Top 10 Links Golf Courses in Ireland: Green Fees, Designers & Course Lengths for 2026
- The Kick Team
- May 5
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The ultimate guide to Ireland’s world class links golf — with prices, locations, and booking links.
Ireland is home to some of the most spectacular links golf courses on the planet. Shaped by Atlantic winds, ancient dunes, and legendary course designers, these coastal masterpieces attract golfers from every corner of the world.
Whether you're planning a luxury golf vacation, a weekend golf break, or a once in a lifetime bucket list trip, this guide covers the top 10 links golf courses in Ireland, complete with green fees, course designers, yardages, and official websites.
1. Royal County Down – Newcastle, Co. Down (Northern Ireland)
Royal County Down golf, best links course in the world.
Designer: Old Tom Morris (1889), later Harry Vardon & Harry Colt
Length: ~7,200 yards
Green Fee: €300–€360+ (peak season)
Why It’s Famous: Regularly ranked the No. 1 golf course in the world, Royal County Down offers dramatic dunes, narrow fairways, and stunning views of the Mourne Mountains. Website: https://www.royalcountydown.org
2. Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course) – Co. Kerry (Ireland)
Ballybunion golf, best golf in Ireland, in Kerry .
Designer: Tom Simpson
Length: ~6,800 yards
Green Fee: €250–€300
Why It’s Famous: A favourite of Tom Watson, Ballybunion is known for its towering dunes, cliffside holes, and pure links challenge. Website: https://www.ballybuniongolfclub.com
3. Lahinch Golf Club (Old Course) – Co. Clare (Ireland)
Lahinch golf, Synonymous with golf on the Wild Atlantic Way. and Old Tom Morris .
Designer: Old Tom Morris; redesigned by Alister MacKenzie
Length: ~6,950 yards
Green Fee: €220–€260
Why It’s Famous: Often called the St Andrews of Ireland, Lahinch blends quirky blind shots with world class links terrain. Website: https://www.lahinchgolf.com
4. Portmarnock Golf Club – Co. Dublin (Ireland)
Portmarnock golf, one of the renouned Dublin golf courses, and championship links in Ireland
Designer: William Pickeman & George Ross; later Colt & Morrison
Length: ~7,400 yards
Green Fee: €250–€300
Why It’s Famous: One of the most prestigious links courses in Europe, located just minutes from Dublin Airport. Website: https://www.portmarnockgolfclub.ie
5. Waterville Golf Links – Co. Kerry (Ireland)
Waterville golf, a stunning Kerry links golf course, famous for reland golf vacations
Designer: Eddie Hackett; remodelled by Tom Fazio
Length: ~7,300 yards
Green Fee: €220–€260
Why It’s Famous: A remote, rugged masterpiece on the Ring of Kerry — a favourite of celebrities and touring pros. Website: https://www.watervillegolflinks.ie
6. Tralee Golf Club – West Barrow, Co. Kerry (Ireland)
Tralee golf, Favourite of Arnold Palmer, one of Ireland's, best links courses Kerry
Designer: Arnold Palmer
Length: ~7,000 yards
Green Fee: €200–€250
Why It’s Famous: Palmer famously said, “I designed the front nine, but surely God designed the back nine.” Website: https://traleegolfclub.com
7. Royal Portrush (Dunluce Links) – Co. Antrim (Northern Ireland)
Royal Portrush golf. Home of the Open, a famous Northern Ireland links golf course Designer: Harry Colt; updated by Martin Ebert
Length: ~7,300 yards
Green Fee: €240–€290
Why It’s Famous: Host of The Open in 2019 and 2025, home to the iconic “Calamity Corner.” Website: https://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com
8. The European Club – Co. Wicklow (Ireland)
European Club golf, and a renoundWicklow golf courses
Designer: Pat Ruddy
Length: ~7,355 yards (20 hole layout)
Green Fee: €200–€260
Why It’s Famous: A modern links with rugged dunes, long par 4s, and Ruddy’s signature design flair. Website: https://www.theeuropeanclub.com
9. The Island Golf Club – Corballis, Co. Dublin (Ireland)
The Island golf, Dublin links golf, a hidden gem
Designer: Originally club members; modern redesign by MacKenzie & Ebert
Length: ~6,900 yards
Green Fee: €180–€240
Why It’s Famous: Once a hidden gem, now a world ranked links with dramatic dunes and estuary views. Website: https://www.theislandgolfclub.com
10. County Sligo Golf Club (Rosses Point) – Co. Sligo (Ireland)
County Sligo golf, Rosses Point.
