Top 10 tips for first-time golfers traveling to Ireland

Even after a dozen golf trips to Ireland, I've found it's still hard to feel completely at ease in a foreign country.

There are so many moving parts to planning and executing the perfect golf trip to the Emerald Isle. There are so many what ifs to worry about.

What if I get lost and miss my tee time? What if it rains the entire week? What if my clubs don't make it?

I've had all three of those things at one point or another in Ireland and still managed to have a great experience.

Some things -- like the weather and the baggage service at the airport -- are just out of your control. Concentrate on what you can control. Here are 10 tips for first-timers looking to make their trip a success:

Irish golf trip tip 1. Pick a proper itinerary

Ireland might look small geographically, but narrow winding roads make traveling difficult. Don't plan an ambitious itinerary chasing down all the top 100 golf courses. There are too many spread too far apart. Pick a section of the island to tour.

I divide Ireland into four quadrants: Dublin, the southwest, the northwest and Northern Ireland. You can easily combine Dublin and Northern Ireland or Northern Ireland and the northwest if you wish to hit a few highlights from each. The spectacular Old Head Golf Links of Kinsale sits off by itself near Cork. Golfers visiting the southwest or Dublin can reach it by carving a day out of their schedule.

Whatever you do, plan extra time into your travel schedule. Chances are you will make at least one wrong turn or won't feel comfortable driving the rental car on the left side of the road.

Irish golf trip tip 2. Dublin or Shannon?

Golfers have multiple options when it comes to airports. Both the Dublin and Shannon airports accept direct overnight flights from New York (and a couple other U.S. cities). Pick the right one based on your itinerary.

Golfers who land in Dublin can easily play around the city for a few days before heading north to Northern Ireland's Royal County Down and Royal Portrush. Landing in Shannon is a perfect way to start a Southwest loop through Doonbeg, Lahinch, Ballybunion and Waterville. Or a northern loop can lead to the remote links of Enniscrone, County Sligo, Rosapenna and Ballyliffin.

Irish golf trip tip 3. Pack properly

Like the roads, the rental cars are small, so pack wisely. Bring layers. I always bring long underwear (even in summer) since cold rains can soak you to the bone. A high quality rain suit and at least one pair of rain gloves remains a must for wet weather.

I advocate bringing the umbrella, but tons of other "experts" don't agree, so that's your call. Since many of the links courses are walking-only without golf carts, empty out your golf bag of all the extra tees, ball markers, shag balls, etc., to make it lighter. Pack extra golf balls in the suitcase but only carry 6-8 in your bag at any given time. Your back -- or your caddie -- will thank you.

Irish golf trip tip 4. Bring a backup

Bring two pairs of golf shoes, including a street golf shoe that can be worn on travel days or to the pub after the round. Don't bring tennis shoes. That's so American. Bring two electrical converters for charging electronics -- one for you and one for your friend who will always be borrowing it.

Consider bringing twice the number of balls you normally would on a golf trip. Wicked weather, blustery winds and knee-high grass tends to chew up first-timers. Bring a second paper copy of your passport in case it gets lost.

Irish golf trip tip 5. Money

Exchange money at your bank at home to avoid costly fees at the airport or overseas. The Republic of Ireland uses the euro. Northern Ireland uses the pound. Note the exchange rate between the two. The pound tends to be more expensive.

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Irish golf trip tip 6. Rental car confusion

Rental cars overseas can be a hassle. The expensive surcharges for an automatic shift and a GPS unit are worth it. I always plan my days so I never drive after dark.

The roads are tough enough in daylight. If your group numbers more than eight people, hire a driver. The "craic" -- the Irish equivalent of fun -- doubles when you can relax. Have a few more drinks at the bar. Play cards during long drives. The added expense of a driver costs less when spread across more people.

Irish golf trip tip 7. Avoid jet lag

No matter how good you sleep on the overnight flight, your body will still feel rotten by the time you land. The time difference is five hours later than Eastern Standard Time. The best way to beat jet lag is to power through it.

