Overview
Lahinch. Ballybunion. Old Head. The Wild Atlantic Way.
The west of Ireland has the greatest concentration of links golf on earth. Ballybunion Old — the course Tom Watson said was the best in the world. Lahinch with its notorious blind holes and the town pub. Old Head on a cliff above the Atlantic. You cannot do all three better than this.
Who this is for
Links purists and anyone who has read Tom Watson's description of Ballybunion. The west of Ireland in May or June with the gorse in bloom and a stiff Atlantic wind is an experience that cannot be manufactured. Lahinch's town alone is worth the trip.
Difficulty
All handicaps welcome
Walking
Demanding — all links walking, no buggies
Flight
1.5h · Fly to Cork or Shannon from most UK airports (1.5hrs)
Highlights
The Courses
Where You'll Play
Ballybunion Old
18 holes · Par 71
Wild sand dunes, Atlantic ocean, and a layout that requires every shot in the book. Tom Watson called it the best course in the world.
⛳ 11th: par-4 through a valley of dunes entirely unlike any other hole in Ireland
Ballybunion Old
Wild sand dunes, Atlantic ocean, and a layout that requires every shot in the book. Tom Watson called it the best course in the world.
View on Google Maps →Lahinch Golf Club
18 holes · Par 72
The Dell is a completely blind par-3 guided only by a white marker stone. The course is magnificent, the town is charming, the pub after is mandatory.
⛳ The Dell (5th): blind par-3, aim at the white stone, trust
Old Head Golf Links
18 holes · Par 72
Built on a 220-acre headland connected to the mainland by a 100-yard isthmus. The Atlantic surrounds you on three sides. The most expensive green fee in Ireland. Worth every penny, once.
⛳ 3rd: par-3 along the clifftop, the Atlantic 300ft below on both sides
The Journey
Day by Day
Conditions
When to Go
May to September. The Irish weather is famously variable — you will experience sun, wind, and rain in the same round and it is absolutely fine, it is links golf. Old Head charges more than any other Irish course but is worth it once.
If this trip is full
These trips work on the same seasonal window and are rarely booked at the same time:
Limited availability — popular dates fill early
Price per person
£3,200 pp
Includes flights, transfers, accommodation & golf
No obligation — James replies personally
WhatsApp us"James sorted everything — flights, tee times, even a surprise upgrade at the hotel. Genuinely the best golf trip I've taken."
— Mark T., South Africa trip 2024
What's included
Return flights from UK airports
7 nights (base at Lahinch or Doonbeg)
4 rounds including all green fees
Private transfers to all courses
Daily breakfast + 2 pub dinners
Cliffs of Moher visit
Trip details
Best for
Getting there
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Ready to make this yours?
This itinerary is a starting point, not a contract. Every Dormie journey is built around you — your handicap, your group, your budget. James will respond personally within the hour.