Ireland, where would you go on a first trip?

[David Stamm]

Where would everyone recommend to the first timer that had about 7 days in Ireland to play. Would it be the Southwest, w/ Ballybunion, Lahinch, Waterville etc. Would it be the NW, w/ the less traveled, but nevertheless wonderful courses, or maybe the North to play the 2 Royals and then down to Dublin? What in your mind make a great first trip to the Emerald Isle?

[Ally Mcintosh]

7 days?.... get off at shannon airport and do the southwest... you'll get a feel for the irish countryside and have a huge choice of great courses... it'll be a nice pace...

...dublin will feel hectic and the traffic will piss you off...

...go to the north and you'll get co.down, portrush and some other good ones of course...

...the west / north west will give you a great holiday also and with some genuinely less travelled beauties...

...but overall, for choice, ease of travel, guinness and the rest, the south west will probably satisfy you most for a first visit...

...hope that helps?... there will of course be others on after me giving their views, some educated, some less so... you will enjoy wherever you choose... i just think my choice will give you the most relaxing and best holiday  

[ForkaB]

I fully agree with Ally.  SW, NE and NW, in that order.

[Gary Slatter]

You can't go wrong in any direction, you can't play them all and this won't be your last trip!  Ballybunion, Lahinch and Royal County Down are must sees but enjoy every one you can play, leave Doonbeg and KClub until your 50th trip.

[Michael Ryan]

David,

I had hoped that some Ireland pros would give you their fully educated opinion, and I'm glad that I'm in agreement with them.

I had an even worse diliemna a few years back, when during the planning of a family vacation in Ireland (not everyone being golfers), I had to make the choice on the section of the country that I could sneak two rounds in.  We choose the SW, and while I convinced my family that they had to see the Cliffs of Moher (Lahinch) and the Ring of Kerry (Waterville) I was able to sneak out to two fantastic golf courses.  Wish I was able to play Ballybunion while there, but time didn't allow.

I am looking forward to returning, to play BallyB and the courses in the North (RCD, Portrush and Portstewart), but I'm also happy with the decision I made on my first two....best of luck and follow up with some pictures and stories.  

Mike

[Doug Wright]

...go to the north and you'll get co.down, portrush and some other good ones of course...

Ally et al.

Timely! We're looking at the north/northeast for our second trip next year (did the SW years ago along with Dublin area and agree the SW is a very good place to start). Aside from Royal County Down/ Portrush what say you all?

[Tom Huckaby]

Time for my standard invite whenever Ireland comes up... if you do go to the north, make sure and include Castlerock.  If you do, you can play with my cousin - club champion - and stay at his B&B - and I can guarantee a good time will be had by all.

 

As for general recommendations, I'd agree with the others - SW comes first.  One thing I would add - while Dublin must be a pain re traffic, well... it's also one of the world's greatest cities in terms of fun and history.  If you can, do try to stay one night in the city... you won't regret it.

TH

[Brad Tufts]

I would say the whole country is a pain re: Traffic, but I digress.

I agree the SW is the place to go on a first trip, as my father, his friend, my brother, and I did in '03.  We are on to Rd. two in June/July, as we will be around Dublin and N. Ireland.  I would also remind that doing more than one region is difficult due to driving conditions.  In '03 we did the SW to Waterville up to the NW to Carne and Rosses Pt., and the drive between the two was only like 200-250 miles, but took like 6-7 hours.

[michael j fay]

I'm with Brad.

Fly into Shannon and play Lahinch the first day. Drive to Killarney and stay at the Killarney Park Hotel for three nights. Travel out to play Ballybunion (get the first tee time) for two days and then play Dooks in Kilmorglin on your way to Waterville. Stay at the Waterville House, play Waterville and Dingle, eat at the Butler Arms and the Huntsman.

Drive back to Lahinch for a second look and spend your last night at the Old Ground in Ennis (near the airport) and have your last dinner there.

You will love it. Drive very carefully, especially to Waterville and Dingle.

