Northwest Golf Week

7 Nights & 6 Rounds of Golf from € 2775 per person

Day 1

Arrival to Ireland

🛬 On arrival to Ireland you will be met by a Tailor-Made Golf Tours representative and your chauffeur if applicable. After the tour bus has been loaded or your self-drive vehicle collected the journey to the Rosguill Peninsula will take 4 hours. A jourbney from City of Derry Airport would take 1½ hours.

Golf could be considered at either The Island or County Louth before the journey to Letterkenny. There is also the fine parkland course at Concra Wood to be considered. The neolithic site at Newgrange is accessed from the Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre and/or the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre are just off the main route about an hour north of Dublin. From here cross County Monaghan and into Northern Ireland and on to Omagh. Just outside Omagh is the Ulster American Folk Park, telling the story of Ulster people's emigration to North America and the impact they had on their new homelands.

The upscale Rosapenna Hotel was founded in the late 19th Century as part of a Victorian golf resort which now boasts the 3 Rosapenna courses. The nearby villages of Carrigart and Downings also have 3*** hotel accommodaiton and there are numnerous guesthouses nearby. Dunfabaghy is a slightly larger place about 25 minutes away where there are also a number of accommodation options.

Day 2

St. Patricks Links at Rosapenna Golf Club

🚙 The first tee on the St. Patrick's links is 5 minutes drive from Carrigart, 10 minutes from Downings and 20 minutes from Dunfanaghy.

The latest chapter in the storied history of St. Patricks Links is the newest course at Rosapenna, an 18 hole links on the most stunning site possibly imageinable overlooking Sheephaven Bay. St. Patricks occupies ground that is an extension of the dunes occupied by the Sandy Hills and Old Tom Morris courses with the benefit of some true oceanside holes. Tom Doak took the existing 36 holes and recreated an 18 hole links that makes use of the exceptional terrain with stunning views, memorable tee-shots and true links greens. The style is much like that of Doak's Scottish creations at Castle Stuart and The Renaissance Club, extremely generous landing areas with large accessible greens. St. Patricks is a course that must be played if only so that the golfer can decide for themselves whether it deserves its lofty world ranking.

Glenveagh National Park, is situated on the eastern side of the Derryveagh Mountains. The Park contains 14,000 hectares of mountain, raised bogland, lakes and woodlands and is dissected by the valley which gives the park its name, Glenveigh (Gleann Bheatha) meaning Glen of the Birches. The Estate was established by John Adair who, in April 1861, evicted 244 tenants and cleared the land so as not to mar his views of the magnificent landscape. This ignoble history makes the beautiful views all the more poignant for today's visitor. The Park lands include the two highest mountains in Donegal, Errigal and Slieve Sneacht. At the south-west end of the park are the ice-carved cliffs of the Poisoned Glen, a corruption of the name in Irish which mean 'heavenly glen'. Lough Veagh has natural stocks of brown trout, salmon and artic char. The 19th century Glenveagh Castle with its neo-gothic architecture complete with ramparts, turrets and a round tower is open to the public. There are a number of pleasant walks through the fine gardens and guided tours of the castle interior. The Park has the largest herd of Red Deer in Ireland if not in Europe. The deer spend the summer on the Derryveagh mountains, coming down hill in winter. The Park is also home to meadow pipit, stonechats, grouse, ravens, siskins, tree-creepers, redstarts, wood warblers and occasionally peregrines and merlins. The Golden Eagle was reintroduced to the park in 2000. Having become became extinct 100 years ago, largely due to over hunting by both farmers and game keepers. The park is particularly spectacular when the prolific Rhododendron Ponticum are in bloom in early Summer.

Day 3

Old Tom Morris Links at Rosapenna

🚙 Rosapenna Golf Club clubhouse, for Old Tom and Sandy Hills links, is 5 minutes from Carrigart and 2 minutes from Downings. It is 25 minutes to Dunfanaghy.

When playing both courses at Rosapenna staying at the on site 4**** hotel and also including Portsalon is ideal. Nearby Dunfanaghy also has a selction of accommodations while Letterkenny is 40 minutes away.

