No problem. I appreciate the information. If we changed the trip to summer of 2026 do you think all options be on the table. RCD and Portrush are pretty important to us. And hey, who says 60th bday is more important than 61? :)
Oh for sure. I booked foursomes at every course on the list in this article. What you’d want to do is ask Portrush and RCD when their books open for 2026, and then just get on the phone as soon as humanly possible on that day and keep calling until you get through. Alternatively you can use a travel company like Experience Ireland who will do all of the heavy lifting for you, for a fee of course. Given it’s a week, I probably would go that route.
Wonderful bucketlist trip you made here and great writeup! I venture to NW Ireland as often as I can. I am a lifetime member at Carne and Enniscrone who needs to find his way to some of the Northern Courses you played.
Your thoughts on Narin Portnoo mirror mine - I was so blown away the first time I played it, that I have been back two more times - Ardara is nice sleepy little town just a few kilometers away. Also, the restaurant there is outstanding with 5 star meals - a wonderful way to spend a day. Making a Daddy/Daughter trip there in the Fall - shortly after landing in Dublin we will drive to Cruit Island, stay in Adara - then on to Narin Portnoo the next day for the entire day.
One more night in Adara then in the morning it's off to Enniscrone. (I have yet to play Co Sligo and have a reciprocal there, I know I need to - nearby Strandhill is wonderful seaside town but that not saying much when it comes to Ireland as they are all wonderful.) A couple of days in Enniscrone with a winding drive to The Beach Bar (heard about it from Tom Coyne as he claimed it was his favorite pub in Ireland - its great but I vote McDonnells in Belmullet.
Which is where we head for the final leg of our trip - my pot of gold at the end of a rainbow - three nights in Belmullet, three days at Carne. Can't wait to see my friends Gerry and Fiona whom I am sure you have met. While WAD gets all the attention nowadays - I really love the original 18 and I play it in the rotation the Eddie Hackett intended - that front 9 is so sublime with nice views of the football pitch, town and bay - and beautiful farm land... then make that turn up 10 to the back 9... favorite holes 4 on the front - I share this opinion with John Garrity 'pure links golf hole calling for the classic bump and run on the second shot... and 15 on the back - it doesn't get written about much with 17 drawing most of the praise from Garrity, Coyne et al - but 15 is an exam question - up hill, narrow fairway with bunker on either side to an elevated green which slopes away - require two exacting shots.
Enjoyed reading about your trip and am envious at how long you were able to stay! You hit all the great tracks - one last thought that may be considered heresy - I thought Portmarnock was meh from the demeanor to the course - I enjoyed the other Portmarnock course - hotel course that Langer designed.
Thanks for reading! Please do check out Sligo it is really, really special. We did want to go to McDonnells but we were there during the Belmullet Festival and there were literally 200 people queued up outside it and we had just played 27 at Carne, so we wimped out. I can't say that Langer's Portmarnock is better since I didn't play it (and i have my doubts) but agree that the original Portmarnock is missing something in terms of vibes and whatnot.
I will find my way to Sligo and have a feeling I will really like it - from what I have seen in pictures and heard is that it may be sublime akin to Waterville (which I loved - spent the day there and met the legendary Liam Higgins (worth a Google) and the late Rusty Staub (of all people!) Did you see the guest book in the Men's lockerroom - Tiger Wood;s signature is in there as he used to travel over with O'Meara back in the day before the Open.
There's a documentary out on McDonnell's pub - I haven't seen it yet but certainly plan to... Padraig the owner is also the town undertaker and funeral director - classic Ireland. He's a wondeful fellow with an amazing ability of remembering names. Hope you make it back to Carne again one day.
I actually got myself in trouble for going into the Waterville pro shop and saying I think Liam is a liar because there's not a chance he aced that hole. That didn't go over so well, given that it was apparently witnessed by some priests! (There's just NO way, unless there was a hurricane behind him, especially with old club technology.)
Thanks Matt. I can't recall -- did you rent a car or hire a driver? I'd like to rent just for flexibility but am a bit concerned with driving. Probably more concerned with the narrow roads than driving on the left side. thx.
Just stumbled on your site. Thanks so much for the detailed information. This is really helpful. I'd like to go this June for my 60th birthday, with my family, but I am thinking I may be too late to get times on many of the high demand tracks. I just emailed Portrush and RCD. We shall see. It would be just two golfers, my son and I, so maybe that will help. Anyway, quick question: If you only had one week to play, 6 full days of actual golf, what would you try to do? We are both good players (slight plus handicaps). We will have my wife 16 year old daughter with us as well, so non-golf activities might make some difference. But, hey, it's my birthday, so I call the shots. :)
Hey! Thanks for swinging by. I don’t want to be a naysayer here but the Open is at Portrush this year so I’d guess that’s not happening. RCD also sold out almost immediately for guests when I tried.
