The Classic Irish Golf Tour

Accommodation – Clontarf Castle, Dublin (1 Night)
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Dinner – Fahrenheit Restaurant

Welcome to Ireland. As you touchdown to this historic country, you will be greeted by your personal chauffeur driver who will ensure your journey throughout the Emerald Isle is comfortable and seamless.

Your driver will escort you to the prestigious Clontarf Castle Hotel where you will stay for the night. Clontarf Castle Hotel is an enchanting experience that blends the historical grandeur of its medieval origins with the luxury and comfort of modern amenities. As you approach the castle, set in a serene suburban area of Dublin, the impressive façade strikes a majestic pose against the skyline, promising a royal retreat.

Upon entering, the castle’s rich history will envelop you; the grand lobby boasts opulent decor, with tapestries and suits of armour that echo tales of ancient times. Your room, a harmonious mix of ancient architecture and contemporary design, offers plush bedding, state-of-the-art technology, and elegant furnishings, ensuring a stay that is both regal and relaxing.

Once you’ve unpacked your bags and become acquainted with your new, luxurious surroundings, it will be time for dinner at the hotel’s legendary Fahrenheit Restaurant. Set within the castle’s original 12th-century structure, the restaurant exudes an atmosphere of historic elegance.

The menu showcases the best of local produce, transformed into modern dishes with a nod to Irish culinary traditions. As you savor the expertly prepared food, the restaurant’s dramatic, high-vaulted Gothic ceilings and stained-glass windows contribute to an ambiance that is both intimate and majestic.

Accommodation – Europa Hotel, Belfast (1 Night)
Activities – Royal Dublin Golf Club
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Dinner – Causerie Restaurant

After a hearty Irish breakfast, your driver will escort you to the famous Royal Dublin golf course. A round here promises to be a varied and strategic experience, influenced by the winds and the classic links layout. The front nine moves with the prevailing south-westerly wind, featuring three par-3s, four par-4s, and two par-5s for a par of 35.

The 5th hole, with its narrow fairway, tests your accuracy, while the 9th hole marks a satisfying conclusion to the outward half. Turning home, the back nine rises to meet you with the wind as a formidable opponent. The 10th hole sets a stern tone, demanding strategic play. As you progress, the course reveals its true character, culminating in a trio of finishing holes that combine the beauty of the landscape with the thrill of the game.

After a few pars and many more birdies, you will be escorted to your accommodation for the night in Belfast, the luxurious Europa Hotel. As evening descends, your retreat to one of the hotel’s recently renovated rooms promises comfort and elegance. The establishment offers a range of accommodation options, from the practicality of a Classic Room to the opulence of a Presidential Suite. Each room boasts a blend of style and function, refreshed interiors, automated window blinds, air conditioning, and new bathroom features, with the higher-tier rooms offering grander furnishings like Super King Cloud Beds and chic glass-panelled shower rooms​.

Dining at The Causerie in the Europa Hotel promises an elegant and delightful experience. Located on the ground floor, this spacious restaurant offers panoramic views onto the bustling Great Victoria Street, setting the stage for a meal that’s as much about the ambiance as it is about the cuisine​​.

The menu at The Causerie is a testament to local produce, showcasing fresh, seasonal ingredients in dishes crafted to exude quality in a relaxed setting. The atmosphere here is unpretentious, focusing on delivering wholesome and delicious food that comforts and satisfies​​.

Accommodation – Bishops Gate Hotel, Derry/Londonderry (2 Nights)
Activities – Royal Portrush, Dunluce Links
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Dinner – The Gown Restaurant

Once you’ve finished your luxurious breakfast, you will be taken to the famous Royal Portrush golf course. Your golfing experience here will be steeped in history and challenge. Established in 1888, this club is renowned for its demanding Dunluce Links, ranked as one of the top golf courses worldwide, designed by the famous Harry Colt. The design is praised for its excitement and the stunning coastal scenery it offers​​.

Royal Portrush provides two courses: the Dunluce Links, which is a stern test for any golfer with its complex design and signature holes, and the Valley Links, offering a different, albeit still challenging, experience nestled between sand hills and higher grounds​​.

Playing here means engaging with over a century of golfing heritage, having hosted prestigious tournaments like the Open Championships. It’s a golfing experience that combines the beauty of Northern Ireland’s coast with the historic gravity of a legendary course.

