West Coast Links
7 Nights & 6 Rounds of Golf from € 1903 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 Ballina will take 2¼ hours from Shannon Airport or 3¼ hours from Dublin Airport. Knock Airport is only 45 minutes away.
From Shannon a diversion to explore Galway, Ireland's best city, is always a good idea. North of Galway is Cong, a very pretty village famous both as the location for filming of The Quiet Man and for one of Ireland's leading luxury hotels, Ashford Castle. Further north still is the National Museum of Country Life near Castlebar. From Dublin there are opportunities to vist the College Chapel at St. Patrick's College in Maynooth, the picturesque village of Termonbarry crossing the River Shannon and the National Famine Museum at Strokestown House. Foxford Woollen Mills is just south of Ballina.
Ballina is the second largest town in County Mayo most famous for its location near the mouth of the River Moy, one of Ireland's foremost salmon rivers. Ballina offers a wide range of accommodation choices.
Day 2
County Sligo Links at Rosses Point
The links at Rosses Point are just over 1 hour from Ballina. Rosses Point is seaside village at the western end of a peninsula 5 miles from Sligo Town.
Also known as Rosses Point, this prestigious links course is set on a headland jutting into Sligo Bay that invariably means you will feel the full effects of any winds that blows - windless days are few and far between here! The first serious test will come at the par-3 4th hole, at 150 yards it can require any club in the bag. The green has severe slopes all round and many a famous golfer has failed to take enough club and then continued to fail to get subsequent chips right. From here the course provides classic links fare out and back along the headlands. Designed by H.S. Colt (1927), Rosses Point is home to one of the four Irish amateur provincial championships, the West of Ireland. Every Easter the best amateurs in the country compete for this coveted trophy which was won by Padraig Harrington in 1994.
Take a while to browse the many fascinating photographs of famous golfers who have played and golf tournaments that have been held on these wonderful links. Read the full list of Beaufort Scale measurements and figure out what type of wind you've just played in. Austies is a local pub where good stories are told and good food is served. Near Sligo Town is Lough Gill, where there is a scenic drive to Parke's Castle
Day 3
Carne Golf Links
A fascinating journey through wild blanket bog that lies before the remote town of Belmullet. Total time to Carne is just over 1 hour.
Carne is the unanimous choice of all of us at Tailor-Made Golf Tours as our favourite course in Ireland. Apart from being a hugely challenging links course, there is a wonderful sense of being in another world when treading the sandy fairways and dunes. One can understand the connection between Carne and the old Irish legend of The Children of Lir. This Eddie Hackett designed masterpiece among the towering dunes will charm you as much as it challenges you. From the moment of arrival, Belmullet exudes an air of specialty. The splendid scenery, the proximity to the ocean and the visual appeal of the links itself are all-pervading. "I am thrilled with the way the dramatic Belmullet course has turned out, and again I reiterate my first opinion that ultimately there will be no better links golf course in the country or I doubt anywhere" said Eddie Hackett. Carne was his last design and his eternal legacy - enjoy!.
Returning to Ballina it is worth taking a detour along the R314 (North Mayo Coast Road) and visiting the oldest known agriculural system (farm!) in Europe. The Ceide Fields were discovered in the 1990's by a local family who had farmed the land and there is now an award winning visitor centre. A further diversion can be taken at Ballycastle to Downpatrick Head where the magnificent Dun Briste sea stack can be viewed.
Day 4
Enniscrone Golf Links
Enniscrone located on the eatern side of the Moy Estuary 9 miles (15 minutes) from Ballina
On the Moy Estuary, Enniscrone is a truly magnificent golf links with the original Eddie Hackett layout now modified to provide 18 testing holes of the highest quality. Enniscrone used to be a very good links - since 2001, six new holes were added in the dunes and some of the holes which lay on the flat terrain were removed. The result is that Enniscrone can legitimately compete for top ratings in Irish links golf. Crucial to making a good score here are lines to take from the tee, bunker positioning and when to lay up rather than risk a double bogey by going for the well protected greens. From the first hole you are tested, a great opener with out of bounds on the right to an elevated green nestled in the foot high dunes, to the recently remodelled 18th where a new green and strategic bunkering are designed to trip you up at the last hurdle, you will be challenged throughout.
A direct journey to Clifden, the 'Capital of Connemara', would take 2½ hours. It is the last 45 minutes of this route, from Leenaun to Clifden, that is part of one of the most scenic routes in Ireland. Leenaun is at the mouth of beautiful Kilary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord and just outside the village are Ashleagh Falls. Connemara begins just south of Leenaun and starts with both Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park Visitor Centre before the journey around the base of the imposing mountains to Clifden.
Clifden is an attractive town noted for its triangular shape with an impressive town square at an apex. There is a good range of accommodation to choose from, as well as on eof our most popular gueshouses 15 minutes from town.
Day 5
Connemara Golf Links
Connemara Golf Links is just about the most southweserly place in County Galway, located 3½ miles west of Ballyconneely. The journey from Clifden takes 25 minutes.
