More than a Century of Pure Golfing Pleasure with the Royal County Down Golf Club

Mature golf clubs with ages over a century old can be found in almost all corners of Ireland, one of this is the Royal County Down Golf Club which has a history and tradition filled with unadulterated golfing experience. Set in the amazing Newcastle where it was described as "the Mountains of Mourne sweep down by the sea" by Percy French, the Royal County Down Golf Club doesn’t only present a real challenge and test to the golfers, but also mesmerizing and astounding views from all over the place.

The Royal County Down Golf Club has two golf courses to boast of. The championship links and alongside it, the Annesley Links. Both laid out alongside the Dundrum Bay and  backdrop of huge mountains. While the Champio0nship links is designed to be a great challenge, the Annesley links was designed to be played by everyone, both pros and amateurs.

Just recently, the Royal County Down Golf Club has announced that it will be the host of the 2007 Walker Cup match to be played by great golfers from Ireland, Great Britain and the United States of America. The Royal County Down Golf Club will only be the second golf course where this prestigious biennial event will be played, after the Portmarnock in 1991. Truly a testament to its great designs.

One of the greatest accolades received by the Royal County Down Golf Club is being tagged in 2005 as number 4 in the 100 best golf courses outside of the US, this honor was bestowed by the Golf Digest.

Ant it is hard not to see why. Arguably one of Ireland's best courses, the course is laid out with soaring sand dunes, profuse heather, and majestic scenes of the Mourne Mountains on each side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

One of the Great old Tom Collins design, a number of holes feature blind shots, unbelievable bunkering, and fantastic gently sloping greens. This indeed is a golf course any golfer visiting Ireland should not miss.

The Royal County Down Golf Club also offers world class quality service that greatly adheres to the warm Irish welcome that greets every tourist as they enter the country. All of the service staff employed by the Royal County Down Golf Club are well trained and is very much willing to extend a helping hand.

The Royal County Down Golf Club also has a changing room that can be found in the visitors accommodation area, making it easily accessible to change and freshen up after a tough and grueling day at the greens.

A restaurant is also available which can provide fine Irish fare and the catch of the season. You can be able to get some drinks while you discuss with your friends and fellow players the game you have just played.

Forgot your balls? Don’t have any tees? A Pro shop that is completely stocked with a wide range of clothing and golf merchandise is ready to serve you and cater to your every need. There is also a club pro that is on hand to provide lessons to enhance your game.

Being dubbed as one of Ireland's greats is more than enough to entice a golfer who is keen to experience golf in Ireland. The next time your out for a great golf vacation, the Royal County Down Golf Club is just waiting for you to be played.

Rosapenna Golf Links, A Century of Design and Perfection

Blessed with being able to be designed by four of the top names in the annals of Golf History, the Rosapenna Golf Links has achieved what many golf courses has dreamt of, beauty, great playability and near perfection. Many would say that if the heavens were to design a golf course, this would be it.

Being a century old, this "mature" golf course has been the discovery and the design of one of Ireland's most famous golf architect, Old Tom Collins. Laid out in 1891, old Tom quickly shared his discovery to his fellow golfers and soon was flocked by great numbers of them to enjoy its serene beauty and its natural landscape that was perfect for a challenging links course.

Two of those that tested the land were two golfing greats which shared between them 11 British Open titles. They went to the Rosapenna Golf Links in the early 1900's and added some depth to the bunkering and some length to the course but were wise to avoid with messing with the greens the great old Tom designed.

For the century that has passed, the old links still remains intact, a great honor to the three masters that have superbly provided the designs.  Many golfers come to this links expecting to share the glory and the magic that lies between each hole.

Sharing the glory with the old links is the new Sandy Hills links of the Rosapenna Golf Links. Another feather to its cap, this course was designed by another master, the famous Pat Ruddy.

Opened midway in 2003, this piece of land was sculptured by nature to be a golf course and not anything else. The original course avoided the sand dunes of the landscape preferring to just line out the bunker, the new links course by pat Ruddy went straight through them and is a course that will definitely challenge even the most seasoned golfer.