After your round of golf, you will be taken to the prestigious Bishops Gate Hotel in Derry/Londonderry where you will spend the next two nights. Your stay at the Bishop’s Gate Hotel will be an immersion into Edwardian elegance and modern luxury. As a boutique hotel situated within the historic city walls of Derry, Bishop’s Gate radiates a sense of prestige that comes from its meticulously restored architecture and interiors, which tell stories of its storied past.

From the moment you step into the hotel, the grandeur of its heritage and the warmth of its welcome promise a memorable experience. The hotel’s refined decor, with its opulent furnishings and attention to detail, speaks to its historic significance and luxury. You’ll be surrounded by the fine touches of high-end comfort—from plush bedding and luxurious toiletries to sophisticated amenities, all designed to pamper and please.

The Gown Restaurant promises an ambiance filled with character and warmth, possibly accentuated by restored original features such as wall paneling, which contributes to a charming and refined atmosphere.

The cuisine is likely seasonally inspired, featuring menus that celebrate the best of locally sourced ingredients. This approach not only supports regional producers but ensures that each dish served is of the highest freshness and quality, delivering a palate of flavours that change with the seasons.

You can expect a range of culinary delights, from exquisite starters to hearty main courses and decadent desserts, each prepared with meticulous care and presented with artistic flair. Here you will enjoy the array of different dishes and its champagne bar, giving you a chance to wind down and reflect from an eventful day on the course.

Accommodation – Bishops Gate Hotel, Derry/Londonderry
Activities – Portstewart Golf Club, The Strand Course
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Dinner – Browns Bonds Hill Restaurant

Today you’ll play a round of golf at The Strand Course at Portstewart Golf Club. This promises to be a captivating experience that blends the challenge of a championship layout with the stunning scenery of Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast.

The opening tee shot from an elevated box offers a breathtaking view, setting the tone for a round that requires precision and strategy. With the Atlantic as a backdrop, each hole weaves through massive dunes and demands careful shot-making, especially when the coastal wind comes into play.

The course’s natural contours and fast greens add to the challenge, ensuring that golfers must stay focused until the final putt on the 18th. After the round, you will have the chance to spend some time in the clubhouse where you’ll experience a warm, hospitable space to unwind.

After your round of golf, it will be time to have a luxurious dinner to finish off an eventful day. Having dinner at Browns Bonds Hill is an experience that places you at the heart of Northern Ireland’s culinary excellence. Known for its fine dining menus and a string of award wins, the restaurant is praised for serving sumptuous food paired with impeccable service in an elegant yet relaxed setting.

The dining experiences are diverse and seasonally influenced, including wine dinners, cookery demonstrations, and private dining opportunities. Chef Patron Ian Orr’s menus showcase local produce, offering diners an experience lauded as the best in food tourism in Northern Ireland in 2017​1​. For a full picture, exploring their specific menus and events would enrich the understanding of what a dinner experience there would entail.

Accommodation – Harvey’s Point, Donegal
Activities – Rosapenna, St Patrick’s Links
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Dinner – Lakeside Restaurant

Golfing at Rosapenna’s St Patrick’s Links, designed by Tom Doak, is a journey through some of the most breathtaking scenery on the west coast of Ireland. It’s an 18-hole course carved from a former 36-hole facility, promising a unique experience with a variety of golf holes set amongst massive dunes and panoramic views of Sheephaven Bay.

Opened after meticulous development despite the pandemic, the course provides a modern take on links golf with naturalised bunkers and wide fairways. Ranked #49 globally by GOLF Magazine, it’s part of a stay & play package with two other courses, ensuring a diverse and prestigious golfing adventure. Here you will enjoy an expansive links experience, where the journey from the first tee to the eighteenth green takes you through a striking dune landscape and along a stunning coastal stretch, offering a round that is as visually captivating as it is challenging.

Next, you will be escorted to your accommodation for the night, the opulent Harvey’s Point. Nestled amidst the picturesque Lough Eske and the Bluestack Mountains, the hotel offers spacious and opulent rooms, award-winning cuisine, and breathtaking views. The ambiance is enriched with wooden panelling, chandeliers, artwork, and the warmth of turf fires. The hotel prides itself on its authentic and personal touch, with a dedicated team ensuring the happiness and relaxation of guests. It’s an ideal retreat for those seeking to unwind in an ambient setting or explore the beauty of Donegal.

