Pointing the way at Donegal GCOld Tom oversees Rosapenna The 18th on the Old Links Ballyliffin

Cast a cold Eye
On Life,
on Death
Horseman, pass by

That’s the inscription on the gravestone of the famous poet WB Yeats. His grave sits in the cemetery of the small St Columba’s parish church in Drumcliffe, under the Ben Bulben Mountain in County Sligo – a place we visit on the way to Donegal Golf Club after playing Sligo the day before. Ireland may not be able to offer you nailed-on sunshine but the country does have its fine-weather moments and an enviable record for poets, history and of course golf.

Ireland offers some of the best links golf that you’ll find anywhere in the world including Scotland. In fact many a Scot came to the Emerald Isle to create some of these stunning tracks. The Celtic Tiger maybe have a stone in its paw at the moment, but the number of golfers visiting Ireland is up. That doesn’t mean packed fairways and five-hour rounds. Far from it: in the week I’m there we play plenty of golf in less than four hours and only have rain on two holes at Rosapenna Sandy Hills and off and on at Ballyliffin Glashedy.

What warmth you don’t get from the climate is made up for in abundance by the welcome you receive no matter where you go, be it strolling along a beach (in search of a ball!) to the bars and restaurants. You’ll always get a cheery hello and a genuine smile. So whether you’re visiting Ireland for golf and some culture, or just golf, golf and more golf, Ireland is somewhere I would defiantly put on your must-visit list.


County Sligo Golf Club

Donegal Golf Club

Rosapenna Sandy Hills

Ballyliffin Golf Club