If you fly into shannon and have 5 days of golf, what's the good, better and best Itinerary for golf and travel?

[ivygynonc]

Sorry to ask this open ended question.  I have played golf in scotland and N. Ireland a few times over the years.  They are both wonderful, but Ireland calls to me.  

 

Before I could afford arranged trips, we did the book your own deals.  And honestly, although I was younger and willing to put up with more issues, the trips were fun and worth while.  

 

I 'potentially' have days in late august/early september to do an unscheduled trip. 

 

I would fly into Shannon and prob not Dublin. 

 

We would have 4 guys playing, mostly 18/day, maybe a day or so 36 but not likely. 

 

Our plan is to fly in saturday and land on sunday.  Then play Monday thru Friday, and leave Saturday morning.  

 

We can stay where ever, but it would be nice to limit hotels to 2 spots if possible.  

 

everyone asks, what is the cost you are looking at etc.  Since this is an exploratory hypothesis setting based around good, better and best itinerary, I am open to all suggestions.  

 

I am not bolstering, nor acting like money isn't an object--our last arranged trip included RCD, portrush, turnberry, the old course, renaissance, muffled, kingsbarn and a couple others with bus and flight travel included.  I am inquiring if 4 of us could jump over to Shannon and play for a 'reasonable' price and what is the Rota?  

 

Thanks for the ideas in advance. 

 

[jvincent]

Your challenge is going to be availability for this Aug/Sept. A lot of the really good courses may be fully booked.

 

In that area the most notable courses, in no particular order, are Lahinch, Tralee, Ballybunion, Adare Manor, and Waterville (furthest away).

[Hawkeye77]

It’s really open ended - and if you’ve been over that much you can figure it out - three different levels of trip planning, lol.  Come on, put in a little work! 😉

[Chanceman]

Base yourself in Tralee and try to play all or some of Ballybunion (both), Tralee, Dooks, Killarney, Dingle and Castlegregory. 

[migolfke]

The courses are great to work with when trying to get tee times. Don’t just check online - call the courses. They will hold the time for a week or two without payment so you can line up everything else. I’ve never been, but just booked a trip on about the same lead time you are looking at. 
 

golf day 0 - Spanish Point
Golf day 1 - Lahinch/ Doonbeg ( drop Doonbeg if need to drop one)

golf day 2 - Ballybunion

golf day 3 - tralee

golf day 4 - dingle/ castlegregory (9holes) [or Dooks (it’s closer)]

golf day 5 - dooks and/or Waterville (or Hogs Head with Waterville if you can get on)

 

You could stay in Lahinch (or Doonbeg) Sunday and Monday. 
Then drive to Ballybunion on Tuesday morning, play there, and drive to Tralee for the next rounds. 
 

[Hawkeye77]

13 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Base yourself in Tralee and try to play all or some of Ballybunion (both), Tralee, Dooks, Killarney, Dingle and Castlegregory. 

 

I'd base in or near Killarney, which we did - all of those are easily accessible and you could take a little longer day trip to Waterville or Old Head, for example, from there.  The courses at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club are stunning. Tralee is fine, Dooks is fun. 

Edited March 13 by Hawkeye77

[hammergolf]

On 3/11/2024 at 10:45 PM, ivygynonc said:

Sorry to ask this open ended question.  I have played golf in scotland and N. Ireland a few times over the years.  They are both wonderful, but Ireland calls to me.  

 

Before I could afford arranged trips, we did the book your own deals.  And honestly, although I was younger and willing to put up with more issues, the trips were fun and worth while.  

 

I 'potentially' have days in late august/early september to do an unscheduled trip. 

 

I would fly into Shannon and prob not Dublin. 

 

We would have 4 guys playing, mostly 18/day, maybe a day or so 36 but not likely. 

 

Our plan is to fly in saturday and land on sunday.  Then play Monday thru Friday, and leave Saturday morning.  

 

We can stay where ever, but it would be nice to limit hotels to 2 spots if possible.  

 

everyone asks, what is the cost you are looking at etc.  Since this is an exploratory hypothesis setting based around good, better and best itinerary, I am open to all suggestions.  

 

I am not bolstering, nor acting like money isn't an object--our last arranged trip included RCD, portrush, turnberry, the old course, renaissance, muffled, kingsbarn and a couple others with bus and flight travel included.  I am inquiring if 4 of us could jump over to Shannon and play for a 'reasonable' price and what is the Rota?  

