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Ireland |
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 During the nineteenth century Ireland was part of the United Kingdom and records state that British troops brought golf to the Emerald Isle in the 1850s. The oldest golf course in Ireland is owned by the Department of Defence and is set on the heathland of the Curragh in County Kildare and there are records of a match being played there in 1852. The Curragh Golf Club however, was not founded until 1883, two years after the formation of Royal Belfast (1881) and two years prior to the formation of Royal Dublin (1885).
Undoubtedly golf in Ireland dates back way beyond the nineteenth century but records are scant. However, there is no doubt whatsoever that Ireland possesses many of the finest golf courses in the world and is quite rightly one of the world’s premier golf destinations thanks to household names such as Ballybunion, Lahinch and Portmarnock. | |
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 |  | | Ballybunion (Old) | | As you drive from the historic town of Ballybunion, along the winding road to the golf club, your eyes feast upon the most spectacular links land imaginable. |
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|  | | Lahinch (Old) | | Lahinch Golf Club is an enchanting place to play golf. It’s rugged, distinctive, unusually varied and immensely entertaining. |
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|  | | European Club | | The European Club is located in the garden of Ireland, between the coastal towns of Wicklow and Arklow, about 30 miles south of Dublin. |
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|  | | Portmarnock (Old) | | ”I know of no greater finish in the world than that of the last five holes at Portmarnock”, said Bernard Darwin |
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|  | | Waterville | | Waterville plays on a promontory surrounded by the sea. It’s a stunning, remote location... |
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|  | | Old Head | | Laid out on a narrow headland, jutting out for two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, Old Head Golf Links has to be one of the world’s most exhilarating sites... |
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|  | | Carne | | The Carne links at Belmullet is the late Eddie Hackett’s swan song and many reckon it’s his finest design. |
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|  | | Tralee | | Palmer has designed a course that will stimulate the senses every bit as much as the enchanting and breathtaking scenery. According to folklore, Palmer created the first nine and Mother Nature did the rest. |
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|  | | Doonbeg | | Doonbeg is the course that Greg Norman built - his one and only architectural ensemble in the whole of the British Isles.
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|  | | Rosapenna (Sandy Hills) | | Rosapenna's fabulous new Sandy Hills course was designed by Pat Ruddy and opened for play in July 2003.
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|  | | Ballyliffin (Glashedy) | | Ballyliffin is often described as “the Ballybunion of the North” or “the Dornoch of Ireland” and the reason is simple; all the aforementioned are set amidst towering natural sand dunes. |
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|  | | Enniscrone (Dunes) | | The location is ravishing; Enniscrone is set on a promontory, which juts out into Killala Bay at the mouth of the Moy Estuary. |
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|  | | County Louth | | The approach road to the links of County Louth, or Baltray as it is better known, named after the local fishing village, is especially uplifting. |
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|  | | Druids Glen | | Druids Glen is the kaleidoscope of golf courses, for there is more colour here than at any other course in Ireland. |
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|  | | Island | | The Island is a no-frills golf course. There is nothing manicured and it’s all very harmonious and in tune with its surroundings. |
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|  | | Mount Juliet | | The course at Mount Juliet is set in lush, rolling parkland, part of a 1,500 acres old Irish country estate with an 18th century mansion as the clubhouse... |
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|  | | K Club (Palmer) | | The K Club is probably the most opulent golf resort in Ireland. This is where an Irish piper will greet you as you switch off your helicopter. |
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|  | | County Sligo (Championship) | | County Sligo – or Rosses Point, as it is better known – is an exhilarating west coast links, situated in the heart of Yeats country. |
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|  | | Adare Manor | | Undoubtedly Adare Manor is a dashing, stylish resort, with an excellent championship course attached – one of the best inland tracks in Ireland. |
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|  | | Carton House (Montgomerie) | | The Montgomerie course at Carton House hosted the 2005 Irish Open. Although not a links course, it looks and plays like one. |
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|  | | Killarney (Killeen) | | There are three courses at the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club and the Killeen golf course is considered to be the best. |
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|  | | Donegal | | The Murvagh peninsula jutting out into Donegal Bay is the home of Donegal Golf Club. It’s an enchanting and isolated setting for a big links course. |
