9 Best Golf Courses in Ireland (2025)
Ireland is a dream destination for golfers, where the sport is deeply tied to its culture and natural beauty.
With more than 350 courses, the country has some of the dream golf courses for players—challenging coastal links shaped by the Atlantic wind and peaceful countryside courses surrounded by green fields.
Also, the unpredictable weather of Ireland keeps things exciting, making each round feel fresh and challenging.
Many of Ireland’s golf courses are known worldwide, attracting golfers from all over. But it’s not just about the game; it’s about the whole experience.
In this blog, we’ll explore nine of the best golf courses in Ireland, each with its own character and a touch of Irish hospitality.
So, let’s begin!
9 Best Golf Courses in Ireland to Play Golf
1. Carne Golf Links, Co. Mayo
Google Rating: 4.8
Located among towering dunes in the remote town of Belmullet, Carne Golf Links offers a golf experience that’s truly one with nature. Designer Eddie Haskett took great care to preserve the rugged landscape, employing local farmers with simple tools rather than heavy machinery to shape the golf course. The result is a masterpiece that feels as if it emerged naturally from the wild Mayo coastline.
The journey to Carne might be long—a five-hour drive from Dublin—but serious golfers agree it’s worth every minute. What began as nine holes eventually grew to a full 27, with Jim Engh adding another nine about ten years ago. The course’s remote location keeps the crowds away, but that’s part of its charm.
This isn’t manicured resort golf. Carne offers something more authentic—golf in its purest form, where the wind whips off the Atlantic and each hole presents a unique challenge among the dunes. It’s a test of skill and spirit that true golf lovers won’t want to miss.
2. Waterville Golf Links, Co. Kerry
Google Rating: 4.8
There’s something magical about playing golf along the famous Ring of Kerry, and Waterville Links captures this magic perfectly. This golf course dances alongside the River Inny before winding its way toward the estuary as you approach the clubhouse. The rhythm of the holes flows naturally through a landscape that seems designed specifically for golf.
What makes Waterville special is how it combines challenge with beauty. The terrain rolls and shifts without ever feeling forced or artificial. Wild hares bounce across fairways as players navigate holes that are both challenging and fair. There’s no shortage of stunning views, with the mountains in one direction and the Atlantic Ocean in the other.
The golf course rewards thoughtful play rather than just power, with strategic bunkering that requires careful planning. Weather plays its part too—one day might offer calm conditions, while the next brings swirling winds that change the course’s environment entirely. This ever-changing nature keeps golfers coming back year after year.
3. Lahinch Golf Club, Co. Clare
Google Rating: 4.7
Few golf courses in Ireland can match Lahinch Golf Club for heritage and character. With design input from both “Old” Tom Morris and Alister MacKenzie (of Augusta National fame), the Old Course carries serious architectural credentials. Unlike many world-class courses, Lahinch isn’t isolated from its community—it’s woven right into the fabric of the town, creating a unique atmosphere that was on full display during the 2019 Irish Open.
The course itself is a thrilling journey through classic links terrain. Blind shots challenge players to trust their instincts and commit to shots without seeing the full picture. The famous “Klondyke” hole, a short par-five, asks players to hit over a massive dune with little indication of what lies beyond. Similarly, “The Dell” par-three hides its green between dunes, with only a white rock to guide your aim.
Local legend holds that the goats roaming the course are excellent weather predictors—if they’re on the hills, expect good weather; if they’re looking for shelter, rain is coming. This perfect mix of folklore, history, and excellent golf makes Lahinch Golf Club a must-visit for any visitor to Ireland’s west coast.
4. Portmarnock Golf Club, Co. Dublin
Google Rating: 4.7
Just a short drive from Dublin’s city center lies a top-rated golf course that feels worlds away from urban life. Portmarnock Golf Club occupies a stunning peninsula setting, with holes that wind through gentle dunes and along the coast. The sense of isolation is remarkable considering how close you are to Ireland’s capital—just seven miles as the crow flies.
This venue has hosted countless prestigious golf tournaments, including multiple Irish Opens won by golfing legends like Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer. The course’s firm, fast-running conditions provide a true test of links golf, where the ground game is just as important as aerial skills.
The 15th hole, a magnificent par-three that Arnold Palmer once praised as one of golf’s best, demands a precise shot across a corner of the beach. Not to be outdone, the shorter 12th offers its own brand of challenge with a well-protected green. For a complete experience, make time for the additional Yellow Nine, which maintains the same high standards as the main course while offering its own unique character.
