Ireland’s golf Challenges appear to be a well kept secret in the United States, yet they play over many of the greatest links courses on the planet (‘bucket list’ courses included) at a fraction of the regular green fees. These are three to four day tournaments for golfers of all abilities, played in both a fun and competitive environment… with a lot more emphasis on the ‘fun’.
Go as a three ball to the north west or the west, or gather a gang together and head for the events in the north. You could find yourself playing on Royal County Down, Lough Erne, Enniscrone, Ballyliffin, Carne or Ballybunion, to name a few.You play for prizes of course – the West Coast Challenge’s pot is $13,000 – although there is a distinct feeling that winning is secondary to the pure thrill of playing some of Ireland’s best courses.
Golfers from across the globe come to participate and you can play alongside friends, family or strangers. There are many stories of how new friendships have been formed and rekindled on the fairways, year after year. For some it is an annual pilgrimage.
And then there’s the value on offer: the Coasts of Down Links Challenge costs $190 (which includes Royal County Down), while the West Coast Challenge costs $170. It’s unbeatable value and it is the perfect opportunity to have a few days away with people whose company you enjoy… not to mention the hospitality of your hosts wherever you decide to head.For those planning a big trip to play Ireland’s links, build a Challenge in to your schedule.
Try one. You won’t know what you’re missing until you do.
Atlantic Coast Challenge (ACC)
Causeway Coast Challenge
Coasts of Down Links Challenge
Donegal Links Classic
Great Irish Links Challenge
Great North Links
Lough Erne & Links Challenge
The West Coast Challenge
1. Atlantic Coast Challenge (ACC)
2014 will be this tournament’s fourth year. The Atlantic Coast Challenge (ACC) ensures that golfers can roam Ireland’s northern shoreline from east of Belfast (Kirkistown Castle) to the western tip of the island (Carne). That’s a stretch of 26 links, among them some of the most acclaimed golf courses in the world. We are spoiled for choice.
The ACC courses stretch across the coastline of counties Sligo and Mayo. They may not have the instantly recognisable name or reputation of the Royals, but these courses are big… big in thrills, big in drama and big in heart. There are no taller dunes than at Carne, few courses boast as many remarkable holes as Enniscrone and you’d be hard pressed to beat the views of Drumcliff Bay and Benbulben at Rosses Point. This is a place of breathtaking landscapes and sparkling hospitality… and that’s just the golf courses. It makes this an unforgettable golfing experience, which may explain why the Challenge attracts golfers from as far as the USA and China.
“The opportunity to play these three top links courses is second to none, and the dates should be imbedded in every golfer’s diary. What’s more, it’s superb value for money and great craic, too,” says David O’ Donovan, General Manager, County Sligo Golf Club.
DETAILS:
Competition Format: Teams of three: Singles and Team Stableford.
Date: 7 – 9 July 2014
Cost: €139
Accommodation Options: Broadhaven Bay Hotel/Talbot Hotel in Belmullet; Diamond Coast Hotel/Ocean Sands Hotel in Enniscrone; Glass House Hotel in Sligo.
Prize Fund: €2,500
More details: +353 97 82292, info@carnegolflinks.com
Carne Golf Club: Now a 27 hole destination, Carne has stamped its credentials on world golf thanks to designers Eddie Hackett and Ally McIntosh, and the passion and commitment of the people of Belmullet. Giants must have romped across the mighty dunes of Belmullet, making the designers’ job that much easier. These dunes are truly enormous, overshadowing you for much of the round and creating holes that are jaw-dropping in their ambition and so natural in feel.
Enniscrone: This is another of Eddie Hackett’s gems, rolling along the shores of Killala Bay. The dunes here are mesmerising and they are home to an enthralling test of links golf. At times it is terrifying – you will need all your wits about you – but it is never less than inspiring, and starting at the 12th there’s a spectacular run for home.
