Recommendations wanted for tour group/trip planner for Ireland

[bonvivantva]

Has anyone had a great experience with a travel planner for an Irish golf trip?

 

I'm turning 40 next year and I'd like to take a trip to Ireland.  2-4 guys.  I'd like to play nicer courses.  Interested on recommendations about driving or getting a driver.  I'm very comfortable driving, can drive stick, etc.  An ideal trip would be a round most days, sometimes two, and then pints and whiskey at the pub in the evening.  

 

I'm also thinking about planning a Scotland trip with my dad, so if anyone has any strong recommendations for operators in Scotland, I'd be interested in those as well.

 

Thanks!

[puttnforthe8]

38 minutes ago, bonvivantva said:

Has anyone had a great experience with a travel planner for an Irish golf trip?

 

I'm turning 40 next year and I'd like to take a trip to Ireland.  2-4 guys.  I'd like to play nicer courses.  Interested on recommendations about driving or getting a driver.  I'm very comfortable driving, can drive stick, etc.  An ideal trip would be a round most days, sometimes two, and then pints and whiskey at the pub in the evening.  

 

I'm also thinking about planning a Scotland trip with my dad, so if anyone has any strong recommendations for operators in Scotland, I'd be interested in those as well.

 

Thanks!

 

Well - imo, for 2-4 it is not necessary to go with an operator/planner (*disclaimer - now, it may be better because of how busy it is everywhere).

 

But, firstly, maybe give our forum compadre @hammergolf a go via https://www.irelandgolftrips.com/ and see if something suits you.  

 

The other one that I suggest is Docs - now these are full service to the max with drivers, dinners, etc all done up for you.  

 

So you do need to really consider budget and what you want to achieve on the trip.

 

 

Edited November 6, 2023 by puttnforthe8

[Chanceman]

Easy enough to do it yourself with a bit of grunt work.
I would say to just select the courses you want to play. Arrange them in a way that allows you to drive to them each day then look for hotels nearby at a suitable price. I would not want to drive more than say 2 or 3 hours a day.

 

Selecting the courses may require the most decision making. Do you want all top shelf courses (eg County Down Lahinch, Ballybunion) or would you take a mix of “slightly”  less expensive courses (eg  Baltray, Carne, Ballyliffin) or indeed “cheaper” courses (eg Ardglass, Donegal,  Connemara). Throw in some courses like Macreddin or Castlerock or 9 holers like Mulranny and you have a pretty good grouping. Everyone on this forum has their favourites, these are mine.

There is huge variety in Ireland (north and south) and not all hyper expensive. But it is a tricky place to drive around so you may want to limit yourself to one or two regions.