Welcome
Welcome to the third edition
of Destination Golf Ireland
It is easy to be positive about Irish golf when you work on a
prestigious magazine that targets the best courses Ireland has
to offer. For the clubs at the top of the pile, 2017 was a good
year with resorts doing brisk business and the famous links all
receiving increased visitor footfall. This is despite Brexit and the
continuing malaise in golf participation around the world.
It emphasises the quality of what Ireland offers. It is the courses
lower down the pecking order, however, which continue to
struggle. Four 18-hole courses closed last year and while this
was countered by the opening of Hog’s Head (not yet included
in this guide) and the re-launch of Kilkea Castle, the net loss
amounted to two. Many of the less well-known courses in this
guide would tell you that 2017 was a challenging year for them
and it is our hope that 2018 will bring better things. Some of
these smaller courses are beauties, packed with excitement
and energy and I can’t recommend them enough. Keep this
guide handy and when you’re in the mood to travel or you find
yourself somewhere on the road there will always be a golf
course nearby that deserves a visit. Indeed, almost all of our
400 plus courses are worthy of consideration. That’s the sort
of quality we have on this small island.
This is the third edition of Ireland’s Top 150 Courses and
you will find plenty of stunning photography and insightful
reviews which should prove all the incentive you need to play
somewhere new or return to an old favourite. Our courses are
in excellent shape and clubs continue to invest as they seek
to make improvements – be it to drainage, greens, bunkering,
practice facilities or around the clubhouse. There are big
projects underway at Castlerock, Castlebar, Hermitage –
to name a few – as well as Portmarnock, Ballyliffin and
Royal Portrush as they prepare for major tournaments.
Whatever you do, keep playing, keep exploring and keep
spreading the word. Ireland’s courses deserve no less.
Kevin Markham
Editor
Destination Golf Media Ltd.
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