A spectacular circular drive can be taken from Downings around the nothern end of the Rosguill Peninsula. The drive features many beautiful sandy beaches. In a clockwise direction the route first provides views over Sheephaven Bay to the hamlet of Doagh, an old fishing village. The road then turns east across the peninsula where there is a left hand turn that leads to the far north of the peninsula at Melmore Head. Along this road, popular with campers and caravanners, is Tranarossan beach, one of the loveliest in Ireland. From Tranarossan, or from a new trail beginning at a car park further on, it is possible to reach the intruigingly named Murder Hole Beach. Returning to Downings along the eastern shore overlooking Broadwater is a traditional thatched pub, An Sibin Ceoil (the singing pub) which serves food in a wonderful atmosphere. Back in Downings The Harbour Bar is among our very favourite in Ireland.

Day 4

Sandy Hills Links at Rosapenna Golf Club

🚙 Rosapenna Golf Club clubhouse, for Old Tom and Sandy Hills links, is 5 minutes from Carrigart and 2 minutes from Downings. It is 25 minutes to Dunfanaghy.

Opened in 2003, this stunning Pat Ruddy design is built on ancient sand dunes and is one of Ireland's greatest golf links. The appeal of Sandy Hills lies in its beautifully balanced routing through the high dunes cloaked in marram grass. These sandhills bear a striking resemblance to the ones near the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland that form the spine of Royal Portrush, Portstewart and Castlerock. Many of the holes feature elevated tees and greens, with drives into natural bowls on the dune floor. Each hole is spectacular and the views across the Old Tom Morris course to the ocean. From the tees, landing areas are clearly visible and the definition provided by the dunes is remarkable. From the fairways the traditional links bump and run is rarely an option - precise approach shots are required to large, elevated greens tucked into the dunes and protected by bunkers that can be properly called hazards. A real tough test of golf, typical of Pat Ruddy and not for the fainthearted!

Day 5

Portsalon Golf Links

🚙 The golf links at Portsalon is one the eastern side of the Inishowen Peninsula. The journey from Rosapenna takes 30-40 minutes either via 'The Bridge to Nowhere' or around Multory Bay via Milford.

Another links course blessed by nature, Portsalon is not often mentioned internationally as one of Ireland's finest golfing jewels as it remains one of golf's best kept secrets. Not only is it a magnificent test of golf, its setting is simply breathtaking. The three golden beaches of Ballymastocker Bay, the beauty of Lough Swilly and the Inishowen Peninsula beyond provide the backdrop for almost 7000 yards that will enthrall any golfer. The opening holes are tough, six of the opening seven are into the prevailing wind. The second is a superb hole where a narrow strip of rough down the left separates the fairway from the strand. The back nine are set a little inland from the bay giving a sense of a parkland course but with all the trickery of a links lay out. Redesigned in 2001 by Pat Ruddy, dune lined fairways, cannily placed bunkers and well protected greens are the hallmark of Portsalon.

The Fanad Peninsula and Inishowen Peninsula are separated by Lough Swilly, a long, narrow glacial fjord that once was of military significance. Portsalon is on the northwestern shore of Lough Swilly and Ballymastocker Strand, one of the finest beaches in the world (lying immediately below Portsalon golf links) is accessible from the southern end on the R268. Indeed this R268 road is a scenic route back to Letterkenny that provides stunning views back over the strand to Portsalon and then incredible views of Lough Swilly to the village of Rathmullan. Consideration can also be given to the loop drive north from Portsalon to Fanad Head and the wonderful views from Fanad Lighthouse where guided tours are an intriguing experience.

🚙 After golf at Portsalon the journey to Donegal Town takes 1¼ hours.

Donegal Town is an old and historic market town pleasantly situated overlooking Donegal Bay at the mouth of the River Eske. There are a number of town centre accommodations and two luxury accommodations outside the town overlook Lough Eske.

Day 6

Narin & Portnoo Golf Links

🚙 Narin & Portnoo links is located beside the seaside village of An Fheartainn (Narin) 25 miles northwest of Donegal Town. The journey takes 45 minutes.

Narin & Portnoo golf links is located immediately adjacent to the village of Narin, a seaside village with access to the magnificent beach that borders the golf course. The course has always been constrained by the area of land available and since first becoming an 18 hole course in 1965 has gone through several iterations. Pre-2009 crash investment led to post-2009 struggles for the golf club and its members eventually leading to a controversial takeover by an Irish-American businessman with local roots. The members lost control of their golf course and Gil Hanse was engaged to redevelop the course as part of an ambitious plan to make Narin a golf resort. The result will continue to divide opinion, from the weak opening stretch to the awkardness of the new par-3 holes and the siting of some greens that are offset by the genuine spectacularness of the location and the thrilling elevated tee-shots and wonderful views.

