Golf Ireland's Sunny Southeast

If you enjoy leafy meadowlands and endless golden seaside views, then this it the region of Ireland for you. Classic courses are rightly regarded as among the best in the world and draw golfers from around the globe. Here are a couple of the wonderful courses to play golf in Ireland's southeast:

 

Mount Juliet Golf Club, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Mount Juliet golf course first opened in 1991 with a friendly match between Jack Nicklaus and Christy O'Connor Snr. Since then the course has established itself as a premier venue for top professional and leisure golfers from around the world. Set in a world of its own, on lush parkland in the south east of Ireland, the course is both captivating and memorable. Tiger Woods declared that Mount Juliet presented "perfect fairways...and the best greens to be putter on all year."


Rosslare Golf Club, Rosslare, Co Wexford
Rosslare Golf Links is the hidden gem of Irish links golf courses. Situated in the sunniest part of the country, on the extreme south east coast, it stands on a narrow peninsula with the Irish Sea on one side and the huge expanse of Wexford Harbour on the other.



Away from the course there's plenty to do in Ireland's southeast too. The many beaches provide an excellent opportunity to try sailing or surfing - or to just wile away an hour or two enjoying a peaceful stroll along the pristine coastline.  You can visit the famous Waterford Crystal works near to Waterford city, and see beauty created by hand right before your eyes. There, you can also learn some of the history behind the renowned company, about it's centuries old business and about its distinct techniques. Or visit Kilkenny's bustling city center, Wexford's operas. For anyone with an Irish heritage, the quayside in New Ross will be of interest. There, an exact replica of the Dunbrody, a 19th century three-masted sailing ship, and a state-of-the-art visitor's center will provide plenty of insight into Ireland's emigrant past and its strong links to North America.

Whatever you choose, one thing is for certain; after a few days in Ireland's southeast and you will understand why people from outside of Ireland have been flocking to its shores since the time of the Vikings. Start planning your golf vacation to Ireland with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Westport - An Irish Golfer's Paradise

Situated on the shores of Clew Bay, in the shadows of Croagh Patrick, is the unique and charming heritage town of Westport, Ireland. Westport is a captivating blend of traditional and modern, making it an obvious choice for County Mayo’s premier tourist destination. You will find an elegant tree-lined Mall with stately Georgian buildings alongside the Carrowbeg River, cozy antique pubs with heart-stirring traditional music, state-of-the-art conference facilities and, within a short drive, some of the best links courses in Ireland.

Carne Golf Links, Belmullet, Co Mayo

Carne Golf Links lies in magnificent unspoiled sand dunes overlooking Blacksod Bay and the wild Atlantic Ocean near Bulmullet Co Mayo in the West of Ireland. Carne was the last links course to be designed by the late Eddie Hacketts and is now believed by many who have played it, to be his greatest challenge.

Enniscrone Golf Club, Enniscrone, Co Sligo

Originally a 9 Hole course, in 1970 Eddie Hackett began design of 18 hole couse which opened 4 years later. In 1999, Donald Steele began work on a 9 hole extension. In 2001, the Dunes 18 hole Championship course and the 9 hole Scurmore course opened, in addition to the refurbished new Clubhouse.

County Sligo Golf Club (Rosses Point), Rosses Point, Co Sligo

Sligo Golf Club is one of the oldest and best known Championship links courses in Ireland. Established in 1894 its located on the now famous narrow finger of land jutting defiantly out into the Atlantic Ocean. With water on three sides, this is a glorious piece of land in a stunning setting, ideally suited to a links course.

Connemara Golf Links, Ballyconneely, Clifden, Co. Galway

Nestled between the scenic splendor of the 12 Bens Mountain range and the rugged Atlantic Ocean, lies Connemara Golf Links. From the testing dog leg opening hole through to the breathtaking back 9, which has been acknowledged as the “equal to any in the world,” Connemara is an enduring monument to its designer, Eddie Hackett.

There are many golf and links courses within a short drive of Westport, making a perfect base for your golf vacation to Ireland. Let Celtic Tours World Vacations help you design your golf vacation to Ireland.

Royal County Down

Royal County Down
New Castle, County Down

Royal County Down is located in one of the world’s most naturally beautiful links settings in the Murlough Nature Reserve. Against the magnificent backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne, the links stretches along the shores of Dundrum Bay, zigzagging back and forth to provide a different vista from virtually every hole.

The narrowest ribbons of fairways thread their way through as impressive a set of sand dunes as could be imagined. The fairways are surrounded by purple heather and golden gorse, so beautiful to look at but so punishing for any who may stray from the prescribed path.

The ‘bearded’ bunkers are world famous and feature overhanging lips of marram, red fescue and heather. The greens are fast and many are domed, rejecting any shot lacking conviction. This is a true test of any player’s command of the traditional bump and run, the preferred way to play any links.

