Scottish soldiers of the Black Watch Regiment knew at once that they found a treasure trove in the wide rolling dunes land in the Southwest of Ireland, just approximately 2 miles from the stunning Cliffs of Moher, in 1892 and converted it into one of the best classic golf links in all of Ireland. Ranked number 27 by Golf's Digest in 2005 in the top 100 golf courses outside of the United States, the Lahinch Golf Club has continuously attracted many golfers to test its windy courses and have a great scenic experience as they play a round of golf.

The first layout was designed by Tom Morris and was soon given alterations 3 decades after by Dr. Alister Mackenzie. This links course has panoramic views that have a scenic vision of the Liscannor Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. By 2004, the course underwent a major reconstruction and many members and visitors have agreed that the enhancement has made vast improvements and making it further a favorite golf vacation spot in Ireland.

Each and every hole promises a challenge and especially the 4th hole and 5th hole, dubbed as Klondyke and The Dell respectively, which is deemed as historic. Great views and breath taking ambience engulfs each player taking him to a new experience unlike no other.

Besides the fantastic round of golf each and every golfer, whether a local or a tourist, you get also fantastic service and amenities that is truly world-class. The clubhouse has a restaurant that serves fantastic Irish dishes and other international cuisine, while the pub offers a taste of Lahinch history and a wild array of drinks.

Hotels and other points of interests can also be found just a couple of miles away from the Lahinch Golf Club. This is a vacation where you can take your family with you and have lots of fun together.

You can have your game in the morning and still be able to spend some of your time with your family in the surrounding attractions. You can explore the quaint little fishing villages and the many restaurants and museums that are located in this part of Ireland.

Ireland certainly knows its golf. Admittedly, Ireland is dotted with world class golf courses that can cater to different golf proficiencies. Some of them are very well-known while some are kept as Ireland's hidden secrets. Some of them are even capable of hosting and acting as venues for international competitions.

But while each and every one of them has its own allure, only the Lahinch Golf Club occupies a special place in the memories and hearts of every Irish golfer and all those who have set foot on the Lahinch green. With its fantastic location, the culture and history and its magnificently designed course, you get most probably Ireland's best golf vacationing spot.

All you have to do is check out the website for Lahinch Golf Club and check out the details for bookings and reservations. Many offers are being given to international tourists which comes in packages. You can choose which package would suit your needs and budget. You can also check out travel agencies locally or through the Internet. With a little research, you may be on your way to your dream golf vacation in Ireland.

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.

Proudly standing up as Irelands newest link course amidst the many century old courses, the Doonbeg Golf Club was opened in 2002 and was designed by Greg Norman himself. With just four years of experience tucked under its belt, Doonbeg has made itself a world class golf course combining luxury and links golf.

Set on the cliffs high along the coast, Doonbeg Golf Club has found a treasure of a land to place its course and have instilled luxurious accommodations to cater to every golfer's whims.

Greg Norman himself was rendered speechless with the beauty of the landscape and has deemed it incomparable to all the golf courses he has been to all over the world. Tucked into one of Ireland's coasts, the Doonbeg Golf Club has found a treasure in its property.

Just opening its fabulous lodge this year, the Doonbeg Golf Club lodge is Ireland's newest premier luxury destination not only for golfers, but for those who want a luxurious vacation. A mere 45 minute drive from Shannon, the lodge offers a golf shop, fine dining, a pub, a spa and luxury suites.

Convincing your wife and family to join you in your dream golf vacation in Ireland would not be a problem when you show them the brochure to the fabulous lodge that houses the guests. More than just simple accommodations, each guest gets a private residence that could be a person's home away from home.

Experience a unique experience as each suite is individually designed to cater to every needs of a discriminating golfer. But each and every suite has its own fireplace designed living room, kitchen that is fully equipped, and is designed to cater to every family needs.

There are also cottages which vacationers can rent to achive full isolation and serenity, truly the Doonbeg Golf Club provides a chance to escape and live life to the fullest.

Being a member in the Doonbeg Golf Club also opens a lot of benefits and opportunities, you don?t only get to play golf but you also get to enjoy:

? The chance to be an owner of cottages and club suites at The Lodge that can be used for personal travels or as a home when in Ireland.
? Being provided with use of members only amenities such as the members clubhouse, living room, locker room, pub anddining room.
? The privilege of nominating other potential members to the club.
? Discounted rates at the suites and cottages and you get priority in bookings at the golf course.
? Members only tournaments.
? Storage of bags.
? Advanced reservations and members-only tee times.
? And so much more.

There comes a time when a seasoned golfer would look far beyond his area. Playing golf has always been known as the gentleman's game and was enjoyed at its early days only by the aristocrats of Europe. If you still want to experience the luxury and the heydays of golf, Doonbeg Golf Club is the place to go for your golf vacation trip in Ireland.

Check out their website or call your local travel agencies. This could be the best golf travel spot in Ireland that you can spend your much earned money and vacation time in.

