Best golf courses in Ireland

This course is ranked 1st in Golf Digest's 'World 100 Greatest Golf Courses' Founded: 1889 | Par: 71/76 | Location: Newcastle, County Down

Royal County Down is widely regarded as one of the finest courses in the world. It has consistently earned praise from top professionals, with Rory McIlroy naming it his favourite course. It consistently tops Golf Digest’s 'World 100 Greatest Golf Courses', cementing its legendary status in the game.

With membership granted by invitation only, playing here offers a rare and prestigious golfing experience. The course has hosted the Irish Open three times and stands tall among the elite, not only in Ireland but globally, thanks to its immaculate conditioning, dramatic scenery, and challenging layout.

Royal County Down Golf Course facts

• Course type: Links
• Length: 7,186 (back tees), 6,249 (front tees)
• Architect: Tom Morris
• Special feature: The ninth hole, a 483-yard par 4, is one of the most photographed holes in golf!

Ranked 1st in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1893 (re-established in 1906) | Par: 71 | Location: Ballybunion, County Kerry

The Old Course at Ballybunion Golf Club is a true icon of Irish links golf, wild, windswept, and utterly unforgettable. Frequently ranked among the world's best, it offers a raw and rugged beauty with holes that meander through towering dunes, blind tee shots, and greens perched on cliff edges above the Atlantic.

Tom Watson, a regular visitor, famously praised Ballybunion for its natural flow and character, calling it one of the finest links experiences anywhere. It is easy to see why he's such an advocate for this incredible piece of golfing architecture being the ‘course on which many golf architects should live and play before they build golf courses’. Each hole presents its own unique test, and the ever-changing seaside winds ensure no two rounds are ever the same.

Ballybunion Old Course facts

• Course type: Links
• Length: 6,802 (back tees), 6,054 (front tees)
• Architects: Lionel Hewson, later refined by Tom Simpson & Molly Gourlay
• Special feature: It was originally laid out in 1893 by officers of the Black Watch Regiment who were holidaying in Ballybunion.

Ranked 12th in Golf Digest's 'World 100 Greatest Golf Courses' Founded: 1888 (redesigned in 1929) | Par: 72 | Location: Portrush, County Antrim

The Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush is a crown jewel of links golf, etched into the rugged Northern Irish coastline and steeped in championship pedigree. Redesigned by Harry Colt in 1929, the course blends naturally into dramatic dunes and cliffside terrain, offering sweeping views and world-class shot-making challenges.

The only course in Ireland to have hosted The Open Championship, first in 1951, then in 2019, and now set for 2025, it remains a revered venue among professionals and amateurs alike. With meandering fairways, tightly bunkered greens, and panoramic seascapes, it’s a layout that tests both precision and creativity. Rory McIlroy famously shot a 61 here, think you can top it?

Royal Portrush Dunluce Course facts

• Course type: Links
• Length: 7,317 (back tees), 6,476 (front tees)
• Architect: Harry Colt
• Special feature: 'Calamity Corner', the 236 yard par 3 16th hole is a must play for any golfer. This hole is known for its beauty and difficulty, with a huge chasm between the tee and the green.

Ranked 2nd in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1892 | Par: 72 | Location: Lahinch, County Clare

The Old Course at Lahinch Golf Club is a timeless links that blends tradition with modern brilliance. Originally designed by Old Tom Morris and later enhanced in 1999, this revered course now stands proudly among the finest not only in Ireland but across the world.

Set against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, Lahinch offers a diverse mix of holes, from blind tee shots and quirky contours to expansive sea views. Its charm lies in the perfect balance between challenge and beauty, creating a round that’s as memorable as it is demanding.

Lahinch Old Course facts

• Course type: Links
• Length: 7,066 (back tees), 5,502 (front tees)
• Architect: Tom Morris (updated in 1999)
• Special feature: Goats roam freely across the course and are considered good weather predictors. If the goats are out on the dunes, it usually means fair weather is on the way.

Ranked 3rd in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1894 | Par: 72 | Location: Portmarnock, County Dublin

Portmarnock Golf Club’s Old Course is widely regarded as one of the fairest yet most demanding links courses in the world. Set on a rugged peninsula just north of Dublin, this pure links layout is shaped by the elements, particularly the ever-present wind, which can transform each hole from inviting to unforgiving.

