founded in 1893 and is the home course of Cambridge University.