The Irish Tourist Board will send you their publications free on request. Make sure to ask for "Golfing in Ireland: The Official Golfers Guide to Ireland." Not only will this 150 page booklet help you plan your trip, you'll take it along with you for reference while you are there. It's a fantastic guide. All the golf courses and clubs in Ireland are listed, with full information on what it will cost to play and who to contact for making your tee-time. There is also an extensive listing of hotel options. Each hotel establishment featured is pictured, with golf courses in the vicinity noted. Accomodation ranges from humble Bed & Breakfasts at 15 pounds per night, to expensive suites in wings of ancient castles.

Also ask for their "Ireland - Travel Magazine and Vacation Planner."

Address:

Irish Tourist Board
345 Park Avenue
New York NY 10154
phone: 1-800-223-6470
fax: 212-371-9059
e-mail: info@irishtouristboard.com

website: www.irelandvacations.com/home/

The excellent website is a great resource for planning your trip.

A listing of golf clubs in Ireland with contact information can be found at Golfer's Match Ireland.

Golf Club Ireland has a listing of about 35 courses, at least half are notable and famous ones, throughout Ireland, with information on costs. This is a good site to visit to get a quick look at the cost of play and find a few links to course websites with pictures.

The Ireland Vacations site at:

www.shamrock.org/

is recommended by the Irish Tourist Board, and is a place where you can investigate specific tour, accomodation, and travel arrangements.

The golf portion of Ireland Vacations site is at:

www.shamrock.org/golf/main.htm

and shouldn't be missed for golf planning.

There you can learn about options for five to eight day "self-drive" golf vacations offered by many tour organizers. These organizers will make all bookings for your accomodation, tee-times at the courses you wish to play, while you do all your driving. Prices vary on these packages. For example, airfare not included, one of the more deluxe packages sets up your golf at six great Irish courses including Ballybunion, Lahinch, and Portmarnock, top quality accomodation and food, and about everything else other than auto fuel, insurance, and caddies, for about $2,500.

18th Hole, Old Course. Royal and Ancient Clubhouse in background.
Photo: James Hoskins

Assignment #1 - (See Assignments page)

After reading each of the pages in the section on Irish golf courses, answer this question and post your response to the Golf fourm:

Of the golf courses pictured here, which one would you most like to visit, and why? If you are motivated, can you find any more information on the web about the course you've selected that you would like to share with the class. Do you have any general comments to share about golf in Ireland?