The Great Links: Golf in 7 Days
Four of the world's great links courses in one week (Lahinch, Killarney, Tralee and Ballybunion), flown into Shannon and paced like a holiday, not a boot camp: a full touring day in the middle, the Cliffs of Moher after golf, and evenings in Ennis and Killarney.
Day 1: Into Shannon and a gentle start
Overnight: Ennis
- Ennis (County clare)
- Lahinch Golf Club (Castle Course) (County clare)
Shannon Airport to Ennis is about 30 minutes. Settle in, stretch the flight out of your legs, and if you want the clubs out today, Lahinch's gentler Castle Course (€60, about 45 minutes away) is the perfect warm-up round. Book the serious golf for when you're rested. Ennis is a trad-music town: eat early, find a session, sleep.
Day 2: Lahinch Old Course, then the Cliffs
Overnight: Ennis
- Lahinch Golf Club (Old Course) (County clare)
- Cliffs of Moher (County clare)
Drive to Lahinch, about 45 minutes. The Old Course is MacKenzie over Old Tom Morris, with the Klondyke and the Dell back to back early in the round. At least one caddie per group is required. Take the advice, the Dell is blind. Afterwards, the Cliffs of Moher are 15 minutes up the coast; go late in the day for the light and thinner crowds.
Day 3: The touring day: Adare and on to Killarney
Overnight: Killarney
- Adare (County limerick)
- Muckross House and Killarney National Park (County kerry)
No golf today, deliberately. Drive Ennis to Killarney in about 2¾ hours, breaking the drive in Adare, Ireland's prettiest village, for coffee and a look at the Manor gates (playing Adare is a residents' game: see the golf guide). Afternoon at Muckross House and the lakes. Your legs and your swing will thank you tomorrow.
Day 4: Killarney's Killeen course
Overnight: Killarney
- Killarney Golf & Fishing Club (Killeen Course) (County kerry)
- Gap of Dunloe (County kerry)
A parkland morning on the Killeen course, four-time Irish Open host, with the lakes and MacGillycuddy's Reeks as the backdrop, the scenic counterpoint to the week's links golf. Afternoon on the water or through the Gap of Dunloe. Both Killarney courses are at the club, ten minutes from the town centre.
Day 5: Tralee: Palmer's back nine
Overnight: Killarney
- Tralee Golf Club (County kerry)
Tralee is about 50 minutes from Killarney, an easy day trip, so no repacking. Arnold Palmer designed the front nine; by his own admission, God designed the back, which runs along the cliffs of Barrow Harbour. Take a caddie or a yardage book and more balls than you think: the run from the 12th is the sternest, finest stretch of the week so far.
Day 6: Ballybunion Old Course
Overnight: Killarney
- Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course) (County kerry)
The pilgrimage. Killarney to Ballybunion is about 1¾ hours; give yourself the morning for it and book an early-afternoon time if you can. The dunes light up as the day goes on. This is the round the whole trip was built around, and the one to book first (a year or more ahead for summer). Back to Killarney for the last night, about 1¾ hours.
Day 7: Home from Shannon, or one more round
Overnight: Killarney
- Killarney Golf & Fishing Club (Mahony's Point) (County kerry)
- Shannon Airport (County clare)
Killarney to Shannon Airport is about 2¼ hours, so an afternoon flight is comfortable. If yours is late, there's time for a gentle farewell round at Mahony's Point in Killarney before you leave, or break the drive at the Burren. If you're flying from Dublin instead, allow a full extra day and play Portmarnock or The Island on the way. See the golf guide.