Help with Ireland Trip

[geauxtigers777]

Combo trip with couples and golf.  We will play golf every day and then meet up in the afternoon for touristy stuff.

 

Fairly short trip at 6 days or so.

We are planning on staying at Adare for 2-3 nights and then looking for another upscale place to stay the remainder.  Course wise we are planning:

Adare

Lahinch

Ballybunion

Old Head

Possibly Waterville

 

Would you put Tralee in above any of these?  Any top courses we are missing? 

 

Any other resort/lodging recommendations?  Given it is a couples trip, cost is not a major factor, and it would need to be upscale.

 

Transportation:  Whats the best option on this?  Should we hire a driver for the week?  We would need transportation for both the golfers to and from the course and for the spouses during the day.  

 

Thanks for the help.  

[hammergolf]

Tralee is definitely my favorite of the courses you listed. If I was going to drop Old Head and add Tralee. There are several 5* hotels in Killarney which would also be convenient to Waterville, Tralee, and Ballybunion.

[johnspies]

Will you not be in Dublin at all? If you are, Portmarnock is your answer there.

[Chanceman]

Absolutely perfect. Book a driver ( and tip him well, in advance).  Stay at Adare Manor then the Killarney Park Hotel . Old Head will be spot on for you. Skip Tralee, the bangers and mash are awful. Go anti clockwise around the Ring of Kerry. And remember the Irish use euro.

[johnspies]

If you need a Driver in Ireland, let me know. I've used a guy several times for golf trips and personal trips with family and he's the best! I've recommended him to friends and club members; all to rave reviews. My kids call him 'Uncle Russ' now 😉

[Chigolfer2]

I like Tralee....my cover photo is on the Tralee 1st hole.  I find it a coin toss against Lahinch but easier logistically than Lahinch  

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, Chigolfer2 said:

I like Tralee....my cover photo is on the Tralee 1st hole.  I find it a coin toss against Lahinch but easier logistically than Lahinch  

I’m with you, of the SW Ireland Trinity of golf: Tralee, Ballybunion, and Lahinch.

I have Tralee at the top. The back nine at Tralee may very well be the best sequence of consecutive holes in the world.

[eboettne]

 

On 12/9/2022 at 3:26 PM, hammergolf said:

I’m with you, of the SW Ireland Trinity of golf: Tralee, Ballybunion, and Lahinch.

I have Tralee at the top. The back nine at Tralee may very well be the best sequence of consecutive holes in the world.

What are the chances of getting on any of these courses as a single the day of? Looking to keep our trip flexible and don’t want to get caught paying a deposit if plans change

[hammergolf]

13 hours ago, eboettne said:

 

What are the chances of getting on any of these courses as a single the day of? Looking to keep our trip flexible and don’t want to get caught paying a deposit if plans change

The popular courses stay pretty booked up. It will be a coin toss if they have spots or not. Best case would be to call them when you arrive and see what the tee sheets look like. 

[Chanceman]

9 hours ago, hammergolf said:

The popular courses stay pretty booked up. It will be a coin toss if they have spots or not. Best case would be to call them when you arrive and see what the tee sheets look like. 

That’s true. We did not have a prior booking for Lahinch but on arrival they found us a spot in the “twilight zone” so we came up the 18th in the dark. Entirely memorable.

[pearls24]

I was in SW Ireland the beg of October 22'.  Our club went as a group of 48 guys.  It was amazing.  We stayed at Kilarney Park and played Adare day of arrival, Tralee, Dooks, Ballybunion, Trump Doonbeg (where we stayed the other nights in their 4 bed cottages which are amazing), and finished with Lahinch.  All courses were awesome.  Ballybunion unfortunately was the worst weather day with winds upwards of 60mph and it was basically impossible to play.  Our head pro shot the low round of the day with an 85!  LOL.  Kilarney is a great spot since you can walk to so many restaurants and pubs.  Doonbeg was great but there is really nothing there except what's on property.  There are a couple decent spots in the town but we basically stayed on property.  

[MCIrl]

On 10/19/2022 at 5:09 PM, geauxtigers777 said:

Combo trip with couples and golf.  We will play golf every day and then meet up in the afternoon for touristy stuff.

 

Fairly short trip at 6 days or so.

We are planning on staying at Adare for 2-3 nights and then looking for another upscale place to stay the remainder.  Course wise we are planning:

Adare

Lahinch

Ballybunion

Old Head

Possibly Waterville

 

Would you put Tralee in above any of these?  Any top courses we are missing? 

 

Any other resort/lodging recommendations?  Given it is a couples trip, cost is not a major factor, and it would need to be upscale.