Plan a round of golf on the day of arrival: Portmarnock, a top-100 course, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links, and Royal Dublin reside just minutes from the Dublin airport. Three fantastic resorts -- Dromoland Castle Hotel, the Lodge at Doonbeg (recently purchased by Donald Trump) and Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort -- are within an hour's drive of the Shannon airport.

Irish golf trip tip 8. Take a day off

The best Irish golf trips last a week to 10 days. That way your group can explore the countryside and adjust to the time change. Don't play golf every day. Take a day off somewhere in the middle. Even a group of guys will find Ireland's tourist attractions interesting.

The Cliffs of Moher, near Lahinch and Doonbeg, and the Giants Causeway, near Royal Portrush, are two rocky marvels along the coast. They'll blow you away. Take a castle tour. Try a pub crawl in a great city such as Galway, Killarney or Kinsale, the "food capital" of Ireland. Dublin's got churches and the Guinness Factory. A massage to loosen up the old swing joints might be necessary halfway through the trip.

Irish golf trip tip 9. What's your number?

I've never had a club ask for my handicap certificate. Still, it's wise to bring a card or printout with your handicap number listed on it just in case.

Irish golf trip tip 10. Hire a caddie

The best part of Ireland is its people. Hiring a caddie is a great way to enjoy the course, shoot a better score and learn about the country through a friendly four hours of conversation.

August 13, 2018
Let our editorial team help plan your next golf trip to Ireland.

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
11 Comments
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Can you recommend a golf travel site that can plan a itinerary for you? Never been there. Husband golfs. I do not. Thank you

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About to head back for trip no. 2 - 15 games in 16 days both times. 16 Gents on each trip.
Easy to drive in a large Ford van, (4 to a Van) plenty of room for golf bags and luggage.
Wear shorts and rug up/waterproof on top - no problem if legs get wet. Umbrella - no.
Lightweight waterproof bag - if using pull trolley - take a strap from home to secure around your bag to the trolley - trust me, best advise I received. Consider taking 7-8 clubs to lighten the load (half set). Plenty of roll on links courses and greens don't hold - so laying up 20-30 short of greens and ball releases forward. Irish carry half sets with plenty of shoulder to shoulder 3/4 shots. Book tee times from 12:30 - 2:00 to allow for sleep after late nights in the pubs.

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Does anyone have experience (good or bad) with Ireland Golf Travel Ltd (website: www.irelandgolf.com)?

I don’t, but we just got back from an amazing golf trip. We made all the tee times, condo rental, flights and van rental ourselves. Worked great and less than half the cost of using a company to do it

your advice couldn't be better.......

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Plan on renting a vehicle in Ireland with 4 golfers. Will I be able to rent a single vehicle with room enough for all?

Definitely possible. I've rented everything from a conversion van to a compact over there. They don't seem to have as many SUV options over there compared to US. You'll likely end up with a van.

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1. Maybe you should check a map before you write an article like this. Doonbeg, Lahinch, Ballybunion, and Waterville are in the southwest, not southeast;. 2. I have never seen an umbrella on an Irish course. It does rain, but it is also windy and carrying an umbrella is just annoying; 3. Credit cards are the best way to pay for things (best exchange rate), and they do have ATMs there when you need cash, but I do agree that getting your pocket money before you leave is a good idea; 4. Buy an Ireland/UK map for your own GPS and bring it with you. It's a lot cheaper than renting from the rental car place - and you DO NEED a GPS; 5. The top courses do not have carts, but the do have trolleys (pull carts) so there is no need to worry about the weight of your bag, beyond the overweight fee that the airline will charge.

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much cheaper, easier and safer to get cash at ATMs in most countries rather than in the U.S. ahead of time

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Much cheaper, safer and convenient to use ATMs in Ireland, and most other countries, for money vs. getting it ahead of time at a bank in the U.S.

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Top 10 tips for first-time golfers traveling to Ireland