Failing those, I’d try to look at Southwest Ireland like Lahinch and Ballybunion. Also tough gets, but worth it. If they don’t work, Tralee, Waterville, Dooks are excellent.
But what I might try to do is go to the north but not Portrush. In six days or so I’d try to play:
Castlerock
Ballyliffin
St Patrick’s
Enniscrone
Sligo
Carne
That’s a hell of a trip. Let me know if I can provide any insight or feedback as you get into the planning.
Hey Matt. Hope all is well. I'm still working on this possible trip and had a quick question -- If we are a bit limited in time (4 or 5 days of golf), and want to stay based in just one or two places, what would you recommend? One of the places we absolutely intend to include is St. Patrick's/Rosapenna resort, and I think we'd want to play at least 2 days there. I kind of like staying in one place and doing course replays as I really like playing a course again after I start to understand it a bit. So, with limited time and not trying to fit in a ton of courses, maybe just St. Patrick's and Ballyliffin? Thanks again. By the way, I liked the state flag blog. Spot on and funny as well.
I actually missed your initial question. If you wanted a homebase, Rosapenna is a lovely resort but in the middle of nowhere. Your wife and daughter would probably be a bit bored. I think camping out in Sligo and making day trips for golf and other such things is way smarter. From Sligo, Rosapenna is about 2 -2 1/2 hours away, so it might make more sense to stay in two spots. From Sligo, you can knock off County Sligo, Enniscrone and Narin & Portnoo. From Rosapenna, you can play all three of the courses there plus Cruit Island (which I didn't get to and it annoys me).
No problem. I appreciate the information. If we changed the trip to summer of 2026 do you think all options be on the table. RCD and Portrush are pretty important to us. And hey, who says 60th bday is more important than 61? :)
Oh for sure. I booked foursomes at every course on the list in this article. What you’d want to do is ask Portrush and RCD when their books open for 2026, and then just get on the phone as soon as humanly possible on that day and keep calling until you get through. Alternatively you can use a travel company like Experience Ireland who will do all of the heavy lifting for you, for a fee of course. Given it’s a week, I probably would go that route.
Great advice. Thanks so much. Look forward to reading more on your site.
Wonderful bucketlist trip you made here and great writeup! I venture to NW Ireland as often as I can. I am a lifetime member at Carne and Enniscrone who needs to find his way to some of the Northern Courses you played.
Your thoughts on Narin Portnoo mirror mine - I was so blown away the first time I played it, that I have been back two more times - Ardara is nice sleepy little town just a few kilometers away. Also, the restaurant there is outstanding with 5 star meals - a wonderful way to spend a day. Making a Daddy/Daughter trip there in the Fall - shortly after landing in Dublin we will drive to Cruit Island, stay in Adara - then on to Narin Portnoo the next day for the entire day.
One more night in Adara then in the morning it's off to Enniscrone. (I have yet to play Co Sligo and have a reciprocal there, I know I need to - nearby Strandhill is wonderful seaside town but that not saying much when it comes to Ireland as they are all wonderful.) A couple of days in Enniscrone with a winding drive to The Beach Bar (heard about it from Tom Coyne as he claimed it was his favorite pub in Ireland - its great but I vote McDonnells in Belmullet.
Which is where we head for the final leg of our trip - my pot of gold at the end of a rainbow - three nights in Belmullet, three days at Carne. Can't wait to see my friends Gerry and Fiona whom I am sure you have met. While WAD gets all the attention nowadays - I really love the original 18 and I play it in the rotation the Eddie Hackett intended - that front 9 is so sublime with nice views of the football pitch, town and bay - and beautiful farm land... then make that turn up 10 to the back 9... favorite holes 4 on the front - I share this opinion with John Garrity 'pure links golf hole calling for the classic bump and run on the second shot... and 15 on the back - it doesn't get written about much with 17 drawing most of the praise from Garrity, Coyne et al - but 15 is an exam question - up hill, narrow fairway with bunker on either side to an elevated green which slopes away - require two exacting shots.
Enjoyed reading about your trip and am envious at how long you were able to stay! You hit all the great tracks - one last thought that may be considered heresy - I thought Portmarnock was meh from the demeanor to the course - I enjoyed the other Portmarnock course - hotel course that Langer designed.