Rosses Point/County Sligo: Rosses Point dates back to 1894, and is host to the annual West of Ireland Championship. Little has changed over the years and Rosses Point has the most interesting variety of holes and changes of pace of any links on the island. It also has stunning views with the mighty Benbulben ever-present. The changes in style call for smart shot-making, especially on the back nine
2. Causeway Coast Challenge
A trip to our island’s most northern stretch of golf courses, along the Antrim coast, promises a golfing extravaganza that mixes wonderful links golf with stunning views. From Castlerock the Inishowen Peninsula rises to the north-west, while Ballyliffin is poised on the peninsula itself, playing host to Ireland’s two most northern links. Portrush has the Donegal mountains and seascapes of rocks and castle, while the Glens of Antrim and distant Scottish mountains are visible on a clear day from Ballycastle.
Now in its 47th year, this is the oldest Challenge in Ireland, and Europe too. The tournament accommodates 850 golfers and boasts its own App and a Hole-In-One teaser (the prize is a trip to the US Masters). It also has one particularly rewarding extra for golfers from outside Northern Ireland… you can enjoy a practice round on three of the courses included in the price. The format requires your four ball to split up so you play with unknown golfers… which creates friendships and stories that cross continents and last for years. Raymond, the tournament organiser, confirms this:
“It’s the camaraderie and craic of meeting old friends from years gone by, and people come back time and again. We have two golfers who have been coming every year for the last 30 years. There’s just this great atmosphere as golfers from around the world are reunited. That’s why this tournament has stood the test of time.”
It is also worth factoring in the Giant’s Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Bushmills Distillery… which order you choose to visit them in is up to you.
DETAILS:
Competition Format: Teams of four: Singles and Team Stableford.
Date: 2 – 6 June 2014
Cost: £150
Accommodation options include The Lodge Hotel, Bush Town Hotel, Ramada Portrush, and plenty of private accommodation.
Prize Fund: Approx £4,500.
More details: www.causewaycoastgolf.com, info@causewaycoastgolf.com
Ballycastle: With its stunning views and interesting mix of holes, Ballycastle offers golfers a very different experience to the other three. There are links holes here for sure (Hog’s Back is a violent beast), but they are squeezed between parkland and headland holes. The holes up to and down from the headland promise the most thrilling shots of the day.
Ballyliffin (Old): Ballyliffin boasts two of the best links on the island, tucked away on one of its most stark Ballyliffin boasts two of the best links on the island. The Old plays through the lower dunes, over crumpled fairways and deep bunkers. Bump and run is the soul of links golf, but here it may cause angst as balls wander off fairways and away from greens at will. It is thrilling golf nonetheless and not as tough as its more muscle-bound sibling (Glashedy), which makes it a friendlier challenge. The format at Ballyliffin will be a shotgun start – which should liven up proceedings.
Castlerock: Castlerock is a brilliant links of erratic dunes, intriguing shapes and remarkable holes. The par three 4th – Leg O’ Mutton – may be the hole they talk about, but I’ve always been intrigued by the 12th with the large whale buried in the fairway. It changes pace constantly so you rarely settle into a rhythm. Be sure to ask the locals for a drop of Bishop Daly’s Special Brew.
Royal Portrush (Valley): The wild rose bushes behind many of the greens on this low-lying, fast-paced links create tempting but threatening backdrops. This is no place to run through the green, nor is it a place for the faint-hearted. The Valley may not carry the reputation of the Dunluce course (see below) but drifting beneath the high dunes which wrap around this short course promises a different links test.
3. Coasts of Down Links Challenge
If County Antrim has its Causeway Coast Challenge, then County Down is well able to match it. The opportunity to play Royal County Down (RCD) is an amazing enticement when you consider the Challenge entry fee of £115, but there is an element of qualification that also adds to the thrill of this particular event. For you will only play one of the world’s greatest courses if you score well over Ardglass and Kirkistown Castle golf clubs on the first two days. There are also live scoreboards in the clubhouse (and online), so you’ll know whether you’re going to make the cut. But even those who don’t still get to play RCD… if just the Annesley links. It may only be a par 66, but it’s a terrific little links and, by criss-crossing its bigger sibling a few times, it’s a cruel reminder of what might have been.
