Kilkenny Golf Week

7 Nights & 6 Rounds of Golf from € 1488 per person

Day 1

Arrival to Ireland

🛬 On arrival to Dublin Airport 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 Kilkenny will take just less than 2 hours. Shannon or Cork Airports is slightly over 2 hours, while Rosslare Harbour (ferries from Wales and France) is 1¾ hours.

Kilkenny is a medieval city full of character and history and dominated by Kilkenny Castle. It is a popular destination and there are plenty of quality hotels as well as some superior guesthouses.

Day 2

Bunclody Golf Course

🚙 The golf course at Bunclody is 50 minutes east of Kilkenny City.

Bunclody is another Peter McEvoy design coming after his efforts as co-collaborator on Fota Island, The Heritage and designer of New Forest. Here we have another old Anglo-Irish estate this time the Hall-Dare estate set by the banks of the River Slaney as it flows southward towards Wexford Town. The river, magnificent specimen trees and elevation changes are the canvas McEvoy used to create his latest masterpiece. Indeed it would not be overbold to suggest that Bunclody features one of the finest finishes in Irish golf a stretch of 5 holes along the River Slaney starting with the elevated tee on hole #14 which provides a magnificent view of the river setting. Hole #16 is a gently doglegging long par-4 with the river waiting all down the left side while #18 is a par-5 that is everything required of a finishing hole, a par-5 that offers a chance to make up a score but equally penal for the overcautious. All in all it is hard to overlook Bunclody when based in Kilkenny.

Huntington Castle in Clonegal is a historic 17th-century home with beautifully preserved interiors and stunning gardens. Originally built as a defensive stronghold, it later became a family estate, featuring lush woodlands, a yew walk, and even a mystical temple in the basement. Its fascinating history and unique heritage can be discovered on a guided tour.

Day 3

Kilkenny Golf Course

🚙 The golf course at Kilkenny is just a 5 minutes drive from the centre of town.

Set on just 120 acres just 2km from Kilkenny city centre, Kilkenny golf course is inevitably tight. Originally laid out as 9 holes in 1924 it was extended to an18 hole layout, designed by Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay, in 1938 and further land acquisitions and disposals aimed at providing suitable clubhouse accommodation led to the present day layout being opened in 1962. Tightness of space is further compunded by most fairways being lined with magnificent specimen trees - Kilkenny is a course where using the driver sparingly is a wise option. As ever, Gourlay's par-3s are notable and perhaps here at Kilkenny the most memorable holes. Straight, accurate hitting is the order of the day at Kilkenny while putting skills will be well tested on the deceptively undulating greens.

Kilkenny City offers a perfect mix of history, culture, and charm. Start at Kilkenny Castle, an iconic 12th-century stronghold set within beautiful parkland. Stroll through the Medieval Mile, where narrow laneways lead to historic landmarks like St. Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower, offering panoramic city views. Visit the Smithwick’s Experience to learn about Kilkenny’s brewing heritage, or explore the Butler Gallery for for contemporary Irish art. Finish with a walk along the River Nore, soaking in the city’s medieval atmosphere.

Day 4

Waterford Castle

🚙 Waterford Castle ferry terminal is just over an hours drive from Kilkenny.

Waterford Castle is a Des Smyth design on a 310 acre river island in the River Suir just downstream from Waterford City. Owned by the Fitzgerald family from the 12th Century until 1958, the castle is now a hotel. The golf course is laid out over 200 surrounding acres and opened for play in 1992. Many of the existing ancient tree planations were retained while a few thousand new trees were planted on the undulating terrain that also offers views of the river setting from all parts of the course. Waterford Castle is an excellent layout with each hole presenting a different challenge. Club selection and accurate, straight hitting are important here - the course has an abundance of hazards to penalise anything wayward. The 4th hole, called 'Play Canny' is the pick of the front nine while Smyth's own favourite is the par-3 16th - 205 yards across a pond to the right with bunkers guarding the green on either side.

Take a scenic drive back to Kilkenny through Inistioge, a picturesque riverside village known for its charming streets and stunning views along the River Nore. Just above the village, Woodstock House & Gardens offers a peaceful retreat with beautifully restored Victorian gardens, tree-lined walks, and panoramic countryside views.

Day 5

Mount Wolseley Golf Course

🚙 The golf course at Mount Wolseley is 40 minutes northeast of Kilkenny City.

