DESTINATION GOLF 2026
Wicklow
Coollattin
Arboretum golf, pure and simple. Set in an old estate, Coollattin’ s trees are as varied and colourful – and ever-present – as on any course you’ ll find in Ireland. It is a magical setting and holes weave through it all to give you the full exhibition. They threaten constantly off the tee and if you can avoid an errant shot into the woods you are doing extremely well. The greens and their surrounds are tricky, no doubt a defence against the fairly short length of this par 72 course, and there are some deceptive slopes to fairways which will frustrate even the best. It is pretty and enchanting but it can also sucker-punch you in a heartbeat. Coollattin is famous for its 120 yard 5th hole tucked away in a walled garden.
Wicklow
Wicklow promises quite the wild adventure as holes tumble above the clifftops, rising and falling in rhythm with the tides. The terrain is chaotic at times, presenting hollows, humps, ridges and swales that can be cruel even to the best struck shots … but it all adds to the thrill of playing here. As do some short par fours where you might think you can open up your shoulders but any savvy golfer will appreciate that is not the way to play here. And certainly not with the exceptional, devious and fast greens that Wicklow is renowned for. You won’ t find one hole that doesn’ t move you up or down and the par five 1st makes that abundantly clear as the landscape tumbles all over the place from a high tee next to the clubhouse.
Gowran Park
Wicklow promises quite the wild adventure as holes tumble above the clifftops, rising and falling in rhythm with the tides.
A golf course which combines tree-lined parkland holes with racecourse holes. Yes, this is the only course in Ireland that asks you to play into a horse racing track … and out again. And the course is all the more entertaining for it. You start and finish inside the rails, playing over undulating, exposed terrain, buttered with gorse. Then it’ s into the woods for a parkland feast where you’ ll do well to avoid the trees( just wait till the straight par four 15th) and several water features( the par four 4th, par five 8th and 12th are particularly vexing). The‘ clubhouse’ sits on the third floor of the racing stands, with views for miles.
38