8 NIGHT IRELAND GOLF TOUR

Accommodation – The Merrion Hotel, Dublin.
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur.
Activities – Exciting sight-seeing trip around Dublin, visiting the Garden of Remembrance, The Custom House, and The General Post Office.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by your friendly private driver. Your luggage will be taken care of and a gift bag will be waiting inside your vehicle. Your Irish adventure is officially underway and you will take a short driving tour of Dublin.

As you weave through the city, you will see the Garden Of Remembrance, a commemoration for those who died fighting for Irish freedom.
You will then pass the General Post Office on O’Connell Street, the site of one of the most important battles in Irish history.
Your driver will then take you past The Custom House. This architectural masterpiece defines neoclassical buildings and now houses various government departments.

After getting a tantalising taste for this magnificent city, you will be taken to The Merrion Hotel. This 5-star hotel sits right in the heart of Georgian Dublin and is arguably the most luxurious hotel in the city. The hotel embodies grandeur, with golden chandeliers, oil paintings, and huge fireplaces. If you enjoy fine dining, you are in for a treat, as their Patrick Guilbaud Restaurant holds not one but two Michelin stars.

Accommodation – The Merrion Hotel, Dublin.
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur.
Activities – Portmarnock Golf Course

Portmarnock Golf Course has a rich history and was originally owned by the famous whisky distiller John Jameson. In 1894, Mungo Park, a previous winner of the British open, designed 9 holes which were extended to 18 holes two years later.

Portmarnock has been carved by Mother Nature, with both the front and back nine holes forming a circular loop, bringing players back to the beautiful clubhouse. The course is 7500 yards from the back tees and is a challenging lay-out for even the most seasoned player. Being built on a peninsula, the course is battered by the wind, meaning shot making is key.

Make sure to have a camera at the ready as the views are gorgeous. To the south, you can see Irelands Eye and to the north-west the magnificent Mountains of Mourne are visible. After a long day on the links, you’ll have worked up an appetite for a delicious lunch, which is exactly what you’ll get from Portmarnock Clubhouse. The hallways, with wood panelled walls and leather couches, hint at the luxury to come as you eat in either the Bradshaw Room or Dining Room, which are both equally as stunning. Fresh fish which arrives daily at Howth Pier, which can actually be seen from the course, is served daily. Your chauffeur will then escort you back to The Merrion Hotel, where you will enjoy yet another exquisite meal in the Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud.

Accommodation – Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Activities – Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, Cork

After a luxurious breakfast, your personal chauffeur will drive you south. Along the way, you’ll stop off at the Rock of Cashel, a famous archaeological masterpiece, hosting a variety of medieval buildings. You can explore the 12^th century roundtable tower, the 13^th century gothic cathedral, and the 15^th century castle.

The lunch stop today will be at Café Hans, a dinky little café with bags of charm. While the whole menu is fantastic, the real treat here are the desserts, with some mouth-watering options available. Make sure to save some room!

The next stop is Blarney Castle, one of Irelands greatest historic venues. The castle is nearly 600 years old and home to the famous “Blarney Stone”. Legend has it that if you kiss the Blarney Stone you will receive the “gift of the gab”.

Next on offer is a visit to the second largest city in Ireland, Cork. Here you will get a chance to browse the internationally renowned English Market, so named to distinguish it from the Irish market which was nearby in the 19^th century. An iron fountain, huge archways, and stained glass windows are sure to leave you in awe as you sample fresh local produce from a huge range of market traders.

After a day of sight-seeing, your chauffeur will drive you to Hayfield Manor Hotel. This luxurious 5-star hotel sits just on the edge of the city centre, 15 minutes from the city’s many attractions. Hayfield Manor is a family owned and run hotel, so you will receive the warmest Irish welcome and be treated to service which is second to none. The Beautique Spa offers a chance to unwind, with a range of treatments available, as well as an indoor heated pool, outdoor jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna.

You will be dining in the 2x AA Rosette restaurant, Perrotts Garden Bistro. Offering a luxurious yet relaxed atmosphere, glorious surroundings, and Mediterranean and international speciality dishes, Perrotts is a true gem.

