Great golf in one of the most fun cities in the world.
To maximize the golf and the experience, this itinerary is perfectly suited to be added onto
the end of the Southwest Ireland, or the Northern Ireland trips.
Day 1 – Arrival & County Louth
Welcome to Ireland!
After arriving at the airport, you’ll pick up your rental car or meet your private mini-coach, and head to your Dublin ‘pied-a-terre’ located in the heart of city.
Your first stop from the airport will be County Louth Golf Club, a hidden gem north of Dublin that makes for a perfect first round of the trip.
After your opening 18, you’ll drive back south into glorious Dublin, checking into your home for the duration of the trip, the Fitzwilliam.
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County Louth Golf Club
Baltray, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
With a number of holes running alongside the Irish Sea encompassing the natural links terrain, Baltray is one of the purest tests of golf to be found in Ireland.
While County Louth Golf Club was established in 1892, the course as it plays today was designed in 1938 by Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay. County Louth is laid out in two loops, with most holes running in different directions.
Known for its fantastic (and, yes, difficult) greens, the course truly lacks a weak hole. With a number of holes running along the ocean and views of the Mountains of Mourne, the final nine are particularly entertaining.
County Louth is legitimately amongst the best courses in all of Ireland, although is still relatively undiscovered as such. You’ll soon be in on the secret.
Course Fast Facts:
Year opened: 1892
Yards: 6,936
Designer(s): Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay (1938), Tom Mackenzie (2003)
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Your Hotel:
The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin
St Stephens Green, Dublin, Ireland
The Fitzwilliam Hotel is a boutique, city-centre, luxury escape with a charm and character all of its own. It’s a contemporary twist on that ancient Irish hospitality that’s far from intrusive but close to perfect. It’s really over the top boasting: award-winning, top-of-every-list, most recommended, best reviewed, most elegant, chic, five-star home-from-home in the best location in the city.
This will be your home for the remaining four nights of the trip, so feel free to unpack your bags and make yourself comfortable.
Day 2 – The Island Golf Club
This morning you’ll drive to The Island Golf Club, about 35 minutes drive away, for your first round of golf on Irish soil. Your morning tee time is 8:30am.
It’s an early start, giving you the opportunity to check out the Guinness Storehouse in the afternoon – a must on any trip to Dublin. The seven-storey experience allows you to learn about all things Guinness while sampling the world-famous beer on their rooftop bar.
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The Island Golf Club
The Island Golf Club got its name because, well, it once was just that. While still an isolated peninsula jetting into the Irish Sea, it is now attached to the “mainland” of Ireland.
Established in 1890, The Island Golf Club enjoys a unique setting bordered by sea on 3 sides. A classic links course set in a rugged terrain & nestled between the highest sand dunes along the east coast.
Overlooked by the North County Dublin village of Malahide, the links is located in some of the most stunning dunes on the east coast of Ireland. Established in 1890, it is also one of the oldest golf courses in Ireland and was ranked 13th in Golf Digest Ireland’s Top 100 Courses in 2015.
It enjoys a growing international reputation and currently hosts Regional Qualifying for The Open Championship and will co-host strokeplay qualifying for the British Amateur Championship in 2019.
Course Fast Facts:
Yards: 6,312
Year Founded: 1890
Designer(s): Fred Hawtree, Eddie Hackett, Jeff Howes
Day 3 – Portmarnock & Royal Dublin
Your one and only 36-hole day of the trip, at two glorious spots. You don’t have far to travel again – just 35 minutes – to arrive at your morning round Portmarnock Golf Club. Your afternoon round will be played back on the edge of the city at the historic and scenic Royal Dublin Golf Club.
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Portmarnock Golf Club
Portmarnock Golf Club, founded in 1894, is a links course consistently ranked amongst the top golf courses in the world. With a rich history closely aligned to the progression of golf in Ireland, Portmarnock has hosted many major professional and amateur events including multiple Irish Open Championships, the Walker Cup, the Irish Amateur Close Championship and the British Amateur Championship.
From Sam Snead to Seve Ballesteros, some of golf’s best known names have tested their skills here on the north Dublin peninsula. Considered by many as one of the fairest links courses in the world it delivers an incredible challenge and true test of golf.
Tom Watson (Open Champion on 5 occasions) summed up the links during his visits by saying “There are no tricks or nasty surprises, only an honest, albeit searching test of shot making skills.”
Course Fast Facts:
Year opened: 1894
Yards: 5,810 (Red Course), 7466 (Blue Course)
Designer(s): Fred Hawtree, W. C. Pickermann
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The Royal Dublin Golf Club
Dollymount, North Bull Island, Dublin, Ireland
Not all coastal golf courses can be classified as a true links course. Characteristics of a true links golf course are sand dunes, fescue grasses and few trees or water hazards. Though common in Ireland, there are only 246 authentic links courses in the world. The Royal Dublin Golf Club, however, is certainly a member of this exclusive group.
Since 1889, The Royal Dublin Golf Club has been located on Bull Island, a sand bank formed when the Bull Wall was completed in 1825 by Captain William Bligh. The Bull Island is a Unesco nature reserve, accessed by passing over a wooden bridge. Our championship links is 3 miles from Dublin city centre and a 20 minute drive from Dublin Airport.
From 1914 to 1919, during the First World War, the course was taken over by the military and used as a rifle and artillery range. After this the course was all but ruined and the clubhouse, which had been an officers’ mess, was in a very dilapidated condition.
In 1920, with £10,000 compensation, the clubhouse was reconstructed and the links redesigned by H.S. (Harry) Colt, the world-famous golf course architect from Sunningdale. Among the many changes made was the decision to build up new tees at the 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th holes, offering a fine view of Dublin Bay, which had previously been hidden as the tees were below the level of the sand dunes.
Day 4 – The European Club
You’ll have a more leisurely morning today before you head out on your drive to The European Club, a quirky perennial World Top 100 course, about 1hr due south from Dublin. Tee-off time is 12:24pm.
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The result is probably the best links of them all as it is fitted precisely to the modern game and is never allowed to grow old. It benefits from the constant inputs of one of the most astute designers the game has seen.
Course Fast Facts:
Year opened: 1993
Yards: 7,377
Designer(s): Pat Ruddy
Day 5 – Flight Home
After your last cooked Irish breakfast, it’s time to say slán to the Emerald Isle and head to the airport to return your rental car and catch your flight home. Flight details to be confirmed.
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What’s Included:
- 5 nights in the Fitzwilliam Dublin
- 4 rounds of golf for four golfers
- The Island
- Portmarnock
- Royal County Down
- The European Club
- All transfers in a luxury coach
- Services of Travel Impresarios Golf
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Images of an example luxury coach.