 

Transportation:  Whats the best option on this?  Should we hire a driver for the week?  We would need transportation for both the golfers to and from the course and for the spouses during the day.  

 

Thanks for the help.  

Play Lahinch & Adare (stay in Adare) then travel to play Ballybunion and stay in Killarney.  (Aghadoe Heights & Europe Hotel are the best high end options) Killarney is handy base for Tralee (40 mins) and Dooks (30 mins) Waterville (1hr). Ceann Sibeal GC  (1 hr 15 mins) in the Dingle peninsula is also a hidden gem with great tourist activity for later in the day.  If you want to play in the Old Head they have great accommodation on site or stay in Cork City (45 mins away) in Hayfield Manor.

[st1800e]

I’ll go against the flow, after our trip, we had Tralee at the bottom of the list , 8 of us, single digit handicaps.  Waterville much better. Don’t miss Old Head, not true links, but by the ocean, spectacular views and good golf. You’ll never forget it.  We also played Portmarnock, RCD, Ardglass, Mt. Juliet, Ballybunion (both), Lahinch, and Doonbeg. I’ve played Portstewart , Castlerock, County Louth, Druids Glen and Belvoir Park on a previous trip. 

Going  back in June for 11 Days,  North and Northwest. No Parkland Courses this time, that’s all I play at home and going all that way, we’ll play links only.  

And a bus with driver relieves all the stress of driving - wrong side of the road, directions, getting lost, parking, buy gas, cram the luggage in, etc.  Our driver was exemplary, made last minute adjustments, got us on a few times for extra unplanned rounds , kept the cooler stocked and had sandwiches for us between rounds.  

 

[El Gringo]

5 hours ago, st1800e said:

I’ll go against the flow, after our trip, we had Tralee at the bottom of the list , 8 of us, single digit handicaps.  Waterville much better. Don’t miss Old Head, not true links, but by the ocean, spectacular views and good golf. You’ll never forget it.  We also played Portmarnock, RCD, Ardglass, Mt. Juliet, Ballybunion (both), Lahinch, and Doonbeg. I’ve played Portstewart , Castlerock, County Louth, Druids Glen and Belvoir Park on a previous trip. 

Going  back in June for 11 Days,  North and Northwest. No Parkland Courses this time, that’s all I play at home and going all that way, we’ll play links only.  

And a bus with driver relieves all the stress of driving - wrong side of the road, directions, getting lost, parking, buy gas, cram the luggage in, etc.  Our driver was exemplary, made last minute adjustments, got us on a few times for extra unplanned rounds , kept the cooler stocked and had sandwiches for us between rounds.  

 

I agree RE Tralee. Much preferred Ballybunion and especially Lahinch. Tralee seems a forced design to me. It's still worth a go, but I go back to Lahinch. I have a new #2 in Ireland, St Pats. A cool routing with highly interesting greens. 

[st1800e]

2 minutes ago, El Gringo said:

I agree RE Tralee. Much preferred Ballybunion and especially Lahinch. Tralee seems a forced design to me. It's still worth a go, but I go back to Lahinch. I have a new #2 in Ireland, St Pats. A cool routing with highly interesting greens. 

Yes, to the question, which course would you like to play every day?

 

Lahinch, hands down.  

Will see St. Pats this June! 

[geauxtigers777]

5 hours ago, st1800e said:

I’ll go against the flow, after our trip, we had Tralee at the bottom of the list , 8 of us, single digit handicaps.  Waterville much better. Don’t miss Old Head, not true links, but by the ocean, spectacular views and good golf. You’ll never forget it.  We also played Portmarnock, RCD, Ardglass, Mt. Juliet, Ballybunion (both), Lahinch, and Doonbeg. I’ve played Portstewart , Castlerock, County Louth, Druids Glen and Belvoir Park on a previous trip. 

Going  back in June for 11 Days,  North and Northwest. No Parkland Courses this time, that’s all I play at home and going all that way, we’ll play links only.  

And a bus with driver relieves all the stress of driving - wrong side of the road, directions, getting lost, parking, buy gas, cram the luggage in, etc.  Our driver was exemplary, made last minute adjustments, got us on a few times for extra unplanned rounds , kept the cooler stocked and had sandwiches for us between rounds.  

 

How was Doonbeg?

[hammergolf]

I enjoyed Doonbeg, in fact went in not expecting much but it was really good. In SW Ireland, I prefer Tralee over Lahinch and Bally. However, they are all really good and can see how any of them could be someone’s favorite.  I think the back nine at Tralee may be the best 9 consecutive holes in Ireland, but the last 13 at Ballybunion are strong too. That being said, for me Carne is my favorite in Ireland.

