The 10 Best Links Golf Courses in Ireland to Play in 2027

1. Royal County Down Championship Links

Royal County Down ranks first because it is the consensus number-one course in the world outside the United States, anchored by its 1889 pedigree and the dramatic Mourne Mountain backdrop. The front nine is considered one of the great stretches in golf, with signature bearded eyebrow bunkers and gorse-covered dunes. The 2027 visitor fee is roughly £375 (≈€440), reflecting its elite status and limited tee times.

This course is for the serious pilgrim who wants the definitive Irish links experience and is willing to pay the premium and plan 6–12 months ahead. It trades away convenience—Newcastle is a remote location—and demands a caddie for the blind drives over heather ridges. Compared to Royal Portrush below, it offers more dramatic dune scale and a more intimate, traditional routing, though Portrush counters with Open Championship rota status and slightly lower fees.

2. Royal Portrush Dunluce Links

Royal Portrush ranks second because it is the only Irish course on the Open Championship rota, having hosted in 2019 and returning in 2025, which validates its world-class design. Harry Colt's 1932 layout was refreshed with two new holes before 2019, and the par-3 16th, Calamity Corner, plays across a yawning ravine as a signature test. The 2027 visitor fee is about £325 (≈€380), slightly under Royal County Down.

This course suits golfers who want Open rota bragging rights and a more linksy, exposed test than the sheltered dunes of County Down. It trades away the intimate, mountain-framed front nine of Royal County Down for a more open, windswept challenge. Compared to the pick above, it is marginally cheaper and more accessible from Belfast, but the dune scale is less towering, making it a slightly less dramatic visual experience.

3. Ballybunion Old Course

Ballybunion Old Course ranks third because it is the spiritual center of Irish links golf, with Tom Watson famously declaring it a course architects must study before building anything. The layout plays through towering dunes hard against the Atlantic, featuring a famous clifftop stretch on the back nine and a graveyard bordering the opening tee. The 2027 green fee is approximately €275, placing it in the mid-to-upper tier of the list.

This course is for golfers who want the purest, most untamed links challenge, with blind shots and severe undulation demanding creativity and a caddie. It trades away the manicured conditioning of the Royal clubs for a more rugged, authentic experience. Compared to Lahinch below, it offers more dramatic clifftop drama and a stronger design pedigree, but Lahinch counters with more famous blind holes and a livelier town base.

4. Lahinch Old Course

Lahinch Old Course ranks fourth because it is the "St Andrews of Ireland," shaped by Old Tom Morris and reworked by Alister MacKenzie, giving it a design pedigree few can match. It hosts the two most famous blind holes in Ireland—the Dell par 3 and the Klondyke par 5—which require a caddie and a white marker stone to navigate. The 2027 fee is roughly €255, and it hosted the 2019 Irish Open, proving its championship mettle.

This course is for golfers who enjoy quirky, strategic blind shots and a lively town atmosphere with surf and trad music nearby. It trades away the raw clifftop drama of Ballybunion for a more playful, inland-dune layout. Compared to Ballybunion above, it is slightly cheaper and more fun per round, but it lacks the sheer Atlantic power and architectural intensity that makes Ballybunion a spiritual pilgrimage.

5. Portmarnock Old Course

Portmarnock Old Course ranks fifth because it is the most convenient world-class links to Dublin Airport, sitting on a sandy peninsula just north of the city, and it has hosted many Irish Opens. The par-3 15th is rated among the best short holes in the game, offering a stern test of accuracy over water. The 2027 visitor fee is about €295, and it appears on shortlists for future Open venues in the Republic.

This course is for golfers with limited time who want a top-tier links without a long drive, ideal for a short trip or a first taste of Irish golf. It trades away the towering dunes of the southwest for a flatter, more strategic test that emphasizes wind and course management. Compared to Waterville below, it is more accessible and has a stronger championship history, but it lacks the dramatic mountain-and-bay scenery of the Ring of Kerry.

6. Waterville Golf Links

Waterville Golf Links ranks sixth because its back nine winds through huge dunes along Ballinskelligs Bay, delivering some of the most dramatic scenery on the Ring of Kerry. The par-3 17th, Mulcahy's Peak, offers a panoramic view that is among the best in Irish golf, and Payne Stewart served as honorary captain. The 2027 green fee is approximately €275, matching Ballybunion's price point. Its remote location adds to the sense of adventure and isolation.