You will dine inside the hotel at the famous Lakeside Restaurant on the shores of Lough Eske providing a scenic backdrop for the meal. The restaurant prides itself on a menu that highlights the flavors of Donegal, using locally sourced, fresh ingredients to create a range of dishes to please any palate, from succulent seafood to tender meats and vibrant vegetarian dishes. The atmosphere is described as elegant and inviting, complemented by the attentive service of the staff. Here you will have the chance to relax in comfort and reflect on an adventurous day on the golf course.

Accommodation – Ice House Hotel, Ballina (2 nights)
Activities – The County Sligo Golf Club
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Dinner – 54° 9° Restaurant

Today you will experience an exciting round of golf at the famous County Sligo Golf Club. This is a course sculpted by nature, presenting a championship-level challenge. Situated in Rosses Point, this links course is acknowledged for its varying conditions​. Famed for its demanding quality, it remains enjoyable for all golfers​.

Notably, the holes from the 14th to the 17th are praised as one of the finest finishing stretches in golf, hugging the Atlantic coastline​​. The course has captivated many, including professionals like Bernhard Langer who, upon his first visit, was compelled to extend his stay​​. It’s regarded highly among Irish links courses, often rated as a top choice by seasoned players​​. The enchanting environment of Rosses Point, steeped in the lore of Irish legends, adds to the mystical allure of the golfing experience.

After your round of golf, you will be taken to the Ice House Hotel in Ballina where you will spend the next two nights. The hotel merges classic charm with contemporary comfort, offering a restful sanctuary that has been a landmark for nearly two centuries. Every bedroom provides a restful haven with a unique ambiance created by a picture window framing views of the river, complemented by a simple, tasteful design.

The Riverside Suites offer a more immersive experience with private balconies close to the river, expansive lounges, and spacious bedrooms, embodying the hotel’s crisp, contemporary design ethos and comfort.

The Ice House Hotel has been recognised in the Hot 100 Best Hotels in Ireland for 2022 & 2023 by the Irish Independent and for having one of Ireland’s Top 10 Spas by Reader Travel Awards 2023, ensuring that your stay is not just about luxury but also about relaxation and indulgence.

Dinner will be at the 54° 9° Restaurant inside the Ice House Hotel. As you sit down for dinner, you might find yourself in a chic and contemporary space with panoramic views of the river and the woodland beyond, setting a tranquil and sophisticated atmosphere. The menu is likely to be seasonal, showcasing the best of what the local land and waters have to offer, with dishes that are thoughtfully prepared and artfully presented.

You could expect to start with an appetiser that highlights local seafood or artisanal produce, followed by a main course featuring perhaps Irish beef or lamb, with each dish accompanied by a selection of locally sourced, seasonal vegetables.

Throughout your dinner, the waiters will be attentive and cater to all of your needs. You will also have an extensive wine list that has a carefully curated selection of bottles from around the world, as well as fine examples of Irish craft beers and spirits.

Accommodation – Ice House Hotel, Ballina
Activities – Enniscrone
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Dinner – Belleek Castle Library Restaurant

Enniscrone is said to be one of the most challenging traditional links golf courses in Ireland, offering 27 holes and 400 acres of unspoiled dune land, dramatic elevations, and panoramic sea views.

The course unfolds over dramatic dunes, with undulating fairways and challenging greens that demand strategic play, especially under the ever-present sea breeze. The front nine eases you into the landscape, while the back nine ups the ante with tighter fairways flanked by larger dunes.

Signature holes offer breathtaking views and formidable tests of golfing skill, making each stroke a memorable part of the journey. After navigating this challenging course, the clubhouse awaits with a comforting atmosphere, where stories of the day’s play are shared over good food and drink. Enniscrone delivers not just a round of golf, but a true test of links play amidst some of Ireland’s most stunning coastal scenery.

After an exciting round at one of Ireland’s most prestigious links courses, it will be time to wind down at the hotel’s luxurious spa. The spa’s serene ambiance is crafted through a contemporary design that incorporates natural elements, offering a peaceful sanctuary. Guests can indulge in a thermal suite, experiencing saunas, steam rooms, and experience showers, before enjoying personalized treatments like massages, body wraps, and facials from skilled therapists.

The outdoor thermal area allows for relaxation amidst stunning views, with hot tubs and seaweed baths under open skies. Post-treatment, the relaxation room offers a cozy haven for extended serenity. This will be the perfect place to relax and reflect upon an active day out on the course.