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|  | | Ballyliffin (Old) | | The Old course at Ballyliffin is a classic links, with fairways that pitch and roll through wild dunes. |
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|  | | Palmerstown House | | Jim Mansfield bought the Palmerstown estate in 1999 and, with the help of Christy O’Connor Jnr, he has since transformed a substantial part of the former stud farm into a magnificent championship golf course |
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|  | | Headfort (New) | | Headfort is a tough, sculptured parkland course, designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr. |
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|  | | Heritage | | The gently undulating Heritage course has been constructed to a high specification in a collaboration between Seve Ballesteros and Jeff Howes. |
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|  | | K Club (Smurfit) | | If you are a traditionalist then the Smurfit course is probably not up your street. If you are seeking thrills and excitement, then the K Club is for you. |
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|  | | Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links | | For such a new layout, the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links is a very natural and understated course. There is nothing showy about the design; the natural links land is used simply and effectively. |
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|  | | Carlow (Deerpark) | | Carlow Golf Club is set in a delightful wooded deer park that once formed part of the estate of Henry Bruen. |
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|  | | Royal Dublin | | Royal Dublin is located on Bull Island, in Dublin Bay. The island was formed following the building of a sea wall in the early 1800s. The result is a perfect sandy island, superb terrain for a golf course... |
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|  | | Fota Island (Deerpark) | | Fota Island has played host to three Irish Open Amateur Championships and the Irish PGA Championship, impressive for a course which only opened for play in 1993. |
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|  | | Birr | | The Irish Midlands are often overlooked when searching for good golf courses but Birr is a fine example of a mature parkland course. |
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|  | | Dooks | | Dooks Golf Club is a tranquil, engaging and fun golf course. It also provides a true and traditional links experience. |
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|  | | Slieve Russell | | Slieve Russell is set in the heart of beautiful rolling County Cavan countryside amongst the lakes and drumlins. |
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|  | | Connemara | | Connemara is a remote golf course, but everyone here is exceptionally welcoming. If you are brave enough to tackle this brutal course from the back tees – good luck. Pray that the wind machine is turned off. |
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|  | | Portsalon | | Portsalon is an exhilarating golf course situated in a stunning location with most of the holes weaving their way between sand dunes. |
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|  | | Killarney (Mahoney's Point) | | The last three holes on Mahoney’s Point are part of Campbell’s original design, one of the finest finishing stretches in golf. |
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|  | | Cork | | Cork is one of the most attractive courses in Ireland. It's delightfully situated on a tiny peninsula called Little Island... |
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|  | | Glasson | | The Reid family must be thanked for the gift of Glasson, for they gave up their land and their period home to enable the birth of the Glasson Golf and Country Club. |
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|  | | Seapoint | | Seapoint is one of the best courses on Ireland’s East Coast you have never heard of. Play this secret gem and tell nobody. |
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|  | | Westport | | Westport Golf Club boasts fantastic views of the surrounding area from its elevated position above the shore of Clew Bay. |
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|  | | Mullingar | | With fine turf, Mullingar is a delightful walk in the park and the course has a fine collection of one-shot holes. |
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|  | | Rathsallagh | | Rathsallagh is a long and challenging course with plenty of variety and interest. |
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|  | | Woodbrook | | Woodbrook Golf Club is a lovely parkland course sitting on cliffs overlooking the Irish Sea at Bray, just south of Dublin. |
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|  | | Powerscourt (East) | | The East course at Powerscourt is a serious test, especially from the championship tees, which stretch out beyond 7,000 yards. |
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|  | | Mount Wolseley | | Mount Wolseley is a very demanding parkland course where only the really big hitters will be teeing up from the championship markers. |
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|  | | Carton House (O'Meara) | | The O'Meara is the oldest of the two courses at Carton House. Designed by Mark in conjunction with European Golf Design, opening for play in May 2002. |
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|  | | Hermitage | | Hermitage Golf Club has earned the reputation of being the club of choice for the rich and famous in Dublin society. |
