Curated ranking

Championship-calibre golf courses in Ireland

Championship courses host tournaments because they ask everything of every club in the bag. These Irish layouts have staged Opens, Irish Opens and Ryder Cups — and are open to visitors. Pack your A game.

  1. Rosapenna (St Patrick's Links)
    Donegal · links · Championship

    Tom Doak's instant-classic Donegal links — already in many world top-100 lists.

    €195–€2954.9View course →
  2. Royal County Down
    Down · links · Championship

    Often ranked the world's greatest links — a wild, mountain-framed masterpiece on the Mournes coast.

    €380–€6004.9View course →
  3. Adare Manor
    Limerick · parkland · Championship

    Ireland's ultimate parkland — host of the 2027 Ryder Cup, immaculately presented and rich with history.

    €350–€4954.9View course →
  4. Ballybunion (Old Course)
    Kerry · links · Championship

    Tom Watson's favourite — towering dunes, ocean-edge par 4s, and a back nine that lives in golf folklore.

    €220–€3254.9View course →
  5. Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
    Antrim · links · Championship

    Northern Ireland's Open venue — dramatic dunes, ocean views, and the famous Calamity Corner par 3.

    €280–€5004.9View course →
  6. Lahinch Golf Club (Old Course)
    Clare · links · Championship

    The St Andrews of Ireland — quirky, charming, and home of the famous Klondyke and Dell holes.

    €195–€2954.8View course →
  7. Portmarnock Golf Club
    Dublin · links · Championship

    A pure championship links 30 minutes from Dublin — flat, fair, and ferociously consistent.

    €250–€3954.8View course →
  8. Portstewart Golf Club (Strand)
    Derry · links · Championship

    Spectacular opening seven holes through giant dunes — host of the 2017 Irish Open.

    €175–€2354.8View course →
  9. Waterville Golf Links
    Kerry · links · Championship

    The Kerry classic favoured by Payne Stewart — a long, soulful links on the Ring of Kerry.

    €220–€3254.8View course →
  10. The Island Golf Club
    Dublin · links · Championship

    A wild, dune-framed links across the estuary from Malahide — one of Dublin's great hidden classics.

    €160–€2304.8View course →
  11. The European Club
    Wicklow · links · Championship

    A purist's links on the Wicklow coast — Pat Ruddy's personal vision, with two extra par 3s for fun.

    €200–€2504.8View course →
  12. Ballyliffin (Glashedy Links)
    Donegal · links · Championship

    Ireland's most northerly championship links — vast dunes, the conical Glashedy Rock and pure links theatre.

    €120–€1804.8View course →
  13. Mount Juliet Estate
    Kilkenny · parkland · Championship

    Nicklaus parkland on a 500-acre Kilkenny estate — host of the 2021 & 2022 Irish Open.

    €145–€2454.7View course →
  14. County Sligo (Rosses Point)
    Sligo · links · Championship

    Yeats country links beneath Ben Bulben — host of the West of Ireland Championship.

    €110–€1654.7View course →
  15. The K Club (Palmer North)
    Kildare · parkland · Championship

    2006 Ryder Cup venue — Arnold Palmer parkland with the River Liffey in play on five holes.

    €195–€2954.7View course →
FAQs

Championship-calibre golf courses in Ireland — questions