Don't ask me to select my favorite 18 golf courses in Ireland that are worth crossing an ocean to play; doing it would get me into too much trouble! Although picking one's gold, silver and bronze favorite 18 holes in Ireland is probably a more difficult task, I'm prepared to have a go, regardless: (In chronological order) Gold- 1- Doonbeg; 2- Portstewart; 3- Killeen (Killarney); 4- Cork; 5- Portmarnock Old; 6- Sandy Hills (Rosapenna), 7- Dooks; 8- Bantry Bay; 9- RCD; 10- Pormarnock Links; 11- Ballybunion; 12- Waterville; 13- Royal Portrush (Dunluce); 14- Valley (Rosapenna); 15- Portmarnock; 16- Ring of Kerry; 17- The European; 18- Waterville.
I could have just as easily chosen: (Silver) 1- Portstewart; 2- Old Head; 3- Athlone; 4- RCD; 5- Royal Portrush (Dunluce); 6- Ballyliffin Old; 7- The European; 8- Dromoland Castle; 9- Westport; 10- Mount Juliet; 11- Templepatrick; 12- Portmarnock; 13- County Tipperary (Dundrum); 14- Co. Sligo (Rosses Point); 15- The European; 16- Dooks; 17- Carne; 18- Mahony's Point (Killarney) but I didn't! Plenty of variety there but if you are short of time and can only squeeze in 9-holes, RCD shades Lahinch, Porstewart and Cork for having the best front 9 whereas The European Club, Waterville or Ballybunion's inward runs are my best back 9s. There are so many excellent golf holes and golf courses worth crossing an ocean to play............(Bronze) - 1- Lahinch; 2- Mullingar; 3- RCD; 4- Royal Portrush; 5- The Island;
6- Lahinch; 7- The K Club (Palmer); 8- The Heritage; 9- Enniscrone; 10- Fota Island; 11- Waterville; 12- Actually it's 12A at The European Club - the best darn short hole of the five on the property; 13- Adare Manor Resort; 14- Portmarnock; 15- Enniscrone; 16- The K-Club (Palmer Course); 17- Knightsbrook; 18- Royal Dublin.