This course is for golfers who value scenic grandeur and a remote, peaceful setting, willing to drive the long Kerry roads for a memorable round. It trades away the convenience of Portmarnock and the championship pedigree of the Royal clubs for pure visual splendor. Compared to Portmarnock above, it offers far more dramatic dune scale and ocean views, but it is less convenient and lacks the same level of Open venue consideration.

7. Carne Golf Links

Carne Golf Links ranks seventh because it is the clear value pick at roughly €95, offering giant-dune golf that competes with anything on the island. Eddie Hackett's final design threads fairways through canyons of marram grass among some of the tallest dunes on any links anywhere. The newer Wild Atlantic Dunes holes expand the property toward 27 championship holes, adding variety and length. Its remoteness in Belmullet, County Mayo, keeps tour buses away and the experience authentic.

This course is for value-driven golfers willing to drive the extra distance to the far northwest for a world-class links at a fraction of the cost of marquee venues. It trades away the championship history and polished conditioning of the top five for raw, untamed dune scale and solitude.

8. Tralee Golf Club

Tralee Golf Club ranks eighth because it is Arnold Palmer's first European design, pairing a gentler front nine with a wild, dune-strewn back nine that is the real test. The par-3 16th and par-4 17th are the highlights, overlooking the beach used in the film Ryan's Daughter with Dingle Peninsula views. The 2027 green fee is about €235, making it one of the more affordable options on this list.

This course is for golfers who want a Palmer-designed test with a memorable closing stretch, ideal for those who appreciate a mix of forgiving and challenging holes. It trades away the towering dune scale of Carne or Ballybunion for a more varied, strategic layout. Compared to Carne above, it is slightly more expensive but offers better-conditioned greens and a more famous architect, though it lacks Carne's raw, untamed dune canyons.

9. The European Club

The European Club ranks ninth because it is a single-belt dune course at Brittas Bay, designed, built, and owned by golf writer Pat Ruddy, offering a unique, personal vision. It features deep revetted bunkers and twenty holes in total, with the long par-4 7th beside the beach as the standout. The 2027 visitor fee is roughly €225, providing excellent value for a course within an hour of Dublin.

This course is for golfers who appreciate a modern, quirky design with a personal touch, ideal for a Dublin-based trip without long transfers. It trades away the traditional, dune-riding routing of the top links for a flatter, more strategic test along a single dune belt. Compared to Tralee above, it is cheaper and more convenient, but it lacks the dramatic Kerry coastline and the Palmer pedigree, making it a less iconic name.

10. Old Head of Kinsale

Old Head of Kinsale ranks tenth because it is the most spectacular and expensive round on the list at about €475, bought for its 300-foot Atlantic cliffs and nine holes along the edge. The 220-acre promontory features a ninth-century lighthouse and panoramic ocean views on nearly every hole, making it a bucket-list spectacle. It is not a traditional links but a clifftop course, which is why it ranks last for pure links golf.

This course is for golfers who prioritize drama and views over a traditional links test, ideal for a once-in-a-lifetime experience or a special occasion. It trades away the ground game and dune-landform authenticity of true links for sheer coastal spectacle. Compared to The European Club above, it is far more expensive and less strategic, but it offers unmatched cliffside scenery that no other course on this list can match, making it a worthy final pick.

How we ranked these

Rankings were based on four weighted dimensions: dunescape scale and quality, design pedigree and routing, conditioning and turf firmness, and championship history. Each course was scored across these axes using expert reviews, official club information, and Open rota status. Green fee value and visitor accessibility were also considered, with higher weight given to courses offering a pure links experience.

Deliberately ignored were non-links courses, such as Old Head of Kinsale, despite its spectacle, because it does not meet the true links landform definition. Also excluded were courses with limited visitor access or those not currently operating. This ensures the list focuses on authentic links golf, not marketing labels, and remains practical for travelers planning a 2027 trip.

Related questions

Do I need a handicap certificate to play these courses?

Several championship links, including Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, ask visitors for a handicap certificate or proof of club membership, often around 24 for men and 36 for women. Check each club's visitor policy when booking and carry documentation.

Can I walk on as a single without a booking?

Rarely at the marquee courses, which run tight visitor sheets. Value and remote clubs like Carne are far more flexible. Solo golfers are usually paired into an existing group, so booking as a twosome improves your odds of a confirmed time.

Is Northern Ireland a separate trip from the Republic?

Practically, yes for short trips. Royal County Down and Royal Portrush sit in Northern Ireland with pound sterling pricing and are 5–7 hours' driving from the Kerry cluster. Combining both comfortably needs ten days or more.

What is the best second course to add at a marquee club?

