SOUTHWEST SWING
Day 1 - Arrival to Shannon Airport | Saturday 18th July |
Arrival to (or assembly at) Shannon Airport. Meet Tailor-Made Golf Tours and your driver. Transfer to Lahinch. A direct journey would take approximately 55 minutes.
Consider exploring The Burren. Take a route through Corofin to Kilfenora where The Burren Centre provides an informative overview of this unique region. Adjacent is Kilfenora Cathedral with some of the finest examples of Celtic high crosses. An extended tour takes in Caherconnell Stone Fort and Poulnabrone Dolmen while enjoying the unique limestone landscape. Ballyvaughan for refreshment before returning south via the spectacular coastal drive past Black Head and through Fanore to Doolin and The Cliffs of Moher.
Before reaching The Burren, a visit to the market town of Ennis is also an option with its narrow streets and Ennis Friary.
Check-in to the Lahinch Golf Hotel Located in the centre of Lahinch village just 5 minutes walk from Lahinch golf club and 2 minutes walk from the blue flag beach. Lahinch Golf & Leisure Hotel provides 120 guest rooms. All rooms are en-suite, bright and spacious and feature all of the facilities expected of a 4**** room. The hotel has a choice of dining options including the Dunes Restaurant and The Sun Room. With its warm and traditional decor, the Aberdeen Bar is the perfect place to unwind after a day on the golf course and food is also served.
Lahinch is a small seaside village popular with Irish holiday makers. It boasts a Blue Flag beach that runs alongside the golf course which is an easy walk from the village centre. There are several popular golfing pubs and a number of restaurants. Lahinch is an ideal base for exploring the Burren region. 7 miles west are the Cliffs of Moher and the village of Doolin, renowned nationally and internationally for traditional Irish music.
Day 2 - Old Course at Lahinch | Sunday 19th July |
Transfer to the golf links taking approximately 2-3 minutes.
Play Old Course at Lahinch
Many visitors favourite Irish links is the Old Course at Lahinch. First played in 1892, Lahinch was founded by members of the British Army's Black Watch Regiment and local businessmen. The present site was chosen over the site of the current Doonbeg links because of the proximity of a railway station. It ws remodelled in 1894 by Old Tom Morris - the famous Klondyke (4th) and Dell (5th) holes still remain today. In 1927 Dr. Alister Mackenzie laid out the present day course before going on to design Augusta National, Pebble Beach and Cypress Point in the U.S.A. Remembered principally for the "Klondyke" (4th) a par-5 where a huge sand bank must be negotiated and the following "Dell" hole, Lahinch offers a variety of challenging, true links holes. There are several excellent par-4's including the 1st, 6th, 7th, 12th and 15-17. However our favourite is the 3rd - a contender for the best in Ireland.
After golf visit the Cliffs of Moher and watch the sun set over the Aran Islands. The cliffs are 7 miles west of Lahinch. Have dinner in the village of Doolin, renowned nationally and internationally for its traditional Irish music in any of the three village pubs.
Overnight Lahinch Golf Hotel.
Day 3 - Doonbeg Golf Links | Monday 20th July |
Check-out from Lahinch Golf Hotel. Transfer to Doonbeg taking approximately 40 minutes.
Play Doonbeg Golf Links
Since Martin Hawtree oversaw the redevelopment of Greg Norman's stunning design on the west Clare coast, Doonbeg has lost all of its controversial feautures and now stands as an equal with any of the other southwestern links courses. Doonbeg plays along 1.5 miles of beach and natural sand dunes on a site taht was proposed for Lahinch G.C. in 1891. Views of the ocean are rarely far away. The par 72 layout features a single loop of nine holes out and nine back. It plays 6,885 yards from the back tees and is located on a site orginally proposed for Lahinch Golf Club. There are several superb links holes and the par-5 1st fulfills the requirement of "Come Play Me". In fact, while the drama of the first hole at Portstewart probably gains that particular hole many credits, the first at Doonbeg is technically perhaps the finest opening hole in the country. The approach to the 5th has a spectacular ocean view as its backdrop and the 6th offers an intimidating drive where the fairway is framed by a dune bank to the right with a steep drop to the beach on the left. The ninth is another hole perched at the top of the dunes, a short par-3 but tight to the shore. Highlights of the inward 9 are the par-3 11th and magnificent par-4 15th. The golfing gods removed the much photographed by truly awful par-3 14th during a storm in 2014 and it has been replaced with a proper testing, but fair, par-3. The course finishes with yet another great ocean side par-4 with the beach way below the right side of the fairway all the way to the huge green.