Praised for its strategic design and natural flow, Portmarnock has hosted numerous prestigious tournaments, including multiple Irish Opens. Its understated elegance, firm fairways, and subtle greens make it a true test of skill and shot-shaping. Don’t be disheartened here though as even the greats have ended up plugged in the beach.

Portmarnock Old Course facts

• Course type: Links
• Length: 7,466 (back tees), 5,794 (front tees)
• Architect: William Pickeman
• Special feature: John Jameson, a prominent distiller, had 9 holes laid out in the dunes of Portmarnock as a personal golf course in the 1850s.

Ranked 4th in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 2021 | Par: 71 | Location: Downings, County Donegal

St Patrick’s Links is a stunning modern masterpiece on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, crafted by renowned architect Tom Doak. Though golf has been played on this land since 1893, it wasn’t until the Casey family acquired the site in 2012 that it reached its full potential. Doak transformed the former 36-hole layout into a dramatic 18-hole journey that seamlessly merges with the natural dune landscape above Sheephaven Bay.

Defined by rolling fairways, vast sandy corridors, and panoramic ocean views, every round at St Patrick’s feels like a new adventure. The terrain is so naturally varied, it’s said no golfer will ever face the same lie twice, making repeat play endlessly rewarding.

St Patrick’s Links facts

• Course type: Links
• Length: 6,930 (back tees), 5,136 (front tees)
• Architect: Tom Doak
• Special feature: In just a few years St Patricks has risen to 41st on the top 100 golf courses in the world by Top 100 Golf Courses.

Ranked 5th in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1973 | Par: 72 | Location: Waterville, County Kerry

Tucked away on the Iveragh Peninsula, Waterville Golf Links is a captivating blend of raw natural beauty and championship-level golf. Surrounded by the rolling Atlantic and the majestic mountains of County Kerry, it offers a truly immersive experience, one where every hole tells a story, and no two are ever the same.

Perched along Ballinskelligs Bay, this remote course has earned its place among the best links in Ireland. With its sweeping, uninterrupted views and beautifully contoured terrain, Waterville delivers an unforgettable journey through the Irish landscape, both tranquil and dramatic.

Waterville Golf Links facts

• Course type: Links
• Length: 7,347 (back tees), 5,370 (front tees)
• Architects: Eddie Hackett & Claude Harmon
• Special feature: Golf arrived at Waterville thanks to the workers who built the first transatlantic cable relaying messages between North America and Europe in the 1880s.

Ranked 6th in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1997 | Par: 72 | Location: Kinsale, County Cork

Dramatically jutting two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, Old Head Golf Links offers one of the most exhilarating and scenic golfing experiences in the world. Set atop a 220-acre headland surrounded by sheer cliffs, this iconic links is as breathtaking as it is bold, delivering pure adrenaline from the very first tee.

Despite its commanding setting, the course welcomes all levels of play, with six tee boxes per hole to accommodate every golfer. Designed by Ron Kirby, Old Head is a symphony of sea, sky, and strategy, where the wind is a constant companion and each shot comes with a truly unparalled view.

Old Head Golf Links facts

• Course type: Links
• Length: 7,100 (back tees), 5,413 (front tees)
• Architect: Ron Kirby
• Special feature: Old Head is Ireland’s most visually stunning course, and arguably the most dramatic on Earth. For bird fans, 64 species of seabirds have been spotted nesting on the cliffs, and another 43 species have been seen visiting the area.

Ranked 9th in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1984 | Par: 72 | Location: Tralee, County Kerry

Often referred to as Arnold Palmer’s Jewel, Tralee Golf Club is a standout among Ireland’s links courses. With breathtaking views and a layout sculpted by the legendary Palmer himself, it delivers an unforgettable golfing experience on every visit. The dramatic coastal landscape adds both beauty and challenge, particularly at the signature par-3 known as The Castle, a 200-yard shot into the wind that demands precision, with rocky cliffs and the wild Atlantic lying ominously beyond the green.

Though younger than many of its historic counterparts, Tralee has quickly built a reputation as a true hidden gem in Ireland. It blends classic links characteristics with modern flair, offering a series of memorable holes that test shot-making and creativity. A must-play for any golfer exploring Ireland’s southwest coast.

Tralee Golf Club facts:

• Course type: Links
• Length: 6,975 (back tees), 5,481 (front tees)
• Architect: Arnold Palmer
• Special feature: Tralee Golf Course was the first European golf course designed by Arnold Palmer. Its 17th hole, a challenging par-4 , is named "Ryan's Daughter" in honour of the movie of the same name, which was filmed at the course's scenic location.