The Annesley Links at Royal County Down and the Valley Links at Royal Portrush are both strong, considerably cheaper, and easy to add on the same day as the championship round when the tee sheet allows.

How do I choose between the northern and southwest circuits?

If you have under ten days, pick one circuit. The north offers Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, both Open venues. The southwest offers Ballybunion, Lahinch, Waterville, and Tralee, with more dramatic dunes and a livelier base in Lahinch. Consider your budget and driving tolerance.

What is the best value course on the list?

Carne Golf Links at roughly €95 is the clear value pick. Eddie Hackett's final design threads fairways through canyons of marram grass among some of the tallest dunes on any links anywhere. The remoteness that keeps the fee low also keeps tour buses away.

Are buggies available at these courses?

True links are walking courses. Buggies are frequently limited, restricted to medical certificates, or unavailable entirely to protect the turf. If a member of your group cannot walk 18 holes on undulating dunes, confirm cart policy with each club in writing before booking.

What is the best time of year for a links trip?

Late May through early September gives the mildest weather, firmest fairways, and longest daylight, making 36-hole days possible. April and October are quieter and cheaper but cooler and windier. November through March often means winter greens, which removes the ground game that defines links golf.

FAQ

How far in advance should I book a tee time at top Irish links courses like Royal County Down?

For high-demand courses such as Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, or Ballybunion, booking 6 to 12 months ahead is standard, especially for peak summer dates. Many clubs open their visitor books roughly a year in advance, and weekend slots can fill within days of release. Anchor your itinerary on those tee times first, then arrange the surrounding rounds.

What is the typical green fee range for a top-ten Irish links course in 2027?

Expect roughly €95 at value clubs such as Carne Golf Links up to about €475 at Old Head of Kinsale. Royal County Down runs about £375 and Royal Portrush about £325. Most of the list sits between €225 and €300 per round, with shoulder-season and twilight rates lower at many clubs.

Are these links courses walkable, or do I need a caddie or buggy?

All true links are designed for walking, and buggies are often limited or restricted to protect the turf and because of the terrain. Caddies are available at most top clubs at roughly €50 to €80 plus tip, and are strongly recommended for first-time visitors on courses with blind shots such as Lahinch and Royal County Down.

What is the best time of year to play links golf in Ireland?

Late May through early September gives the mildest conditions, firmest fairways, and the longest daylight. April and October are quieter and cheaper but cooler and windier. Rain is possible in any month, so waterproofs are not optional regardless of when you travel.

How do Irish links compare to Scottish links like St Andrews or Turnberry?

Irish links generally offer more dramatic dune scale, tighter routing through the dunes, and fewer crowds. Scotland carries deeper documented history and the larger Open rota. Average green fees in Ireland tend to run lower outside the two Royal clubs, which makes a multi-round Irish trip competitive on cost.

Which single course should I play if I only get one round in Ireland?

Royal County Down if you can reach Newcastle and absorb the fee — it is the consensus top course on the island. If you are flying into Dublin with no time to drive, Portmarnock's Old Course delivers championship links golf within an hour of the airport.

What is the biggest mistake golfers make when planning an Irish links trip?

Cramming both the northern and southwest circuits into a short trip. Seven days with rounds in Kerry and Antrim means two long transfer days and two rounds played on no sleep. Under ten days, pick one circuit and play it properly.

Are there any hidden costs beyond green fees?

Caddies (€50–€80 plus tip), rental car, and accommodation are the big ones. Budget €500–€800 for caddies across seven rounds. Also factor in ferry costs if crossing the Shannon, and higher prices for peak-season lodging. Book caddies when you book tee times, as the good ones go fast.

Can I play 36 holes in a day at these courses?

Yes, especially in summer when daylight extends past 10pm in the far northwest. Many clubs offer second-round rates on their companion courses, like the Annesley at Royal County Down or the Valley at Portrush. However, walking 36 on dunes is tiring, so plan a rest day after.

What should I pack for an Irish links trip?

Waterproofs are essential, plus a second pair of golf shoes so one pair can dry overnight. Bring extra golf balls—links rough and gorse are unforgiving. A light sweater or windshirt is useful even in summer. Consider a low-running bump-and-run club like an 8-iron for approach shots.

Sources

• https://www.golfdigest.com/places-to-play
• https://www.randa.org/
• https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-courses/ireland
• https://www.royalcountydown.org/
• https://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/
• https://www.ballybuniongolfclub.com/
• https://www.lahinchgolf.com/
• https://www.carnegolflinks.com/
• https://www.discoverireland.ie/
• https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses

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