Southwest Ireland Golf Travel Guide
Golf Courses
Ireland's famous southwest golf region is home not only to some of the best links courses in the world, but also to magnificent scenery and a variety of welcoming towns and villages. Golf is centred around the famous links courses of Waterville, Tralee and Ballybunion, all in County Kerry. There are also great links courses at Dooks and Dingle.
Neighbouring County Cork is to the east and it is here that Old Head golf course is to be found. Not a true links it is nonetheless a very popular golf course and lives up to its billing (on a fine day!) of 'the most spectacular golf course on Earth'. Top quality parkland courses can also be be found at Adare, Killarney (Killeen course), Cork and Fota Island.
A less visited course is Ring of Kerry, on the other side of the mountains from Killarney. However this side is the beginning of the real southwest scenery and Kenmare has many accommodation options. Waterville is an hour west and there is also a course south at Bantry Bay. Also worth considering are the other courses near Killarney - Mahony's Point Course at Killarney Golf Club and a relatively new golf course heading up to the Gap of Dunloe called Beaufort.
Towns & Villages
The town of Killarney is the most popular touring base, adjacent to the magnificent Lakes of Killarney and is the start/end of the famous Ring of Kerry tourist trail. Dingle is a unique place and well worth considering for a night or two if including a round at Dingle golf links.
County Kerry
Tralee is a more local town than Killarney and has the advantage of requiring less travel to the popular links golf courses. When travelling from Lahinch or Doonbeg then staying at Ballybunion for a night or two makes a lot of sense. There are plenty of good accommodation options in Ballybunion and most are specifically catering for golfers.
Waterville golf links is most often played on a day trip from Killarney that includes completing the Ring of Kerry scenic route. However Waterville can also be considered as a base when allowing a day to take the wonderful trip to the Skellig Islands or when also playing the new resort course at Hog's Head.
The market town of Kenmare is also a sightseeing base, less crowded than Killarney.
County Cork
The historic harbour town of Kinsale is the base of choice for itineraries including Old Head. Today Kinsale is noted for fine cuisine, delightful ambience and its many arts & crafts centres. When golf tours end at Old Head (the preferred option) two nights in Kinsale are genrally only posible with later flight departures from Shannon.
30 minutes north is the lovely city of Cork. Cork is Ireland's second largest city and famous for the Bellsof Shandon and Murphys Stout. Blarneys Castle and its famous stone are 6 miles from Cork city.
County Limerick
Luxurious accommodation to match the fine golf course is available at Adare. As a base for an entire golf vacation, or as a final night treat, Adare is an experience to savour. Shannon Airport is just 30 minutes drive. Limerick City is closer to Shannon and is worth considering although Bunratty village is a more popular choice with several excellent restaurants and a very famous bar.
Sights & Attractions
'The Kingdom', as County Kerry is known, draws over one million visitors annually to savour its beauty. While the golf courses at Tralee and Ballybunion are in the north of County Kerry, the south of the county provides most of the scenery which then continues into west County Cork. The Gap of Dunloe, Ring of Kerry, Skellig Islands and West Cork Coastal Route are all among the top attractions in Ireland.
Killarney is of course situated on the famous lakes of the same name, sheltered (from the wind at least!) by Ireland's highest mountain range. It is here that The Gap of Dunloe is to be found and a day tour up and through the Gap and back to Killarney by boat across the lakes is one of the best trips of anyones lifetime. Also near Killarney are Muckross House and Gardens, Muckross Abbey, and Torc Waterfall. The narrow winding road ascends from Muckoss to Moll's Gap via Ladies View.
Possibly the most famous of the Kerry attractions is the Ring of Kerry the 109 mile route that starts and ends in Killarney. 'The Ring' circumnavigates the largest of the southwest peninsulas (the Iveragh Peninsula) and is best known for its spectacular views. On the southern section between Waterville and Sneem is Staigue Fort while near Caherciveen are Cahergal and Lecanabuile forts. Derrynane House was the home of Daniel O'Connell and is located near the town of Caherdaniel.
Waterville is halfway around the Ring of Kerry and to the west is a further route known as the Skellig Ring. 8 miles offshore are the Skellig Islands and boat trips to the largest island, Skellig Michael, are available from the fishing village of Portmagee. A day trip that includes landing on the larger island to visit the ancient monastery at the top (600 steps) and returing via the smaller island to see the colonies of gannets is the best of all of Ireland's many activities and attractions. For those not fit for the steps or without sea leags the Skellig Experience Centre at Portmagee is a worthwhile alternative.
The Dingle Peninsula has its own unique scenery and in the far west, in the area home to Ceann Sibeal Golf Club, the native Irish language is still spoken. A full day can be spent on the Slea Head Drive, a circular drive around the far west of the peninsula that includes ancient Beehive Huts, Gallarus Oratory and Dunbeg Fort. Lying just offshore the Blasket Islands were inhabited until 1956 and the story is now told at the Blasket Island Centre.
Access
Shannon or Cork Airports are most convenient for arrival to southwest Ireland although Dublin Airport provides access to most destinations. Dublin Airport adds approximately 2 hours travel time by road.
From North America the most common route is to Shannon Airport although the modern road network from Dublin now means that Dublin Airport is just 2 hours more travel. Kerry Airport is a small regional airport between Killarney and Tralee - connections are available from Dublin .
From continental Europe Cork Airport is the best option although there are few routes available as the vast majority of European traffic is via Dublin. Ryanair have a direct service to Kerry Airport from Frankfurt-Hahn and Berlin.
From the U.K. there are services to Cork and Shannon from most major cities. Direct services to Kerry Airport are from London Stansted or London Luton airports.