Also Read: 10 Best Campsites in Ireland for Outdoor Camping
5. Ballybunion Golf Club, Co. Kerry
Google Rating: 4.6
Nestled along Ireland’s western coast, Ballybunion Golf Club stands as a testament to natural golf course design. Unlike modern golf courses that rely on length, Ballybunion’s magic comes from its perfect routing through towering sand dunes that create natural doglegs, elevated tees, and stunning green placements.
Despite measuring just 6,350 yards (par 71 from white tees), this course challenges golfers of all skill levels. The back nine especially will test your abilities as you navigate through the most dramatic dunes. The par-4 11th hole demands accuracy—stray from the fairway and you’ll quickly understand why staying on the short grass matters here.
What sets Ballybunion Golf Club apart is its immaculate conditioning. Every inch gleams with quality, and the routing takes you to the ocean’s edge on both nines, creating an electrifying experience that golfers remember long after they’ve returned home.
6. Tralee Golf Club, Co. Kerry
Google Rating: 4.8
Locals love to say that Arnold Palmer designed the front nine at Tralee Golf Club while nature handled the rest. Palmer himself humbly noted the land was “ideally suited” for golf—an understatement if ever there was one. Though it may not have the international fame of some golf courses in Ireland, Tralee offers a remarkable experience that rivals any coastal golf course worldwide.
The front nine follows a traditional links layout, requiring strategic play through natural contours. The par-five second hole, known as “The Cuilin,” tempts long hitters to cut corners while punishing wayward shots. Perhaps most memorable is the par-three 3rd hole, “The Castle,” playing just under 200 yards to a green surrounded by water, with ruins of a 13th-century fort visible beyond.
When the winds pick up off the Atlantic, Tralee transforms into an entirely different challenge, with each hole offering its own unique test amid soaring dunes and rolling fairways.
7. Powerscourt Golf Club, Co. Wicklow
Google Rating: 4.7
Over 800 years ago, the DePoer family established their vast estate here for hunting games. Today, golfers hunt for birdies across two spectacular courses at Powerscourt Golf Club, set against the stunning backdrop of the Wicklow Mountains.
The East Course, designed by Peter McEvoy, stretches beyond 7,000 yards from the back tees. Its rolling fairways and strategic layout reward thoughtful play rather than brute force. Well-placed bunkers and water hazards demand precision, especially at the signature par-three 16th hole. Here, you’ll tee off over water toward a sloping green with the distinctive Sugarloaf Mountain framing your shot.
What makes Powerscourt special isn’t just the quality of golf but how the courses complement the surroundings. The property’s natural beauty enhances every hole, creating a peaceful yet challenging golf experience.
8. County Louth Golf Club, Co. Louth
Google Rating: 4.7
Often called simply “Baltray” by those in the know, County Louth Golf Club checks every box a classic golf course should. Located 35 miles north of Dublin, the course begins and ends on relatively flat land before working its way into larger dunes beside the Irish Sea.
As you move toward the coastline, the wind picks up and the terrain becomes more dramatic. Deep pot bunkers with raised lips dot the landscape, while the greens seem to swell and recede like the nearby waves. Founded in 1892, the course took its current shape in 1938 when British architect Tom Simpson redesigned it with Molly Gourlay.
Many experienced golf travelers consider Baltray among Ireland’s most underrated golf courses. Without the international fame of some Irish courses, it offers a genuine links experience that feels both challenging and fair—qualities increasingly rare in modern golf course design.
9. The European Club, Co. Wicklow
Google Rating: 4.7
Among the newer true links courses in Ireland, The European Club represents a labor of love by Pat Ruddy, who transitioned from golf writer to architect. He mortgaged his home to purchase this spectacular coastline property, then spent five years designing and building his dream golf course before opening in 1992.
Hugging Arklow Bay along the Irish Sea, the golf course rolls through untamed dunes with distinctive pot bunkers lined with railroad ties. Ruddy included two extra par-3 holes, giving golf players more opportunities to enjoy the coastal views. The routing expertly explores diverse terrain, featuring a marsh off the seventh tee and a burn looping around the 18th green.
What’s remarkable is that despite the unusual landscape, there’s not a single blind shot on the course. Ruddy continues to refine his masterpiece and has reportedly turned down offers as high as 22 million pounds to sell—making this Irish golf course truly priceless.
