5 best golf resorts in Ireland | GOLF Top 100 Resorts

By: GOLF Editors September 13, 2023

Old Head of Kinsale in Kinsale, Cork, Ireland.

Courtesy

The world may be getting smaller, but its collection of top-shelf golf resorts remains vast. From the American Heartland and the shimmering coasts of the Caribbean to the peaks of Europe and the majesty of Asia and the South Pacific, virtually every region on the planet is home to a sampling of the game’s finest stay-and-play experiences. To learn about the best golf resorts in Ireland, keep reading below.

To browse GOLF’s complete 2024-25 list of the Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World, click here.

The best golf resorts in Ireland (2024-25)

Adare Manor
Adare, Limerick, Ireland

A trip to this lavish, 840-acre estate just 20 minutes from the Shannon Airport may evoke vibes of Augusta National and the conditioning of the golf course will back that up. Adare Manor has just one golf course, but that’s no knock on the modern Robert Trent Jones Sr. Design which will host the 2027 Ryder Cup. Plus, the singular golf course will allow you to discover some of the sprawling resort’s other incredible amenities which range from shooting and equestrian to wine and whiskey tasting.The accommodations are all air-conditioned, with grand deluxe bedrooms featuring historically-inspired art and furnishings, as well marble en-suite bathrooms. Limerick, Ireland native and billionaire J.P. McManus acquired the property in 2015 and sparred little expense in turning it into one of the most luxurious five-star resorts in the world. Shortly after, Tom Fazio was brought in to breathe new life into the golf course, which checked in at No. 68 in our 2022 Top 100 Courses in the UK and Ireland list. [LEARN MORE HERE]

Carton House GC
Maynooth, Kildare, Ireland

Located only about 25 minutes from the Dublin Airport, Carton House features two golf courses set on 1,100 acres of parkland terrain. While the O’Meara course plays into its surrounds as a parkland course, the Montgomerie (both designed by their namesake major winners: Mark and Colin) is an inland links, offering two distinct golf experiences. The Montgomerie has thrice hosted the Irish Open, most recently in 2013. The hotel was originally the home of the FitzGerald family, the Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster. The house was built in the 18th century and is now a popular wedding venue. The hotel has 169 bedrooms and suites, as well as a number of restaurants and bars. Among the outdoor family activities are horseback riding, falconry and pickleball. [LEARN MORE HERE]

The K Club
Straffan, Kildare, Ireland

While your stay at The K Club features modern luxury, it is one of the oldest golf resorts in the world, with its estate dating back to 1832. Though the property has changed hands multiple times over the past 200 years, it has risen to golfing prominence lately, hosting the Irish Open in 2016, won by Rory McIlroy. It also hosted in 2023, and will host again in 2025 and 2027. This golf property is clearly worthy of the best players in the world. When not ripping around the courses designed by Arnold Palmer, guests will find any number of outdoor activities, includng clay-pigeon shooting, archery, horse riding and fishing. Life is best spent outdoors at The K Club, but when the sun sets, there is an array of restaurants or bars awaiting you. [LEARN MORE HERE]

the k club in ireland — The K Club in Straffan, Kildare, Ireland. Courtesy

Old Head of Kinsale
Kinsale, Cork, Ireland

Links golf is full of spectacular sites. Old Head puts most of ‘em to shame. The ocean views, the dramatic cliffs, the black-and-white lighthouse in the fog — once you’ve set foot on this site, you’ll never forget it. Pair a round on Old Head’s terrific links with a stay in its on-site suites and you’re experiencing Ireland at its very finest. [LEARN MORE HERE]

Rosapenna
Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland

Rosapenna already had two unique golf courses in its portfolio — the Old Tom Morris Links, designed by its namesake in 1893, plus the Sandy Hill Links, which opened in 2003 — before it welcomed the highly acclaimed St. Patrick’s Links, which was designed by Tom Doak in June 2021 and debuted at No. 55 in GOLF’s ranking of Top 100 Courses in the World. In other words, Rosapenna is links golf paradise, providing three courses that vary in scale, style and vintage. There’s plenty to do away from the course, too, with a bar and a restaurant on site, a spa, pool and sauna available, and access to endless outdoor activities, from walking and cycling to horseback riding and watersports. [LEARN MORE HERE]