- Ireland is one of the best destinations in the world to play golf because it includes championship links, stunning seaside courses, and parkland layouts. You should make sure to visit the greatest golf courses in Ireland if you want to have a nice time there and see some gorgeous scenery. These golf courses are more than simply a game.
They go from the wild Atlantic rocks on the west coast to the serene countryside on the east coast. You will never forget the experience they provide you. The ten best golf courses in Ireland are in this book. They were picked for their world-class design, history, and the beautiful environment that surrounds them. Each venue has something special to offer golfers of all ability levels. In County Kerry, you may play on famous links courses, and in Dublin, you can experience the beauty of parkland courses.
The Top Ten Best Golf Courses To Go For Your Ireland Holiday
10. Adare Manor (Limerick)
Adare Manor sits majestically in the lush landscapes of Limerick, offering a meticulously redesigned Tom Fazio layout that stands apart from Ireland’s coastal links staples. This regularly features on international rankings as Ireland’s finest inland course, having climbed into the top ten thanks to its immaculately maintained fairways, dramatic bunkers and intriguing greens.
The estate’s manicured surroundings and Tudor Gothic architecture create an atmosphere of refined grandeur, making every round feel like a regal experience. As a future Ryder Cup host, it promises an elevated level of challenge and prestige—demanding strategic play off the tee and sharp touch around the greens. Its mix of beauty, shot variety and architectural finesse draws golfers seeking a premium retreat away from the wind and salt spray of the coast.
9. County Louth (Baltray)
County Louth, affectionately known as Baltray, embraces natural links charm with confident understatement. Located beside the Boyne River and Irish Sea, its rolling dunes and wide fairways offer a pure links experience absent extravagant features. The course flows organically through the landscape, presenting breezy conditions, subtle yet strategic bunkering and no-nonsense play.
While not loud in its claims, Baltray rewards creativity and shot‑making precision—classic links golf in its truest form. This is where pure simplicity and authentic Irish golf merge, appealing to those who value understated elegance and soulful design over headline notoriety.
8. The Island, Malahide (Dublin)
Just north of Dublin, The Island at Malahide channels coastal character with renovated bunkers, sleek tees and vibrant greens. Redesigned by Martin Ebert in 2021, its improvements deepened its standing among elite links venues. Players encounter crisp sea breezes, sculpted dunes and firm turf that tests trajectory control and precision. Its back nine follows a winding route through dunes, offering a memorable test of wind‑influenced strategy. Proximity to Dublin makes it an ideal stop for international visitors seeking authentic links golf without straying far from the capital.
7. Waterville Golf Links (Kerry)
Set between the Atlantic and Lough Currane, Waterville delivers a remote and rugged links experience. Each hole feels unique protected by dunes, peppered with bunkers and shaped by unpredictable winds off the ocean. The course’s vibe is rich in history, having hosted the likes of Payne Stewart and Bill Clinton. Its clubhouse perches atop a dune with sweeping sea views, reinforcing an immersive feel that connects golfer with environment. If you long for a wild, untamed round where landscape meets challenge, Waterville delivers on both counts.
6. Royal Portrush (Dunluce Links) (Antrim)
Northern Ireland’s only venue to host The Open, Royal Portrush’s Dunluce Links offers a dramatic coastal golf experience. Redesigned before the 2019 Open, the course now features two signature holes on the cliff edge Curran Point and Dunluce. Built by Harry Colt, it commands attention with its winding fairways, rugged dunes and intimidating wind conditions. Players encounter blind shots into landforms, tough par threes and panoramic views of churning sea every hole feels cinematic. With Open tee markers and historical gravitas, it is a pinnacle destination for serious golfers.
5. Royal County Down (Newcastle, Down)
Perched in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains, Royal County Down is lauded for its storied front nine and exquisite routing. It offers a wild tapestry of towering dunes, blind tee shots and deep bunkers lining sea views. History and design overlap across fairways graced by views of Slieve Donard and the Irish Sea. Currently ranked as one of the best courses on the planet, its dual challenge of mental foresight and shot‑making precision is renowned. This is a bucket‑list venue for anyone chasing pure links heritage and natural drama.
4. Druids Glen (Wicklow)
Moving inland, Druids Glen brings championship-level parkland elegance just south of Dublin. Known as the “Augusta of Ireland,” it offers lush fescue fairways, sculpted bunkers and tree-lined corridors. Designed in the mid‑1990s and refreshed to modern standards, the course blends undulating terrain with fair but testing greens. It hosted multiple Irish Opens and the Seve Trophy, proving its mettle among pro routes. Golf here is a refined affair delightful scenery, strategic demands and luxury hospitality make it a sophisticated choice for those seeking variety in their Ireland golf journey.
3. The K Club (Palmer North) (Kildare)
Famed for hosting the 2006 Ryder Cup, the Palmer North course at The K Club is an opulent example of Arnold Palmer’s design philosophy. Its lush fairways, strategic bunkering and island green hole offer a parkland contrast to the rugged coastal links. Water hazards and tree-lined fairways add dimension, while championship history whispers from every hole. The surrounding clubhouse, spa and equestrian scenery add a layer of leisure and luxury. As a modern classic with tour pedigree, it appeals to players who appreciate both comfort and competitive challenge.
2. Lahinch Golf Club (Old Course) (Clare)
Located near the Burren and Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch is often compared to St Andrews. Laid out by Old Tom Morris and refined by MacKenzie and Hawtree, it offers traditional links routing across tumbling dunes. It blends blind shots, dramatic elevation changes and seaside exposure with historic charm. Knee‑knocker holes like the Klondyke, Dell and legendary par fives offer unforgettable challenges in changing wind. Freely grazing goats add whimsical character. It remains a beloved classic for purists chasing the soul of links golf and panoramic Atlantic vistas.
1. Ballybunion (Old Course) (Kerry)
Claiming the top spot, Ballybunion Old Course sits amid rugged dunes and Atlantic spray in southwest Kerry. Since 1893, it has surprised players with deep bunkers, shifting wind corridors and wild natural contours. Iconic holes like the downhill 11th and dramatic 15th pair ocean views with demanding play. Its remote setting contributes to the allure it feels like you are playing on untamed earth. It consistently ranks among the world’s best links, offering a visceral, raw golfing experience where drama in design and seascape link to form a profound holiday highlight.