Connemara Golf Club is a true links course situated on the western coast of County Galway. The scenery is stunning on a sunny day with the Atlantic to the west and south and the rugged Twelve Bens and Maamturk mountain ranges to the east. The 'gentle' opening offers a chance to start well and to put some decent numbers on the card. Given this chance to warm-up, this great links slowly starts to turn the screw with a fabulous stretch of holes from the 8th to the 18th. The par-3 13th is a beautiful golf hole and in many people's opinion Connemara's signature hole. Standing on the tee you know you need a pure strike on the ball to get on the green. Anything short will roll back 30 yards and anything left or right will be gathered by bunkers. Unusually, there are two magnificent Par-5's to finish and you can be guaranteed one of them will be into a sea breeze. Peter Allis commented "If there were a course like this on the west coast of England it would surely host a British Open"
Transferring between Connemara G.C. or Clifden and west County Clare offers a multitude of sightseeing possibilities and indeed could easily be split into 2 full sightseeing days. The pretty village of Roundstone marks the start of a route that has endless possibilities through the southern Connemara region to Galway City. Galway City itself is Ireland's best - the pedestrian shopping and entertainment streets from Eyre Square to The Quays and Spanish Arch are full of atmosphere. Finally from Galway the route to west County Clare goes through the world famous Burren Region again with a choice of routes either though the heart of this limestone landscape or around the coast with magnificent views across The Aran Islands to the Atlantic Ocean. A direct journey from Connemara G.C. to Lahinch would take 3¼ hours.
Lahinch is a seaside resort and offers a range of accommodations from traditional B&B to 4**** hotel. 30 minutes east, Ennis is County Clare's principal town and this may also be considered as a base.
Day 6
The Links at Doonbeg
The golf links at Doonbeg is 40 minutes south of Lahinch.
A severe storm in 2014 proved to be the catalyst for the transformation of the links at Doonbeg from a course that divided opinion to a course that deserves a place amongst Ireland's very best links courses. The storm destroyed five greens and in the case of the old 14th, a par-3 that was bizarrely often referred to as the signature hole, the hole was complately lost. Kiawah Island Properties had enough and sold the property. The new owners engaged Martin Hawtree to restore the course and his efforts resulted in a links that finally does its oceanside location justice. The links is a proper golf test with few design anomalies to moan about, while the location - considered in 1892 by the Black Watch Regiment as the location for Lahinch Golf Club - is simply one of the most glorious and allows several holes to hug the 3 mile stretch of land perched atop the magnificent strand below.
South of Doonbeg past the seaside resort of Kilkee is the Loop Head Peninsula. An area of outstanding natural beauty there are miles of breathtaking coastal scenery. Places to visit include Loop Head Lighthouse, where there is a lovely coastal walk and the Bridges of Ross, a natural phenomenon, formed by the action of the Atlantic. Dolphin watching trips are available from the village of Carrigaholt.
Day 7
Old Course at Lahinch
The golf course at Lahinch is right on the edge of the town and is within walking distance of the main hotels.
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.
Day 8
Departure from Ireland
After a final night in Lahinch the journey to Shannon Airport will take 50 minutes. Dublin Airport is 3 ¼ 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 |
2159 | 1094 | 2159 | 1094 | 2159 | 1094 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Self-Drive Automatic |
2378 | 1313 | 2378 | 1313 | 2378 | 1313 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Chauffeured | 4253 | 3188 | 3003 | 1938 | 2378 | 1313 | 2128 | 1063 | 1971 | 906 | 1903 | 838 | |
| Single Supplement of approximately € 315 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy | |||||||||||||
| 3*** |
Self-Drive Manual |
2421 | 1356 | 2421 | 1356 | 2421 | 1356 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Self-Drive Automatic |
2640 | 1575 | 2640 | 1575 | 2640 | 1575 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Chauffeured | 4515 | 3450 | 3265 | 2200 | 2640 | 1575 | 2390 | 1325 | 2234 | 1169 | 2165 | 1100 | |
| Single Supplement of approximately € 455 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy | |||||||||||||
| 4**** |
Self-Drive Manual |
2596 | 1531 | 2596 | 1531 | 2596 | 1531 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Self-Drive Automatic |
2815 | 1750 | 2815 | 1750 | 2815 | 1750 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Chauffeured | 4690 | 3625 | 3440 | 2375 | 2815 | 1750 | 2565 | 1500 | 2409 | 1344 | 2340 | 1275 | |
| Single Supplement of approximately € 700 applies to all rooms for sole occupancy | |||||||||||||
| 5***** |
Self-Drive Manual |
3121 | 2056 | 3121 | 2056 | 3121 | 2056 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Self-Drive Automatic |
3340 | 2275 | 3340 | 2275 | 3340 | 2275 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Chauffeured | 5215 | 4150 | 3965 | 2900 | 3340 | 2275 | 3090 | 2025 | 2934 | 1869 | 2865 | 1800 | |
| Single Supplement of approximately € 1120 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 or
- 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
