Ireland is one of the most dynamic golf destinations on the planet and I highly recommend a visit to the Emerald Isle. I recently asked Jack Price of Irish Golf Tours a wide range of questions to assist those who want to tee it up in this golf nirvana in 2024.
You’re one of the most experienced Irish golf travel companies in the world. When did you start?
Irish Golf Tours began business in 1993. Our mission then, as it is now, was to provide visiting golfers with more personalised, well-rounded trips to Ireland.
And we have since created countless customized golfing experiences throughout the island for visitors from across the globe. This is why our guests keep returning and – generously – recommending Irish Golf Tours to friends and family.
Why should travelling golfers, especially first-time visitors to Ireland, select Irish Golf Tours?
It’s no secret that Ireland is a golf paradise.
World-class courses. Jaw-dropping scenery. Multi-star accommodations. Fun-filled pubs. Millennium-spanning culture.
There’s just so much for you to play, see and do.
But it’s also easy to miss out on some Irish essentials. Especially without local knowledge or on-the-ground guidance.
Plus, you must compete with the other 240,000 travelling golfers who arrive on these shores each year. Not when you travel with Irish Golf Tours.
You’ll benefit from our expertise, connections and reputation built over 30+ years in the industry. That means access to tee times, resorts, watering holes, eateries, and transportation providers most tourists can only dream about.
Say when, and our team will create your perfect itinerary.
What are the five main regions in Ireland for packages?
Did you know? Ireland is home to 25% of the world’s links courses. As such, the five primary golf regions on the island encompass our astonishing coastlines.
Flying to Dublin Airport puts you in striking of them all. Irish Golf Tours offers tailor-made tour packages for each.
-
East
Few capitals fuse antiquity and modernity like Dublin. This 21st-century expedition encompasses the bracing eastern shores that greeted Vikings some 1,200 years ago. You’ll have to navigate the unmatched links fairways of Portmarnock, The Island, Royal Dublin, Seapoint and The European Club.
-
Southwest
Arguably the finest sphere of linksland on the planet. Your journey brings you along the spectacular coasts of Cork, Kerry and Clare – to the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Awaiting you is the famous Southwest 6: Old Head, Ballybunion, Waterville, Dooks, Tralee, and Lahinch.
-
West
The windswept West is a common port of call for golfers on the Wild Atlantic Way. You’ll find another hotbed of links, each with its particular style and difficulty, including the hidden gem of Narin and Portnoo and among the towering dunes at Enniscrone.
-
Northern Ireland
Yes, even the big two are possible. The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush in 2025 – but you can retrace the footsteps of untold legends before the modern-day giants arrive. Tick another off the bucket list at the immortal Royal County Down.
-
Northwest
The Northwest is becoming the destination of choice for golf aficionados. Donegal delivers an unfiltered links experience across howling clifftops, through towering dunescapes and to the precipice of the endless Atlantic. The courses at Rosapenna, Cruit and Ballyliffin offer a satisfying mix of classic and contemporary challenges.
What region is the most popular?
The Southwest and Northern Ireland are our most popular trips among first-time visitors to Ireland. The reputation of these regions, both on and off the course, stretches from New Zealand to New York.
What is the most requested course to play?
That tends to be a tiebreak between Royal Portrush and Royal County Down. So at least they’re in the same region!
Again, acclaim and popularity go hand in hand. Golf Digest named Royal County Down, which will stage The 2024 Irish Open, the No.1 course outside the US. And everyone from Arnold Palmer to Tom Watson and Rory McIlroy has graced Royal Portrush.
It’s the stuff of dreams for mere mortals.
How far ahead should golfers book their trip?
Until relatively recently, people booked 6-9 months in advance. But Ireland is more popular than ever among overseas golfers, who now book as much as 12 months ahead. However, we still have last-minute trips available in 2024. For now.
When are the best times to visit Ireland to play golf?
Golf season in Ireland usually runs from May to October. The courses are in peak condition and the notorious Irish weather is kind to golfers. Most links stay open year-round but may have playing restrictions during shoulder season.
When is the main (high) golf season? When is the shoulder (off-season)?
The high golf season is from the end of May to mid-September. This is when we see peak demand for tee times at landmark links such as Lahinch, Ballybunion and Royal County Down.
Why?
- June is warm, mild and statistically the driest month of the year.
- July and August bring the warmest temperatures and up to 18 hours of daylight.
- September reliably attracts a large influx of American visitors every year.
Meanwhile, our shoulder season is in April and October.
How do you select accommodations, courses, and transfer companies for your itineraries?
Guests of Irish Golf Tours have been enjoying the very best of Ireland’s golf product for more than three decades.
Our long-standing relationships with leading courses, hotels and vendors allow our team flexibility and choice when creating itineraries.
Ultimately, we craft our trips to the customer’s specific needs and expectations. It’s all about personalisation.
What quality of hotels are in your packages? Do you also offer guesthouses?
Our selection of accommodations covers most tastes and budgets. We can situate you in resplendent castles or opulent four and five-star retreats. Our other cost-friendly but high-quality options cater to travellers who wish to prioritise golf.
What are some of your most requested resort golf experiences?
Slieve Donard. Newcastle, County Down. Northern Ireland.
We’re right back on the doorstep of Royal County Down. The Slieve Donard offers Victorian grandeur, sweeping seaside views, and modern luxuries in its bars, restaurants and spa.
Expect a full complement of golfing amenities at a resort within driving distance of more than one world-class course.
Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort. Letterkenny, Country Donegal. Northwest.
You may never leave the four-star Rosapenna. Three – yes, three – exceptional links courses reside on this 370-acre property overlooking Sheephaven Bay.
Old Tom Morris designed the links that bears his name in 1893, Paddy Ruddy laid out Sandy Hills in 2003, and Tom Doak unveiled St Partick’s in 2021.
What are a few of the most popular links courses to play?
You’re asking a lot to keep it to a few. When it comes to links, Ireland punches above her weight in quantity and quality.
The household names we’ve already mentioned make most of our customers’ wish lists. But we also recommend under-the-radar courses that will soon be staples of those lists.
West
Golf Digest called Gill Hanse’s renovation of Narin and Portnoo Links a master class.
East
Shane Lowry won The 2009 Irish Open as an amateur at County Louth Golf Club (Baltray)
East
Combine Baltray with the nearby Seapoint Golf Links for a perfect 36-hole day.
Northwest
Both courses (Old and Glasheady) at Ballyliffin Golf Club received Rory McIlroy’s seal of approval.
Do you coordinate caddies, if requested?
We’re more than happy to arrange for caddies on a client’s behalf during their trip. Irish caddies typically carry two flags, charge on a per-golf-per-round basis and vary in cost at different courses.
What is the best way to begin the planning process with Irish Golf Tours?
Visit the Irish Golf Tours website to discover our selection of unforgettable golfing experiences. Complete our brief online enquiry form and our team will get back to you ASAP. We can’t wait to hear from you.
