Golf course maintenance is essential for keeping courses in top condition, but it can, very occasionally, impact your round. The most common disruptions include aeration, topdressing, and hollow tining, which can temporarily affect putting surfaces. While links courses experience fewer closures than inland courses, unplanned maintenance is a factor to consider when planning your trip.
Most courses schedule major maintenance outside the peak golf season, meaning you are less likely to encounter disruptions between May and mid-September.
As golf courses prepare for peak season, aeration, overseeding and feritilisation occur as soon as all frosts have passed and the weather is milder. Usually this occurs in March but can extend into April and the extent of work can be affected by the condition of the previous winter.
The major visitor courses are keenly aware of visitor expectations and most now do not permit visitor bookings until mid or late April.
Probably the biggest risk is from late-September and through October when hollow-tining and top-dressing may be required after the peak season has passed. While management may want to wait until the season has fully passed in mid-October, head greenkeepers often judge that earlier woprk is necessary. Some courses alleviate this by regular light topdressing and rolling during the peak season.
Tying in neatly with the best time to golf in Ireland May to mid-September is generally free from play-affecting course maintenance work. However, light topdressing or rolling may still occur.
Maintenance Issues
Golfers should manage be aware, especially in April and from late September–October, that some degree of maintenance may occur. Most often this maintenance will be unplanned and advance notice not provided. Rounds that are badly affected by such maintenance should be highlighted on the day to the office or professional shop.
The following table provides details on current maintenance projects and upgrades at select Irish golf courses. While most courses do not publicly disclose their maintenance schedules, we proactively track this information to ensure our clients are aware of any potential disruptions.
| Golf Course | Nature of Work | Playability | Expected Full Reopening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashen Course at Ballybunion | Cashen Course closed for extensive renovations led by Tom Watson and Graham Maxwell. [Source] | Course Closed | July 2026 |
| Lahinch Golf Club | £5 million clubhouse refurbishment, including new roof, glazing, internal mechanics, and electrics. [Source] | Course Not Affected | Spring 2026 |
Now that you are familiar with course maintenance timelines, start planning your itinerary with expert advice from Tailor-Made Golf Tours. Our quotes are free and come with no obligation.