FOOOOOOORE!!! GOLFERS UNITE WITH THE LUCK OF THE IRISH

By Susan Eliuk

Firefighters … drop your hoses and pack your putters! It’s time to hit the greens and where better to do that than in the land of Shamrocks, Leprechauns, and four-leaf clovers.

The game may have originated in Scotland in the 15th century but really came into its own in Ireland, now home to 11 of the top 100 most prestigious courses in the world. 

Firefighting is a team effort for sure. And while golf is an individual game, it’s so much more fun with a group of friends. You don’t even have to be good at the game. Cart the courses, enjoy the Guinness, take in the stunning scenery, relax and have fun.  

While the Royal Curragh Golf Club is Ireland’s oldest golf course, you only need to be young at heart to really get in the game. Here are some tips to appreciating the fantastic beauty and history of Ireland from the prettiest greens you might play on in the world. Keep in mind that there are a lot of things we cannot control (weather, our clubs not making it to the destination, missing tee times) so let’s focus on what we can, OK? And work with a Travel Pro to handle all the nitty gritty details to make sure things go off without a hitch. 

1. Ireland has over 400 golf courses to play on – 350 of them are 18 holes. If you’re coming for the first time, you clearly have a LOT of choices and a LOT of greens to cover, including your 9-hole courses like Castle Gregory in Dingle. Let’s focus on the hum-dingers and create some lasting memories with our golf gang.
2. If you’re coming in a group, your travel pro will set you up with a driver to make sure you have the best accommodations and within decent driving distance to all the courses you want to play.
3. Plan out your golf route to maximize your golf experience on as many courses as possible or your preferred.
4. Bring a change of clothes, layers, and/or a raincoat … even in the summertime, a cold rain can soak you to the bone.
5. Power through the jetlag by planning a round of golf on your arrival day – Portmarnock (a top 100 course) and Royal Dublin are just minutes from the Dublin airport.
6. The best part of Ireland is its people. Hire a caddie and take in four hours of friendly conversation learning about the country as you make your way through the course.
7. An Irish golf trip should last 7-10 days and wouldn’t be complete without exploring the countryside. Take a day or two off the courses to take in Ireland’s coolest tourist attractions such as the Guinness Factory, Cliffs of Moher, definitely a castle tour, maybe a pub crawl, a goodbye kiss of the Blarney Stone.

Again, working with a Travel Pro, your budget and interests will help put together a great plan for playing and visiting. Group travel is very involved so between your travel needs, golf playing, and sightseeing, we’ve got you covered. Who’s up for a round?

Photo By Will Porada