All the best!
Greg
Thanks for reading! Please do check out Sligo it is really, really special. We did want to go to McDonnells but we were there during the Belmullet Festival and there were literally 200 people queued up outside it and we had just played 27 at Carne, so we wimped out. I can't say that Langer's Portmarnock is better since I didn't play it (and i have my doubts) but agree that the original Portmarnock is missing something in terms of vibes and whatnot.
I will find my way to Sligo and have a feeling I will really like it - from what I have seen in pictures and heard is that it may be sublime akin to Waterville (which I loved - spent the day there and met the legendary Liam Higgins (worth a Google) and the late Rusty Staub (of all people!) Did you see the guest book in the Men's lockerroom - Tiger Wood;s signature is in there as he used to travel over with O'Meara back in the day before the Open.
There's a documentary out on McDonnell's pub - I haven't seen it yet but certainly plan to... Padraig the owner is also the town undertaker and funeral director - classic Ireland. He's a wondeful fellow with an amazing ability of remembering names. Hope you make it back to Carne again one day.
I actually got myself in trouble for going into the Waterville pro shop and saying I think Liam is a liar because there's not a chance he aced that hole. That didn't go over so well, given that it was apparently witnessed by some priests! (There's just NO way, unless there was a hurricane behind him, especially with old club technology.)
Greg, Where do you recommend to stay in Ardara?
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g212511-d26456609-Reviews-Atlantic_Lodge_Ardara-Ardara_County_Donegal.html
Stayed here twice liked it.
Thanks Matt. I can't recall -- did you rent a car or hire a driver? I'd like to rent just for flexibility but am a bit concerned with driving. Probably more concerned with the narrow roads than driving on the left side. thx.
We drove. It can get sketchy (the road to Rosapenna is crazy) but it’s manageable
Just stumbled on your site. Thanks so much for the detailed information. This is really helpful. I'd like to go this June for my 60th birthday, with my family, but I am thinking I may be too late to get times on many of the high demand tracks. I just emailed Portrush and RCD. We shall see. It would be just two golfers, my son and I, so maybe that will help. Anyway, quick question: If you only had one week to play, 6 full days of actual golf, what would you try to do? We are both good players (slight plus handicaps). We will have my wife 16 year old daughter with us as well, so non-golf activities might make some difference. But, hey, it's my birthday, so I call the shots. :)
tmk
Tim Kratz
Hey! Thanks for swinging by. I don’t want to be a naysayer here but the Open is at Portrush this year so I’d guess that’s not happening. RCD also sold out almost immediately for guests when I tried.
Failing those, I’d try to look at Southwest Ireland like Lahinch and Ballybunion. Also tough gets, but worth it. If they don’t work, Tralee, Waterville, Dooks are excellent.
But what I might try to do is go to the north but not Portrush. In six days or so I’d try to play:
Castlerock
Ballyliffin
St Patrick’s
Enniscrone
Sligo
Carne
That’s a hell of a trip. Let me know if I can provide any insight or feedback as you get into the planning.
Hey Matt. Hope all is well. I'm still working on this possible trip and had a quick question -- If we are a bit limited in time (4 or 5 days of golf), and want to stay based in just one or two places, what would you recommend? One of the places we absolutely intend to include is St. Patrick's/Rosapenna resort, and I think we'd want to play at least 2 days there. I kind of like staying in one place and doing course replays as I really like playing a course again after I start to understand it a bit. So, with limited time and not trying to fit in a ton of courses, maybe just St. Patrick's and Ballyliffin? Thanks again. By the way, I liked the state flag blog. Spot on and funny as well.
Or maybe St. Pat's links and Sligo? My wife and daughter don't golf and Sligo looks like a place they would have fun. thx.
I actually missed your initial question. If you wanted a homebase, Rosapenna is a lovely resort but in the middle of nowhere. Your wife and daughter would probably be a bit bored. I think camping out in Sligo and making day trips for golf and other such things is way smarter. From Sligo, Rosapenna is about 2 -2 1/2 hours away, so it might make more sense to stay in two spots. From Sligo, you can knock off County Sligo, Enniscrone and Narin & Portnoo. From Rosapenna, you can play all three of the courses there plus Cruit Island (which I didn't get to and it annoys me).
Sligo is absolutely lovely. That’s a great call. I could see a summer home there. The town is nice
Oh I bet that went over well LOL! His backstory is pretty amazing. He is legend in those parts - as you may have learned.