Which Irish region is best for a golf trip based around links courses?
The southwest, on the Shannon to Kerry line, gives the densest run of serious links with the shortest transfers. Base first in Ennis for Lahinch, where the Old Course is Alister MacKenzie over an Old Tom Morris original, then move to Killarney for Tralee at Barrow and Ballybunion's Old Course, the round most golfers would book first. Killarney's Killeen course adds championship parkland on the lakes between the links days. The main rival is the north coast, built around Royal Portrush and Royal County Down, which suits a shorter, single base trip. Book the named championship courses well ahead and check current fees with Golf Ireland and the clubs. In the 2026 peak season, every one of the named courses sat at the top of the range: €450 a round at Lahinch, Ballybunion and Tralee, and £420 to £450 at Royal Portrush and Royal County Down.
Useful pages: Where to go · Ready-made itineraries · The Wild Atlantic Way road trip · Dublin · County Cork · County Kerry · County Galway · Northern Ireland · Portrush · Visiting Irish castles · Plan your journey · Heritage · Golf in Ireland · Ireland's cities · Ireland in the movies · Best hiking trails in Ireland · The Southwest in 5 Days · The Great Links golf itinerary · Quieter places
Sources
- Golf Ireland and the individual clubs: Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee, Royal Portrush and Royal County Down
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