Ireland is a bastion of golf course, whether be it parkland or links courses, and they have more than enough for its 4 million population to accommodate many other golfers from all over the world. Blessed with beautiful land and scenic views, vacation golf spots in Ireland are a definite must-play and should provide a wondrous time whether you are just a beginner or a seasoned golfer.

To those who have already gone and played at the Ballyliffin Golf Club, they have been blessed of having a chance to play at two great golf courses adjacent to each other. Both straddles the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and provides a challenging game as the wind constantly blows erratically swaying the flight of the golf ball.

Either the old links or the Glashedy links provide a relentless pursuit to providing a fun yet unpredictable day of golfing with the best of the old and new provided to its members and visitors.

Before the Ballyliffin Golf Club enjoyed its vast popularity today, it has experienced a number of success and failures that have shaped it to be one of the more exciting golf links Ireland has to offer.

The concept of starting a golf club in Ballyliffin started out in the later part of the 1940's after the Second World War. By then, a group of people interested in the idea banded together and leased lands and converted it into a 9-hole golf course. The club itself prepared the greens before playing, doing the menial tasks of mowing the grass and checking the area.

But the development of the club and the course itself was a slow and painful process. With such a small club that doesn?t have really any resources at all, frustrations and doubts on whether the club should be continued at all flourished. Then the impending end of the lease also was hanging over their heads and the future of their club was slowly darkening.

But the sun shone the little golf club from Ballyliffin when the landowners agreed to extend their lease. The club's association with the Irish Christian brotherhood has also helped it recruit more players and improve their revenues. By the time the 1960's were ushering in, the confidence of its members soared and the prospect of owning the land was getting brighter.

Then by the late 60's problems with the land arose again as the owners weren?t keen on renewing the lease once again. This prompted the club to look for a larger area to lease and convert into a links course.

By 1970, the Ballyliffin Golf Club transferred to a much bigger area and construction soon started. Barely three years after 18 holes were ready to be played.

But problems soon arose again. Financial concerns plagued the club and the seawall was being eaten up by the sea as more gravel were being removed for the construction. A masterfully planned charity, bazaars and concerts saved the club from financial disaster and the stopping of construction by the sea saved the property.

Soon, more members joined the club and green fees were rising with its new found fame adding more finances to the club's coffers. A new clubhouse was now opened and more facilities and amenities were being put up.

Five decades after the original group members decided to start the Ballyliffin Golf Club, a new course was now added. By 1993, the construction started on the new course beside it and was finished two years after. Many professional and golf enthusiasts that the new championship links course was stunningly beautiful and was well designed.

With the success Ballyliffin Golf Club has experienced, and the failures that has made it what it is today, you can be sure that a golfing trip to this eventful course would be well worth the long trip from across the globe.

Getting a booking in the old course of the Ballybunion Golf Club can be quite difficult especially in the peak season. A long list is filled up months before the season and most of them are seasoned golfers looking forward to the difficult yet very relaxing links. But if you don?t get the chance to have some tee time on the old course, you may find that the Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen course, its new course, can be quite as challenging and some might say its more challenging.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones SR., the Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen course features spectacular yet difficult long links dotted with enormous sand dunes, which means you have to make the ball fly when you play to the number of greens that has been elevated in these treacherous course.

While scores of golfers from all over the world flock to Southwest Ireland for the old Ballybunion Golf Club course, local golfers tend to prefer the new Cashen course. Many low handicapped golfers have also expressed their preference for the new course, but the old still remains as a must go to and play course for all golfers, for maybe at least once.

The Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen course has traditional links and like the old course, it is exceptionally unique, and is set with the greatest sand dunes found in golf courses world wide. Both are also designed along the Atlantic Ocean offering a calming back drop.

The Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen course is also a private members only club like the old course, but they do sometimes allow limited public access during weekdays. Limited guest plays are also allowed but must always be accompanied by a member.

The Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen course has set booking conditions so that other golfers can be accommodated as some of them come from different parts of the globe. Some of the conditions are:

? All payments are non-transferable and non-refundable.
? Bookings not paid by the due date will be removed from the list
? Payment in full must be given 28 days after reservations has been made.
? Payments can be done via cash, cheque or credit cards.
? A handicap limit is observed. 24 for males and 36 for females.
? The certificate of handicaps should be presented on the day of reservation.
? A group of four would only be the allowable number in each play.

Being one of the most sought after golf clubs in Ireland and the world, members, guests and visitors are expected to follow a dress code that would met the clubs high standards and should be neat, tidy and clean.

You will not be accepted in the club if you were the following:

? Sleeveless, singlets and shirts with no collars.
? Outfits with slogans.
? Shorts that are not tailored.
? Untucked shirts
? Leisure or track suits.
? Also, pant legs should not be tucked inside the top of the socks.

Carts are now also available to be used around the Ballybunion Golf Club Cashen course, it will only set you back 3.50 Euros for each cart for each round. You can also ride on buggies in the Cashen which is prohibited on the old course.

When it comes to golf courses, the Ballybunion Golf Club has more than a century of experience in the industry, whether it?s the old or new, you can be sure that you will get one of the more satisfying golf vacation trips in Ireland that you'll ever have.

A game that is centuries old, golf has grown extremely popular that many lands have been clipped and mowed, mountains and sand dunes sculptured and traps are set and trees are moved just so man can have a golf course that they can have fun on. More than just a stick and a ball, a quiet round of golf has forged many partnerships, bonded new friendships and has given a sense of peace and relaxation like no other.

As each man develops the passion for the game, playing in his local golf course wouldn?t just suffice. The golf links in Ireland would pose a great challenge to his ability to play the game with its treacherous winds and fantastic sand dunes. A golf vacation trip in Ireland is definitely in order and as soon one has the time and has saved up the money for the trip, a dedicated golfer would never pass up the chance to play in a vacation golf spot in Ireland.

And when it is indeed time to pack up your bags and golf equipment, there is definitely one golf links course that should be on the top of every list, the Tralee Golf Club.

Its designer itself, the legendary Arnold Palmer said that the Tralee Golf Club was the most ideal piece of land he had ever seen for a golf course and he shared the glory with God saying that he designed the first nine holes and God did the back nine. Every golfer is advised to play the course twice, the first one for the game and the second one to enjoy the scenery.

The Tralee Golf Club was first instituted in 1896, with a nine-hole course in Tralee. Then after a year,another nine-hole course was started in Fenit found on the southwest side of the Barrow Harbor. In 1984, Arnold Palmer designed the present course in Barrow. He earned lots of creditsa for his design as he used the natural flora and landscape without having to barely alter the land. This created a mesmerizing, one-of-a-kind course that 5 holes in the back nine situated along the Atlantic Ocean.

But aside from playing, you can also enjoy your vacation spending time with your family and friends in the Tralee Golf Club Clubhouse. There you can find a restaurant that provides a remarkable and amazing view of the golf course and its terrain. You can have meals consisting of fresh seafoods and steaks which are the local specialties. Brought to you by a gracious staff, you can have a very memorable dining experience.

Just finished playing, a pint of Guinness can be best enjoyed in the bar where glass walls provide a pleasant view of the links as you discuss the day's game. You may also lounge at the balcony for the same stunning view and have your meals there as well.

But aside from that, the Tralee Golf Club also provides world class amenities that you can definitely enjoy. You can use their roomy dressing rooms with locker facilities. Relax in the steam room and rinse off in the specially designed shower areas.

The Tralee Golf Club club shop offers also everything you may need to make your game enjoyable. There is also a putting green and a practice area to hone your skills and play that game of your life.

With all of what Tralee Golf Club has to offer, it is certainly a golf vacation spot many golfers would keep coming back to.