Day 2 Doonbeg

Opened in the summer of 2001, Doonbeg Golf Links quickly took its place among the great courses of the Irish southwest. Within the parish of Doonbeg in County Clare, the links land that remains untouched by time sits astride a rugged piece of Atlantic coastline and will soon rank with Ballybunion and Lahinch as one of the finest golf courses in Ireland.

The rolling seaside dunes of Doonbeg were first identified by the founding fathers of Lahinch as having potential for a golf course, as early as 1892. The officers of the Scottish Black Watch Regiment had searched far and wide for the perfect coastal site and as legend has it, the dramatic links land of Doonbeg was their first choice. Lahinch was chosen due to transportation issues and rail services of the time and so was born Lahinch. Due to 19th century economics, Doonbeg would have to wait for another 100 years for its potential to be tapped.

Doonbeg Golf Links is the creation of Kiawah Resort Associates in association with Landmark International. They have presented legendary designer and twice Open Champion, Greg Norman with a true links site of soaring, grassy dunes rising almost 100 feet above the crashing shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean. In much the same way that Kingsbarns Golf Links in Scotland and the Old Head Golf Links have burst onto the list of the world's finest links courses, Doonbeg will soon be recognised as being in the same category.

Of the many lines written about Doonbeg Golf Links in the past and the countless words yet to be penned, there exists one simple verse written by an unknown author that best describes the scene:

"You have heard in song and story of the beauties of all lands,
Of their hills and dales and mountains, and their rivers, lakes and strands,
But of all those wondrous places you can read of, hear and see,
There are none of them to rival Old Doonbeg by the sea."

Such is what awaits you at Doonbeg Golf Links.

Day 3 Lahinch

Golf at Lahinch goes back to 1892, when officers of a Scottish regiment - The Black Watch - stationed in Limerick city, out exploring the rugged countryside of County Clare happened upon the vast expanse of sand dunes that is Lahinch. 

Together with some native enthusiasts these Scotsmen founded Lahinch Golf Club on Good Friday, 1893. The original course was designed by the legendary 'Old' Tom Morris of St. Andrews who, on completing the layout, enthused: "I consider this links as fine a natural course as it has ever been my good fortune to play over".

In 1928 the links was extensively revised by Dr. Alastair MacKenzie who was so impressed with the fine natural terrain that he declared: "Lahinch will make the finest and most popular course that I, or I believe anyone else, ever constructed". Praise indeed from a man who was responsible for such formidable layouts as Pebble Beach, Cypress Point and Augusta National.

Today Lahinch boasts two 18 hole courses, the Old Course and a second, the Castle Course, which was added in 1975. Much of the pleasure of Lahinch is derived from the atmosphere that envelopes not just the golf links but the entire village which rests just above the course. For in Lahinch everybody is a golf enthusiast and this quickly transmits itself to the visitor hence the description of Lahinch as the St. Andrews of Irish Golf. Apart from the splendour of its location, Lahinch has gained world-wide recognition through its charming idiosyncrasies.

The Old Course is the permanent home of the South of Ireland Open Amateur Championship, first played in 1895, and which annually attracts the cream of Ireland's amateur golfers to play for this most coveted title and the magnificent trophy which goes with it. The course also regularly hosts the Irish National Amateur and Professional Championships. Set right on the Atlantic and exposed to the ocean through all her moods, moulded and shaped over centuries by nature’s harsh elements and an occasional touch of human genius, Lahinch, with its towering sand dunes, undulating fairways and rolling greens is the perfect natural golfing terrain - a true links.

Day 4 Connemara

Spectacularly located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean with the Twelve Bens Mountains as a background, this is a big hitter's championship course and as challenging as any to be found.

The Connemara Golf Course has a rather short history compared with many of the other golf clubs in Ireland. As recently as 1970, Eddie Hackett was commissioned with the planning of the 18-hole championship layout. The course was opened in 1973.

The Connemara Golf links is bound on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, while on the 'inland' side the golfer can enjoy an excellent view of the 'Twelve Bens'. The clubhouse, where the visitor can prepare himself for his round, is a fitting centrepiece for this impressive and demanding course.

The first 9 holes are laid out on relatively level ground; the holes which merit particular attention are the 7th, 8th and 9th. The second 9 holes are all longer than the first half of the course. The prettiest hole of the course is the 13th, where the golfer will probably be more fascinated by the view of the Atlantic Ocean and of the rest of the course than by his ball, which could therefore quite easily miss the narrow and well-defended green.

The way home from the 13th hole is a long one as the last five holes include three par 5's, all of which may prove decisive for the final score. All in all, the course offers an ideal challenge to all those who are determined to prove their skill!

Day 6 Westport

Day 8 Rosses Point