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|  | | Ballybunion (Cashen) | | Ballybunion Golf Club is unforgettable. Everyone comes here to play the Old course, but do not overlook the wild and controversial Cashen. |
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|  | | Tramore | | Tramore is a parkland course built on rolling terrain with many fairways framed by mature stands of trees and it bears resemblance to London's great heathland courses. |
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|  | | Woodenbridge | | Woodenbridge is a delightful, well-maintained, top quality parkland track which is situated in one of Ireland’s most scenic locations. |
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|  | | Tulfarris | | With no two holes alike, Tulfarris is an exciting course having played host to the Irish Seniors Open Championship. |
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|  | | Powerscourt (West) | | The West course at Powerscourt was created by DMK Golf Design – whose founder, David McLay Kidd, was the man responsible for designing the much-acclaimed Bandon Dunes. |
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|  | | Dromoland Castle | | The course at Dromoland Castle has been around for over forty years but in the last two years, dramatic changes have elevated it to new levels. |
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|  | | Skellig Bay | | The front nine holes at Skellig Bay run along the banks of the Fionnglassa River with the back routed over cliffs high above the Atlantic Ocean. |
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|  | | Rathcore | | Rathcore is located in rolling parkland with a number of natural springs that bring water into play at no fewer than twelve of the holes. |
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|  | | Grange | | Grange is renowned as one of the best parkland courses in Dublin with its 400-yard par four 18th hole as good a closing hole as any in Ireland. |
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|  | | Rosslare (Old) | | Rosslare is regarded as being the sunniest spot in Ireland and it is almost unheard of to have the course closed due to bad weather or ground conditions. |
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|  | | Luttrellstown Castle | | Set in rolling countryside with several lakes and many stands of mature trees, Luttrellstown Castle is a very pleasant place to play golf. |
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|  | | Knightsbrook | | Knightsbrook has been compared in terms of quality and layout to many of the better-known Irish parkland courses in and around the Dublin area. |
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|  | | Castle | | Castle Golf Club, a 6,270-yard, par 70 parkland course is laid out in two loops of nine holes with a sting in the tail... |
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|  | | Tullamore | | With the Slieve Bloom Mountains as a backdrop, Tullamore is a classic parkland course measuring 6,428 yards from the back markers. |
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|  | | Ashford Castle | | Ireland has many golf courses set in mature wooded estates but Ashford Castle’s lovely little 9-hole layout in County Mayo is among the best... |
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|  | | Connemara Isles | | This, quite simply, is Irish golf at its very best. Connemara Isles encapsulates all that is good about old fashioned golf played in stunning surroundings... |
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|  | | Castleknock | | Water features at seven holes at Castleknock, with every par three hole guarded by lakes... |
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|  | | St Margaret's | | A significant amount of earth was bulldozed to create the sculptured golf course at St Margaret’s, and it opened for play in 1992. |
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|  | | Roganstown | | Located to the north of Dublin, on the banks of the Broadmeadow River, Roganstown has all the charm of a country estate. |
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|  | | Dundalk | | Dundalk has undergone several design changes over the years. James Braid modified the course and then Dave Thomas upgraded it. |
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|  | | Druids Heath | | The Druids Heath golf course at Druids Glen is a mix of heathland and parkland with some links-like elements thrown in for good measure. |
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|  | | Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris) | | In September of 2009, Rosapenna's Old Tom Morris course reopened after a major facelift. |
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|  | | Dingle | | Dingle Golf Club or Ceann Sibéal as it is sometimes called is a natural and evocative links course overlooking Dingle Bay. |
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|  | | Gowran Park | | It is a well-known fact that the Irish love not only the game of golf, but also adore the sport of Kings – horseracing. Combine the two together and you have Gowran Park in County Kilkenny. |
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|  | | Dundrum | | County Tipperary is set in an elegant Georgian estate...featuring mature woodland and parkland flanked by the Multeen River. |
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|  | | New Forest | | Located in the heart of the Irish Midlands, the 18-hole New Forest parkland course is laid out over gently undulating terrain... |
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|  | | Curragh | | The Curragh Golf Club claim to play over the oldest course in all of Ireland. The club also holds a valid "Royal" title but chooses not use it. |