[El Gringo]

Favourite is an entirely different question. I am partial to highly entertaining, small footprint, relatively inexpensive, quick golf. Castlerock Bann is my favourite Irish course, but I am still looking. 

Edited March 16, 2023 by El Gringo

[st1800e]

1 hour ago, geauxtigers777 said:

How was Doonbeg?

Quite enjoyed it. Not at the top, nor the bottom of the list.  Definitely worth playing. 
 

 

[Chanceman]

St Patrick’s Day tomorrow. Let us pray we can get there before too long. It sounds wonderful. 

[AltC]

So I am going on a tour end of April and it is organized by local Irish guys - this tour is going for 25 years ( different locations each year ) and unfortunately Ballybunion is dropped because it’s too expensive- now you might say we are cheapskates but that is not correct - the reason why is American Tourist golfers are making the green fees so high that it is now beyond reasonable pricing for most people and even with local contacts i appreciate market forces it’s just not a reasonable  sum - I also think some courses are becoming solely dependent upon this revenue stream - we all know how this ends - so good luck and have a good time whilst it lasts but it won’t last forever - I hoped we could all play the great courses as intended- but being shut out by price just seems wrong !’

Not penniless paupers just realists!!

 

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, AltC said:

So I am going on a tour end of April and it is organized by local Irish guys - this tour is going for 25 years ( different locations each year ) and unfortunately Ballybunion is dropped because it’s too expensive- now you might say we are cheapskates but that is not correct - the reason why is American Tourist golfers are making the green fees so high that it is now beyond reasonable pricing for most people and even with local contacts i appreciate market forces it’s just not a reasonable  sum - I also think some courses are becoming solely dependent upon this revenue stream - we all know how this ends - so good luck and have a good time whilst it lasts but it won’t last forever - I hoped we could all play the great courses as intended- but being shut out by price just seems wrong !’

Not penniless paupers just realists!!

 

 

LOL...It's ALL golfers - not just "American Tourists"!!!  I guess you are not a "tourist"?  

 

On my course it is packed with people from around the world and saw less Americans than any other nationality!  

[ajgoodal.704]

I feel your pain.  Just started looking at booking Royal Portrush for next June.  The 2024 greens fee is now up to 340 pounds.  I thought 240 pounds in 2021/22 was steep, but now its getting crazy.  

[Chanceman]

Hey you are not alone - US$600 to play Whistling Straits!

[puttnforthe8]

5 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Hey you are not alone - US$600 to play Whistling Straits!

$600 +$40 Forecaddie fee with tip expected for TPC Scottsdale!!!  🤢

[st1800e]

Bucket list costs have “gone to hell in a hand basket”

[hammergolf]

15 hours ago, AltC said:

So I am going on a tour end of April and it is organized by local Irish guys - this tour is going for 25 years ( different locations each year ) and unfortunately Ballybunion is dropped because it’s too expensive- now you might say we are cheapskates but that is not correct - the reason why is American Tourist golfers are making the green fees so high that it is now beyond reasonable pricing for most people and even with local contacts i appreciate market forces it’s just not a reasonable  sum - I also think some courses are becoming solely dependent upon this revenue stream - we all know how this ends - so good luck and have a good time whilst it lasts but it won’t last forever - I hoped we could all play the great courses as intended- but being shut out by price just seems wrong !’

Not penniless paupers just realists!!

 

Head up to County Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal. Play courses just as good at half the price. Hard to beat a rotation of Carne, Enniscrone, Strandhill, Narin & Portnoo, and Donegal.

[ajgoodal.704]

8 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Head up to County Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal. Play courses just as good at half the price. Hard to beat a rotation of Carne, Enniscrone, Strandhill, Narin & Portnoo, and Donegal.

Hammer I've considered dumping Portrush at 340 pounds and spending a day at Rosapenna playing St. Pats and Sandy Hills for less.  

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

Hammer I've considered dumping Portrush at 340 pounds and spending a day at Rosapenna playing St. Pats and Sandy Hills for less.  

I played Portrush in October and it’s not in my top 5 of Ireland. In fact, I preferred Portstewart. Portrush is cashing in on The Open being played there and since they have a limited amount of available times and know they are going to fill those times regardless of price. There are definitely many great options in that area at more reasonable prices. Ballyliffin, Portstewart, and Rosapenna are among them.

[Chanceman]

13 hours ago, ajgoodal.704 said:

Hammer I've considered dumping Portrush at 340 pounds and spending a day at Rosapenna playing St. Pats and Sandy Hills for less.  

Yep that’s the way to go. And play the Cruitt Island 9 holer while in that part of Ireland.