Measuring a wide 7,255 yards, this course was designed with championship tournaments considered greatly. Most of the holes in this course feature elevated greens and tees, with drives that go into the natural bowls on the dune floor. The fairways maybe narrow, but the landing areas are pretty wide.

The new course runs side by side with the old Morris links and offers a pleasant view of the scenery. This course has been awarded by Links magazine USA as one of the top ten courses that must be played in Ireland.

Relaxing areas after a game is courtesy of the newly opened golf pavilion. It offers a very modern changing room and a wide and roomy restaurant serving the best of what Ireland cuisine has to offer. There is also a lounge area, a billiards room, a conference room and a pro shop where a golfer can get everything he needs for his game.

State of the art practice facilities are also being offered by the Rosapenna Golf Links which include a wide turf teeing area, 2 putting greens, practice sand bunker and green, 6 covered bays and a lot more. The club pro also offers lessons on a variety of aspects of the game.

So when you do finally decide to hop on the plane and head off to Ireland, the Rosapenna Golf Links will be waiting for you to show you what Irish golfing is all about.

Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club: Irelands Secret Treasure

Playing a round of golf can be a very relaxing activity and more and more people have been hooked on the game and have seen it as a form of therapy, an exercise and a means to discipline one's self. This is because the game requires an intense concentration and focus. Plus the game is played on a natural course laden with the beauty of nature.

One country that has truly elevated not only the game, but also the way a golf course should be. Ireland has been blessed with the many natural beauty of nature that has allowed it to be shaped and molded to golf courses that has indeed been a sight to see and a joy to play in.

With the hundreds of courses that are sprinkled all over Ireland, it's hard to choose which one to go to for a golf vacation in Ireland. But then again, there are usually some that stands out from the rest, just like the Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club.

Proudly the last golf course the legendary Irish golf course designer Eddie Hackett designed, the Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club built a links like course that needed about 250,000 tons of sand. Sadly though, Eddie Hackett never saw the end of the construction as he died before it could be finished. A new designer was hired to oversee the construction. The change designs that he did resulted to poor reviews when the course was opened in 1998. The owners had to reshape and redesign the course under the tutelage of a famous American designer, Ron Kirby.

By 2003, the Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club was leased by Universal Golf Consulting Ltd. And took the reins in developing the course and making it more playable and constructing a new clubhouse. This led to the success of the club attracting more members and visitors. With the developments made, the Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club is now recognized by the Irish PGA as one of 5 tournament fixtures in the calendar of the professional tournaments.

The course's concept was to provide a venue where in professional and seasoned golfers could enjoy a challenging round of golf but would be played by beginners and novices as well. The course should also be able to host championship tournament games as well. The Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club has succeeded in doing so and this is founded by the scores of people who come every year and the number of tournaments held there.

Sandwiched by amazing views like the Kenmare Bay below it and the Caha Mountains and MacGillycuddy Reeks towering over it, the Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club has a course that can calm the most troubled souls.

 Aside from the course, the Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club also has world class amenities and facilities like a newly redecorated all-inclusive clubhouse, a practice driving range, and a fully stocked pro house where you can find all your golfing needs and souvenir items.

Choosing and finding a golf vacation spot in Ireland could seem to be a very daunting task, but with a little research and taking the time to see what each has to offer, you can definitely picture yourself teeing off amidst Ireland's great natural beauty and the warm welcome of the Irish people.

Portmarnock Golf Club: A Classic Course with a Classic Warm Welcome

This is one of Ireland's classic Golf Clubs founded in 1894, its recognition and testament to its fine quality golf course is founded by being the venue for the first ever Irish Open Amateur Championships done in 1896, barely two years after it was opened, then almost a century after, the Walker Cup was hosted by the Portmarnock Golf Club in 1991. One of the greatest honors the course has received was being ranked number 30 in 2005 by the famous Golf Digest in its annual top 100 courses outside the US.

The Portmarnock Golf Club started initially with only 9-holes, two years after, 9 more were added making it a complete 18 hole championship course. Eight decades after, another 9 holes were added making it a total of 27. Each of the 9 holes done in stages were an effort collaborated by the amateur members and professionals who joined their efforts to provide the club a golf course that was not only beautiful, but extremely challenging as well.

