Today play Portstewart - Strand Course (tbc).  Possibly, indeed probably, The Strand Course at Portstewart has always been inspired by her renowned neighbors Royal County Down and Royal Portrush to join the ranks of Northern Ireland’s leading layouts.  The original course opened in 1908, was largely reinvented by the great Willie Park in the early 1920’s, then updated again in the 1980s.  Next after a healthy investment to acquire a range of massive, untouched sand dunes called “Thistly Hollow”, seven outstanding new holes were constructed that make for an opening nine considered one of the best in links golf. Please note a very limited supply of golf carts are available for hire. Certain restrictions may apply, please advise your Golf Travel Specialist.

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Portstewart Golf Club, Northern Ireland by LINKS Magazine

Your Itinerary

Golf on Royal Portrush - Dunluce Links (tbc).  Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush (Est 1888) is routinely ranked among the World Top 15 and never less than fifth among the great clubs of the UK and Ireland.  It is the only club outside of Great Britain to host The Open which it has done twice; in 1951 and 2019.  Harry Colt is largely responsible for the current layout which opened in 1932.  He chose the high ground on magnificent dunes land the club had acquired for two courses that was full of deep valleys, long ridges and large plateaus. His achievement here is how the holes follow the sand formations and the greens which are some of the most cleverly conceived in golf. Changes were made in advance of The 148th Open that included two new holes, the exceptional 7th and 8th, which turned the old 17th and 18th into a staging ground for the championship.

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WEBCAST - A Greenside Chat: "The Story of Where There's a Wilma, There's a Way ~ Wilma Erskine"

Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland by LINKS Magazine

Your Itinerary

Situated at the foot of the beautiful Mountains of Mourne, the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa stands in six acres of private grounds which extend to an extensive golden strand. Originally a luxurious railway hotel, the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa is now part of the Marine & Lawn Collection, and offers fine accommodation and excellent facilities. Apart from the obvious attraction for golfers, the hotel is also an ideal setting for fishing, horse riding and mountain walks. The hotel is undergoing a complete modernisation and refurbishment for the 2023 Season with the hotel taking on the Marine & Lawn styling.

Golf today on Royal County Down (tbc).  Northern Ireland’s Royal County Down is routinely ranked among the World Top 5 and never less than first or second among the great clubs of the UK and Ireland for two reasons: the beauty of the setting and the brilliance of the design. Old Tom Morris authored the first 18 hole course here and gets a healthy share of the credit for this masterpiece but George Coombe and Harry Colt also had a hand in it, as have Donald Steele and Martin & Ebert in recent years.  None would dispute however, that the site as it was found with its rugged dunes, natural corridors and hollows, golden gorse and purple heather was destined for greatness.  The ninth stands out among many.  This 427-yard par 4 begins with a blind tee shot to a fairway found eighty feet down a sidehill plunge where two cross bunkers protect a green saddled between two dunes.

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Royal County Down Golf Club, Northern Ireland by LINKS Magazine

Play Jameson Links at Portmarnock Resort  (tbc). This challenging traditional links course by Bernard Langer and Stan Eby overlooks the Irish Sea from links land just north of illustrious Portmarnock Golf Club. The early holes play leisurely away from the sea before the course comes alive just before the turn as the holes make their way through shaggy dunes back towards the coast. The back nine provides a series of visually stunning links holes loaded with deep bunkers, featuring steep faces giving the course a traditional look while incorporating modern architectural techniques. Please note a very limited supply of golf carts are available for hire. Certain restrictions may apply, please advise your Golf Travel Specialist.

Your Itinerary

The College Green Hotel Dublin lies in the heart of Dublin City, steps from Trinity College, the fashionable shops of Grafton St and the lively Temple Bar area. Escape to their contemporary designed guest rooms and suites and delight in the refreshing details of five star hospitality in this calming and tranquil haven, the perfect place to call home during your visit to Dublin City. Morelands Grill, a chic and urban steakhouse, serving exceptional food crafted from locally sourced ingredients. Open daily for breakfast and wholesome dinners. Venture beneath The hotel to experience the moody sophistication of the Mint Bar, a stunning cocktail bar concealed within the original vaults of a former bank. The expert team of mixologists blend vintage techniques with modern innovation to serve up simply delicious signature cocktails.  

Today play The European Club (tbc) at Brittas Bay.   Tucked amid tumbling dunes 30 miles south of Dublin, the European Club has been appreciated from the time it opened in 1987 as one of Ireland's finest links courses. The majestic layout features massive dunes, the longest green in the world (127 yards, No. 12) and the unique delight of a 20-hole round, offering an extra pair of par-3s to enhance the experience. The 7th has been ranked among the top 100 holes in the world. It’s a 470-yard par-4 set on a sandbank through a bed of reeds with a burn right, beyond which are a hundred acres of unspoiled links land, and towering dunes left. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington have played here and enjoyed the course because it demands both solid ballstriking and sound strategy.  As no caddies are offered at the European Club your green fee is inclusive of a shared golf cart.

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The European Club, Ireland by LINKS Magazine

Today play Co Louth Golf Club (tbc).   Found along the Irish Sea 40 minutes from Dublin’s airport, County Louth – or Baltray – is one of Ireland’s hidden gems.  It was founded in 1892 but the essence of the layout was opened in 1938 as a Tom Simpson/Molly Gourlay design that has now been stretched to 7,031 yards.  Simpson dotted the 190-acre property with only 50 bunkers, allowing the gorse and hilly terrain that borders the fairways to serve as its natural defense. There are no weak holes here and no two are alike.  Better still, these greens are routinely among the best in the country.  The club has hosted multiple Irish Opens and is a regular among Ireland’s top 10.

County Louth Golf Club, Ireland by LINKS Magazine

Today play at historic Portmarnock (tbc).   Portmarnock Golf Club is the undisputed leading links in Dublin, found only 10 miles from the airport.  It is also recognized as one of the finest in the world regularly listed among the top 50.  The Irish Open has played here nearly 20 times along with the Walker Cup, the Irish Amateur Close Championship and the British Amateur Championship.   Found on 500 acres of a sandy peninsula facing the Irish Sea, the club opened in 1894 with nine holes before nine more were added two years later forming the championship layout played today. The site is fairly flat without dramatic dunes which produces a predictable golf course where nothing is manmade. This along with consistently true greens has endeared the course to many over the years.

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Portmarnock Golf Club, Ireland by LINKS Magazine