Proposed England-Ireland Golf Trip for my father and me

ColeFlinn · August 24, 2016

Okay - so I scaled back my plans a bit and now have it extended over the same period of time and solely in Ireland.

My main worry before I book this: will the tee times be available once they open on October 1st or will I get the last of the pickings?

Trapperchamonix · August 25, 2016

Couple suggestions:
-Play Portrush before RCD and stay near RCD, it will save you driving time to the Southwest.
-Why play 72 holes at Old Head? Lahinch is awesome, also Waterville.
-Play The Island and/or County Louth instead of Royal Dublin.

I'd agree with the above plus add a few more couple of suggestions.

Driving Belfast to Killarney is a long and tiring trip. Better to start in Belfast, then Dublin, then Kerry and then exit from Shannon Airport. Aer Lingus, American, Delta and United all fly directly from Shannon to gateway cities like NY Boston and Philli.

If you do that route then you might want to reconsider Old Head. I've not played there so cant comment on its qualities or benefits but it would be out of the way. From a purely golfing pov I'd substitute Waterville & Dooks. However its worth saying Kinsale is a great town to visit as well.

Finally take care as to the timing of availability of tee times in member clubs on the weekends. Pretty much every course you have listed (I'm not sure about Old Head) is an established members club and so will be running member competitions on the weekends. Some like Ballybunnion wont let you play on a Sat, while some like The Island will let you out after the members competition. You may need to be flexible.

Remember the list of clubs mentioned (RCD Portrush, Portmornock, Baltray, The Island, Royal Dublin, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Old Head, Tralee, Waterville are the best of Irish Golf Courses. Only Royal Dublin is outside the top 15 ranked courses. So you are going to have to pay $$$$$. There are other courses worth considering especially in the west and north west, that are cheaper, less well known to the US visitor but equally as challenging. But (and I repeat but) you couldnt fit them all in to one trip.

Finally Finally, a very good reference point is Kevin Markham. He's played all the golf courses in Ireland and has

a book called Hooked which describes all the courses in ireland

a flickr account with pictures (golf porn) of all the courses in ireland https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmarkham/sets/?&page=3

website http://www.theirishgolfblog.com/ where he has many discussions on the best "unknown" irish courses.

ColeFlinn · August 25, 2016

So in putting all of your suggestions together (Thank you all for your help!) here is what I have come up with:

May 22nd: land in AM in Dublin, rent a car, drive to Kinsale (4h30m)
May 23rd: play Old Head, stay the night at Kinsale. Eat at the Fishy Fishy.
May 24th: Drive from Kinsale to Ballybunnion (2h45m), play Ballybunnion, drive up to the Cliffs of Moher (2h30m) and stay at the Spanish Hotel.
May 25th: Play Lahinch early in the morning (this course looks incredible), then drive from Lahinch to Ashford Castle (2h20m). Arrive there around 2:30PM.
May 26th: full day at Ashford Castle.
May 27th: Leave Ashford Castle after breakfast, drive to Dublin (3h20m) and stay at Portmarnock. Play Portmarnock.
May 28th: Drive to the Island Course (25m), play the course, then drive to the FitzWilliam Hotel in Belfast (2h10m).
May 29th: Drive from Belfast to Royal County Down (1h30m), play, drive back.
May 30th: Drive from Belfast to Royal County Down (1h30m), play, drive back.
May 31st: Drive from Belfast to Royal Portrush (1h35m), play, drive back.
June 1st: Drive to Dublin. Return home.

Is this a more digestable schedule? Is there something we are missing?

Any suggestions on where to stay in Belfast would be nice (We would be open to staying somewhere outside of Belfast).

Thank you all for your help.

I have verified that visitors are allowed on these days for all of the courses, however I do not know if the tee times will be available. Can anyone help me in regards to this? The Tee Time systems have not been opened for that part of the 2017 calendar year yet. It makes me a bit nervous...

hdr_ric · August 25, 2016

Better. Your day on the 24th looks to be a potential debacle. Are you married to seeing/staying at Ashford Castle? If not, I'd cut that out and give yourself an extra day/less driving between Kinsale, Ballybunnion, and Lahinch.

Personally, I'd fly into/out of Shannon and play old head, waterville, tralee, dooks, ballybunion, and lahinch (staying in Kinsale, Killarney, Lahinch) OR I would fly into/out of Dublin and play Sligo, Narin/Port Noo, Ballyelfin, Portrush, Royal County Down, and Portmarnock. I would not try to combine both trips just to get that specific list of courses you have selected.

