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St. Annes
For golfers and non-golfers alike, the draw is not only the game but the conjuring of place: rugged shorelines, low stone walls, pubs that remember the names of visiting golfers, and landscapes where every hole feels like a postcard. Ireland’ s reputation as a links mecca is well-earned; generations of players and architects have tested shots against Atlantic gusts, and the island’ s routes now form an irresistible itinerary for travellers chasing both scenery and sport.
Travelling golfers nowadays aren’ t content with ticking off a single famous course before heading home. Instead, they journey piece by piece along the Irish coastlines, weaving together seaside routes and crafting trips that link multiple courses with the stories and communities that surround them. This kind of tourism fuels local economies, filling hotels, hiring drivers and guides, and bringing life to pubs and restaurants, while also shining an international spotlight on small coastal towns. Thanks to better infrastructure, tailored golf packages and the growing desire for immersive experiences, Ireland’ s links are now more accessible than ever: visitors can tee off on a clifftop in the morning, savour fresh seafood by afternoon, and finish the day with music and conversation in a traditional pub.”
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SPOTLIGHT ON IRISH LINKS:
Below are short profiles of a dozen links that together illustrate the breadth of Ireland’ s coastal golf, from classic championship layouts to hidden local gems.
St. Anne’ s Golf Links( Co. Dublin): St. Anne’ s is often associated with the storied linksland north of Dublin, which offers a classic east-coast links sensibility: low dunes, narrow fairways and a seaside temperament that responds to the prevailing winds. It plays like a club with history underfoot: old bunkers and subtle green sites require the sort of precision shotmaking that rewards control over pure distance. Convenient to the capital, St. Anne’ s is a tidy first or last stop on an Irish links tour, giving players a taste of seaside golf without the long drive to the west.
Royal Dublin Golf Links( Co. Dublin): Crowned by both pedigree and position, Royal Dublin sits on Bull Island at Dublin Bay, a site of saltmarshes and wide tidal flats. The course is classic in feel— firm turf, strategically placed bunkers and holes that can be heavily wind-influenced. Royal Dublin’ s setting is part of its charm: green avenues open to expansive views of the bay, and its history as one of the country’ s top clubs adds ceremonial weight to a visit. The island’ s ecology and the course’ s layout combine to make each round memorable, especially on a day when the wind dramatizes every tee shot.
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