25
Doonbeg
Tralee
Waterville
Ballybunion Golf Club( Co. Kerry): Ballybunion’ s Old Course is one of Ireland’ s most celebrated links- a place of tumbling dunes, thrilling carries and coastal drama. Famous holes skirt cliffs and beach, demanding imagination and nerve. The clubhouse and town retain that warm, provincial charm; after the round many players drift into the pub to relive heroic shots. Ballybunion is both spectacle and subtleties: it will test the bold and reward the strategic thinker, and its reputation brings players from across the globe. There also is a second course, called Cashen, which will be completely updated by Summer 2026.
Tralee Golf Club( Co. Kerry): Tralee, perched on a dramatic headland in County Kerry, is a signature links work known for its spectacular routing and breathtaking ocean views. Architecturally adventurous, the course throws variety at the player: cliff-edge tee shots, cavernous bunkers and greens that sit like islands of turf amid sand. Tralee feels like golf theatre— a design that invites compelling risk-reward decisions while never hiding the sea from the player’ s eye. It’ s an essential stop on any southwest links circuit.
Waterville Golf Links( Co. Kerry): Waterville, nestled on a sweeping bay in Kerry, has long been a favourite of visiting pros and touring amateurs. The course offers a delightful balance: sweeping seaside holes, strategic bunkering and the comforts of a golf town that’ s hospitable to visitors. Waterville’ s history is long and storied; its fairways have been walked by legends, and its location— sitting on a crescent of coast— makes for both scenic and sporting satisfaction.([ watervillegolflinks. ie ][ 6 ])
Trump International Doonbeg( Co. Clare): Doonbeg, officially called Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg is dramatically routed along the Atlantic cliffs which exists at the intersection of headline scenery and championship grooming. Its cliffside holes present striking vistas and stout tests; the resort setting means visitors can pair their round with comfortable accommodations and dining. Doonbeg’ s recent years have seen investments that maintain its international appeal, and its rugged coastline aligns it with the best of Ireland’ s cliff-top links tradition. It will host the Irish Open 2026, where McIlroy will look to defend his title.
Part of the Irish links’ appeal is its authenticity. These are courses that feel inevitable in their landscapes: holes routed by topography rather than by grand architectural intervention. That authenticity invites humility and curiosity; it also rewards committed travellers who want to play beyond a single marquee course.
As global interest in experiential travel grows, Ireland’ s links offer an especially rich ledger: world-class golf, villages that still serve a proper pint, and coastlines that make even a wayward shot look cinematic. Add improved travel options, curated golf packages and a coastline that reads like a geography textbook of holes, and you have an enduring itinerary for golfers who want beauty with their challenge.
DestinationGolf. travel
25