Fall in love with the finest links courses in Ireland’s South West this autumn
Ireland’s South West coast is home to some of the most famous links golf courses in the world. It also offers some of the most breath-taking scenery in Europe, iconic tourist attractions, lively entertainment, and fine cuisine.
While there are many incredible must-play courses in Ireland, and in particular in the South West, it can be difficult for golfers to secure tee-times and ensure the best value for your time in Ireland. We solve that problem for you by carefully designing all of our golf tours to ensure you will have the most memorable vacation. We secure desirable tee-times at the most magnificent courses and you will enjoy seamless travel in private luxury vehicles with your personal Driver Guide, also an avid golfer. We also hand-pick and book wonderful accommodation and ensure easy access to evening entertainment. This means you can simply enjoy the true Ireland golfing experience.
The origin of the American golfer’s fascination with Irish links is widely attributed to Tom Watson who had this to say of Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry: “Nobody can call himself a golfer unless he has played at Ballybunion. You would think the game originated there.”Why he chose to say this after winning the Open Championship at Scotland’s Royal Troom we have not discovered, but we will ensure you discover the magic of Ballybunion. As well as the Cushen course, you will play the mesmerizing Waterville Golf Links on the southwest tip-off Ireland; Tralee Golf Club, with a heritage stretching back to 1896; the majestic Old Head Golf Links, Kinsale; and the host of the 2027 Ryder Cup, Adare Manor.
Non-golfers will also enjoy this route. Being based in Kerry, Cork, Cashel and Adare allow you to visit some of Ireland’s most iconic tourist attractions, experience the finest scenery in the world, and a World Heritage Site, as well as finding special hidden gems with your private Driver Guide. Two nights in Cork city, often voted as one of the world’s friendliest cities by Condé Nast, ensure you will experience one of Ireland’s most special small cities.
This is a carefully designed classic tour, ensuring you experience the best golf as well as the finest food and craic, which elevate this golf tour from thoroughly enjoyable to exceptional. However, with our in-house Golf Travel Advisor and our passionate golfing Driver Guides, it can be tailored to suit your travel arrangements and specific requests, including using Dublin airport, adding east coast courses and helicopter transfers.
What are you waiting for? Enquire now to secure the best tee-times for Fall 2023.
Map
Shannon
Killarney
Cork
Kinsale
Adare
Shannon Airport
ACCOMMODATION
Killarney Park Hotel, Kerry
5 Star Hotels Ireland
Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork
5 Star Hotels Ireland
Adare Manor, Limerick
5 Star Hotels Ireland
Cashel Palace
5 Star Hotels Ireland
South West Golf Highlights
Highlights of South West golf
Transport
When you tour Ireland with Ireland Chauffeur Travel, you travel in style and luxury. We use specialised Mercedes vehicles for our golfers, ensuring extended legroom and additional space for clubs. Your private chauffeur driver will be an avid golfer and will guide you around Ireland in the latest luxury Mercedes models, showing you the best of the country as well as the courses.
Experiences
As well as experiencing these top golf courses, your Travel Advisor can enhance your trip with many other experiences along the way. Here are a few to whet your appetite…
Ballybunion Golf Club
This course is worth two rounds - the Old Course exudes a majestic feel that simply cannot be compared to any other course on earth. With beautifully contoured fairways that tumble down through a blanket of grassy dunes, it's no wonder these challenging holes have been consistently rated among the top courses in the world. The Cashen course flies under the radar of many visiting golfers but is a majestic challenge not to be missed.
Waterville Golf Club
Waterville is a unique combination of classic links land in a pristine remote setting. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Inny River estuary, its beauty and challenge was recently enhanced by world renowned architect, Tom Fazio.
Old Head of Kinsale
Occupying a stunning and unique headland reaching out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, the Old Head of Kinsale is home to the most spectacular world-class golf course and luxury members' accommodation. The club has developed into one of the most recognized and sought after golf experiences anywhere on earth. It is a sanctuary for those seeking the finest in personalized service.
Tralee Golf Club
Designed and built by Arnold Palmer, this stunning setting represents a true paradise for those willing to challenge what is widely acclaimed as one of the finest links courses in the world.
Adare Golf Club
Set to host the 2026 Ryder Cup, this is a special parklands course. Tom Fazio has taken what was already an award-winning course and transformed it into a parkland paradise befitting a country in the top tier of global golfing destinations. The new course has been created in harmony with the natural beauty of its surroundings: lush, softly rolling terrain, mature tree scaping, and the sweeping banks of the River Maigue.
Whiskey Experience Killarney
The Irish Whiskey Experience is an interactive and sensory experience that will guide you through the history of Irish Whiskey, from distilling to tasting. Private bookings on request.
Cork Pub Trail
Brimming full of life, character and history, spending time in the best pubs in Cork is the ideal way to spend an evening. Corcaigh was born in the guise of a monastic settlement in the 6th Century before developing into a Viking trading port and vibrant merchant city over time. The city has a rich cultural history of writers, singers and songwriters and you’ll find their charms throughout the city.
Killarney Craic & Ceol
The town of Killarney is famous for its excellent array of restaurants, pubs and evening entertainment, see attached dining recommendations. Bars such as Danny Mann, The Failte and Laurel's Singing Pub have regular sessions. The NEC has quality live shows during the summer, including Celtic Steps The Show. Nearby Siamsa Tire in Tralee can be booked on request. Time your trip well and catch horse racing just outside of town.
Franciscan Well Brewery, Cork
The Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork is built on the site of an old Franciscan monastery and well, dating back to the year 1219. Legend has it that the water from the well has miraculous and curative properties and people would come from afar to drink it. The award-winning brewpub is now favoured by locals and students of the local University College Cork. During the 1940s the site was used to bottle Guinness for the people of Cork in the 1940s. These days, there are weekly music and storytelling evenings to accompany the beer.
Food Delights
Ireland is a food island and each corner represents a different part of our food heritage. Whether in Belfast, Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Cork or the Causeway Coast, we can arrange a customized walking Food Tour of the area to introduce you to the local produce and producers...with tasty samples of course too!
Black’s Brewery, Kinsale
Maud Black gave her husband Sam a beer-making kit for Valentine’s Day and what started as a hobby quickly developed into an obsession. In 2013, the couple opened Black’s Brewery in Kinsale. They are the first co-located micro-brewery and distillery in Ireland gives them the option to age their beers in spirit barrels and vice versa to improve the depth of flavor. Located in the colourful town of Kinsale, this is a great brewery to visit. Nearby, visit Charles Fort, a military fort which was built by the English in the 1670s to a star fortification design. It has been associated with some of the most momentous events in Irish history.
Old English Market, Cork
Cork’s Old English Market is the most celebrated food market in Ireland. The unique covered food and artisan market dates back to the Middle Ages. The center is populated with some of Ireland’s finest gourmet restaurants and a trip to the English Market the heart of the city is a must.
