Golfing in Ireland? Here’s Where to Stay

The Slieve Donard sits cheek-by-jowl with the iconic links of Royal County Down; indeed, the elegant red brick Victorian serves as the backdrop (along with the brooding Mourne Mountains) for the inbound holes on each nine. The hotel is part of a six-property chainlet in Northern Ireland, but its atmosphere is far from impersonal. After the golf, consider unwinding at the spa, one of the finest on the island, then wrap up a perfect day at the flagship restaurant, Percy French, which serves up an ice cream trio that’s to die for. Downs Rd.; 44-28/4372-1066; hastingshotels.com.

The Bushmills Inn, a five-minute drive from Royal Portrush on Northern Ireland’s Antrim Coast, greets visitors with a crackling fire by the reception area. Ceilings are low and corridors warren-like, in the manner of old-time U.K. architecture, but the rooms feature luxe four-poster beds and updated bathrooms. The in-house restaurant is best known for its steak flambéed in the eponymous local whiskey. 9 Dunluce Rd.; 44-28/2073-3000; bushmillsinn.com.

For being both a fun surf town and home to (arguably) the most fun links in the country, Lahinch in County Clare is surprisingly thin on great lodging. The Armada, about fifteen minutes south in the village of Spanish Point, is a nice sleeper choice, as is the nearby eponymous golf course, a nine-hole clifftop affair. The rooms and public areas are new (if slightly generic in decor), but the real drawing card is Johnny Burke’s pub, situated just off the lobby. The rest of the hotel literally grew up around this old-time establishment. A time warp in the best way, it pairs first-rate food and service with consistently good craic and, if you’re lucky, live traditional music. Spanish Point Rd.; 353-65/707-9000; armadahotel.com.

Waterville’s new boutique hotel is run by brother-and-sister team Eoin Moriarty and Sharon Fitzgerald. Bright and cheery, with a nautical theme throughout, its best rooms feature oversized balconies overlooking the ocean. The downstairs bar and grille is perfect for a casual meal. Whether it’s golf, fly fishing, or car touring that draws one to the Ring of Kerry, the Sea Lodge makes a nice base. Waterville; 353-66/947-8533; sealodgewaterville.ie.

The Grand is another family-run establishment, which comes as a bit of a surprise given its considerable size. The hotel lords over the waterfront in the Dublin suburb of Malahide, an attractive, walkable town with appealing shopping and restaurants at its core. This is a great location from which to begin or conclude a Dublin-area golf trip—five minutes from the world-class Portmarnock Golf Club, fifteen from Dublin Airport. Grove Rd.; 353/1845-0000; thegrand.ie.

Mount Falcon is a country estate in rural County Mayo. About twenty minutes inland from the wild links of Enniscrone, it offers a respite from the windswept dunes. Indeed, it’s the kind of verdant place where one feels inspired to grab a shillelagh and a pair of Wellies and stomp around the forest. Accommodations are spacious and originally furnished, with plenty of preserved manor house details. On the surface, Mount Falcon seems a better fit for a romantic couple’s retreat than a golf buddy’s trip, but it’s nevertheless a familiar name in PGA Tour circles—stars like Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo have been drawn to the area for its fly fishing. Foxford Rd.; 353/967-4472; mountfalcon.com.

For the best places to play, check out Ireland's best golf courses »