Designer: Harry Colt
Length: ~7,100 yards
Green Fee: €150–€200
Why It’s Famous: A classic links with raised tees, rolling fairways, and sweeping Atlantic panoramas. Website: https://www.countysligogolfclub.ie
Golf Course | County / Region | Designer(s) | Length (Yards) | Green Fee (Peak Season) | Course Type | Official Website |
Royal County Down | Newcastle, Co. Down (NI) | Old Tom Morris, Harry Colt | ~7,200 | €300–€360+ | Championship Links | |
Ballybunion (Old Course) | Co. Kerry (ROI) | Tom Simpson | ~6,800 | €250–€300 | Classic Links | |
Lahinch (Old Course) | Co. Clare (ROI) | Old Tom Morris, Alister MacKenzie | ~6,950 | €220–€260 | Historic Links | |
Portmarnock Golf Club | Co. Dublin (ROI) | Pickeman, Ross, Colt & Morrison | ~7,400 | €250–€300 | Championship Links | |
Waterville Golf Links | Co. Kerry (ROI) | Eddie Hackett, Tom Fazio | ~7,300 | €220–€260 | Atlantic Links | |
Tralee Golf Club | West Barrow, Co. Kerry (ROI) | Arnold Palmer | ~7,000 | €200–€250 | Scenic Links | |
Royal Portrush (Dunluce Links) | Co. Antrim (NI) | Harry Colt, Martin Ebert | ~7,300 | €240–€290 | Open Championship Links | |
The European Club | Co. Wicklow (ROI) | Pat Ruddy | ~7,355 (20 holes) | €200–€260 | Modern Links | |
The Island Golf Club | Corballis, Co. Dublin (ROI) | Club Members; MacKenzie & Ebert | ~6,900 | €180–€240 | Dune Links | |
County Sligo (Rosses Point) | Co. Sligo (ROI) | Harry Colt | ~7,100 | €150–€200 | Classic Links |
Top 10 Best Parkland Golf Courses in Ireland :
Comparison Tabe
Rank | Course | County | Designer | Length (Yards) | Sources |
1 | Mount Juliet Estate | Kilkenny | Jack Nicklaus | 7,200 yards | |
2 | The K Club – Palmer North | Kildare | Arnold Palmer | 7,413 yards (from the tips) | |
3 | Druids Glen | Wicklow | Not Available | 7,222 yards | |
4 | Killeen Castle | Meath | Jack Nicklaus | Not published | |
5 | Glasson Golf Club | Westmeath | Christy O’Connor Jr. (1993) | Not published | |
6 | Portumna Golf Club | Galway | Not Available | Not published | |
7 | Carlow Golf Club | Carlow | Not Available | Not published | |
8 | Woodenbridge Golf Club | Wicklow | Not Available | Not published | |
9 | Westport Golf Club | Mayo | Not published | Not published | |
10 | Killarney Golf Club – Killeen Course | Kerry | Not published | 7,252 yards |
Good Parkland courses
Course | County | Designer | Length | Notes / Source |
Dromoland Castle Golf Club | Clare | Not listed in retrieved sources | 6,824 yards | |
Killarney – Killeen Course | Kerry | Not listed in retrieved sources | 7,252 yards | |
Killarney – Mahony’s Point | Kerry | Not listed in retrieved sources | 6,800 yards | |
Cork Golf Club | Cork | Not listed in retrieved sources | 6,770 yards | |
Balbriggan Golf Club | Dublin | Not listed in retrieved sources | Not published | |
Monkstown Golf Club | Cork | Not listed in retrieved sources | Not published | |
Ballinrobe Golf Club | Mayo | Not listed in retrieved sources | Not published | |
Moyola Park Golf Club | Derry | Not listed in retrieved sources | Not published | |
Blainroe Golf Club | Wicklow | Not listed in retrieved sources | Not published | |
Druids Heath | Wicklow | Peter McEvoy & Jeff Lynch (2021 redesign) | Not published |
Of Course there are a number of lesser well known but good golf courses in Ireland.
Here is a full listing Golf Ireland
Comments