Top 10 Golf Courses in Ireland You Must Play (2026 Guide)

Ireland has long been one of the world’s great golf destinations. With dramatic coastal landscapes, historic links courses and a deep golfing heritage, the island offers some of the most memorable golf experiences anywhere in the game.

Across Ireland, golfers can choose from more than 400 courses, but it is the spectacular seaside links that attract visitors from around the world.

For golfers planning a golf trip to Ireland, these are ten of the most iconic courses that should be on every golfer’s bucket list.

1. Royal County Down Golf Club (Championship Links)

Located in Newcastle, County Down, Royal County Down Golf Club is widely regarded as one of the greatest golf courses in the world.

Set beneath the dramatic Mourne Mountains, the Championship Links weaves through towering dunes and offers breathtaking views of the Irish Sea. The layout is famous for its blind tee shots, rugged bunkering and unforgettable natural terrain.

Royal County Down consistently appears in global rankings of the best golf courses and is often considered the premier links experience in Ireland.

2. Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce Links)

Royal Portrush Golf Club is another legendary venue and the only course in Ireland to host The Open Championship in modern times.

The Dunluce Links is famous for its dramatic cliffside holes, including the iconic “Calamity Corner” par-3. With views across the North Atlantic and one of the most exciting finishing stretches in golf, Royal Portrush remains a must-play destination.

3. Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course)

The Old Course at Ballybunion Golf Club is one of the most celebrated links courses in the world. Located on Ireland’s southwest coast, Ballybunion offers towering dunes, fast-running fairways and a thrilling back nine that runs along the Atlantic coastline.

The course has been ranked among the best in Ireland for decades and continues to attract golfers seeking a traditional links experience.

4. Lahinch Golf Club (Old Course)

Lahinch Golf Club is often referred to as the “St Andrews of Ireland.”

Designed by Old Tom Morris and later enhanced by Alister Mackenzie, the Old Course combines historic charm with unpredictable links terrain.

The famous blind par-3 “Dell” and the dramatic “Klondyke” hole are among the most unique holes in Irish golf.

5. Portmarnock Golf Club

Just outside Dublin, Portmarnock Golf Club is one of Ireland’s purest links layouts.

The course sits on a narrow peninsula surrounded by the Irish Sea and has hosted numerous prestigious amateur and professional tournaments. Its traditional routing and consistent playing conditions make it a favourite among purists.

6. Waterville Golf Links

Located along the famous Ring of Kerry, Waterville Golf Links offers one of Ireland’s most scenic golfing experiences. The course combines dramatic Atlantic views with a classic links design that rewards strategic shot-making and imagination.

Waterville has long been a favourite among visiting golfers seeking a memorable golf tour through southwest Ireland.

7. Tralee Golf Links

Designed by Arnold Palmer, Tralee Golf Links features one of the most spectacular back nines in world golf.

After a relatively gentle opening stretch, the course climbs into towering dunes along the coastline, creating breathtaking holes overlooking Tralee Bay.

8. Old Head Golf Links

Few courses anywhere can rival the dramatic setting of Old Head Golf Links.

Built on a narrow headland that stretches two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, nearly every hole offers panoramic ocean views.

Old Head is widely considered one of the most visually spectacular golf courses in the world.

9. Portstewart Golf Club (Strand Course)

Portstewart Golf Club is home to one of the most thrilling opening tee shots in golf.

The Strand Course runs through towering dunes along Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast and has hosted the Irish Open, showcasing its championship pedigree.

10. St Patrick’s Links at Rosapenna

One of Ireland’s newest great links courses, Rosapenna Golf Resort has quickly established itself among the country’s top golfing destinations.

Designed by Tom Doak and opened in 2021, St Patrick’s Links offers a modern interpretation of traditional links golf across vast coastal dunes. The course has already earned a place among Ireland’s highest-ranked courses.

Planning a Golf Trip to Ireland

Ireland’s legendary links courses attract golfers from across the world. Courses such as Royal County Down, Royal Portrush and Ballybunion regularly appear in global rankings and remain among the most sought-after tee times in golf.

Because of this demand, golfers planning a golf tour to Ireland should consider booking well in advance, particularly for peak travel months between May and September.

Many golf travellers combine several regions into one itinerary, allowing them to experience the unique character of Ireland’s different coastal landscapes.

Start Planning Your Irish Golf Tour

Ireland offers one of the greatest golf experiences anywhere in the world, with historic courses, breathtaking scenery and a rich golfing tradition.

At mygolfGroup Travel, we specialise in organising customised golf tours to Ireland, helping golfers experience the island’s most famous links courses while enjoying seamless travel and accommodation planning.

If you are planning a golf trip to Ireland, our team would be delighted to help create the perfect itinerary.

Email: info@mygolfgrouptravel.com

Phone: +353 1 9041130