 

Thanks for the ideas in advance. 

 

I would start by seeing what courses have availability. Chances are the “famous” courses of the Southwest (Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville) are fully booked. Your chances are better finding available course in the Western part of Ireland. The courses are every bit as good in my opinion. A lineup of Carne, Enniscrone, County Sligo, Donegal, and Narin & Portnoo would be great! Not to mention you’ll probably save 40% on green fees over the SW courses. You could stay in the Sligo area. The drive from Shannon airport to Sligo is about 20 mins less than Dublin, so not much time saved. I’d fly into whichever airport is cheaper and has a direct flight from the US.

[El Gringo]

On 3/15/2024 at 2:34 AM, hammergolf said:

I would start by seeing what courses have availability. Chances are the “famous” courses of the Southwest (Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville) are fully booked. Your chances are better finding available course in the Western part of Ireland. The courses are every bit as good in my opinion. A lineup of Carne, Enniscrone, County Sligo, Donegal, and Narin & Portnoo would be great! Not to mention you’ll probably save 40% on green fees over the SW courses. You could stay in the Sligo area. The drive from Shannon airport to Sligo is about 20 mins less than Dublin, so not much time saved. I’d fly into whichever airport is cheaper and has a direct flight from the US.

The Carne to Donegal suggestion is a good backup plan if the Lahinch to Tralee plan fails. I would change one thing, play Strandhill instead Narin & Portnoo. It’s practically next door to Rosses Point. There is no need to drives miles further north. 
 

If you want to get adventurous with the Carne to Donegal trip play Mulranny.

Edited March 16 by El Gringo

[hammergolf]

7 hours ago, El Gringo said:

The Carne to Donegal suggestion is a good backup plan if the Lahinch to Tralee plan fails. I would change one thing, play Strandhill instead Narin & Portnoo. It’s practically next door to Rosses Point. There is no need to drives miles further north. 
 

If you want to get adventurous with the Carne to Donegal trip play Mulranny.

Definitely a longer drive to N&P but imho it’s a great course and worth the drive. Strandhill is convenient location wise, but I think way overpriced for what it is and doesn’t compare to N&P. However, different strokes for different folks. If convenience is the largest issue, Castle Dargan is close as well.

[El Gringo]

16 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Definitely a longer drive to N&P but imho it’s a great course and worth the drive. Strandhill is convenient location wise, but I think way overpriced for what it is and doesn’t compare to N&P. However, different strokes for different folks. If convenience is the largest issue, Castle Dargan is close as well.

Fair enough. I guess I like Strandhill much more than you do. It has a lot of cool holes. However, I agree that the green fee shot up some time ago. That said, so did N&P’s. The Donegal courses are quickly losing the value offered before Covid. I am going back to Donegal next month primarily to see St Pat’s again before prices really hit the roof. 

[hammergolf]

8 hours ago, El Gringo said:

Fair enough. I guess I like Strandhill much more than you do. It has a lot of cool holes. However, I agree that the green fee shot up some time ago. That said, so did N&P’s. The Donegal courses are quickly losing the value offered before Covid. I am going back to Donegal next month primarily to see St Pat’s again before prices really hit the roof. 

Yeah, Strandhill was ok just not worth what they are asking. Honestly, if I didn’t want to drive I’d just do the two round special at Enniscrone. I agree, the price at Rosapenna is out of control. Hopefully the grass has grown back at St. Pats. Look forward to hearing how your trip goes.

[ajgoodal.704]

I'm a big advocate for the back-up plan.  The Carne, Enniscrone & County Sligo trio is really good.  I really enjoyed Strandhill.  Some really unique holes in a fantastic setting.  If had 5 rounds and was going that direction, I'd do those four and play Galway Bay either at the beginning or end.  While not true links, its conditioning was exceptional and the course was fun.  Excellent food in the clubhouse afterwards too.  If you opt for it on the last day and stay close by in Oranmore, you are less than an hour to the airport the next morning.  

[pearls24]

We just did a trip there last October.  We played Adare, Tralee, Ballybunion, Dooks, Trump Doonbeg, and Lahinch.  It was awesome.  Trump Doonbeg has the best cottages for guy's golf trips with putting greens out in front.  Great setup.    We also stayed at Kilarney Park Hotel.