Golf is a game of patience, smarts, dedication, discipline and a whole lot of fun. While many have shunned away from golf because they may think it?s a boring, slow-paced game, this view has changed quite a lot with so many people now playing the game.

Golf courses are now seen as a venue for relaxation and a way to relieve stress. That?s why so many overworked weekend golfers have set their sights to having a dream golf vacation. And one of the more popular countries that have emerged as a Mecca for golf vacations is Ireland.

With its mesmerizing natural beauty and the landscape that was seemingly created for the game of golf, many golf courses have been erected and patronized both by local and tourist golfers. It is no wonder that some of the golf courses in Ireland has been celebrated as among the top golf courses all around the world.

One of these is a golf course found in the northwest area of Ireland in a town called Donegal. The Donegal Golf Club was founded in 1959 and was erected in the edge of the town at Tullycullion. It stayed there for 14 years until it moved to the Murvagh Peninsula were it is situated until today. It has been the venue of prestigious championships such as the 1979 Irish ladies Close Championship and the 2003 Mens Irish Close Championship, a testament to its great design and world class amenities and facilities.

This full 18-hole championship par 73 golf course is measured at 7280 yards and is a classic links. The course is expansive and wide open and is mostly made up of low dunes. The play is hard and fast on this course but the scenic ambience allows a player to stop for a while and just soak in the view. The Atlantic Ocean gives out a stunning scenery as well as the mountains that are easily seen in the other side of the course.

Before you go out to challenge the course, you can hone your skills and warm up in what the Donegal Golf Club boasts as the best practice facilities in Northwest Ireland. There you can find facilities such as a driving net, a chipping green with bunkers, a putting green, a driving range with an automatic ball dispenser and there is even a par 3 Junior course.

The Donegal Golf Club's course Pro is also all too willing to provide lessons for beginners and novices.

Conquering the course is one thing, but at the end of the day, you can get the chance to enjoy the club's facilities and just relax and soak in the events of the day.

You can go directly to the locker room and freshen up with its state-of-the-art amenities and wonderful service. Visitors lockers are available and shower facilities are first rate.

After freshening up, you can go to the restaurant for a hearty meal of sumptuous Irish cuisine. Or if you want, you can take your golfing buddies with you are meet some of the locals at the bar for some drinks. Keep your memories alive of your golf vacation trip at Donegal with some logo embedded clothing at the club's shop.

When it is finally time to pack up your bags and head on to Ireland, the Donegal Golf Club should always be at the top of your vacation golf spots in Ireland list.

Ireland's golf courses have been receiving many accolades in the past year and have even been regarded as one of the five best countries to golf in. Offering a variety of parkland and traditional link courses, you can pick blindly among the courses that dot the whole country and still get a great course to play in.

Many of these amazing golf courses have been the venue of international professional tournaments with its championship courses and great accommodations. The warm Irish welcome alone would make you feel right at home.

Its heritage in golf is unquestioned as a number of golf courses are "mature" dating back to the late 1800's. One of these is the Cork Golf Club in Little Island, Co. Cork. Established in 1888, the Cork Golf Club was redesigned in 1927 by the renowned golf course designer Dr. Alexander Mackenzie, who designed also other famous golf courses like the Augusta National, Royal Melbourne and the Cypress point to name a few.

Throughout the course you will see many mature trees and various patches of gorse growing and making the course look more natural. The estuary of the River Lee, Lough Mahon provides the scenic Background that stretches on almost the entire course. Cork's limestone quarry affects the course and provides a play that is similar links courses with its crisp heath like playing surface.

Like wine, the age of the Cork Golf Club has made it more palatable and more enticing to golfers. With finely manicured greens carpeting the par 72, 6,731 championship course, the Cork Golf Club course can offer the same if not better game play as any other premier golf course in Ireland and even the world.

But it's not only the golf course that makes the Cork Golf Club a success and a favorite. Its clubhouse and other facilities as well are world class and have been handed with accolades by many golf enthusiasts and experts.

In 2004 alone, the prestigious All Ireland Award for Clubhouse presentation was given to the Cork Golf Club. Its deluxe and top quality service restaurant has a full bar and top notch dining facilities with fantastic food as well. It is open seven days a week and offers a great way to end a day of playing golf. In the clubhouse you will also find their roomy and well-designed changing rooms that have fantastic facilities for both members and visitors.

A bit of stretching, practice and warm up before the game? The Cork Golf Club also has practice facilities like a perfectly maintained and manicured putting green as well as a practice ground for your swings. There you will also have the chance to rent some clubs and, caddy and golf carts as well.

Then you can just go their Pro shop if you want to buy some souvenir shirts, caps, bags that have the clubs logo on it. You may also purchase any equipment you need to play your game. There you may also be able to get the chance to talk to the club pro for some pointers or enroll in some short classes to get some tips to improve your game.

