When people think of golf holidays the images that come to mind are usually of sun-kissed resorts on the Algarve or Costa del Sol. Also front of mind is the price tag. Those holidays don’t come cheap, with a single round usually starting at €100 – and that’s before you’ve paid for flights, accommodation and other expenses.
Turn that into a family holiday with two adults and a couple of children playing golf and the prices quickly climb towards the stratospheric.
Ireland is home to some of the world’s greatest golf courses. The green fees tend to match their fame, however. That’s fine for those who can afford it and who enjoy the challenge presented by courses that have hosted professional tournaments.
Fortunately, for those of us on a budget, Ireland also boasts hundreds of great-quality if not so famous golf courses, many of them with very affordable green fee rates. Here’s a list of seven that are within easy striking distance of one another for a week’s golfing holiday at home. Most importantly, green fees for all of them are €50 or less.
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Athlone Golf Club
Where better to start our golf tour than in the heart of Ireland? Located on the western shore of Lough Ree, this course offers beautiful lakeside views and a course designed to provide a test for golfers of all abilities. For the all-important 19th hole, the clubhouse overlooks the lake and offers excellent dining options.
Green fees during the summer months are €40 during the week and €50 at weekends and bank holidays.
Athlone offers lots of places to stay but it’s hard to beat the Hodson Bay Hotel beside the course for convenience. The hotel also offers attractive stay-and-play packages.
Gort Golf Club
Next on our list is Gort Golf Club. A little over an hour’s drive from Athlone, on the edge of the Burren, this hidden gem was designed by true Irish golf legend and Ryder Cup star Christy O’Connor jnr. One word of warning for higher handicaps: there are a few blind spots and dense rough awaiting wayward shots so keeping the ball on the straight and narrow is a must. The clubhouse offers an all-day menu for hungry golfers.
Once again, green fees are great value at €40 from Monday to Thursday and €50 for weekends including Fridays and bank holidays during the summer. There is a special student rate of €25 so make sure young people have their student cards with them if applicable.
The club also runs open competitions on Fridays and bank holidays with an entry fee, including green fee, of €25 for visitors.
For those who decide to stay overnight there is the Lady Gregory Hotel, as well as some high-quality self-catering options.
Rathbane Golf Course
The Ryder Cup comes to Ireland next year and the excitement is already building. If you want to experience the Adare Manor course, which is hosting the event, it will set you back €550 during the playing season and you will probably need to stay overnight as well. Fortunately, Co Limerick has lots of courses to choose from and among them is Rathbane Golf Course which describes itself as the county’s “best value” course.
The course is designed to accommodate players of all abilities and prides itself on strong community connections. Green fees are just €30 during the week and €35 at weekends, but you can actually get out for a lot less than that if you time it right. For example, it is possible to book a four-ball for just €50 on some evenings and students will get out for just €22.
For places to stay, Limerick city offers a range of hotel and other accommodation to suit every pocket. Nearby hotels include the Castletroy Park and Kilmurry Lodge.
Ballyheigue Castle Golf Club
Next stop, Co Kerry. It’s a bit of a drive at almost two hours from Rathbane but well worth it when you arrive in beautiful Ballyheigue with its amazing beaches including the historic Banna Strand.
Opened in 1995, Ballyheigue Castle Golf Course boasts a nine-hole layout situated on mature woodland surrounding the 18th century Ballyheigue Castle.The views over Ballyheigue Bay can more than make up for even a bad day’s golf, as can the hospitality in the clubhouse.
Standard green fee rates are just €25 for nine holes and €35 if you want to go around twice for the full 18.
For nearby accommodation there’s the White Sands Hotel and several excellent B&B options.
Clonakilty Golf Club
Our next stop is in equally scenic west Cork. The drive clocks in at a little over two hours but the reward that awaits more than compensates. Clonakilty Golf Club has been rated as among Munster’s finest parkland courses by the Golfers’ Guide to Ireland and really is one of the most picturesque you’ll find anywhere. Currently a 14-hole layout with four holes repeated to make the full 18, another four holes are under construction and due to be open in time for the 2027 season.
Green fees are just €30 for adults seven days a week all year round and €20 for students and under-18s.
To rest your head after a long drive and a day on the course, Clonakilty has several very good value hotels including O’Donovan’s Hotel, the Emmet Hotel, the Clonakilty Hotel and many others.
West Waterford Golf Club
Another two hour drive along the south coast brings us to West Waterford Golf Club just outside Dungarvan. According to Destination Golf Ireland 2023 “there are certain courses which sum up the beauty and peacefulness of the Irish landscape, and few do it better than West Waterford”.
Designed by renowned course architect Eddie Hackett, West Waterford is a beautiful 18-hole parkland course, with different tees providing a fun experience for golfers of all standards. If you’re really looking for a stiff challenge, play from the championship tees.
Green fees are €40 during the week and €45 at weekends. You can also opt for nine holes at €25 and €30 respectively.
For the overnight stay, Dungarvan offers a range to suit every taste including the Park Hotel and Lawlor’s Hotel.
Ballymoney Golf Club
The final leg of our golfing mini grand tour takes us on another two-hour drive to Ballymoney Golf Club in Co Wexford. Located just a few kilometres from both Gorey and Courtown, the par 71 parkland course accommodates accomplished golfers and beginners alike.
As with all the other courses mentioned, green fees are excellent value, starting at €17 for nine holes and €28 for 18 holes during the week, rising to €20 for nine holes and €32 for 18 on weekends and bank holidays.
With its easy access to the M11, the course is within striking distance of a wide range of accommodation options. These include the Ashdown Park Hotel and Amber Springs Hotel. Check out the B&B offers as well.
That concludes our whistle-stop golfing tour of Ireland. It’s possible to book all of the courses mentioned online but it might be advisable to get in touch directly to check out student and other offers, including open competitions.
