North West Ireland Golf Courses with Absolutely Golf & Travel

Below is a list of our recommended golf courses to play during your Northwest Ireland golf tour. As you can see there are more than enough spectacular links golf courses from which to choose. And best of all, these links golf courses represent the best value to the traveling golfer in all of Ireland, with many of the greens fees just a fraction of those found elsewhere in the country, and at least for now, plenty of tee time availability for visitors. The photographs can only give you a hint of the true beauty of this part of Ireland and the spectacular playing conditions to be found on these world class golf courses. Years ago these Irish golf courses were considered "hidden gems" - today they are gaining in popularity for Ireland golf tours.

Use our Custom Golf Tour Planner for your personalized and free custom North West Ireland golf tour itinerary. If you're not sure what golf courses to play then we will be happy to make some recommendations.

Ballyliffin Golf Club - Glashedy Links Ballyliffin Golf Club - Glashedy Links 13th Hole At 7,135 yards, Glashedy is a long course -- with wind, it can be a monster. Many of the greens are large and gently rolling while others are two-tiered. The front nine is truly splendid. The 7th hole offers spectacular views of Glashedy Rock in the nearby bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the rugged mountains of the Inishowen Peninsula. The course is a visual pleasure and a wonderful test of golf.

Ballyliffin Golf Club Old Links Ballyliffin Golf Club - Old Course 8th Hole The Old Course lies in a low mogul-ridden basin within the extensive dunes land that make up the Ballyliffin complex. At 6,612 yards, the course is not particularly long, unless the wind blows -- and the wind always blows. The course is quirky, unique and fun.

Enniscrone Golf Club - Dunes Championship Enniscrone Golf Club - Dunes Links 3rd Hole This is a classic links course set among natural dunes offering a full spectrum of links golf: thick rough, plenty of sand dunes, fast greens, and close proximity to the ocean. The course is beautifully maintained, all the way from the fairways and greens to the immaculate and inviting clubhouse. A must-see -- must-play venue.

County Sligo Golf Club - Rosses Point County Sligo Golf Club - Rosses Point The strategically placed bunkering on all holes, particularly the first three, is enough to make playing this course worthwhile. Extraordinary panoramic views and scenic vistas include the twelve "Bens" (mountains), Drumcliff Bay, and a majestic lighthouse. This links is a treat to play and a test for any golfer.

Donegal Golf Club Donegal Golf Club Built on the end of a peninsula, Donegal (often called Murvagh) is a wide-open, expansive links land of mostly low dunes with occasional views of the Atlantic Ocean. The bunkers bear architect Eddie Hackett's signature, as do some of the fairway division moguls. The greens are first-rate, and the play on this links is hard and fast. TRAVEL TIP! While Portstewart, Portrush and Castlerock are located in Northern Ireland, they are approximately a 1 ½ hour drive from Ballyliffin via car ferry. Thus those wishing to combine any of these three spectacular links courses with a Northwest itinerary can stay in Ballyliffin, saving you dollars on accommodations (Republic-Euro / NI-British Pound Sterling).

Portstewart Golf Club - Strand Links Portstewart Golf Club - Strand Links Portstewart's front nine covers some of the most intense, high dunes land that you'll find anywhere. Traps are intelligently placed, and the greens conform to the land's contours. The River Bann's presence along the back nine combines to provide you with a challenging links golf experience.

Royal Portrush Golf Club - Dunluce Links Royal Portrush Golf Club - Dunluce Links Host to the 1951 British Open, Dunluce has views of the Irish Sea and Scotland beyond. Designed by Harry S. Colt in 1929, the course has many faces -- relatively short par 3's, long par 3's, monstrously long par 4's, undulating and tiered greens, as well as flat greens. Gorse, thick marram grass rough, buckthorn, and some very good bunkering abound. The par 3 14th hole - Calamity - suits its name to a tee! Ranked #3 in Golf Digest's 2005 100 Best Courses Outside the U.S.

Castlerock Golf Club Castlerock Golf Club This is a fine links course with great views of Scotland, the North Atlantic, the Inishowen Peninsula of Donegal, and the River Bann estuary. The course has a good intuitive layout among some high dunes. There are some very strong par 3's, and many of the greens are on elevated plateaus.

Carne Golf Links Carne Golf Links - Aerial View This is a stunningly beautiful natural links course, a truly gorgeous tract and a wonderful walk through some of the most beautiful dunes land you will see anywhere in Ireland. Located in the middle of nowhere -- the course is considered to be among Eddie Hackett's best work.

Rosapenna Old Tom Morris Links Designed by Old Tom Morris in 1891, the links part of the course is set between high dune lands and Sheephaven Bay. The fairways are wide, the gently rolling greens are spacious, and bunkering is intelligently placed. Some of the tees are carved out of sand dunes offering great views of the links land. The last 8 holes leave the valley and head up and around a hill to Mulroy Bay. Photo Coming Soon.

Rosapenna Sandy Hills Links Rosapenna Sandy Hills Opened in June 2003, this Pat Ruddy links is fabulous! Elevated tees, rolling fairways flanked by sand dunes, and superb views on just about every hole will create an exciting and challenging links golf experience. The course is still young and will benefit from a few more growing seasons, but you will thoroughly enjoy your round here nonetheless.

Connemara Championship Golf Links Connemara Championship Golf Links A classic links course with a flat, windswept terrain and a challenging length. Pot bunkers, deep and menacing, are frequent throughout the course. Connemara is wide open, with a rough that does not penalize you. Bring your chipping and putting game.

Portsalon Golf Club Portsalon Golf Club Portsalon is set on one of the most northern reaching parts of Donegal on the shores of Ballymastocker Bay. While not an internationally renowned golf course, this tract is a seriously good links with roots in the 19th century, located amidst some of the most beautiful terrain imaginable offering stunning views. The 3rd hole, unchanged since 1891, is a downhill par four played across and along the beach to a green guarded by two ancient rock formations. Redesign work has been completed by Pat Ruddy.

Galway Bay Golf Resort Galway Bay Golf Resort - 16th Hole Founded in 1993 and designed by Christy O'Connor Jr., this is a visually spectacular parkland course. The layouts mounding, greens and bunkers are set picturesquely on Galway Bay with the Atlantic Ocean on three sides. While appearing to be wide open, the wind and length of the course (7,120 yards) challenges players of all levels.

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