[Kevin Pallier]

What in your mind make a great first trip to the Emerald Isle?

I'd suggest:
E-NE: one would have to visit Dublin for mine and near it is Portmarnock and the European Club...a drive up to Drogheda and County Louth followed by another short drive to County down and Portrush.

SW next: Ballybunion, Lahinch + Waterville for starters...

NW: cheaper golf from some very good courses Sligo, Carne and Donegal to begin with...

[Glenn Spencer]

FWIW, my grandfather played everything worth playing in the US and Waterville was his favorite course in Ireland. I would have to take a look at that.

[paul westland]

David: I would agree with Sean's comments.  Lahinch as a starter is a proven winner; then North to the remote ones Carne and Enniscrone and County Sligo,(my personal favorite), and returning to Ballybunion for two rounds on the Old and one of Cashen as you wish before departing from Shannon. The links described will offer more dreamscapes than can be imagined....Cheers! PW

[Mike_Trenham]

My thought is to go to the NW as it is becoming very popular very quickly, the opportunity to see it in it's raw old fashined golf state may be gone in a decade or less as the tourist (present company excluded) invade.

[Tommy Williamsen]

David, I think on your first trip you need to play the great old courses.  Ballybunion, Lahinch, Portmarnock, RCD, Portrush.  It is tough to do but if you sfly into Shannon and out of Dublin it isn't so bad.  There are others that are good but newer: Ballyliffen, Portstewart, The European Club, Rosapenna etc.  They are all worth playing.  But for your first trip....

[Matthew Schulte]

David:

Most people will tell you to focus on a specific region.  I disagree.  I, however, unlike most people don't mind 4 or 5 hour drives when the payoffs are as good as they are in Ireland.

I have always used my first trip to places like Ireland, Scotland or England to play the "star attractions."  Find your favorites and build future itineraries around returning to your favorites and playing the hidden gems in those areas.

My first advice is to buy a GPS system like the Garmin "Nuvi".  Not cheap but can save you incredible amounts of time and untold frustrations and stress.  Garmin sells SD memory cards that have preloaded UK and Ireland mapping software.  Road signs are not overly clear in Ireland.  It is very possible to miss your turn and not realize it for many...many miles.

Most will think I am nuts but, my first trip to Ireland looked like this (however I also went to Waterville after Ballybunion.  The drive from Waterville to Dublin however was brutal so on 7 days I would skip it.):

SUNDAY:       Royal County Down / Ardglass (twilight)

MONDAY:        Royal County Down
                       Drive 2 hours to Portrush (visit Carrick a-rede and Giant's Causeway)

TUESDAY:      Royal Portrush
                          (this is the toughest drive)
                          Drive 4 hours 45 minutes to Galway

WEDNESDAY:  Drive 1 hour 30 minutes to Lahinch
                            Visit Cliffs of Moher
                            Lahinch
                   
THURSDAY:    Doonbeg

FRIDAY:         Ballybunion
                        Drive 4 hours to Dublin

SATURDAY:    European Club

SUNDAY:       Portmarnock
                      The Island

An aggressive itinerary to be sure, but I doubt the golf would fail to meet your expectations.

[Mitch St. Peter]

My only advice: only play links courses.

Why play a place like Killarney or K Club or Mount Juliet or Adare Manor when you can play far superior park courses in the U.S. for much cheaper.

Like Tufts and others, I agree that the SW is the best place to start since it is most removed and has a hell of a group of courses.

Play as many of these as you can:

Lahinch
Doonbeg (I guess?...it feels pretty American)
Ballybunion (Old and Cashen)
Tralee
Waterville (despite being a Fazio)
Dingle
Dooks

haven't been farther north of that on the West side so refer to others for insight there
Dooks

If you are in the east:

play all the usual place but don't forget about Co. Louth (Baltray)...a lot different from many of the other Irish Links but just as fun

[Ally Mcintosh]

addendum to my earlier post:

you have to decide whether golf is your one and only priority or whether you want to be able to put your feet up after a day on the links, enjoy some food and a few pints and strike up some conversation...

