West of Ireland
A Western Ireland golf tour is definitely the most authentic of Irish trips. World-class links backed up by an unforgettable cultural experience. No visit to Ireland is complete without a visit to The Wild Atlantic Way on the West Coast. Play County Sligo, Carne, Enniscrone, Connemara, Galway Bay and Lahinch on a golfing trip that compares to anything the other Irish regions have to offer. Stay in two of Ireland’s most loved places in Galway and Sligo, where you are in for a cultural experience for the memory book. With traditional music and dance in abundance in these legendary places and the warmest of Irish welcomes, it’s little wonder that Galway was voted the No. 1 place to visit in the world by Yahoo! users in 2016. This is a must-visit for any trip to Ireland. Check out the sample itinerary below!
Day 1: County Sligo
Arrive in Shannon or Dublin airports and either collect your car hire vehicle or be greeted by your Lyons Links driver. Transfer to County Sligo Golf Club, home of the West of Ireland Championship. Former winners include Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington. Stay in a four-star hotel in the thriving town of Sligo.
Day 2: Carne
Travel due west for Bellmullet and the remote but heavenly created Carne Golf Links. A natural links on the road less traveled which meets unanimous acclaim by Irish golfers. Carne’s international stock continues to rise with increasing numbers making the pilgrimage to see what all the fuss is about. A trip to Bellmullet never fails to impress any of our clients.
Day 3: Enniscrone
In a word Enniscrone is a . . . beast. By any standards, this is a world-class links course and regarded by many as one of the best tracks in Ireland. Enniscrone is simply spectacular and often proves to be a visitor’s favourite when reviewing their trip. Transfer to Donegal for a good quality four-star accommodation after golf.
Day 4: Galway Bay
This Christy O’Connor, Jr. design is set against the backdrop of world-famous Galway Bay — and it’s simply stunning! Galway Bay is where Padraig Harrington secured his first selection for the European Ryder Cup team when he finished second to Costantino Rocca in the West of Ireland Challenge on the European Tour.
Day 5: Connemara
After a stunning drive from Galway, you will arrive at a golf course that has earned a host of enthusiastic admirers. Tom Watson suggests this is “a true championship links, the elevated greens on the back nine are spectacular.” While Peter Alliss suggests, “If there were a course like this on the West Coast of England, it would surely host the British Open.” Connemara is the definition of a must-play when visiting West Ireland.
Day 6: Lahinch
Often referred to as the St. Andrews of Ireland, Lahinch is widely acknowledged as a must-play on any golf trip to Ireland. Home to the annual South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship and a most worthy venue for The Irish Open in 2019, visitors will recognise the stunning beauty of the natural links when watching the best in the world take on this phenomenal links.
Day 7: Departure Day
Enjoy a cooked or continental breakfast at your hotel before transferring to your airport of choice either by car hire or by Lyons Links tour guide. Departing both Shannon and Dublin airports is particularly convenient for our North American clients as guests can “pre-clear” customs in both these airports, thereby ensuring ease of passage when you touch down home.
Hotel choices
Sligo, the home of WB Yeats and the landmark Benbulben, has several high-quality four-star hotels. City centre and country hotels give clients a distinct choice. Galway is a larger city (pictured at left) and offers a variety of exceptional four- and five-star options. Our local knowledge for both destinations means we can easily check availability for your required dates.