The Mount Wolseley resort is on the old Wolseley estate in and the manor house has been converted into a luxurious hotel and clubhouse. The golf course surrounds this building, and weaves its way through the naturally attractive surrounding landscape. Mature trees and natural lakes provide the core fabric of the design and at the southern end of the course there are gorse thickets that are spectacular in full bloom. Mount Wolseley golf club is another example of the design credentials of Christy O'Connor Jnr whose courses are strung across Ireland like a string of pearls, from Gort and Galway Bay in his native county of Galway, to Glasson and the simply brilliant Esker Hills in Athlone and Tullamore respectively, on to the stunning new course at Headfort in County Meath and Concra Wood in County Monaghan. Mount Wolseley may be the best of all of them - a terrific challenge once the correct tees have been selected.

Visit Borris House, a historic estate set against the backdrop of the Blackstairs Mountains. The ancestral home of the MacMurrough Kavanagh family, it features beautiful gardens, woodland walks, and a rich history. Further south is Graiguenamanagh, a charming riverside town on the River Barrow, known for Duiske Abbey, scenic walks, and its relaxed atmosphere.

Day 6

Carlow Golf Course

🚙 The golf course at Carlow is 35 minutes northeast of Kilkenny City.

The course at Carlow was first laid out in 1922 on a wild deer park attached to the Bruen family's Oak Park Estate. The esteemed design duo of Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay (renowned for her work on par-3s) altered the course in 1937 and this is what is still played today. Carlow's four par-3s are fine examples of Gourlay's work while the longer holes feature an interesting mix of longer, straighter holes and several excellent doglegs. Irish legend Christy O'Connor Snr. regarded hole #16 as the finest sixteenth in Ireland. The course features small, slick greens that are always true and provide a real test of short game imagination and skill. For traditionalists (like us) Carlow surely ranks as the number one southeast golf course for providing a true and proper test on a solidly designed golf course.

Explore Altamont Gardens, one of Ireland’s finest, with stunning landscaped grounds, a lake, and scenic walkways. For history and architecture, Duckett’s Grove offers an atmospheric glimpse into the past with its striking 19th-century Gothic ruins and surrounding parkland.

Day 7

Mount Juliet

🚙 Mount Juliet Estate is 30 minutes outh of Kilkenny near the village of Thomastown

The Mount Juliet estate, south of the medieval city of Kilkenny near the picturesque village of Thomastown, is an old hunting estate that spreads over 1,500 acres and contains the mighty River Nore and the smaller Kings River. This magnificent estate is the home of Jack Nicklaus's first course in Ireland. Mount Juliet hosted the Irish Open between 1993 and 1995, the WGC AmEx event in 2002 (Els) and 2004 (Woods), with the Irish Open returning in 2021 and 2022. It is big, measuring 7,264 yards from the tips and the course makes full use of the natural beauty of the terrain with rivers, streams and lakes augmented by the signature Nicklaus bunkering. Highlights of the round include the par-3 3rd hole, with a stream running all the way to a lake protecting the green, the par 4 13th where the aopproach is across a deep pond to a sloping green perched above it and the thrilling last hole, surely one of the toughest finishing holes in Irish golf.

Visit Jerpoint Park, home to the ruins of the 12th-century Jerpoint Abbey and the legendary resting place of St. Nicholas. Stroll through the scenic grounds and explore the fascinating history of this medieval site. At Jerpoint Glass Studio visitors can watch skilled glassblowers create beautiful hand-crafted pieces using traditional techniques. For a peaceful riverside stop, Inistioge offers charming village scenery and access to Woodstock House & Gardens, where tree-lined walks and restored Victorian gardens provide a relaxing way to unwind.

Day 8

Departure from Ireland

🛫 After a final night in Kilkenny a journey to Dublin Airport would take 2 hours, a journey to Cork or Shannon Airports is slightly longer while Rosslare Harbour is 1¾ 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	1644	1274	1644	1274	1644	1274	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Self-Drive Automatic	1863	1493	1863	1493	1863	1493	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Chauffeured	3738	3368	2488	2118	1925	1555	1654	1284	1488	1118	1488	1118
Single Supplement of approximately € 420 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy
3***	Self-Drive Manual	1819	1449	1819	1449	1819	1449	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Self-Drive Automatic	2038	1668	2038	1668	2038	1668	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Chauffeured	3913	3543	2663	2293	2100	1730	1829	1459	1663	1293	1663	1293
Single Supplement of approximately € 560 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy
4****	Self-Drive Manual	2169	1799	2169	1799	2169	1799	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Self-Drive Automatic	2388	2018	2388	2018	2388	2018	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Chauffeured	4263	3893	3013	2643	2450	2080	2179	1809	2013	1643	2013	1643
Single Supplement of approximately € 910 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy
5*****	Self-Drive Manual	2869	2499	2869	2499	2869	2499	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Self-Drive Automatic	3088	2718	3088	2718	3088	2718	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Chauffeured	4963	4593	3713	3343	3150	2780	2879	2509	2713	2343	2713	2343
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