After a relaxing time at the spa, you will then be escorted to the Belleek Castle Library Restaurant for dinner. Dining at Belleek Castle’s Library Restaurant offers a unique blend of historical elegance and culinary excellence. Nestled within a 19th-century Gothic castle, the restaurant’s ambiance is rich with dark wood bookshelves, heirloom tapestries, and a grand fireplace, providing a cozy, intimate setting.

The cuisine is a modern take on traditional Irish fare, emphasizing local ingredients with a creative twist. Service is knowledgeable and discreet, complementing the thoughtful wine list and selection of fine spirits. This dining experience transcends the ordinary, inviting guests to savor flavors while immersed in the castle’s storied past, making it perfect for a memorable, romantic evening.

Accommodation – Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan (1 night)
Activities – Lahinch Golf Club
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Dinner – Drawing Room at Gregan’s

After a hearty breakfast, you will be taken to the famous Lahinch Golf Club for a memorable round of golf. Playing at Lahinch Golf Club is a dive into the essence of Irish links golf, where the historic Old Course and the straightforward Castle Course offer contrasting styles of play. The Old Course, with its storied design by Old Tom Morris and later revisions by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, features challenging blind shots and strategic dunes.

The stunning Atlantic backdrop and the sound of waves create an unforgettable atmosphere. Post-round, the clubhouse offers a warm where you will have an opportunity to relax and recount tales of the game with the locals and some drinks.

Next, you will be escorted to the Gregan’s Castle Hotel where you will stay for the night. Gregans Castle Hotel offers a serene escape in Ireland’s Burren region, where luxury meets the timeless charm of the countryside. Each room provides unique, plush accommodations with stunning views.

The hotel’s ambiance is rich with a blend of antique elegance and modern comforts, including open fires and bespoke furnishings. 

You won’t have to go far for dinner because tonight you will be dining inside the hotel’s restaurant. The restaurant’s ambiance is one of refined comfort, with views that invite nature to your table. Seasonal and local ingredients are the stars, transformed into modern Irish dishes with an innovative flair.

A tasting menu, paired with select wines, offers a symphony of flavours, while the attentive service ensures a personalised dining experience. Here, every meal is a celebration of the region’s bounty, artfully presented and deeply connected to the land and sea of this storied place. It will be the perfect way to end an eventful day out on the course.

Accommodation – K Club, Kildare (1 night)
Activities – K Club, Palmer North Course
Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur
Dinner – The Barton Restaurant

Your final round of golf will be at the legendary The K Club’s Palmer North Course. Designed by Arnold Palmer, this course is a masterclass in golf architecture, blending challenging play with the lush Irish countryside. Water hazards and strategic bunkering demand precision, while the natural beauty of the River Liffey, which meanders through the course, adds tranquility to the game.

The Palmer North has hosted prestigious tournaments, including the Ryder Cup, offering golfers manicured fairways and impeccable greens amidst a grand parkland setting. It’s a golfing experience that marries challenge with sheer aesthetic delight.

For your last night, you will stay at the legendary K Club. The interior of The K Club is a testament to grandeur and elegance, reflecting its storied past. The original building, Straffan House, dates back to 1832 and was designed by the famous architect Hugh Barton as a family home, inspired by a French château.

Furthermore, it retains many of the house’s original architectural features, including ornate ceilings, wood paneling, and period detailing, which are complemented by a collection of fine art and antiques.

Upon entering, you will be greeted by a grand lobby that sets the tone for the opulence within. The interiors are richly decorated, with luxurious fabrics, deep carpets, and crystal chandeliers. This will be a fitting establishment to conclude your journey in sumptuous comfort.

Once you’ve had time to acquaint yourself with your new surroundings, it will be time to have your last dinner at The Barton Restaurant. Here the cuisine is a sophisticated blend of Irish and international influences, with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Each dish is a work of art, meticulously prepared and presented. The service is attentive and knowledgeable, ensuring a seamless experience.

If you love wine then you will be in for a treat. You will be spoiled by an extensive selection, including offerings from the Barton family’s own vineyards. This will be the perfect ending to your luxurious golf tour of Ireland where you will wind down and reflect on an adventure that will live long in the memory.  

Transport – Executive Vehicle & Private Chauffeur

You will awaken to one final luxurious and hearty Irish breakfast before your departure. Your chauffeur will escort you personally to the airport where you will say your final goodbyes. On behalf of everybody from the Luxury Ireland Tours team, we wish you a safe journey home and hope to see you again soon!