Accommodation – The Europe Hotel & Resort, Killarney
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Activities – Old Head Golf Links, Killarney National Park

Today’s golfing adventure will take you to Old Head Golf Links. Old Head Golf Links is built on a unique headland that juts out two miles into the Celtic Sea. Built 300 meters above sea level with rocky cliffs below, many describe the experience as being “on the edge of the world”. With the chatter of seagulls, waves crashing into cliffs, and panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, there may not be a better setting to play golf in the world. Many holes run alongside cliff tops, meaning driving accuracy is key. The best tip is to bring plenty of golf balls! The standout hole has to be the 17^th, suitably named “The Lighthouse”. This long par 5 requires clever course management; ideally you should be playing your third shot from the right side of the fairway. If you are trapped on the left, you will have a blind shot into a basin-like green cut into the cliff edge. We urge you to bring your camera because Old Head Golf Links is like no other.

Not only will you get to play on this magnificent course, you will also enjoy lunch in the 5-star de Courcey Restaurant where you can enjoy fresh fish, lobster, and prime cuts of meat, all while enjoying luxurious surroundings and stunning views out over the course and ocean below. A truly unforgettable dining experience.

You will then travel through Killarney National Park; the first national park in Ireland and arguably the most beautiful. You will weave through glorious countryside and glistening lakes, with your driver stopping off at all the best photo opportunities.

After a long day of golfing, you will be taken to The Europe Hotel. This luxurious 5-star hotel is renowned for being one of the best hotels in Ireland. Enjoy fabulous views over Killarney Golf & Fishing Club and the Lakes of Killarney. You will be dining in the light and spacious Riva Restaurant which draws its inspiration from Mediterranean cooking, offering Catalan style seafood stew, Bistecca Fiorentina, and a full pizza menu.

Accommodation – The Europe Hotel & Resort, Killarney
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Activities – Waterville Golf Club

Following a luxurious breakfast, you will travel south to Waterville Golf Club. Golf started here in 1889, originally with a 9-hole lay-out. However, the course was redesigned by Claude Harmone and re-opened in 1973 with the appropriate nickname “The Beautiful Monster”. The course is surrounded entirely by sea, with stunning views of the MacGillycuddy Reeks mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean. The front nine is quite different to the back nine. The front 9 is fairly flat with undulating fairways, while the back 9 holes meander through intimidating sand dunes. There is an amazing collection of par 3’s and par 5’s, with the par 4’s very memorable also. The course is so well designed it is hard to pick one standout hole. However, the 11^th is a risk and reward short par 5. This tight driving hole is guarded by dunes on either side but a solid second shot will set up a rare birdie chance. The isolated location of Waterville has stopped it from hosting any major golfing events. However, the course is revered by great golfers and the late Payne Stewart was made an honorary captain.

After trying your hand at a challenging yet rewarding course, you will deserve a hearty lunch at the 1889 Bar & Restaurant in the newly renovated Clubhouse. As you are in Ireland after all, we highly recommend the beef and Guinness stew.

Your chauffeur will then escort you back to The Europe Hotel for a relaxing evening. For dinner, you will be heading The Porterhouse. This cosy spot offers it all, with delicious food, a wonderful ambience, and a huge selection of drinks on offer, including specialised whisky and gin.

After a great day on the links, your chauffeur will escort you back to The Europe Hotel for a relaxing evening.

Accommodation – The Europe Hotel
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Activities – Tralee Golf Course

After breakfast, your chauffeur will take to Tralee Golf Course. Tralee is a true links classic and was designed by none other than the great Arnold Palmer. Mr Palmer famously said, “I have never come across a piece of land so ideally suited for the building of a golf course”. According to tradition, Arnold Palmer created the front nine and mother nature sculpted the back nine. The front nine plays along the coastline and offers magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean. The back nine is hillier, cutting through towering sand dunes towards plateaued greens. The third hole is the signature hole and has been appropriately named “The Castle”. This 200-yard par 3 is guarded by the sea on the right. The perfect line is the archaic castle behind the left-hand side of the green. The 3^rd draws many parallels to the 7^th hole at Pebble Beach, a hole that Mr Palmer was very familiar with. There are so many memorable holes at Tralee Golf Course that we promise a golfing experience like no other.