Regardless, I am jealous - have fun. If Duffer hops back on to opine, he is the "expert".

Trapperchamonix · August 26, 2016

So in putting all of your suggestions together (Thank you all for your help!) here is what I have come up with:
May 22nd: land in AM in Dublin, rent a car, drive to Kinsale (4h30m)
May 23rd: play Old Head, stay the night at Kinsale. Eat at the Fishy Fishy.
May 24th: Drive from Kinsale to Ballybunnion (2h45m), play Ballybunnion, drive up to the Cliffs of Moher (2h30m) and stay at the Spanish Hotel.
May 25th: Play Lahinch early in the morning (this course looks incredible), then drive from Lahinch to Ashford Castle (2h20m). Arrive there around 2:30PM.
May 26th: full day at Ashford Castle.
May 27th: Leave Ashford Castle after breakfast, drive to Dublin (3h20m) and stay at Portmarnock. Play Portmarnock.
May 28th: Drive to the Island Course (25m), play the course, then drive to the FitzWilliam Hotel in Belfast (2h10m).
May 29th: Drive from Belfast to Royal County Down (1h30m), play, drive back.
May 30th: Drive from Belfast to Royal County Down (1h30m), play, drive back.
May 31st: Drive from Belfast to Royal Portrush (1h35m), play, drive back.
June 1st: Drive to Dublin. Return home.
Is this a more digestable schedule? Is there something we are missing?

Any suggestions on where to stay in Belfast would be nice (We would be open to staying somewhere outside of Belfast).

Thank you all for your help.

I have verified that visitors are allowed on these days for all of the courses, however I do not know if the tee times will be available. Can anyone help me in regards to this? The Tee Time systems have not been opened for that part of the 2017 calendar year yet. It makes me a bit nervous...

Few points.

1. Portmarnock: Make sure you know the difference between Portmarnock Golf Links http://www.portmarnock.com/ and Portmarnock Golf Club http://www.portmarnockgolfclub.ie/. Both fine courses but be clear in what you are looking to play.

2. Portmarnock: If you are playing Portmarnock Golf Club, make sure you are playing the Championship 18.

3. Staying in Portmarnock: You would be better in Malahide. More pubs, resturaunts and more fun. Only 3 km away.

4. The Island: You can play The Island on Sat or Sunday but your tee time won't be till 2 or 3pm at the earliest. So better off playing that on the 27th after driving up from Ashford Castle.

Visitor times not open yet: I would suggest 2 things. Just see if the same days of the week would be available in the middle of Sept 2016. If the are there shouldn't be much difference next May. Also email the club and they should be able to give you an indication even if the booking system id not open yet.

Finally, you can't complain about the cost of the trip and then go stay in Ashford Castle :-)) 1st world problems

ColeFlinn · August 26, 2016

So in putting all of your suggestions together (Thank you all for your help!) here is what I have come up with:
May 22nd: land in AM in Dublin, rent a car, drive to Kinsale (4h30m)
May 23rd: play Old Head, stay the night at Kinsale. Eat at the Fishy Fishy.
May 24th: Drive from Kinsale to Ballybunnion (2h45m), play Ballybunnion, drive up to the Cliffs of Moher (2h30m) and stay at the Spanish Hotel.
May 25th: Play Lahinch early in the morning (this course looks incredible), then drive from Lahinch to Ashford Castle (2h20m). Arrive there around 2:30PM.
May 26th: full day at Ashford Castle.
May 27th: Leave Ashford Castle after breakfast, drive to Dublin (3h20m) and stay at Portmarnock. Play Portmarnock.
May 28th: Drive to the Island Course (25m), play the course, then drive to the FitzWilliam Hotel in Belfast (2h10m).
May 29th: Drive from Belfast to Royal County Down (1h30m), play, drive back.
May 30th: Drive from Belfast to Royal County Down (1h30m), play, drive back.
May 31st: Drive from Belfast to Royal Portrush (1h35m), play, drive back.
June 1st: Drive to Dublin. Return home.
Is this a more digestable schedule? Is there something we are missing?

Any suggestions on where to stay in Belfast would be nice (We would be open to staying somewhere outside of Belfast).

Thank you all for your help.

I have verified that visitors are allowed on these days for all of the courses, however I do not know if the tee times will be available. Can anyone help me in regards to this? The Tee Time systems have not been opened for that part of the 2017 calendar year yet. It makes me a bit nervous...

