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Scotland may be the historical home of golf but most folk of a golfing disposition agree that Ireland is the spiritual home of the game. The Emerald Isle has more first rate courses, pro rata, than just about anywhere on the planet, many of them links, most of them oozing history. For untold years the number was static at around 230. Now the figure is 440-plus and rising.
With such a choice you might find difficulty in identifying the perfect golfing holiday destination when you go across the sea to Ireland. If you choose the south west your golfing holiday will become a pilgrimage as you drool over a collection of historic courses in what’s known as the Ring of Kerry, otherwise The Golden Triangle of Golf. Here are the grand old links of Ballybunion, Tralee, Dooks and Waterville but there are scads of others, not least the two glorious parkland courses of the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club and the newly minted jewel that is the Ring of Kerry Club.
It’s a bit of a hike by road if you land in Dublin but you could fly into Cork or Kerry from several UK regional airports, or Shannon if you’re coming from the USA, and most of the above attractions will be within easy driving distance.
You’ll need somewhere to rest your head and for luxury and convenience the Plaza Hotel on the Killarney’s main street takes some beating. The golf club is only minutes away and there are 20 or so cracking pubs within strolling distance. A word of caution: identifying the best pint of Guinness on offer in town is a challenge not to be taken lightly.
A similar challenge awaits on-course, too: you’ll be spoiled for choice. If you’re staying in Killarney, which you should, two of the local courses would fill one of your days, although having seen the jewel that is the Killarney club you’ll want to play all three so you’d better make that two days. Add the two great links of Ballybunion, an hour away, and there goes another day.
If you’re on a tight schedule you complete the picture with 18 holes at the nearby Ring of Kerry club and, without spending too much time on the road, you’ll have enjoyed a golfing break that will send you home with a spring in your step and a smile on your face.
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