Accessible at low tide from the beach beside the golf course, Inishkeel Island is an old monastic site where the ruins of two 6th century churches can be seen. The Dolmen Centre is south at Kilclooney where the Kilclooney Dolmen is a fine example of Europe's oldest construction. Head west to Rosbeg and its beautiful sandy beach, a typical example of the beauty of west Donegal.

Day 7

Donegal Golf Links

🚙 Donegal golf links is on a spit of land that juts into the bay about 15 minutes south of Donegal town centre.

The 180 acres that make up the Murvagh Peninsula were part of an estate used to pay death duties of the former landowner to the Irish State. It was given over to the forestry commission in the 1960s who, happily for golfers, discovered that the 180 acres would not even allow trees to grow. This coincided with the fledgling Donegal Golf Club spotting their opportunity for an improved course and so a lease was obtained and Eddie Hackett engaged to build a golf course. Inspired by Muirfiled, Hackett created a massive par-73 links with an outer loop enclosing the homeward 9 holes and each loop in an opposite direction. Over the years Pat Ruddy has lent his expertise and the course has constantly evolved. Although 7,453 yards from the tips, Donegal is a relatively flat and easy walk through moderately high dunes in an exceptionally peaceful location, separeted from the world by the forests where trees did manage to grow.

Visit historic Donegal Town primarily for Donegal Castle. The town istelf is a busy throroughfare where the River Eske flows into Donegal Bay and founded by the Vikings in the 8th century. The castle was built by Red Hugh O’Donnell in 1474, head of the O'Donnell clan that ruled Donegal for 400 years. The castle is furnished throughout and includes Persian rugs and French tapestries. At the end of the pier are the ruins of the Franciscan Friary. It was here that the first complete history of Ireland was written down in the 17th century in what is now known as the 'Annals of the Four Masters'.

Day 8

Departure from Ireland

🛫 After a final night in Donegal Town a journey to Shannon Airport would take 3½ hours. Dublin Airport is 3¼ hours.

Itinerary Cost (per person sharing)

Accomm Rating	Transport	2 Pax		4 Pax		8 Pax (2 vans)		12 Pax		16 Pax		20 Pax
		Golfer	Walker	Golfer	Walker	Golfer	Walker	Golfer	Walker	Golfer	Walker	Golfer	Walker
B&B	Self-Drive Manual	2931	1531	2931	1531	2931	1531	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Self-Drive Automatic	3150	1750	3150	1750	3150	1750	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Chauffeured	5025	3625	3775	2375	3213	1813	2942	1542	2775	1375	2775	1375
Single Supplement of approximately € 420 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy
3***	Self-Drive Manual	3106	1706	3106	1706	3106	1706	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Self-Drive Automatic	3325	1925	3325	1925	3325	1925	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Chauffeured	5200	3800	3950	2550	3388	1988	3117	1717	2950	1550	2950	1550
Single Supplement of approximately € 560 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy
4****	Self-Drive Manual	3456	2056	3456	2056	3456	2056	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Self-Drive Automatic	3675	2275	3675	2275	3675	2275	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Chauffeured	5550	4150	4300	2900	3738	2338	3467	2067	3300	1900	3300	1900
Single Supplement of approximately € 910 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy
5*****	Self-Drive Manual	4156	2756	4156	2756	4156	2756	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Self-Drive Automatic	4375	2975	4375	2975	4375	2975	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Chauffeured	6250	4850	5000	3600	4438	3038	4167	2767	4000	2600	4000	2600
Single Supplement of approximately € 1610 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy

Prices are based on current average 2023 accommodation rates. Prices shown are not guaranteed and are based on twin share or double room accommodation. Single supplements apply for sole occupancy of rooms. Prices shown are indicative based on normal high-season accommodation and car hire rates. Lower rates may apply in months outside of July and August. All tours are booked subject to client agreement with our Terms and Conditions of Booking. All tours are subject to availability of tee-times which may be affected by course closures for certain periods.

Itinerary Options

Itinerary Includes

Greeting on arrival by Tailor-Made Golf Tours
6 rounds of golf, tee-times guaranteed and prepaid
7 nights accommodation, including full breakfast each morning
Either
- 7 days car hire in large station-wagon or space wagon
- 8 days hire of luxury appropriate size vehicle and chauffeur
Full availability during your stay

Not Included

Airfares or other transportation costs to/from Ireland
Any form of travel insurance
If applicable, Car hire extras as per Terms and Conditions
Caddy/Cart/Trolley Fees (Caddies/Carts can be arranged)
Tips and gratuities