Destination Golf Ireland 2019 * | Page 4

Welcome Welcome to Destination Golf Ireland 2019 On behalf of the team at Destination Golf, it is my pleasure to present the 2019 Edition of our Top150 course guide to Ireland. Our goal is to help promote Ireland as a top quality destination by working close with its premier courses. Throughout the following 152-pages we hope to take you on a golfing journey around Ireland, highlighting golf courses and golf resorts that should be considered for 2019. We’ve all heard the phrase that “content is key”, so this edition is packed full of stunning golf imagery and informative text from renowned Irish golf journalist and author Kevin Markham. With the Open Championship coming to Northern Ireland this summer, we take a look at some excellent links options in the region Over the years, Ireland has produced Golfing Legends, Ryder Cup Heroes and Major Winners. It has built a reputation for being able to stage global golf events like the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, and it is a regular destination for European Tour, Challenge Tour and Ladies Tour events. Take a quick glance at the list of golf course designers here and you’ll find designs from famous names like Nicklaus, Palmer, Norman, Faldo, Montgomerie, O’Meara, Langer, O’Connor Jnr, McGinley and more. Golfers can tee it up on courses surrounded by meadows and forests, around lakes and loughs, up high on mountain tops, on the edge of terrifying cliffs, or through giant dunes along the coastline. After your game, the lively 19th holes and Irish “Craic” is World renowned. For me, it is all about the special charm and unique experiences that this destination has to offer the travelling golfer. Enjoy Ireland and all the journeys of discovery that it will take you on. Dermot Synnott CEO / Managing Editor Destination Golf Media Ltd. YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GOLFING IN PORTUGAL 2018/19 YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GOLFING IN SCOTLAND 2018 SCOTLAND SPAIN’S TOP 100 YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GOLFING IN SPAIN 2018/2019 SCOTLAND’S TOP 100 2018 2018 & 2019 YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GOLFING IN EUROPE 2018 YOUR ULTIMATE GLOBAL GOLF GUIDE 2019 IRELAND Destination Golf Media Ltd [email protected] www.destinationgolf.travel PUBLISHER: Dermot Synnott EDITOR: Kevin Markham DIGITAL EDITOR: Karl Doyle COMMERCIAL MANAGER: Dane Galligan DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER: Kathy Synnott CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kris Byers ACCOUNTS: Darren Maguire CONTRIBUTORS: Kevin Markham, Andrew Marshall, Paul Marshall, Mark Behan, Jamie Gibson, Nick Bradshaw, Synergy, Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland. FRONT COVER Strandhill Golf Club INTERNATIONAL EDITORS/AMBASSADORS Kevin Markham (Ireland) Ru Macdonald (Scotland) Peter Ellegard (UK) David Doyle (Spain) Albert Ferrer (Spain) Francisco Pinto Leite (Portugal) Maarten Hageman (Netherlands) Gene Oberto (Sweden) Gianni Attanasio (Italy) Dewi Merckx (Belgium) Pall Sveinsson (Iceland) Benjamin Oosterveer (Morocco) Tim Cotroneo (USA) Ronald Montesano (USA) Wayne Morden (Canada) Paul Chan (China) Declan Crowe (Malaysia) Lee Owen (Australia) Zenta Thomas (Asia) John Cockayne (South Africa) Chris Haill (Middle East) EUROPE’S TOP 100 STAY & PLAY RESORTS Copyright 2019 Destination Golf Media Ltd. All rights reserved. While every effort has been made to maintain integrity and accuracy, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors, inconvenience or legal proceedings of any kind arising from information, content, advice or advertisements contained herein. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form 2 or by any means electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise with prior permission of the publishers.