Transfer to Ballybunion via Shannon Estuary Ferry taking approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
Check-in to Teach de Broc. Teach de Broc is an award winning 4**** Guesthouse opposite Ballybunion Golf Club. The proprietors, Aoife and Seamus Brock, together with their valued staff aim to provide friendly, attentive service within the ambient setting of their Irish home. This home has been tailored for guests comfort, and includes an elevator to assist easy access to all rooms. Dinner is available in the excellent Strollers Bistro.
Ballybunion is a seaside resort on the north Kerry coast. The high-sand dunes that contain the 36 holes of Ballybunion Golf Club are to the south while to the north is a spectacular coastline dominated by high cliffs. There are miles of safe, sandy beaches and at Ladies Strand the therapeutic effects of a hot seaweed bath has long been recognised.
Day 4 - Both Courses at Ballybunion | Tuesday 21st July |
Walk across the road.
Play Old Course at Ballybunion
Ireland's most visited golf course, much loved by Tom Watson. A totally natural links located by the ocean, Ballybunion features many classic links holes. The contours, on the fairways and on the greens, are what make it a great golf course. There are uphill and downhill and sidehill shots, uphill and downhill par-3s. You must play accurate iron shots into the greens, usually to a small target with not a lot of room to miss right or left. But there is room to roll a ball on to the greens in the true links manner. The first six holes are enigmatic - the 2nd hole is one of the best par-4's anywhere but the two consecutive par-5's (4 ,5) are our least favourite. From the 7th the true Ballybunion unfolds and the homeward nine provide an idelible golfing memory with such classic holes as 11, 12, 15, 16, 17.
After lunch in the very comfortable clubhouse...
Play Cashen Course at Ballybunion
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Senior, and first opened for play in 1982, the Trent-Jones Cashen Course is Ballybunion's magnificent new course, located among amazingly high sand dunes at the mouth of the River Cashen. To say the course looks natural in its setting is to do it an injustice. The course flows with the land and uses the natural contours to full potential. The roller coaster through 18 spectacular holes, each with its own unique character and challenge. There are no weak holes whatsoever. From the moment that you shoot out of the funnel at the 1st right, up until your final drive over a wasteland, and thence to the magnificent finish of the elevated 18th green, you will have traversed a quite incredible golf course. This is a dateless golf course which after playing makes you ask yourself if you've ever played amid quite such surroundings.
Overnight Teach de Broc.
Day 5 - Sightseeing Day | Wednesday 22nd July |
Check-out from Teach de Broc. Drive to Waterville. A direct journey would take approximately 2 hours.
The Ring of Kerry is Ireland's foremost tourist route, circumnavigating the Iveragh Peninsula west of Killarney. The northern section takes you to Killorglin and on to Glenbeigh where the magnificent views of Dingle Bay and the Dingle Peninsula beyond come into view. You pass through the town of Caherciveen - reputed to have more pubs per head of population than any other Irish town - before turning south towards Waterville.
Check-in to Butler Arms Hotel, Waterville. A 4**** Hotel conveniently located in the village and accessible to local pubs and restaurants. The Butler Arms is one of Ireland�s best known family-run hotels and is treasured for its homely intimate atmosphere. From the moment of arrival the warmest of Irish welcomes is provided by the Huggard family. With 36 elegantly decorated guest bedrooms, a popular fine-dining restaurant as well as cosy bars, this hotel attracts people from all over the world.
Waterville, also known as "The Little Whirlpool", displays some of the most breathtaking scenery in Kerry. Forming part of the Ring of Kerry, it lies very south west of Kerry between Currane and Ballinskelligs Bay. It is probably the best place for exploring the coast and mountainous area. Being so close to the sea there is plenty to do here, namely canoeing, sailing , diving and horse-riding with all hiring facilities readily available. Waterville and its surrounding area offers a number of breathtaking walks and places to see. The most scenic of these walks has to be the walk up to the Coomakista Pass. Although a long haul it is worth it for the beautiful views over the mouth of the Kenmare River. There is also a number of historical sites which have to be visited including Staigue Fort, Cill Rialaig and nearby Derrynane House and National Park - the birthplace of one of the most famous men in Irish History - Daniel O'Connell.
