Where to Play Golf in Ireland

A Guide to the Best Regions for Your Trip

When it comes to planning a golf trip to Ireland, one of the obvious and most important decisions is where to play. With more than 400 golf courses across the country, including many of the world’s finest links, it’s simply not possible to see everything in one trip.

Instead, the best approach is to focus on one or two of Ireland’s four premier golf regions — each offering a distinct character, pace, and selection of unforgettable courses. Whether you're chasing top 100 venues, dramatic coastal links, or a more relaxed rhythm off the beaten path, this guide will help you decide where to play golf in Ireland.

Examining the best regions for Ireland golf trips

Southwest Ireland - The Quintessential Links Golf Experience

For many H&B travelers, their journey with links golf begins in Southwest Ireland. This region offers some of the best courses in the world, sweeping ocean vistas, and a distinctly Irish sense of place that has welcomed generations of traveling golfers.

Notable Courses

Ballybunion: Rugged, natural, and revered, this course is a rite of passage for links lovers.

Lahinch: A classic blend of history and eccentricity, with blind shots, towering dunes, and postcard views.

Old Head: Set dramatically on a headland surrounded by cliffs, Old Head is as memorable for its setting as it is for its design.

Tralee & Waterville: Scenic and strategic, each offers a rich, rewarding experience.

The Good Life

This region pairs beautifully with Ireland’s most iconic scenic drives, including the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula. Perfect for a rest day or for tourists seeking the famous sites while the golfers are on the course. Accommodations range from the spacious multi-bedroom lodges at Doonbeg to the regal elegance of Adare Manor and The Killarney Park, with countless inviting options in between.

While you’re in the area, set aside time to explore Killarney, a vibrant town where traditional pubs, boutique shops, and timeless Irish hospitality come together. JM Reidy’s, with its cozy charm and lively atmosphere, remains a favorite among H&B travelers. It also happens to have the best coffee in Killarney early in the morning.

What to Expect

This region is ideal for first-time visitors and those seeking a blend of world-renowned courses and timeless character. That said, it comes with longer transfer times between clusters—something we carefully manage for our travelers, particularly those accustomed to the pace and precision of private club life.

Northern Ireland - Ireland's Championship Icons

For golfers chasing history, major championship venues, and dramatic coastline, Northern Ireland is a natural fit for private club members seeking pedigree and prestige. It’s home to two of the world’s top-ranked courses, one of which is a member of The Open Championship rota.

Notable Courses

Royal County Down: A visually stunning and relentlessly challenging layout often ranked as the No. 1 course in the world.

Royal Portrush: Host of the 2019 and 2025 Open Championship and a stunning wonder of Irish golf.

Portstewart: Home to arguably the finest front-9 in all of Ireland, routed through some of the most dramatic dunes in the country.

Castlerock & Ardglass: Though overshadowed by their marquee neighbors, these gems deliver some of the most surprising and memorable rounds of the journey.

The Good Life

Between rounds, explore a few of Northern Ireland’s most iconic spots in or around Portrush. The Giant’s Causeway is a stunning and unique natural wonder, while the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is a thrilling yet beautiful quest. Meanwhile, a visit to the Old Bushmills Distillery provides a taste of local tradition. Then there's The Harbour Bar, which has become an institution for golfers.

Accommodations in the region range from the character-filled Bushmills Inn to the elegant Galgorm Resort, with its riverside setting and spa. For those seeking something new, the five-star Dunluce Lodge near Portrush offers a sleek, contemporary take on coastal luxury.

If your group prefers to stay in one location, Belfast makes an excellent home base. From here, it’s easy to reach the top courses while enjoying the city’s rich history, vibrant pub culture, and a dining scene that's quickly catching global attention.

What to Expect

This region requires the earliest planning window. Tee sheets at Royal County Down and Portrush open in March or April of the year prior to your trip—and often sell out within days. We recommend beginning the planning process 18 months or more in advance.

Guide to the best regions for an Ireland golf trip

Dublin & East Coast - World-Class Golf Meets Ireland's Capital

If you'd like to stay in one location while enjoying top-ranked golf and a lively cultural scene, Dublin offers perhaps the best option in Ireland. Courses here deliver both history and world-class play, and all are within an hour's drive from the city center.

