This guide covers the whole island: the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. For golf, the border barely registers. You can play Portmarnock in the morning and Royal County Down the next day without a passport check, and the island’s best links share the same Atlantic and Irish Sea weather. What does change is the money (euro in the Republic, sterling in the North) and the road signs (kilometres south of the border, miles north of it). The great courses cluster in four areas: the Kerry and Cork coast in the southwest, Clare on the west coast, Dublin and the east, and the Causeway Coast and County Down in the North. Most visitors pick two of those areas for a week rather than trying to see everything, because Irish roads are slower than the map suggests. Book the hardest tee times first, then plan the trip around them.
Ireland’s oldest club, on a Colt layout running down to Belfast Lough since 1926.
Where to base yourself.
The Southwest: Kerry and Cork
Ballybunion’s Old Course and the Cashen, Tralee and Waterville on the Ring of Kerry form the core, with Old Head on its headland near Kinsale in Cork. Distances are deceptive: Ballybunion to Waterville takes around two and a half hours and Waterville to Old Head about three, so most groups base in two places. Kerry Airport is closest; Cork suits Old Head.
Clare and the West
Lahinch is the base, a golfing village with the Old Course and Castle Course at its edge and Doonbeg 35 minutes south. Shannon Airport is under an hour away. The Killimer–Tarbert ferry links Clare to Ballybunion in about an hour, and Adare Manor, the 2027 Ryder Cup venue for resort guests, sits roughly an hour inland.
Dublin and the east coast
Portmarnock is 20 minutes from Dublin Airport, with The Island, Royal Dublin and County Louth all within an hour. It makes an easy arrival or departure base. The European Club in Wicklow closed at the end of 2025 for a redesign and is due to reopen in 2027 as the Brittas Bay Club, so check its status before planning around it.
The Northern Ireland coast
Royal Portrush, Portstewart and Castlerock sit within 20 minutes of each other on the Causeway Coast; Royal County Down is about two hours south-east at Newcastle, beneath the Mournes. Belfast’s two airports serve both, and Dublin Airport is under two hours from Newcastle. Prices here are in sterling.
When to go.
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The main visitor season at the leading clubs runs from April to October; several, including Royal County Down and Lahinch, publish visitor rates only from mid or late April to mid-October, and Adare Manor’s 2026 season ran from late May. May, June and September usually balance daylight, firmer ground and slightly easier tee-time availability. In June the light lasts until after 10pm on the west coast, so late afternoon rounds are realistic. July and August are the busiest months for visiting groups and for summer holidays in Ireland itself. Wind and rain are part of every month here, but rounds are rarely cancelled for weather; the courses are built for it.
Getting around.
Plan on a hire car or a private driver; only Portrush and Portmarnock are practical by train. Motorways connect Dublin to Belfast, Limerick, Galway and Cork, but most coastal golf is reached on narrow, winding regional roads where 60 km an hour is a good average. Realistic times: Dublin to Portrush about three hours; Dublin to Lahinch about three; Shannon to Ballybunion about 90 minutes with the Tarbert ferry; Royal County Down to Portrush about two hours. Speed limits switch from km/h to mph at the border; tell your hire company if you plan to cross it. Non-Irish and non-British visitors need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter Northern Ireland, including by road from the Republic, even though there are no checks.
Plan it well.
Visitor golf in Ireland is welcoming but structured. Many private clubs set visitor days and hours: Royal County Down takes visitors on five days, Ballybunion’s Old Course on weekday mornings, Portmarnock on four days, and Royal Portrush never on Wednesdays on the Dunluce. Full payment at booking, with strict or no refunds, is now normal at the top clubs. Expect to show a handicap certificate; Lahinch and Ballybunion set limits of 24 for men and 36 for women. Caddies are often compulsory, usually at least one per group, and are paid in cash. Fees are quoted in euro south of the border and sterling in the North, so budget in both and carry cash for caddies.
Questions golfers ask.
Does this Ireland guide include Northern Ireland?
Yes. It covers the whole island, including Royal Portrush and Royal County Down in Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. The two jurisdictions share an open border, so a single golf trip can easily include both, but prices in the North are in sterling.
How many days do I need for a golf trip to Ireland?
A week suits two regions, such as Clare and Kerry or Dublin and the Northern Ireland coast, with five or six rounds. Trying to cover the southwest and the North in one week means long drives, five hours or more between Kerry and Portrush.
Do I need a handicap certificate to play golf in Ireland?
At the leading links, yes. Lahinch and Ballybunion require a maximum of 24 for men and 36 for women, and Royal Portrush may ask for a certificate before play. Bring an official handicap record from your home club or national system.
Can I pay green fees in euro in Northern Ireland?
Generally no. Royal County Down states that all transactions must be in pounds sterling, and Royal Portrush quotes its fees in sterling. Caddies in the North expect sterling cash, and Royal County Down has no ATM on site.
When should I book tee times for Ireland?
As early as you can, ideally a year ahead for summer. Portmarnock’s 2026 visitor sheet was full until the end of September, and Royal County Down is already taking interest for 2028. Book the scarce course first and fit the rest around it.