Day 6 - Waterville Golf Links | Thursday 23rd July |
Transfer to the golf links taking approximately 5 minutes.
Play Waterville
A firm favourite with visiting golfers, Waterville is a spectacular links on the shores of Ballinskelligs Bay. Golf had been played here from the late 19th century, Waterville Golf Club having been established by the Marconi engineers working on the nearby Trans-Atlantic Cable. With the decline of the cable the golf club struggled and ceased to exit by the late 1950's. Eddie Hackett and Claude Harmon undertook the design and Waterville reopened for play in 1973. The original nine holes were reconfigured and expanded to create today’s front nine. Its layout was designed as a contrast to the more rugged and exposed back nine, yet it quickly introduces the player to the complexity and beauty of links golf. The testing begins early at Waterville with the first hole named “Last Easy”, and ends with the challenging and scenic “O’ Gradys Beach”.
After golf visit the Skellig Islands by boat or visit the Skellig Experience Centre on nearby Valencia Island (accessible by landbridge).
Overnight Butler Arms Hotel.
Day 7 - Dooks Golf Links | Friday 24th July |
Check-out from Butler Arms Hotel. Transfer to Dooks Golf Club near Glenbeigh taking approximately 45 minutes.
Play Dooks
Dooks is a high quality, traditional links in a superb location overlooking Dingle Bay and the entrance to Castlemaine Harbour. If one were to play a round with old fashioned equipment and gutta perch golf balls this would be the course. Recent modernisation has taken away some of the more severe quirks, some not to be missed others - such as the bowl shaped 13th green - a nostalgic loss. The 13th best illustrated the charm of Dooks. It was a throwback hole to the time when golf began (golf beagn at Dooks in 1889 making it one of the odlest courses in Ireland). Greens lay where they fell and we better for it. Set out on one of the three stretches of sand dunes at the head of Dingle bay, in the immediate foreground are the sand dune peninsulas of Rossbeigh and Inch and just a few miles away the whitewashed houses of Cromane fishing village provide an eye catching distraction. For the golfer seeking a truly magical location to enjoy good links golf, Dooks presents a convincing case.
Transfer to Kinsale, Co. Cork taking approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.
Check-in to the Trident Hotel, Kinsale. Overlooking Kinsale Harbour and within easy walking of Kinsale town, the Trident offers beautifully appointed executive bedrooms overlooking the harbour, an award-winning restaurant and leisure facilities including steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. Pier One Restaurant is a member of the famous Kinsale Good Food Circle and is the only waterfront restaurant in the Gourmet Capital of Ireland. The Wharf Tavern and Terrace includes the new Foredeck bar area, where to get closer to the sea you would have to get on board a boat.
Kinsale is not just a place - it's a state of mind! The medieval town of Kinsale is a picturesqure harbour town at the mouth of the River Bandon. Widely considered the gourmet capital of Ireland Kinsale is not, however, not just about food. It is also about traditional bars, beautiful buildings, narrow streets, shops and galleries and lots of activities on land and sea. It is also about history - in 1601, Kinsale was the site of one of the most
historic battles in Irish history.
Day 8 - Old Head Golf Links | Saturday 25th July |
Transfer to Old Head taking approximately 20 minutes.
Play Old Head Golf Links
'The most spectacular course on Earth'. Old Head provides some justification to this bold claim, being built as it is on a rocky outcrop jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Roughly shaped like a diamond, the course traverses the diamond with spectacular cliff hugging holes where the boundary leads directly to the ocean, 300 feet below in places. The location makes Old Head a once in a lifetime golf experience.
After golf a
guided walking tour of Kinsale is one of the best ways of exploring the heritage and history of the town. Available from the tourist office the walks include a visit to
Charlesfort. Kinsale's International Museum of Wine tells the romantic story of the Irish emigrants who colonised the wine trade throughout the world after being forced to leave their own shores. The museum is located in
Desmond Castle, a 15th century Customs House which belonged to the Fitzgerald family.
Overnight Trident Hotel.
Day 9 - Departure from Shannon Airport | Sunday 26th July |
Check-out from Trident Hotel. Transfer to Shannon Airport taking approximately 2 hours 15 minutes for onward departure.