With the 2017 golf season in Ireland now just a matter of months away we are asked by visiting golfers about a range of practical issues as they make final preparations for their trip. Here is a summary of some of the more frequently asked questions and responses:
Q.Should caddies be requested in advance? A. We recommend caddies for all the major links courses and they should be requested in advance so as the caddie master can arrange this. Golf clubs in Ireland as well as in Scotland will not guarantee that caddies will be available and sometimes the caddie master is left to match availability with the caddies at his disposal Q. What is the typical caddie fee? A. The average charge is EUR 50 per bag plus tip. It usually rounds to EUR 60/70 with tip included. Please be aware that in Northern Ireland the currency is British pounds and typically the caddie fee is GBP 45/50 plus tip of GBP 15/20 on top. Caddies are always paid in cash so please make sure to have enough cash with you as you will not find cash machines at the golf courses. Q. Should I pack rain gear for my Ireland golf trip? A. Of course not. Don't focus on rain as you might draw it on! However you should pack appropriate weather proof clothing. You may encounter rain on some of your golf days but the wind is likely to be a more ever-present challenge especially on the great links courses on Ireland's Coast. Don't forget to bring sun block and lip balm because these will be needed on most days on the links. Sports sunglasses are a must so forget to bring them at your peril. We always recommend packing a second pair of golf shoes as you will most like be playing on consecutive days! Q. Do we need to book restaurants in advance? A. For golf groups of 12 or more it is prudent to plan ahead. Your driver will be very helpful in this regard and will give you recommendations on where to eat and a have a great pint! Q. Do we need to pack adapters for electrical equipment? A. While most hotels will have adapters to suit most needs and many of the top hotels will have American sockets in the bedrooms, it is still a good idea to be self sufficient just in case. There is nothing as frustrating as having an uncharged phone or camera in your pocket especially when the great Irish golf links photo opportunity presents itself! Q. Will the accommodations have WiFi available? A. Yes, unless you are staying in a very small guesthouse or inn, the hotels in Ireland will have WiFi available. Q. What should I bring with me to read? A. Try "A Golf Course called Ireland" by Tom Coyne. You are sure of a good laugh as Tom recounts his adventures as he walked around the coast of Ireland playing all the top links courses both north and south. Q. Is there anything else I should pack for an Ireland golf trip? A. Yes, golf balls and plenty of them! However, the pro shops are well stocked just in case you eed to replenish stocks. And finally..... Anything else? The realisation that no matter what the golf course throws at you, that you are one of the lucky ones to be in Ireland walking and playing some of the best golf courses in the world!
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Planning your Ireland or Scotland golf trip- To self drive or have a driver for your grand tour.1/3/2017 In our experience of planning golf trips to Ireland and Scotland for more than 15 years, the one question that comes up time after time is whether to self drive or have a driver.