After a memorable round of golf, you will enjoy an equally memorable lunch in the Tralee Golf Club Restaurant which offers stunning views across the course, allowing you to discuss how you played that morning. Fresh local produce and friendly staff will ensure you are fully satisfied after your visit to Tralee.

After battling the elements, you will be chauffeured back to The Europe Hotel for the evening and a chance to relax and unwind before enjoying dinner at the Panorama Restaurant. Look out for the oysters, wild seabass, and lamb reared on the hotels very own farm.

Accommodation – Adare Manor Hotel
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Activities – Ballybunion Golf Club, The Old Course

After breakfast, your personal chauffeur will be waiting and you will meander up the Wild Atlantic Way until you reach Ballybunion Golf Club. The Old Course at Ballybunion Golf Club is simply a golfing paradise. Tom Watson is a huge advocate for the course and eloquently stated that “a man would think the game of golf originated here”. The course has been carved into the largest sand dunes in Ireland and offers panoramic views of the Wild Atlantic Way.

The club was originally founded in 1893 and was extended to 18 holes in 1926. The course did not gain the recognition it deserves until it hosted the Irish Championship in 1937, though since then it has become one of the most respected links courses in the world.

A true test of golfing ability, if the wind blows, even the best golfers struggle to break par. It is hard to pick a signature hole, so let us describe a couple. The 11^th hole is perhaps the signature hole of the entire Emerald Isle. The tee shot is not for the faint hearted, with rocky cliffs and crashing waves running down the right side of the hole. About 300 yards down the fairway, the terrain becomes extremely hilly as the holes cut through towering dunes. The 16^th is a fantastic par 5. The hole is nearly a 90-degree dogleg to the left and requires strategic precision.  The green is 40 feet above the fairway and you have to thread your shot through a narrow, 15-foot gap to the green.

After an eventful day battling the links, you will enjoy a fantastic lunch in the restaurant and lounge which look out over the first tee, before being chauffeured to Adare Manor. This luxury 5-star hotel is set in 840 acres of pristine Irish countryside and will truly take your breath away when you first set eyes on it. You will be dining in the Oak Room, Limerick’s first and only Michelin star restaurant. You will feel like you have been transported back in time, to an age of elegance and utter luxury, surrounded by wood panelled walls and staff who will make you feel right at home. Great emphasis is put on utilising the best of Irish produce, including vegetables from Ballyneety, quail from Birdhill, and oysters from Dooncastle. You can also relax at the world-class spa. Adare House has a great reputation for a reason: unrivalled service and beautiful surroundings.

Accommodation – Adare Manor Hotel
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Activities – Adare Manor Golf Course

After a relaxing breakfast, you will make the short walk to the first tee at Adare Manor Golf Course. Perhaps one of the finest parkland courses in Ireland, the challenging layout stretches over 7000 yards from the back tees. The course is defended by clover leaf bunkers, water hazards, and natural features, including the River Maigue that winds its way around the course. The course has hosted many professional competitions, including the Irish Open and Senior Open. The course underwent a redesign and opened again in Spring 2018, with the vision of hosting the 2026 Ryder Cup. The standout hole has to be the 13^th. This long par 4 is lined by pine trees, with the hole turning right while the fairway slopes left. Carefully measured play is required to approach a raised green protected by a sculpted bunker.

A trip to such a majestic place as Adare Manor would not be complete without an afternoon tea, served in the splendid Manor House Gallery. Executive pastry chef Xavier Torne has crafted a range of delicious delicacies, accompanied of course by a glass of champagne.

This evening you will be dining in The Carriage House Restaurant, a Michelin Plate award-winning setting boasting a magnificent cocktail bar, terrace, lounge, chandeliers, and an impressive vaulted ceiling. Where better to enjoy a menu which includes smoked whisky cured salmon, 13oz ribeye steak, and stone bass. There is also the option to have the local catch of the day; simply ask your server what is available.

After a long day on the course and enjoying sumptuous food, you can enjoy some of the great facilities, which include a spa, pool, cinema, and golf simulation room where you can squeeze in some extra practice if you so wish.

Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur

After a fabulous golfing experience and playing some of the best courses on the Emerald Isle, you will be driven to Shannon Airport (or Dublin dependant on your outbound flight preference), where it will be time to bid your farewells. However, we hope to see you in Ireland again soon!