Few points.
1. Portmarnock: Make sure you know the difference between Portmarnock Golf Links http://www.portmarno...rnock.com/ and Portmarnock Golf Club http://www.portmarnockgolfclub.ie/. Both fine courses but be clear in what you are looking to play.
2. Portmarnock: If you are playing Portmarnock Golf Club, make sure you are playing the Championship 18.
3. Staying in Portmarnock: You would be better in Malahide. More pubs, resturaunts and more fun. Only 3 km away.
4. The Island: You can play The Island on Sat or Sunday but your tee time won't be till 2 or 3pm at the earliest. So better off playing that on the 27th after driving up from Ashford Castle.
Visitor times not open yet: I would suggest 2 things. Just see if the same days of the week would be available in the middle of Sept 2016. If the are there shouldn't be much difference next May. Also email the club and they should be able to give you an indication even if the booking system id not open yet.

Finally, you can't complain about the cost of the trip and then go stay in Ashford Castle :-)) 1st world problems

Ha, don't worry, we were not complaining about the cost of the trip, only how much more the 3rd party operators were charging us. Ashford Castle seems like an experience.

THANK YOU about the clarification with Portmarnock - that would be like when people booked Vancouver, WA for the 2010 Olympics.

I'll email the clubs tonight and see what they say back.

4Par · August 29, 2016

Try for an early tee time at Lahinch and then do a replay in the afternoon....

Trapperchamonix · August 30, 2016

So in putting all of your suggestions together (Thank you all for your help!) here is what I have come up with:
May 22nd: land in AM in Dublin, rent a car, drive to Kinsale (4h30m)
May 23rd: play Old Head, stay the night at Kinsale. Eat at the Fishy Fishy.
May 24th: Drive from Kinsale to Ballybunnion (2h45m), play Ballybunnion, drive up to the Cliffs of Moher (2h30m) and stay at the Spanish Hotel.
May 25th: Play Lahinch early in the morning (this course looks incredible), then drive from Lahinch to Ashford Castle (2h20m). Arrive there around 2:30PM.
May 26th: full day at Ashford Castle.
May 27th: Leave Ashford Castle after breakfast, drive to Dublin (3h20m) and stay at Portmarnock. Play Portmarnock.
May 28th: Drive to the Island Course (25m), play the course, then drive to the FitzWilliam Hotel in Belfast (2h10m).
May 29th: Drive from Belfast to Royal County Down (1h30m), play, drive back.
May 30th: Drive from Belfast to Royal County Down (1h30m), play, drive back.
May 31st: Drive from Belfast to Royal Portrush (1h35m), play, drive back.
June 1st: Drive to Dublin. Return home.
Is this a more digestable schedule? Is there something we are missing?

Any suggestions on where to stay in Belfast would be nice (We would be open to staying somewhere outside of Belfast).

Thank you all for your help.

I have verified that visitors are allowed on these days for all of the courses, however I do not know if the tee times will be available. Can anyone help me in regards to this? The Tee Time systems have not been opened for that part of the 2017 calendar year yet. It makes me a bit nervous...

Few points.
1. Portmarnock: Make sure you know the difference between Portmarnock Golf Links http://www.portmarno...rnock.com/ and Portmarnock Golf Club http://www.portmarnockgolfclub.ie/. Both fine courses but be clear in what you are looking to play.
2. Portmarnock: If you are playing Portmarnock Golf Club, make sure you are playing the Championship 18.
3. Staying in Portmarnock: You would be better in Malahide. More pubs, resturaunts and more fun. Only 3 km away.
4. The Island: You can play The Island on Sat or Sunday but your tee time won't be till 2 or 3pm at the earliest. So better off playing that on the 27th after driving up from Ashford Castle.
Visitor times not open yet: I would suggest 2 things. Just see if the same days of the week would be available in the middle of Sept 2016. If the are there shouldn't be much difference next May. Also email the club and they should be able to give you an indication even if the booking system id not open yet.

Finally, you can't complain about the cost of the trip and then go stay in Ashford Castle :-)) 1st world problems
Ha, don't worry, we were not complaining about the cost of the trip, only how much more the 3rd party operators were charging us. Ashford Castle seems like an experience.

THANK YOU about the clarification with Portmarnock - that would be like when people booked Vancouver, WA for the 2010 Olympics.

I'll email the clubs tonight and see what they say back.