Below is a list of our recommended golf courses to play during your Southeast
& Dublin Ireland golf tour. As you can see there are more than enough
fantastic courses to choose from. The photographs can only give you a hint of
the true beauty of this part of Ireland and spectacular playing conditions
found on these world class golf courses, both links and parkland.
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Portmarnock Golf Club
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| Portmarnock Golf Club - Championship |
| One of Ireland's classic clubs founded in
1894, Portmarnock hosted the first Irish Open Amateur Championship in 1896 and
the Walker Cup in 1991. The seaside winds almost always come into play, and
several blind drives and difficult approach shots, along with quirky greens and
classic bunkers, combine to make golf at Portmarnock an amazing experience.
Portmarnock has 27 holes, the first 9 "Red" and second 9 "Blue" make up the
championship links. Portmarnock is ranked #30 in Golf Digest's 2005 Top 100
Courses Outside the U.S.
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The Island Golf Club
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| The Island Golf Club - 1st Hole |
| Founded in 1890, The Island is considered to
be one of Ireland's hidden gems. This classic links course is surrounded on
three sides by the Atlantic Ocean. Almost completely situated in sand dunes, no
two holes in this layout are alike, providing you with one of the best golfing
treats to be found anywhere in Ireland.
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The European Club
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| The European Club |
| The European is a classic links course
designed by Pat Ruddy. While the facilities here are minimal and you must
carry/pull your own bag (caddies are not allowed), the rough is high, the
fairways are wide, the gorse is punishing, and the holes along the ocean make
you feel as if you are playing along the beach. The European Club has been
ranked #61 in Golf Digest's 2005 100 Best Courses outside the US.
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Royal County Down Golf Club
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| Royal County Down Championship Links |
| Royal County Down Championship is arguably
Ireland's most beautiful links, with towering dunes, abundant heather,
unbelievable bunkering, and views of the Mourne Mountains and the ocean.
Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris, the links will challenge you at every
turn including a number of blind shots and superb gently rolling greens. While
located just over the border in Northern Ireland, with the new motorway the
drive to Royal County Down from Dublin is just 1 ½ hours, thus this spectacular
links should be included in your Ireland Southeast & Dublin golf tour.
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County Louth Golf Club
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| County Louth Golf Club |
| Also know as Baltray, Co. Louth is a classic
links which will provide you with a solid and challenging round. The fairways,
bunkers and greens are all excellently maintained, with the greens being some
of the best you are likely to see in Ireland. There is a natural placement of
bunkers that will catch you if you're wayward, along with a good intuitive
layout.
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K Club Palmer Course
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| K Club Palmer Course - Venue for Ryder Cup 2006 |
| The venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup, The Kildare
Hotel & Country Club (known as the K Club) is one of Ireland's premier
five-star golf resorts. Designed by Arnold Palmer, this parkland course is a
beauty. The River Liffey running through the course, mature trees, man-made
lakes, smartly placed bunkers and greens as good as you will find anywhere make
for delightful round of golf.
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| K Club Smurfit Course.The Smurfit Course,
also designed by Arnold Palmer Company and recently opened in July 2003 would
best be described as an inland man-made links. Located just across the River
Liffey from the Palmer Course, it has many dramatic landscapes with dunes-type
mounding throughout.
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Druids Glen Golf Club
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| Druids Glen 12th Hole |
| Host to the Irish Open for several years, the
profuse and well-manicured landscaping at Druids Glen reminds one of Augusta -
it is breathtakingly beautiful, especially in the springtime! Designed by Pat
Ruddy and Tom Craddock, the course contains water hazards, liberally
distributed bunkers and a course length all of which combine to make Druids
Glen a challenging test of golf. Wicklow has a wonderful micro-climate and one
can play golf here just about every day of the year.."It never snows in County
Wicklow". The course is long and can be slow, thus we highly recommend taking a
golf cart. The "Woodstock House" Clubhouse is fantastic and we highly recommend
planning your day to include your round of golf and either lunch, a few pints,
or dinner here in this wonderful clubhouse afterwards. A very warm Irish
welcome awaits you at Druids Glen.
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Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links
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| Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links |
| Designed in 1993 by Bernard Langer and Stan
Eby, this is a fine links course to play. You'll be challenged by 90
intelligently placed bunkers, many of which are in the classic Scottish style,
and the strategically placed gorse. Holes 8 through 14 are entirely built in
the gorgeous sand dunes.
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Mount Juliet
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| Mount Juliet Golf Club |
| Ireland's only Jack Nicklaus designed
parkland course is Mt. Juliet Golf Club. Most Nicklaus courses have exceptional
bunkering, and Mt. Juliet is no exception with small to gargantuan bunkers that
surround half the green. Mt. Juliet is truly one of the most beautiful inland
courses in all of Ireland, and a delight to play. Mt. Juliet was the venue for
the American Express World Golf Championship in 2002 and 2004.
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Seapoint Golf Club
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| Seapoint 8th Hole |
| A unique blend of parkland and links with
sand dunes, lakes, trees, and ocean views, the first four holes have a
park-like feel with trees, ponds, and wide-open fairways. The rough, however,
is punishing for a wayward shot. The middle ten holes are fairly wide open and
straightforward. The last four holes are in lovely sand dunes, with great views
of the ocean. Clumps of rhododendrons make summers on this course gorgeous.
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