Just a short drive from Dublin, Malahide Castle & Gardens is one of the highlights to any visit and is steeped in history.
If you are looking for an area that truly captures your heart then visit the east of Ireland. From Dublin, the capital of Ireland, to the wonderful coastal town of Waterford you can explore the history of this country while enjoying superb golf. Must plays may include Royal Dublin overlooking the harbour of Dublin, Portmarnock GC – a truly great links or The Island which often ranks in the top 50 courses in Europe.
The Island was ranked number 26 in Golf World’s Top 100 “must play” courses in the world.
Dublin is one of Europe’s oldest cities and while it has retained its historical charm, the city still offers trendy bars, elegant restaurants and stylish hotels. There’s never been a better time to visit Dublin and the surrounding region.
Glendalough, just an hour’s drive from Dublin, is renowned for its natural beauty & history and it is one of the most visited places in Ireland.
Once you review the below golf courses and hotels, please Request a Quote from one of our golf travel specialists.
GOLF COURSES
Carton House was recently voted the best golf resort in the East of Ireland.
MOUNT JULIET: This Jack Nicklaus designed layout, located among the rolling hills of Ireland’s beautiful southeast, is one of the finest inland courses that Ireland has to offer. Mount Juliet has hosted the prestigious AMEX World Golf Championship event twice in 2002 and 2004. The championship layout has also hosted three Irish Opens and numerous other major tournaments since opening in 1991.
CARTON HOUSE: Tucked into a storybook setting – a walled 1,100 acre estate, only fourteen miles from Dublin city center, Carton House offers golfers today a choice of parkland or “inland links” style golf. Opened in 2002, The O’Meara is a parkland course which utilizes the majestic rolling land of the estate as well as the waters of the River Rye. Its sister course, The Montgomerie, opened for play in 2003, presents the golfer with an altogether different challenge with its head high pot bunkers, fast running greens and narrow fairways weaving through fields of fescue grasses. In May 2005, Carton hosted the Irish Amateur Open Championship on the O’Meara Course and the Nissan Irish Open on the Montgomerie Course.
THE EUROPEAN CLUB: The European Club is one of the best new links courses to have been created in recent years. This modern links layout uses the natural coastal land to create a wonderful seaside golfing experience. It’s pedigree can easily be determined by it’s rapid rise to ‘must play’ status for any golfer who considers themselves a links golf connisseur. NOTE: There are no caddies available at this club. They do have an ample supply of pull carts for hire and have a ‘fleet’ of four motorized carts which can be booked in advance.
The European Club is surrounded by sand dunes on the Irish Sea and is ranked in the world top 100 courses.
DRUIDS GLEN: A spectacular parkland golf course. Druids Glen hosted the Irish Open from 1996 to 1999 and was awarded European Golf Course of the year at the prestigious Hertz International Golf Travel Awards in 2000. Site of an ancient Celtic place of worship, Druids Glen is often referred to as the ‘Augusta of Europe.’ Past venue of the European Tour’s Seve Trophy.
DRUIDS HEATH: The recently opened Druids Heath offers an ideal complement to the well established Druids Glen course. Built on rolling land adjacent to the five star hotel of the same name, this ‘heathland’ style layout is an enjoyable test and sure to become as popular as it’s older sibling in time.
ROYAL DUBLIN: The second oldest club in Ireland (founded in 1885), Royal Dublin has been the site of many major tournaments including the Irish Open. The links course has a unique location on Bull Island in Dublin Harbor.
THE K CLUB: The K Club is located west of Dublin in the beautiful emerald green ‘horse country’ of County Kildare. It has two superb Arnold Palmer designed courses – the Palmer Course and the Smurfit Course. The original parkland Palmer Course, was chosen as the venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup Matches. It has also hosted past Smurfit European Opens. The newly opened ‘inland links’ Smurfit Course, now host of the prestigious European Open, has been acclaimed as one of the finest new courses in Ireland.
COUNTY LOUTH (BALTRAY): Sometimes referred to as Baltray, County Louth is a true links test. Perhaps the most overlooked of Ireland’s championship golf courses, it is well worth the visit. It has been the venue for all of Ireland’s top amateur tournaments through the years. In 2004, it hosted the prestigious Irish Open for the first time.
LINKS at PORTMARNOCK: One of the more recent additions to the links courses of Ireland. This Bernhard Langer design provides all the necessary ingredients for the links purist. The Links at Portmarnock shares the same extraordinary piece of land that the more famous Portmarnock enjoys.
PORTMARNOCK OLD: By any standard Portmarnock is one of the foremost golf clubs in the world. The esteemed links course has hosted the Walker Cup Matches, a British Amateur, as well as other distinguished professional and amateur events since it was founded in 1894. Portmarnock is the past venue for the prestigious Irish Open.
Founded in 1894, Portmarnock is consistently ranked amongst the top golf courses in the world.