Many people have grown a passion for golf. This has led them to grow the need to play challenging games to test themselves. Make a vacation out of that need, golf vacation spots in Ireland are abound and one of this is the Cork Golf Club.

Earning a well deserved 92nd rank in the 2005 edition of Gold Digests top 100 golf courses outside of the United States of America, the Waterville Golf Club represents clearly what golf links should be. Its not only a golf course, it?s a mystical retreat where one can rediscover the passion for golf and play the game with pure enjoyment, plus having the beauty of nature surround you in each and every hole.

Rated as one of Irelands longest links courses, the Waterville Golf Club has a total of 7,311 yards of pure golf heaven. You will find many scenic views as you play the game allowing you to have peace of mind and a deep appreciation for its design and culture. Located in Ireland's famous and amazingly beautiful Ring of Kerry, the Waterville Golf Club is surrounded by hills sprinkled with cottages and the Atlantic ocean and the Ballinskelligs Bay in its sides.

Playing golf at the Waterville Golf Club would expose you to strong gusts of winds that can provide a very challenging game. The course also is a combination native grasses, sand dune gores, sod faced bunkers, firm fairways, and fine putting surfaces that is made even more difficult by unpredictable and constantly changing weather. A link course that is already a hundred years old, the Waterville Golf Club is in the top 5 golf courses in Ireland and is also in the top 20 golf link courses all over the world.

But aside from its world class course, Waterville Golf Club also offers a lot of amenities and services that could make every golfer feel like royalty.

There you will find the elegant Waterville Golf Club clubhouse filled with everything a golfer would ever need. Showcasing a collection of impressive classic golf memorabilia and golf photographs and arts that makes up the ambience and the aura that is unmistakably a golfer's paradise. There is also a restaurant that offers great Irish dishes and fresh seafoods that can captivate even the most discriminating and picky eater. There is also a bar that offers the best pints in all of Kerry.

Adjacent to the clubhouse is a pro-shop where you can find every golfing equipment that you may need. There is also a golf school nearby with golf pro's that can teach you the basics and the different secrets to playing golf.

Looking for accommodations? You don?t even have to go far. You can spend your entire golfing vacation right in Waterville Golf Club. The Waterville house is an 18th century manor rated 4-stars for its excellent service and features. Situated in a forty acre property beside the Atlantic, the Waterville house has 12 suite bedrooms, a steam room and sauna, health facilities with a gym and massage room, a billiard room and even a golf practicing area. There are also private rivers and lakes for those who want to have a little down time fishing for salmon and sea trout.

Ireland has always been known for its great golf courses, many pros flock to their ocean side golf links not only because of the great games they would be able to play, but also, the warm welcome they receive and the great services and accommodations they will get.

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.

When a vacation is coming up, golfers eagerly anticipate the time where they can load their gear and race to the courses. But for some who have worked the daily grind, these precious time will be spent on something truly worthwhile that would be the stuff memories are truly made off. Some of them save up and go to Ireland.

Why Ireland?

Simple, they have got some of the best golf courses, whether it be links or parkland courses, that the world have ever seen. Many golfers have discussed the fabulous games they have played and this has made the popularity of Ireland with regards to their golf even grow so much more.

Situated 8 kilometers northwest of the town of Sligo, you will find a century old golf course that has tested many seasoned golfers and have continually to do so. Founded at Rosses Point, the County Sligo Golf Club started in 1894 as a nine-hole links course and was soon developed as a full 18-hole course a dozen years later. Today, this mature golf course has been the site for many prestigious events such as the West of Ireland Championship which calls the course its home. The club has also been chosen as the host for the Irish Close Championship, the Interprovincial Championships, and the Home International Championships, cementing its stature as a world class golf course.

One of five beautiful golf courses found in Sligo, the County Sligo Golf Club golf course is a natural beauty that is encompassed by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a range of mountains on the other. The fresh breeze from the ocean is a welcome accompaniment as you play along the course, but this same wind could get treacherous as strong gusts can greatly affect the game play. This has been a great challenge for many skilled and seasoned golfers and also a great teacher for the novice.

And since it?s a vacation, you're family can tag along as well. Sligo town offers a wide variety of attractions and activities for the whole family. The kids can be taken to the biggest birds of prey sanctuary in the whole of Ireland and watch these predators swoop down and soar in their homes. You can also take them to the Woodville farm where rare animal breeds and historic farms can be visited.

You may also take your family in a horse ride whether it is a run in the beaches or a slow ride through the scenic views of this side of Ireland. True family fun for adults and kids are assured and you get to enjoy nature's best.

But what would an Ireland vacation be if you don?t get a chance to savor a true Irish meal. A number of restaurants are just waiting to serve you the finest that this side of Ireland has to offer. Choose from a wide array of specialties and get a chance to be a witness to great Irish cuisines.

A golf vacation doesn?t have to mean that you need to leave your family behind. No vacation would be fun without them. Going to Sligo would be the best choice as you get to play golf in some of the greatest courses in the world and have the chance to do a host of activities as well with your family.