I am taking my husband to Ireland to golf in September for his 50th birthday. His handicap is 18. What are the 3 best courses to golf? Thank you golfers.

Hi Jeanne...want to wait until June 2003?...I'm treating myself to golf in Ireland next year as a 50th birthday gift to myself!!...your ? is tough to answer as I don't know where you'll be based...I've got my own list "down" to about 15 or so courses that I'd like to play...check out www.specialityireland.com--I found some golf tours and info there..."famous" name courses would include Ballybunion,K Club,Mount Juliet,Royal County Down,European CluTiger just played there recently)...that website I've listed for you had 9 different tours so,again,it depends where you'll be staying...also,some of these courses seem to be VERY private so you may not be able to get your husband a tee time...good luck...feel free to reply.<BR>Paul Dilworth<BR>London,Ontario<BR>CANADA<BR>

Hi Jeanne<BR>Where do you plan to be based?<BR>If around Dublin - expensive - K Club (Ryder Cup 2006), Druids Glen (Irish Open), Portmarnock (great links course.<BR>Moderate Price, Lutterlstown, Malahide, Hermitage, The Island, Royal Dublin. all great courses.<BR>The southeast around waterford, Wexford Kilkenny area also has some great courses, and a bigger variety of scenery and other amusements when not playing golf - courses, St Helens in Wexford, Tramore & The Castle in Waterford, Mount Juliet & Kilkenny in Co Kilkenny all good courses within easy driving of a central base in Kilkenny or Waterford. <BR>There's no shortage of good choices, but be sure to book ahead.<BR>have fun<BR>Paschal<BR>

The Royal County Down (senior British Open is there this year) is the best course in Ireland. Stay at the Slieve Donard Hotel.

My husband really enjoyed Tralee and wishes he had played Lahinch, just to say he'd done it. It will really depend on what area you are in. While the parkland courses are beautiful, make sure you include one on the coastline like Tralee where the views are beautiful. Also make sure that the course will take his handicap... some are restricted to certain handicaps. And remember to tell the course you want a caddy. That will help with the course layout.... You'll both have a great time.

Old Head just south of Kinsale. The most beatiful course I have ever played. It is totally surrounded by water. Very expensive. I believe it was around $400 for 2 players and caddies. Played many other courses in Ireland, but this is the greatest!!!!Also Tralee, Lahinch, , and Adare Manor.

I agree that it really depends on where you are staying. In Northern Ireland I would recommend staying in the Portrush area and playing Royal Portrush, Portstewart and Castlerock. Royal County Down is really nice as well but I think the handicap max is 15 - you should check first.<BR><BR>In the west you could stay in Galway and play Lahinch, Connemara and perhaps Galway Bay. If you wanted to keep moving you could start with Connemara and end at Ballybunion hitting Lahinch along the way.<BR><BR>Just reading the postings with course lists from the others makes me want to head over and play today! So many courses so little time...

My husband just played Mt. Juliet and said it was fabulous. He was with several friends, so they rented one of the condo units. He said the accommodations were nice, the course is great, the service is great, etc.

My husband and I are going to Ireland in Nov. and flying into Shannon. Despite the fact that we know we are going to freeze our butts off...is playing golf then a possibility?? And if so where should my husband go play at in Western Ireland.

The first time I played 18 holes was at the Connemara Golf Club. Gorgeous setting right on the Atlantic. Windy as hell, but that didn't really take away from anything.