Many golfers, pros and amateurs, have acknowledged the fact that the Portmarnock is one of the justly dubbed great links in Ireland. The seaside breeze provides a cool refresher and it is also one of the natural enemies of every golfer. A gust of strong wind can easily sway a ball in flight. This course offers little blind curves and some classic bunkers. What you get is a course that will truly test your skills and define you as a golfer.

The course is situated 12 miles from the center of the city and is hugged on one side by the Howth peninsula coastline. While playing, a golfer is rewarded with stunning views from Ireland's Eye and Lambay Island. Taming the course is a delectable experience mixed with the peace and pensive ambience, the well manicured greens, the tended landscape and the winds that abruptly changes both in direction and strength constantly.

But aside from the golf course which make the club well known. The Portmarnock Golf Club offers a variety of amenities and facilities as well. Backed by a dedicated and smiling staff, the Portmarnock Golf Club provides high international standard service to its members and guests.

A golfer may head on to the clubhouse straight to the locker rooms after a round to get refreshed in its shower facilities. They can also go to the bar and restaurant where fine dining on authentic Irish fare can be had. Or they can just go for some drinks and talk about the day's events.

A well-stocked pro shop also offers a wide range of top quality golf equipment like clubs, balls and tees. You can also be able to purchase great Portmarnock Golf Club clothing encrusted with their name and logo. They have in store different colors and designs of hats, shirts, pull-overs, jumpers and other gift packs as souvenirs or gifts.

There is also practice facilities which includes a putting and chipping green just adjacent to the clubhouse. You will also be able to rent pull carts and if they are available, caddies would be able to assist you as you play.

When it comes to a golf vacation in Ireland, the name Portmarnock is not to be missed.

Mount Juliet Estate: A little Something for Everybody, From Golf to Fishing to Equestrian

Rarely would a person find a place so peaceful amidst today's fast paced lifestyle. But this estate has been developed with tranquility in mind and a place where one can unwind and just enjoy life the way it was meant to be. With 15,000 acres of lush greens and landscapes, there is a host of activities that a whole family can truly enjoy, so when one is thinking about a golf vacation trip in Ireland, this is the spot for you, the Mount Juliet Estate.

A property and house that was built in the latter part of the 1770's, Mount Juliet is a dedication by the Earl of Garrick to his wife when he bought the property. In the early stages of the 1900's the property were sold to the McCalmont family, from then on, more renovations were done and in 1989 a luxury hotel was opened. By 2002, the place was then a Conrad Hotel.

One of its major tourist attractions is a championship 18-hole golf course designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus himself. Opening in 1991 with a match between the designer and another legendary golfer, Christy O'Connor Sr., the mesmerizing and well-designed challenging course has made a name for itself and has been the venue of many games from professional and amateur golfers worldwide.

Mount Juliet has been the scene for so many major golfing events and was the venue for the 2004 World Golf Championships featuring the World's fifty best golfers. Crowds to the said event turned up in the thousands as major golfing names like Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Thomas Bjorn played a thrilling game that was decided only at the last hole.

As each year pass by, more features and extensions are being done to the golf course to make it more challenging and appealing to its members and to those who play there for major titles. This just proves Mount Juliet's dedication to pursue golf excellence and to provide their members the utmost service and the greatest facilities there is. This course is the only one in the whole of Ireland that has been chosen as the "Big Bears" signature course, Jack Nicklaus took many pains in his design and personally overlooked the construction of the project.

After a days round of golf, a golfer can look forward to retiring to the Juliet House which has been bestowed in 1999 with the AA Hotel of the Year award. Mount Juliet Conrad prides itself in providing the highest international standard in service and fine dining served in a warm, welcoming and relaxed way.

If you came with your family or your friends, you can also enjoy a plethora of activities aside from Golf. Mount Juliet Estate can provide other activities such as roaming the estate on the back of a horse. With 1,500 acres of lush greeneries and scenes to explore, riding on a horse would certainly be a calming experience, a peaceful activity one would cherish in their memories forever.

When you are finally decided to go on a golf trip, finding a golf vacation spot in Ireland is not that difficult. With all of the natural beauty that has blessed thie country, you can be sure that you will have the time of your life, like what many people have experienced in Mount Juliet.