THE ISLAND GOLF CLUB: Nestled between the highest sand dunes of any links course in Ireland, this true links layout is a “must play” championship links course. Golf World magazine (UK) selected The Island Club #70 in it’s list of Top 100 Courses in the British Isles. The Island Golf Club has previously hosted the Irish Amateur Close Championship (1998), the Smurfit Irish PGA Championship (1999) and is a British Open Championship Qualifying venue. The Island Club is a superb links experience.
SELECTION OF HOTELS
First Class
GRAND HOTEL (pictured above), Malahide (Superior First Class): The Grand Hotel is situated by the sea in the charming village of Malahide, 20 minutes north of Dublin and just minutes from many of Dublin’s best links including the Island Club, the Links at Portmarnock and Portmarnock. The Grand Hotel offers well appointed guest rooms and a host of amenities including a full leisure facility. Best of all it is a short stroll from the scenic village of Malahide with it’s many pubs, restaurants and shops. Dublin is also easily accessible via the DART train from Malahide.
TOWER HOTEL, Waterford (First Class). Located in the heart of Waterford, with 140 guest bedrooms, it is the largest hotel in the South East and the flagship hotel of the Tower Group. Each guest is guaranteed the traditional hospitality and service for which the management and staff are justifiably proud. A IR£1 million refurbishment of the hotel began in Summer 1999 and was completed in Spring 2000. Included are a leisure and fitness center with a 20m swimming pool, gym, sauna, steamroom, and jacuzzi. Enjoy a drink in the Adelphi riverside bar or dine in the Tower Restaurant.
BROOKS HOTEL, Dublin (Superior First Class): Situated in Dublin City center, Brooks Hotel is a four-star designer/boutique hotel catering for guests who value difference and for whom ambience, décor and quality of service are important. Attention to detail and high standards of fixtures, fittings and guest amenities make Brooks Hotel special. Located on a quiet street within a few minutes walk of Grafton Street, Temple Bar and Trinity College, Brooks has a clubby residential feel. The style is cautiously avant-garde, with an emphasis on quality, personal service and unhurried timelessness.
Deluxe
PORTMARNOCK HOTEL & GOLF LINKS (pictured above), Dublin (Deluxe): Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links is a prestigious development located 20 minutes from Dublin city center, 20 minutes from Dublin Airport and 2 hours from Belfast. The hotel, opened in June 1996, boasts luxury guest rooms, a superbly appointed first-class restaurant and several bars. Set on 180 acres of classic links terrain in North Dublin, the development takes advantage of the natural beauty and immeasurable quality of the landscape, creating the perfect venue for golfing and prestige events. In addition to possessing it’s own world class links, it is conveniently located close to many of Dublin’s finest links.
SHELBOURNE HOTEL (Dublin). Ireland’s most distinguished address, provides the ultimate in luxury and service. In the heart of Dublin, overlooking St. Stephen’s Green, within walking distance of shopping areas and Dublin’s social and cultural life. The hotel has 190 rooms, two bars and two restaurants. The Lord Mayor’s Lounge is a must for afternoon tea. The Shelbourne Club offers exclusive surroundings with a wide choice of amenities,
including an 18 meter pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and top class cardiovascular
equipment.
MOUNT JULIET, Thomastown (Deluxe): Mount Juliet Estate, one of Ireland’s premier hotel and sporting estates offers several styles of deluxe accommodation. Guests can choose between the elegance of the 18th century Mount Juliet House or the more sporting
ambience of the Hunters Yard or Rose Garden lodges. Estate activities include a Jack
Nicklaus golf course, fishing, shooting, archery, Iris Kellet equestrian center, tennis, leisure center, cycling and an 8-hole putting course.
DRUIDS GLEN MARRIOTT HOTEL & CC, Newtownmountkennedy (Deluxe): Ireland’s newest deluxe hotel, this three-story, natural stone building offers views of the golf course, Sugarloaf Mountains and the Irish Sea. Arranged in a series of pavilions and courtyards, the hotel is divided into three sections. The central block contains the entrance, lobby, bars and restaurants, and the other two blocks contain a dedicated conference center, guest rooms, spa and health club. For dining and entertainment, there are two restaurants – Flynn’s Steakhouse, a candlelit setting offering Irish steaks, and Druids Restaurant, offering an international menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition, there is a bar called The Thirteenth, which offers views of the golf course.
MERRION HOTEL, Dublin (Deluxe): The Merrion, Dublin’s most luxurious 5-Star Luxury hotel, is set in the heart of Georgian Dublin on Upper Merrion Street, opposite Government Buildings, the home of the Irish Government. The Main House of the hotel is comprised of four meticulously restored Grade I Listed Georgian townhouses and a specially commissioned contemporary Garden Wing arranged around two private period gardens.
KILDARE HOTEL & CC (pictured below), Straffan (Deluxe): This is Ireland’s only AA 5 Red Star
hotel, located just one hour from Dublin Airport. Leisure facilities include two 18-hole
championship golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer. The North Course is home to the Smurfit European Open and venue for the Ryder Cup in 2006. In addition, both river and coarse fishing are available with full health and leisure club and sporting activities.