There is no right answer to this one as it entirely depends on the preferences of the group, however there are some guidelines that may help you to decide. Generally speaking, where there are more than four golfers travelling, the recommendation is to have a driver and luxury van. The chauffeured experience tends to enhance the overall trip experience, as the drivers provide a reliable and engaging service as well as acting as your very own concierge throughout the golf tour. They keep the drinks cooler topped up, advise on and make restaurant reservations and often include side trips ( time permitting) to visit popular sightseeing landmarks travelling to and from the golf courses of Ireland and Scotland. The coaches are usually of an excellent standard and fitted with captains chairs, tables and in the newer models will have onboard wi-fi. Apart from the comfort in travelling between destinations and golf courses, the major advantage of the chauffeured option is that the logistics are taken out of the golfers hands. Once the driver has the itinerary complete with tee times and accommodation arrangements, he or she will recommend the pick up times from the hotels and the departure times from the golf courses so as to keep the itinerary running smoothly. However, it is important for the group to be aware that the drivers' working hours are regulated, and for this reason he must take the prescribed rest periods as required by the law. This may mean that 36 hole golf days may be possible only when the courses are at the same location ( for example Ballybunion Old and Cashen courses) or are close together such as Lahinch and Trump Doonbeg and that, importantly, there is no requirement for onward travel after two rounds of golf. The driver will also advise on the best locations for dinner taking into account the driving time and distances involved. In such cases where there are 36 hole golf days or exceptionally long driving days, a relief driver will be drafted in to assist on the itinerary. Our experience is that the golf drivers in Ireland, Scotland and throughout the UK are thoroughly professional and reliable and in addition are engaging characters with plenty of stories to tell and yarns to spin! It is no wonder that we have returning golf groups requesting their previous driver to take care of them on their next tour of the golf courses of Ireland and Scotland, travelling the highways and byways from the Highlands to the Ring of Kerry. On the other hand, we have a number of golf parties that prefer the self driven option, as they enjoy the experience of driving, even if we are often told that we drive on the wrong side of the road over here! This option suits smaller parties , as we find that four golfers with golf clubs and luggage is about the optimum number of passengers, and any more usually necessitates two rental vehicles for comfort. The key advantage for the self driven option is the added flexibility for golfers and sightseers who want to move more frequently and come and go as they please. If you are not taking your own GPS ( Sat Nav) unit with you on the trip, it is recommended to pre-order one at the time of booking. Don't worry as we will confirm the request when we are making the rental reservation on your behalf. Another consideration when self driving, is whether you want to have the added peace of mind of super cover, which removes any liabilty to an excess charge in case of damage to the rental vehicle. Again, based on our experience , we find that many golfers will add this cover at the desk when picking up their rental vehicle. In the vast majority of times, it does not come in to play, but good to have it in place just in case! Is it realistic to combine an Ireland and Scotland golf trip or golf and sightseeing vacation and still get to all the courses on your play list? We are often asked to put together golf itineraries that feature a selection of the best courses in each country. Over the years we have had golfing groups staying at St. Andrews for three or four nights playing the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie before moving to Edinburgh for a couple of nights playing Muirfield and Gullane. There is good connectivity between Edinburgh and Dublin with the flight taking about one hour. The decision in Dublin is whether to stay in a city centre hotel close to nightlife or in Portmarnock or Malahide north of the city and conveniently located to the golf courses at Portmarnock, The Island and County Louth. Malahide is a great seaside town with good restaurants and bars as well as being home to one of Ireland's most famous castles.
Another approach is to combine the west coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Scottish west coast is dotted with iconic golf courses such as Royal Troon (Open venue in 2016), Turnberry, Prestwick as well as gems like Western Gailes and Machrihanish. Dundonald Links is an exciting addition, as it hosts both the Mens and Ladies Scottish Golf Opens in 2017. Your itinerary can be set up to include a short ferry crossing across the Irish sea or fly from Scotland to Belfast. The must play courses in Northern Ireland are Royal County Down ( Golf Digest ranked world #1), Royal Portrush ( The Open venue 2019), and Portstewart (Irish Open venue 2017). Ardglass and Castlerock are also worthy of inclusion on your Northern Ireland golf itinerary. Ideally you would play four or five rounds in Ireland and Scotland. Depending on the trip duration a combined Ireland and Scotland golf trip can be a unique experience offering the best of two of the world's greatest golfing destinations. Irish and Scottish golf courses are simply stunning. Surely, an Ireland Scotland golf vacation is up there with the best! On my blog post entitled How useful are course rankings when planning a golf trip to Ireland or Scotland? we discussed the role of golf course rankings in determining the choice of destination for a golf trip or golf vacation in Ireland or Scotland. The fundamental point is that while many golfers are significantly influenced by rankings in deciding on the golf courses to be included on their itinerary or golf trip package, it is advisable to look beyond the obvious golf course choices.