Ireland is home to over 408 Golf Clubs, 53 of them links courses, choosing can be difficult. So our golf experts, at Celtic Tours, have played the courses and tailored itineraries to suit the average and expert golfer alike. Golf at Royal County Down on Celtic Tours North and East Links Golf Tour of Ireland.

Carne Golf Links, Ireland

Carne Golf Links
Belmullet, County Mayo

Carne Golf Links in North Mayo on the West Coast of Ireland lies in magnificent unspoiled sand dunes overlooking Blacksod Bay and the wild Atlantic Ocean near the town of Belmullet. Discover Erris in North Mayo an area that is famed the world over for its golf course and white sandy atlantic beaches that stretch for miles, its bountiful wildlife and warm welcome. Carne Golf Links was the last links course to be designed by the late Eddie Hackett and it is now believed by many who have played it to his greatest challenge.


The building of Carne has caused little disturbance to this wild and ancient landscape. Tees and greens occurred naturally and very little earth moving was involved in the course construction. There are some breathtaking views over the Atlantic and the legendary islands of Inis Glóire and Inis Géidhe.

Ireland is home to over 408 Golf Clubs, 53 of them links courses, choosing can be difficult. So our golf experts, at Celtic Tours, have played the courses and tailored itineraries to suit the average and expert golfer alike. Play Carne Golf Links on Celtic Tours South and West Links Golf Tour of Ireland

Ballybunion Golf Club

Ballybunion Golf Club
Ballybunion, County Kerry

Located on the north west coast of County Kerry, on a beautiful stretch of sand dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, you'll find two wonderfully challenging and unique links golf courses at Ballybunion - the Old Course and the Cashen Course.

The Old Course exudes a majestic feel that simply cannot be compared to any other course on earth. With beautifully contoured fairways that tumble down through a blanket of grassy dunes, it's no wonder these challenging holes have been consistently rated among the top courses in the world.

The Trent Jones Cashen Course, located along the sweeping, undisturbed shoreline, offers breathtaking views throughout. There is a wild look to the place. Long grass covers the dunes that pitch and roll throughout the course.

Whatever your choice, every hole, every hazard and every shot is defined by nature's infinite presence.


Ireland is home to over 408 Golf Clubs, 53 of them links courses, choosing can be difficult. So our golf experts, at Celtic Tours, have played the courses and tailored itineraries to suit the average and expert golfer alike.You can find this spectacular golf course on our Southern Links Golf Tour of Ireland

Golf Ireland: Carne, Enniscrone & Ballina

Great West Golf Package from $416 pp

No Weak Links! Enjoy 3 top courses - accommodations - car rental - and so much more!

Great West Golf Ireland Package
An experience like no other! Golf three of the finest courses; Carne, Enniscrone and Ballina.








This Irish Golf Vacation Package for four includes:

* Play three courses - at Carne, Enniscrone and Ballina
* 3-Nights Accommodations at selected hotel below (subject to availability at time of booking).
* Full Irish breakfast daily - except day of arrival.
* One dinner
* Van rental - standard shift. Upgrade to automatic available.
* Collision Damage Waiver included.
* FREE Celtic Tours 5-minute phone card
* Shannon Region 25% discount off entrance to the Shannon Regions top Attractions and Activities.

Golf + Downhill House Hotel
Oct 2010 Land - only $635 pp (based on 4 person)
Nov 2010 Land - only $442 pp (based on 4 persons)
Feb 01-Mar 31, 2011 Land - only $416 pp (based on 4 persons)
Apr 2011 Land - only $599 pp (based on 4 persons)

Golf + Luxury Mount Falcon Hotel
Oct-Nov 30 2010 Land - only $669 pp (based on 4 person)
Feb 01-Apr 30, 2011 Land - only $633 pp (based on 4 persons)

Extend your package - 3 nights Open B&B vouchers & Van rental from $218 pp!
Rates also available for non-golfers and larger parties with private driver.

With Celtic Tours - no small print and never any hidden charges!


Learn More

Ireland Golf Links Courses

A links golf course, is the oldest style of golf course, first developed in Scotland but most common in Ireland. The word comes from the Scots language and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes. Links are located in coastal areas, on sandy soil, often amid dunes, with few water hazards and trees. This reflects both the nature of the scenery where the sport happened to originate, and the fact that only limited resources were available to golf course architects at the time. Any earth moving had to be done by hand, so it was kept to a minimum.

The challenges of links golf fall into two categories. Firstly the nature of the courses themselves, which tend to be characterized by uneven fairways, thick rough and small deep bunkers known as “pot bunkers”. Secondly, due to their coastal location many links courses are frequently windy. This affects the style of play required. As many links courses consist literally of an “outward” nine in one direction along the coast, and an “inward” nine which returns in the opposite direction, players often have to cope with opposite wind patterns in each half of their round.

Ireland is home to over 408 Golf Clubs, 53 of them links courses, choosing can be difficult. So our golf experts, at Celtic Tours, have played the courses and tailored itineraries to suit the average and expert golfer alike. For a limited time only these packages are on sale!

Click Here for more information on Celtic Tours’ Golf Packages