Ranked 10th in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1987 | Par: 71 | Location: Brittas Bay, County Wicklow

Just 30 miles south of Dublin lies The European Golf Club, a dramatic links course set along the windswept dunes of Brittas Bay. Designed by Pat Ruddy, this modern masterpiece blends natural beauty with meticulous craftsmanship, offering panoramic views of the Irish Sea and a layout that tests every club in the bag. Unique among links courses, it features two additional par 3s, holes 7a and 12a, bringing the total to 20 holes for those who want the full experience.

The course stretches over 7,000 yards from the back tees, demanding both distance and precision. The European is challenging yet fair, with fairways that are flawlessly maintained and a design that rewards thoughtful strategy and creativity, all while surrounded by the raw beauty of Ireland’s east coast.

The European Golf Club facts:

• Course type: Links
• Length: 7,355 (back tees), 5,569 (front tees)
• Architect: Pat Ruddy
• Special feature: The course has 20 holes, with two extra par-3s seamlessly integrated into the design. It is also home to the 12th green which is 127 yards long, making it the longest in the world.

Ranked 13th in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1973 | Par: 71 | Location: Ballyliffin, County Donegal

Tucked away in the rugged beauty of County Donegal, the Old Links at Ballyliffin Golf Club is a pure links experience that has earned global recognition, illustrated by its role as host of the 2018 Irish Open. With a layout carved through wild sand dunes and natural undulations, it offers a stern yet fair challenge that embodies the spirit of traditional Irish golf.

Eddie Hackett’s design emphasizes the land’s natural movement, creating a course that feels as though it has always belonged to the landscape. Rory McIlroy’s connection to the area helped bring top-tier tournament golf to this remote gem, shining a light on one of Ireland’s most authentic and testing links tracks. Bring your best game with you if you want to score well here.

Old Links facts:

• Course type: Links
• Length: 6,837 (back tees), 5,443 (front tees)
• Architect: Eddie Hackett
• Special feature: This course was christened as the “most natural golf course in the world” when discovered by Nick Faldo on his first club visit.

Ranked 16th in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1890 | Par: 72 | Location: Donabate, County Dublin

Just 15 minutes from Dublin Airport lies one of Ireland’s true hidden treasures, The Island Golf Club. Surrounded on three sides by the Irish Sea and sculpted through towering sand dunes, this historic links course offers a raw and exhilarating test of golf. Its routing through dramatic terrain demands shot-making finesse, especially when the coastal winds come into play.

With origins dating back to the 19th century, The Island is steeped in tradition and has quietly risen to prominence, currently ranked 49th in Britain & Ireland by Top 100 golf courses. Despite its accolades, it retains a sense of mystique, often described as one of the country's best-kept secrets. A must-play for those seeking authentic links golf near Dublin.

The Island Golf Club facts:

• Course type: Links
• Length: 7,045 (back tees), 5,953 (front tees)
• Architect: Fred Hawtree
• Special feature: Ten Irishmen, known as the “Syndicate”, founded the club in 1890 and they needed a ferryman to take them from Malahide across the estuary to play golf. The Island is no longer an island. It’s now attached to the mainland but it’s still an isolated peninsula-like spur of links land.

Ranked 20th in Golf Digest's 'The best golf courses in Ireland' Founded: 1991 | Par: 72 | Location: Straffan, County Kildare

Set along the banks of the River Liffey, the Palmer Course at The K Club is a masterclass in championship golf and a landmark in Irish sporting history. Designed by Arnold Palmer, this iconic Irish parkland course famously hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, the first ever held in Ireland, where Europe secured a memorable victory.

The layout is bold and unforgiving, with water hazards, narrow approaches, and strategic bunkering that demand both power and precision. A true test for even the most accomplished players, the Palmer North Course blends grandeur with challenge in a way few others do. It remains one of Ireland’s premier parkland experiences and a pilgrimage site for golf fans worldwide.

The Palmer Course facts:

• Course type: Parkland
• Length: 7,413 (back tees), 5,467 (front tees)
• Architect: Arnold Palmer
• Special feature: The Palmer North Course hosted the 36th Ryder Cup in 2006, marking the first time the event was held in Ireland.

Bonus fact: In 2016, Rory McIlroy's impressive shot during the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, which took place on the Palmer North Course, earned him the European Tour Shot of the Year award.