The same can be said when choosing a destination within a country or in planning combination golf trips such as Ireland and Scotland, England and Scotland or Wales and England. The West of Ireland golf tour is a classic example of a golf vacation that offers the very best in terms of golf course quality, dramatic scenery and as friendly a 19th hole experience as you are likely to find anywhere. This is a region widely appreciated by visiting golfers, even though there are no headline ranked golf courses in this part of Ireland. The UK magazine, Golf Monthly recently released it's Top 100 Courses UK and Ireland Rankings for 2017/18. Each course is rated according to Quality of Test and Design, Course Condition and Presentation, Visual Appeal, Facilities and Overall Visitor Experience. Significantly, for golf in the west of Ireland, Carne Links ( Belmullet) and County Sligo Golf Club ( Rosses Point) were the biggest upward movers while nearby Enniscrone Golf Club made it's way in to the top 100. Combine these three courses with Donegal, Rosapenna ( Sandy Hills) and Ballyliffin ( Glashedy and Old courses) and you have an Ireland golf package to rival any! As many of the big named courses around Ireland and indeed Scotland are full or close to being full for the peak season in 2017, this could be an opportune time to consider the west of Ireland golf tour for your next Irish golf vacation. Apart from the quality and availability of golf courses, another factor that influences golfers in deciding on their destination is the range and variety of sightseeing and visitor attractions in the area. We are increasingly seeing that golfers want to have a rest or sightseeing day included in their golf itinerary. In Ireland, The Wild Atlantic Way, Europe's longest coastal scenic route, ticks all the boxes in this regard and towns such as Clifden in County Galway, Westport and Ballina in County Mayo and Sligo provide a range of golfer friendly lodging options, fine restaurants and of course, pubs with plenty of music and craic! I have often compared Westport to Killarney in this regard, and it is only a matter of time before Westport becomes the golfing hub in the west of Ireland. Many of us golfers obsess about course rankings and play lists. True, when planning a golf trip, no golfer wants to miss out on a "must play" course, however, the highly ranked courses are only one element of the total golf trip experience and the lesser rated courses can and do deliver not only in terms of the quality of courses but also in terms of the overall experience for the visiting golfer. For example, when planning a trip to St Andrews in Scotland, it is reasonable that every golfer wants to maximise their opportunity to play The Old Course and nearby giants such as Carnoustie, which features on the rota for The Open Championship and the spectacular Kingsbarns Golf Links which hosts the Ladies Open Championship in 2017. Apart from these undoubtedly thrilling golf rounds, there are a number of gems dotted around that do not always get the recognition that they deserve. For instance, Crail Golfing Society, just down the coast from St Andrews features the Balcomie Links and the Craighead Links. The Balcomie is worth a play any day, and the warm friendly welcome afforded by the club manager David and his team stands out among it's peers. Lundin Links and Leven Golf Club are not far away and offer a similar welcome and golf that packs a punch in terms of value and club tradition. And it is not just all about links courses! Ladybank and Blairgowrie are two inland courses within easy reach from St Andrews that spring to mind. The same scenario presents when planning a golf trip in Ireland, both North and South. Royal County Down is currently ranked the world's #1 golf course by Golf Digest and is a must play for many golfers travelling to Northern Ireland. This goes hand in hand with Royal Portrush, about one and half hours away by road on the northern coastline. Royal Portrush is buzzing with anticipation since been selected as The Open Championship venue in 2019 and their visitor bookings have rocketed since. Literally 15 minutes drive away is Portstewart, a golf course that has been somewhat in the shadow of it's illustrious neighbour. However, since been announced as the venue for the 2017 Irish Open Championship, hosted by the Rory McIlroy Foundation and it's inclusion in the inaugural Rolex Series on The European Tour, Portstewart has seen it's stock rise considerably and visitors are including it in their Northern Ireland golf itinerary plans. Now, while such courses may define the trip, it is important not to overlook some of the other courses in the region. Castlerock may not have the same level of recognition internationally, but they are continually making improvements to their Mussenden Links and is worthy of consideration. Likewise, Ballyliffin Golf Club in County Donegal is very accessible and offers not one but two championship links courses, The Glashedy and The Old. Similarly, mention