Notable Courses

Portmarnock Golf Club: A revered links that's a mainstay of the world top 100.

The Island: A former hidden favorite now earning widespread acclaim for its spectacular and wildly fun links.

County Louth (Baltray): A favorite among architecture purists and regular host of national amateur championships.

Royal Dublin: Harry Colt design that's teeped in history and easily accessible from the city center.

The Good Life

Enjoy five-star stays at The Merrion or The Fitzwilliam, both offering refined accommodations just steps from some of Dublin’s best dining, shopping, and cultural landmarks. Whether it’s strolling Grafton Street, exploring the famous pubs, or taking in the Book of Kells and Trinity Library, the city invites you to linger.

Personal guides are also available for curated walking tours of the city, highlighting landmarks and hidden corners of Dublin you might otherwise miss. And for those who enjoy a good story with their pint, consider a guided pub tour that weaves together the history of Guinness, the evolution of Irish pub culture, and even gives you the chance to pull your own pint behind the bar.

What to Expect

Dublin is ideal for travelers who want a more centralized experience without changing hotels. It’s especially appealing to private club members traveling with spouses or family, where the Good Life plays just as much a role as the golf. Best of all, Dublin enjoys nonstop service from over a dozen U.S. cities, making it as seamless to reach as it is to enjoy.

Northwest Ireland: Remote, Wild, and Wonderfully Authentic

If you’ve already seen the big names—or simply crave an experience that’s rugged, less traveled, and rich in authenticity—Northwest Ireland may be your ideal match. The courses here are bold and expansive, and the welcome is often the warmest you’ll find.

Notable Courses

St. Patrick’s Links: A recent arrival that feels timeless, Tom Doak’s sprawling design at Rosapenna that's the first world top 100 course in the region.

Cruit Island: This remote 9-hole beauty is the very definition of "golf at the edge of the earth" and promises an unforgettable experience.

Carne Golf Links: Built through some of the tallest dunes in Great Britain & Ireland, Carne delivers an exhilarating round on the edge of the Atlantic.

Enniscrone Golf Club: A rollercoaster of blind shots, towering dunes, and sweeping views, Enniscrone delivers guaranteed fun.

The Good Life

Stay at Lough Eske Castle, a tranquil and elegant retreat just outside Donegal, or base yourself at Rosapenna Resort, which offers comfortable accommodations alongside the convenience of three outstanding links courses right on-site.

Explore the towering Slieve League Cliffs—every bit as dramatic as the Cliffs of Moher, yet blissfully less traveled. Spend an afternoon tracing the Wild Atlantic Way, stopping for fresh seafood, artisan workshops, and the kind of conversations that only happen in coastal villages where time moves a little slower.

And don’t miss a visit to the Harbour Bar in Downings, one of our favorite pubs in Ireland, where a perfectly poured pint by the fire is certain to lead to something unforgettable.

What to Expect

Northwest Ireland remains one of the few regions where planning 6 to 9 months in advance is still possible. It's ideal for private club members seeking an authentic, relaxed alternative to the marquee regions in Ireland, with the schedule flexibility of later planning.

Guide comparing regions for Ireland golf trips

Where You Play Shapes the Experience

At Haversham & Baker, we don’t begin with preset itineraries or fixed routes through each region. Some Expeditions combine highlights from multiple areas, carefully selected to match the group’s priorities. Others focus entirely on a single region, allowing for a deeper immersion in its golf, culture, and charm.

And yet, choosing the right region is the foundation of any successful Ireland golf trip. It shapes not only where you play, but how you travel, what you experience between rounds, and how well the trip resonates with everyone in your group. From world-ranked links to lesser-known treasures, from five-star hotels to coastal pubs, the journey is as much about the Good Life as it is about the game.

That’s why we guide each of our travelers through the decision-making process, helping to align courses, accommodations, and Good Life experiences into a seamless and highly personalized itinerary. Because no two H&B Expeditions are ever the same and neither are the stories they return home with.