2 For County Donegal Ireland In August 2020

After doing a lot of research, my buddy and I are heading to Ireland this coming August. My wife and I spent a week there this past September that was not a golf trip (although I did get to play Lahinch on my birthday which was nothing short of amazing). We visited all the main tourist sites in Dublin and in the south/southwest including my ancestral home of Tipperary. it was an incredible trip but it hurt to literally drive past the gates of Dooks, Tralee, Old Head, Waterford & Adare Manor with my golf clubs stored in the back of the car! 36 years of marriage forces one to make sacrifices. As I moaned, my sweet wife said "Just come back next year with one of your buddies and then go to Scotland the following year" Yes, she is a keeper! (my other ancestral home is Kirkintilloch Scotland)

So, with my wife's blessing, one of my best friends and I are off to Ireland. Rather than expand the trip to 4 or 8 guys, I kept it to 2 so I don't have to play tour guide, nursemaid or referee. I just wanna go and enjoy the golf. Both of us are in good shape, non drinkers (hes a 22 year friend of Bill W & I am a friend of Brigham Y) experienced walkers/carriers in our mid 50s who play and walk between 140-175 rounds per year (yes, life is pretty good!). We do Bandon trips together and have walked/carried as much as 54 holes in a day there (walked 42,000 steps in one day last March and only lost 3 toe nails that week). We both have smaller carry bags which we find on these type trips is much easier than using a trolley. Our plan is to play 36 a day for 5-6 days. We have been fortunate enough to play many great courses but I have always had a soft spot for the hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path kind of places. Because of my love for Bandon (Old McDonald is my favorite course there) & my experience at Lahinch, I love links golf. Having read up on the subject in books, blogs etc (If you haven't read Tom Coyne's book "A Course Called Ireland" I strongly suggest you do and then read his book on Scotland), we have settled on the northwest area of County Donegal Ireland for August of 2020 with our intention to play the great Links courses of that area.

Would be interested in any comments/suggestions regarding experiences any of you have had with any of these courses. So far we have booked flights, hotel and car. Will make golf reservations after the 1st of the year. Did not go thru a tour group so interested in thoughts of doing this type of trip as a self plan & self drive (yes I am aware of the small roads and the occasional 'scrubbing" that takes place as I drove from Dublin,to Galway to Ring of Kerry and back). Has anyone else done this trip? I am, wondering how much of a risk will it be to only book rounds the 1st 3 days and leave the last 2 to booking the day before or even walking on. Our plan is to play early each day to take advantage of some early bird pricing, have a nice lunch and then play our afternoon round. Will we be able to get on those courses for follow up rounds on short notice?

Here is the Itinerary as we have laid it out for the week of August 17-24

Day 1 Fly from LAX to Belfast by way of London. Rent car and drive to Letterkenny where we will stay the entire trip. My research shows that all daily drives should be under an hour each way so rather than stay at a different place every night and check in /check out, we will just use Letterkenny as our base of opps. Not too concerned with crossing borders being an issue even with Brexit. We both have Passports with Global Entry

Day 2 Play Ballyliffin Glashedy & Old Course

Day 3 Play Rosapenna Sandhill & Old Tom Morris and depending on our energy level, possibly driving over and playing Cruit Island

Day 4 Play Port Salon in morn and hen take the fairy to Rathmullen and play Buncrana (North West)

Day 5 Return to play 36 at either Rosapenna or Ballyliffin depending on which one we enjoyed more. (Or play Murvagh & Narin Portnoo)

Day 6 Pay Castlerock & Port Stuart. then return to Belfast

Day 7 Fly home

Packables

Golf Clubs

4 golf towels

2 doz balls

tees/divot tool

range finder

Garmin watch

2 pair golf shoes

4 new golf gloves

2 pair shorts

golf belt

6 pair of socks-change out every round!

1 pair pants

6 pair underwear

2 long sleeve golf undershirts

1 golf vest

1 golf pullover

2 golf shirts (will buy at least 2 more there)

2 golf hats (will buy at least 2 more there)

rain jacket (Galvin Green Gortex)

rain pats (Galvin Green Gortex)

bucket hat

rain hood

beanie

rain gloves

Toiletries

tape

mole skin

sunscreen

chapstick

tweezers/pocket knife

laptop

Reading Glasses

Sun Glasses

iPad

air pods

head phones

I know many will say to play Royal County Down or Royal Portrush and others will say Carne, Sligo & Enniscrone. So many incredible options and trying to keep the trip to a week makes for difficult choices. When I walked off the 18th at Lahinch , I knew I would be coming back. I feel pretty confident that I will have similar emotions next August as I head back to the airport. After all, I still have to come back and play those wonderful tracks in the south west...

You don't say when you are going?? I am fairly confident there will be tee times available a few days in advance - the concern would be whether there are times that suit your needs to get 36 in for the day.

Good trip planned there

I did a road trip around Ireland with a mate last year so I know you will enjoy it all.

My first suggestion would be to play Ardglass on day 1 which is a real gem and just south of Belfast and quite near County Down. Its about 2 1/2 hour drive to LK. A round of golf on arrival is a great way to adjust and keep the jet lag at bay.

Then I would suggest adding Cruitt Island a fabulous 9 holer on the western coast of Donegal, to your rota. I think Tom Coyne went there and wrote about it in his book.

Also try to fit in Donegal (Murvagh) which is a superb links course and within range of LK.

Otherwise we played the Glashedy and Castlerock which were both top notch. And if you are up to it walking is the way to get the full experience.

We always enjoyed the craic at each club after the round. There's nothing like a Guinness and a bowl of chowder to warm you up after getting blown about and/or drenched out on the course. And I reckon 36 a day will be tough especially if you strike some rough weather, which is likely whether you go in June or October..

You might check with your hotel to see if they have a drying room. It's great to get everything dry overnight and to not have to lug clubs up to the room each night.

When I travel to Scotland or Ireland, I pack a "pilot case" as a carry on and put a couple of days worth of golf gear in the case. Luggage and golf clubs do get delayed. I make sure I carry items so I can go play even if it takes a few days for luggage to show up. Pack a pair of golf shoes, one set of rain gear, extra socks, pants and shirts, a glove, hat, etc.