Okay, so folks kept asking me about that golf trip to Ireland I took a while back. Figured I’d jot down how it all went down, from start to finish.
Getting the Idea Rolling
It all started, I think, over a few beers with my buddy Dave. We were talking bucket list trips, you know? And Ireland just kept coming up for golf. We’d seen it on TV, read about the famous links courses. Seemed like the place to go if you were serious, or even just seriously enthusiastic, about the game. The idea sort of stuck in my head after that conversation.
The Planning Grind
So, I decided, right, let’s actually do this. First thing was figuring out when. Ireland’s weather, well, it’s Ireland. You can get all four seasons in one day, apparently. We aimed for late spring, maybe May or June? Hoping for slightly better odds on sunshine, or at least less sideways rain. Dave was in, so it was the two of us.
Next up: courses. Man, where do you even start? You hear the big names – Ballybunion, Lahinch, Royal County Down, Portrush. We looked them up, saw the pictures. Jaw-dropping stuff. But also, you hear they’re tough to get on, and pricey. We weren’t trying to break the bank entirely, just have a good time playing some proper links golf. We decided to focus on one region, maybe the Southwest? Seemed like a good cluster of quality courses without insane driving every day.
- Researched a bunch of courses online. Looked at maps to see what was close together.
- Checked out some package deals, but decided to try booking things ourselves for more flexibility.
- Sent out emails to a few clubs asking about visitor tee times and costs. Some replied quickly, others took ages.
Booking flights was next. Found some decent ones into Shannon, seemed easiest for the Southwest. Then the car rental – gotta have a car. Remembered they drive on the left, which always takes a bit of getting used to! Accommodation was a mix. We booked a couple of B&Bs near the courses, figuring it’d be more the local experience. Found ’em through some booking sites, read reviews, picked ones that looked decent and weren’t miles away.
Packing the clubs was a debate. Hassle to fly with them? Renting might be easier? In the end, we decided to take our own. You just play better with your own gear, right? Wrapped ’em up tight in travel bags and hoped for the best with the airline baggage handlers.
Hitting the Emerald Isle
Landing in Shannon felt great. Bit tired, but buzzing. Picked up the rental car, thankfully no dramas there. Squeezed the golf bags in the back. First drive was… interesting. Narrow roads, stone walls right up close, and yes, remembering to stay left! Took it slow.
Our first round was booked for the next day. We checked into our B&B, nice place, friendly owner. Dropped the bags and went for a walk, found a local pub. First proper pint of Guinness in Ireland – it really does taste different there, or maybe it was just the atmosphere. Felt good to finally be there.
The Golfing Begins
Okay, the first course. It wasn’t one of the superstar names, but a well-regarded local links. Walking up to the first tee, the wind was already making itself known. And the fescue rough looked terrifyingly thick. Lost a ball on the first hole. Humbling! But the views, wow. The sea, the dunes, it was everything we’d hoped for. The weather changed about three times during the round – sun, cloud, wind, a bit of drizzle, then sun again. Typical.
The days fell into a pattern:
- Wake up, big Irish breakfast at the B&B.
- Drive to the course (always allow extra time for those roads!).
- Play 18 holes – battle the wind, try to stay out of the pot bunkers, enjoy the scenery.
- Find a pub afterwards for food and a couple of pints. Chat with the locals – everyone was really friendly.
- Drive back, maybe plan the next day a bit, crash out tired but happy.
We played a few different courses over the week. Each had its own character. Some were right on the wild coast, others slightly more inland but still linksy. Some tough walks up and down dunes. Lots of lost balls between us! You learn quickly to just drop another one and move on, otherwise you’ll drive yourself mad.
One day the rain was really coming down sideways. We debated even going out, but we were there for golf, right? Got absolutely soaked through, despite the waterproofs. But honestly? Still kind of fun, in a weird way. Felt like we’d earned our pints that evening.
Heading Home & Thoughts
The week flew by. Packing up felt like a drag. Dropped the car back at Shannon, lugged the clubs through the airport again. Flight home was mostly sleeping.
So, was it worth it? Absolutely. 100%. Ireland for golf is special. It’s not just the courses, which are amazing, it’s the whole vibe. The people, the scenery, the pubs. It’s challenging golf, don’t get me wrong. You need to accept you probably won’t shoot your best scores. But the experience is incredible.
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Maybe try a different region next time? The North Coast perhaps? Or just go back to the Southwest and play some different tracks. It definitely lived up to the hype. Just gotta start saving again!
