Munster
Golf in County Clare
Overview
A golfer's guide to Clare
County Clare is compact, scenic and stacked with world-class links. Lahinch is the heartbeat — an Old Tom Morris layout reshaped by Alister MacKenzie, with the unforgettable blind par-3 "Dell" and a famous goat-based weather forecast. Doonbeg (Trump International) adds Greg Norman-designed dunes a half hour up the coast, and the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren give you the most cinematic non-golf afternoons in Ireland.
Most visitors fly into Shannon (45 minutes from Lahinch), making Clare the easiest "real links" trip to organise. A two-night base in Lahinch village covers both championship courses with time for a Burren drive in between.
When to play
Best time to visit Clare
May through early October offers the best balance of weather and daylight. Lahinch tee times are tight in July–August; book four to six months out. Late September is a local favourite — firm fairways, fewer crowds and the South West Storms haven't arrived yet.
FAQs