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|  | | Ring of Kerry | | The Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club sits high above the spectacular Kenmare Bay. It's one of Ireland's most scenic courses. |
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|  | | Waterford Castle | | The Waterford Castle Hotel and Golf Club is the only true island golf course resort in Ireland and can only be accessed by private ferry! |
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|  | | Shannon | | Opened for play in 1966, Shannon Golf Club has developed into one of the best inland courses in the county of Clare, hosting a number of national amateur championships in recent years. |
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|  | | Narin & Portnoo | | Tucked away in the southwest corner of Donegal, Narin and Portnoo Golf Club is a links that deserves to be bracketed with many other natural, unspoilt courses that should be given greater recognition. |
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|  | | Galway | | The design of the current Galway course is down to the efforts of the celebrated Scottish designer Alister MacKenzie who laid out the 18 holes in 1926. |
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|  | | Limerick County | | Limerick County Golf & Country Club is a 6,463-yard, champion-standard, parkland course, designed by Des Smyth, with sand-based greens built to USGA specification. |
| Average Reviewers Score: |  |
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|  | | Arklow | | Arklow’s 6,387 yards are laid out over classic links land with plenty of humps and hollows, sand hills, gorse, marram grass and bunkers to be negotiated throughout the eighteen holes. |
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|  | | South County | | South County is a high quality new course, designed with strategy in mind. It’s set in a tranquil landscape with the mountains providing a delightful backdrop. |
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|  | | Esker Hills | | Christy O’Connor Jnr designed the course on land owned by the O’Brien and Molloy families and, with minimal earth movement, he created a challenging parkland layout |
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|  | | Athlone | | Athlone Golf Club has been chosen many times by the Golfing Union of Ireland as a venue for competitions at all levels... |
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|  | | Castle Dargan | | Laid out in the heart of “Yeats Country,” the golf course at Castle Dargan is the result of a collaboration between established Irish architect Patrick Merrigan and fledgling designer, Darren Clarke. |
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|  | | Dun Laoghaire | | If ever a golf club was set to face the challenges of the modern golf game then it’s Dun Laoghaire. |
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|  | | Malahide | | Designed by Eddie Hackett, Malahide Golf Club combines the pleasant ambience of parkland with the whiff of salty sea air. |
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|  | | Lee Valley | | Lee Valley Golf & Country Club was designed by Irish golfing legend Christy O'Connor Jnr and he, along with Fred Couples, opened the course for play in 1993. |
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|  | | Coollattin | | Coollattin Golf Club is located in a 175-acre County Wicklow estate with a rich history. |
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|  | | Faithlegg | | Laid out on the banks of the River Suir, Faithlegg has been routed over rolling terrain with many fairways flanked by mature trees... |
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|  | | Greenore | | Greenore consists of a mixture of “links-like” and parkland holes framed by tall pine trees. |
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|  | | Naas | | Naas Golf Club is a traditional parkland course laid out on rolling terrain with tree-lined fairways. |
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|  | | Nenagh | | Nenagh Golf Club has been very astute over the years in employing a number of top class golf course architects in the design of their golf course. |
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|  | | Wicklow | | Wicklow is laid out on cliffs overlooking the Irish Sea, with stunning views from many vantage points as it follows the coastline contours and undulations. |
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|  | | Bantry Bay | | Bantry Bay golf course lies along the coast from the town and although it is located beside the sea, it’s a parkland layout, sitting on cliff-tops overlooking the water. |
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|  | | Kilkenny | | Kilkenny Golf Club is one of the oldest clubs in the country, formed five years before the Golf Union of Ireland was established in 1891. |
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|  | | Laytown & Bettystown | | Laytown & Bettystown contains many of the characteristics treasured by links lovers – humps and hollows, blind approaches and an out-and-back routing that follows the natural contours of the land. |
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|  | | Moyvalley | | Moyvalley is located about a 40-minute drive to the west of Dublin and the course is draped across part of the 550-acre Balyna Estate where the historic Balyna House provides a magnificent backdrop. |
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|  | | Cruit Island | | Cruit Island is considered by some to be one of the best 9-hole golf courses in the world. It is certainly one of the most scenic courses in Ireland. |
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