Any suggestions of courses for a 5-6 days of golfing in South West Ireland? Should we stay put and go out daily or move around?

That really depends on your budget. You can spend a lot of money playing Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee, Killarney and Waterville. But they sure are nice courses.

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The Irish Tourist Board's web site has good info on golfing on the Emerald Island, where greens are always green

Played Bantry Bay golf club last June, nice place, nine holes along the water and nine inland and did not charge an arm and a leg, right off the N-71. [email protected]. Have fun

I am not a golfer but my son is, we are traveling in Oct and got a great rate at the Woodstock Resort and Spa. It is near Shannon and has a golf course attached. It is rated a 4.5 star hotel.
Hope this helps a bit.
Have a wonderful and safe trip
Jaye

There's a little known 9-hole links course: Spanish Point in coastal County Clare; won't send you to the poorhouse as might BallyBunion or nearby Doonberg.

But my favorite course in all the world is in Ireland's wild and wooly west: Belmullet http://www.carnegolflinks.ie. It doesn't cost 'an arm and a leg:' about 50 Euro on weekends.

The late Eddie Hackett laid out Carne and Enniscrone; I call Carne Golf Links 'a Golfer's Heaven.'

Here's a guide, with a map to some of the best golf courses in Ireland, including a few in SW Ireland. Enjoy your trip! http://www.ruba.com/guide/Jessica_Co...es_in_Ireland_

can't comment as to the cost, but if I'm going to Ireland to play golf, you'd better dam* bet I'm playing Ballybunion at the least.

Killarney - didn't play. I prefer links style courses and if I remember correctly, this was an inland course?

Lahinch - my 2nd favorite in that area after Ballybunion (btw, the New Course will kick your a&& especially after playing the Old Course. still worth it)

Tralee - I could be talked into skipping this.

When we were there, the cost wasn't ooc (out of control) - it was getting a tee time on Ballybunion (take a caddy). Of course, it was about 10 years ago. We also played the NE - Royal County Down was a favorite.

What about Old Head ?

to your question re: moving or staying ? I hate to move hotels... hate the checking in, the dealing with luggage in the car, the unpacking and finding things, the new things that go bump in the night. I'd much rather drive a bit farther on a daily basis than schlepp hotel to hotel. But others may disagree... it depends on your travelling style.

Make sure you are ready and able to walk carrying all your gear. I never got so good as carrying a light bag as when we played 12 rounds in 12 days. We also took 2 pair of shoes in case of rain - nothing worse than walking 19 in wet shoes. Of course, we played every day and we were with die hards and playing everything no matter the weather.

have a great time!

10 years ago, Greg Norman's Doonberg Course may not have been complete or ready to play; but if cost wasn't an issue, I think I would stay at Dromoland and play Doonberg. On an AerLingus flight, they played a video of Doonberg and some of the holes looked like the legendary ones on Golf Calendars, impossible to play.

When the rainy season begins, avoid Parkland courses and stick to the Links. I've played some Parkland courses where balls 'plug' into the fairways and disappear from view. So, instead of having a nice fairway lie, you've got a lost ball. Turf fairways are the reason they don't allow Golf Carts (Buggies) out during the rainy season (Nov thru Feb).

As for 'walking & carrying,' I have never found a Course in Ireland that didn't have 'trolleys' (i.e., pull carts) for rental.

In 2006 my husband and some friends spent a week in Ireland playing golf. They played a different course each day which they enjoyed. However, the downside is that each day they got up early, drove to that day's course, played golf, ate dinner, had a few beers, went to bed. Next morning, got up early, drove to that day's course....... You get the picture I'm sure. They didn't really see very much of Ireland and most of their driving was on expressways etc. No time for scenic drives or very much sight seeing.

So, I guess I am recommending that you should probably play the same course a few times to reduce travelling.

By the way, they LOVED the experience and played some of the expensive courses as well as some not so expensive ones. I think it was at Waterville that another group asked to play through. The reason? They had a helicopter waiting at the end to take them back to the city, actually 2 helicopters - one for the players and one for their clubs!!!

I guess we all have our likes and dislikes. I find the back nine at Tralee to be spectacular.

cold, thank you. I stand corrected.

He is right - Tralee is amazing. It is Waterville that I was thinking of - I would probably skip Waterville next time.