Golf is the single biggest sporting attraction in Ireland, with over 204,000 visitors traveling here specifically to play. Thus, the country holds more than 380 courses -- including scores of championship courses. The Irish landscape and climate, like those of Scotland, seem almost custom-designed for scenic links, fair fairways, green greens, and dramatic traps -- and there is never a shortage of 19th holes. In short, Ireland is a place of golfing pilgrimage.
Best of all, golfing is not confined to those with an Olympian income. Membership fees do not require mortgages, and greens fees for walk-ins are often quite modest, especially on weekdays and at off-peak hours.
Golf Resources
The Irish Tourist Board has a dedicated golf website with numerous links and contacts at www.golf.travel.ie.
Specialty Ireland, Castlemeadows, Murrintown, County Wexford (tel. 053/39962; fax 053/39977; www.specialtyireland.com), can customize your itinerary to include any of 27 championship clubs and more than 400 other courses on the island. You can find out detailed information on 105 of Ireland's courses by searching the database at www.golfcourse.com.
A host of U.S. companies offer package golf tours. Among them are Atlanticgolf (tel. 800/542-6224 or 203/363-1003; fax 203/363-1006; www.atlanticgolf.com); Emerald Isle Golf Tours (tel. 800/446-8845, 847/446-7885, or 065/708-1079 in Ireland; fax 847/446-2248); Golf International (tel. 800/833-1389 or 212/986-9176; www.golfinternational.com); and Wide World of Golf (tel. 800/214-4653 or 831/625-9671; www.wideworldofgolf.com).