...if it's the former, consider some of the drives... if (as i advise) it is the latter, stick to one region and make it the SW (ballybunion, lahinch, waterville, doonbeg, dooks, dingle, tralee etc...)

make sure you enjoy the holiday, not just the ticking off of golf courses that you can say you have played...

[Jack_Marr]

My only advice: only play links courses.

Why play a place like Killarney or K Club or Mount Juliet or Adare Manor when you can play far superior park courses in the U.S. for much cheaper.

Like Tufts and others, I agree that the SW is the best place to start since it is most removed and has a hell of a group of courses.

Play as many of these as you can:

Lahinch
Doonbeg (I guess?...it feels pretty American)
Ballybunion (Old and Cashen)
Tralee
Waterville (despite being a Fazio)
Dingle
Dooks

haven't been farther north of that on the West side so refer to others for insight there
Dooks

If you are in the east:

play all the usual place but don't forget about Co. Louth (Baltray)...a lot different from many of the other Irish Links but just as fun

I wouldn't call Waterville a Fazio.

I'd go to the Southwest, sure enough. You could also have a look at the new Skellig Bay, which Aidan has posted pictures of.

There are new roads going north and south from Dublin, which makes taking in the European Club, Baltray and the Island in, if you were going to visit RCD. Avoid rush hours, though. Unfortunately, there's plenty of these hours.

[mike_malone]

 If you are bringing golfers who may not go back again then I recommend trying to play the best courses twice. This will enable these players to remember the course for a lifetime. I put such a trip together in the past. IM me if you think this is a way you may want to proceed.

[Jerry Kluger]

I was considering a trip to Bandon versus a trip to Ireland and it was pointed out to me that from the east coast it will take you less time to get to the courses in Ireland than it will take to get to Bandon.  Once you get to Bandon you don't have to get into your car again but in Ireland you will play more courses.  I'm leaning toward the Ireland trip but it is great to have these choices.

[Pete Lavallee]

David,

If you want accurate advice from this esteemed panel you should indicate your mode of travel; alone, with other male golfers or accompanied by a non-golfing female. This will really help cut through to the chase.

As far as substituting Bandon for Ireland, Fughetaboutit! It's the Irish that make Ireland the great getaway that it is; the great golf doesn't hurt either though!

[Tim Pitner]

Consider tying in two regions, for example, the Southwest with the Dublin area, or the North (RCD, Portrush, etc.) with Dublin.  The problem with the Southwest is that Lahinch and Ballybunion are the only sure-fire winners.  Waterville gets mixed reviews; I've heard good things about Dooks; the courses in Tralee and Dingle are only so-so, from what I've heard.  And driving takes a long time in the SW.  

I have a hard time thinking of going to Ireland without seeing Dublin.  It's a world-class city.  And, you have Portmarnock, Baltray, and the Island right there, with RCD not too far away.  So, maybe fly into Shannon, play Lahinch and Ballybunion, go to Dublin, play your picks there, and fly out of Dublin.  

[Dan Moore]

I would decide which are the 2-3 courses you personally have always been most interested in and build around them.  I like the idea of a two region trip.  You can't do it all so it simply means you have to save some good stuff for your return trip.

In my case I always wanted to play Royal County Down and Royal Portrush to which we added Portstewart to the North and County Louth on our way back to Dublin.  Since we then flew into Dublin we made it a two region affair with some courses around Dublin, Portmarnock and the European Club.  We didn't play The Island or Royal Dublin, but we should have.  Also if going th Royal County Down play it twice.    

[Jason Blasberg]

In and out at Belfast, 7 days at RCD and the Slieve Donard . . .

[Tommy Williamsen]

David, you almost have too much information.  My biggest suggestion is to fly into either shannon or Dublin then plan your trip and fly out of the the other airport.  It saves a lot of backtracking and normally it doesn't cost anymore.