south west Ireland to any golfer who has visited the region, and Ballybunion Old course, Waterville Links, Lahinch and Old Head are sure to trip ( no pun intended) off the tongue. Tralee Golf Club with it's stunning links ( especially the back nine) has joined these as an automatic choice on a south west Ireland golf trip. It has always been my view that were the Cashen Course in Ballybunion located some miles down the coast from The Old Course, it would feature on many a golf itinerary! It just doesn't attract the same attention as it's sister course, however any golfer who has played the Cashen will testify to the challenge that this Trent Jones designed layout presents! Dooks Golf Links, located between Killarney and Waterville on the Ring of Kerry is another example of a course that is guaranteed to surprise on the upside! The course has undergone improvement, however the friendly and warm nature of the welcome remains constant. I have proof positive of this when some years ago, while playing a round at Dooks with some US visitors, the lady captain drove up to us on the first fairway and welcomed us to Dooks with some cool refreshments! So the point is , that while rankings are useful in helping golfers decide their next destination, it is important to take some time to delve a little deeper to uncover some true gems that may turn out to provide the memorable moments or the very essence of your Ireland or Scotland golf trip. With the 2016 golf season in Ireland and Scotland now getting in to full swing , it seems strange to turn attention to 2017 golf trip planning at this stage. Yet, as many of the top golf courses in Ireland, Scotland and England are already booked out for visiting golfers in 2016, the smart play is to start working on 2017 planning as early as possible. Old Head Golf Links in Ireland, a perennial favourite among golfers visiting south west Ireland is operating a waitlist for September this year, that's how busy it is at this spectacular links. September is usually very busy due to club tournaments and member/ guest competitions at a number of courses including Waterville Links, Ballybunion and Tralee. Lahinch Golf Club celebrates it's 125th anniversary in 2017 and will attract increased visitors to this great links. Lahinch also hosts the South of Ireland Championship late July. Another factor which will come in to play for 2017 is the decision by Royal County Down Golf Club in Northern Ireland to stop taking visitor bookings for October. October is usually an important shoulder month for the golf travel sector in Ireland and the knock-on effect is surely to cause September to become even busier as golfers adjust their travel schedules to fit in the world's number 1 golf course. In England, the north west golf swing including Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St. Annes and Royal Birkdale is sure to be in demand in 2017. When planning a trip to play these courses, make sure to factor in that The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale in July 2017.
Hillside Golf Club is situated in Southport, the home of "Englands Golf Coast". The course forms part of England's finest stretch of coastal links being adjacent to Royal Birkdale and Southport & Ainsdale with Formby Golf Club a few miles down the road.
A true championship links, Hillside is proud to have been chosen to host Open Championship Final Qualifying each year from 2014, together with a superb track record in hosting the worlds major amateur events.
Golf has been played in Dooks since 1889 and so is one of the oldest clubs in Ireland. It was introduced to the local aristocracy by officers from the Royal Horse Artillery attending compulsory training at the nearby Glenbeigh Artillery Range.
Dooks, (A Gaelic word for Sand Dunes) is renowned for its hospitality and spectacular scenery. From its gentle rolling fairways there are breathtaking views of Dingle Bay, the stunning sandy beaches of Rossbeigh and Inch and the magnificent McGillycuddy Reeks. Even though this links is not as exposed as some Irish courses and features an amazing variety of gorse and heather and wild flowers, the "gentle" wind is never far away and the narrow genuine sandy fairways and well contoured greens offer you a real taste of traditional links golf at its very best. Dooks was originally a nine hole links and was extended to eighteen in the 1970s under the guidance of Eddie Hackett. However in 2002 the club engaged the services of Martin Hawtree golf Architect of international renown to enhance the layout of the course. 16 holes were redesigned and have added immensely to the golfing challenge. We now have a longer course measuring 6586 yards from the back tees with expanded and contoured greens. Those who know it well find it a most intriguing course to play; it will test even the very best of golfers. For the golfer who is seeking a beautiful and tranquil environment to enjoy great golf, Dooks presents a convincing case. |
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