DETAILS:
Competition Format: Singles Stableford. Two qualifying rounds, followed by a round at Royal County Down.
Date: 23 – 25 April 2014
Cost: £115
Accommodation Options: Slieve Donard is recommended due to the last day qualification system. Other options in Newcastle also available.
Prize Fund: Over £2,000
More details: contact one of the clubs.
Ardglass: Ardglass is a links/seaside/headland gem, with possibly the most dramatic salvo of opening holes on the island… ably assisted by the line of canons pointing you towards the 1st green, set in a rocky turret. Holes 10, 11 and 12 are thrilling, set across from the Coney Island made famous by Van Morrison. And the clubhouse is worth the visit alone.
Kirkistown Castle: Make no mistake, Kirkistown Castle may only be a par 69 but it is a lethal links. There are two hillocks which host greens and tees in glorious fashion, and from here you will get a great perspective on the rest of the course. It is worth studying because there are few places to hide on this James Braid-designed course. Play straight.
Royal County Down: Royal County Down can be summed up in one word: heaven. This is a links experience that settles in the soul, combining beauty and danger with magical scenery (Mourne Mountains) all day long. The blind 9th is often hailed as one of the world’s most enthralling golf holes, but there are many others, too. Unique features, such as the bearded bunkers, only serve to emphasise how special this place is. Now all you have to do is qualify.
4. Donegal Links Classic
Like so many of Ireland’s links, the views on offer with the Donegal Links Classic are enchanting. Ballyliffin has a raw and rugged beauty, Rosapenna has distant mountains wrapped around it and Portsalon… well, stand on the 2nd tee, look around you and drink it in… before playing one of the best holes in Ireland. These courses have great history, from Old Tom Morris trekking to Rosapenna to lay out one of his many designs, to Portsalon’s similarly revered history, to Ballyliffin and the story of Nick Faldo introducing the world to one of Ireland’s great, unsung links.
The Challenge is a popular one, which comes as no surprise especially as both Rosapenna and Ballyliffin have second 18-hole courses. When you visit, it will also come as no surprise that Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort in Co Donegal scooped the Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association’s (IGTOA) prestigious 2013 Golf Resort of the Year award.
DETAILS:
Competition Format: Team of 4 – Stableford – Individual & Team
Date: 26 – 28 May 2014
Cost: $135
Accommodation Options: Mount Errigal Hotel (Letterkenny), Milford Inn Hotel, Rosapenna Hotel, Ballyliffin Lodge.
Packages: Try TheGolfPA.com (http://www.thegolfpa.com/tournaments-tournament-packages-donegal-links-classic-tournament-package-2014.aspx)
Prize Fund: TBC
More details: contact www.ballyliffingolfclub.com (+353 74 9376 119)
Ballyliffin (Old): See No. 2 above.
Portsalon: One of Ireland’s oldest clubs and a surprisingly unknown links gem. The opening holes stretch along a glorious beach, promising a scintillating links start, and Knockalla Mountain is ever present. There are plenty of severe bumps to make it a true links test… including the very large one under the 18th, where buried sailors lie. Paul McGinley is updating elements of the course.
Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris): A combination of design work, centuries apart: first came Old Tom Morris in the 1890s, using the landscape to create links holes that are low, eruptive and utterly natural; then came Pat Ruddy (and a splash of Tom Doak) who designed a new nine to match Old Tom’s. A statue of Old Tom oversees it all, beside the fine Rosapenna Hotel, which also boasts Old Tom’s other nine, as well as Pat Ruddy’s Sandy Hills.
5. Great Irish Links Challenge
‘Great’ sums it up in every sense of the word. This challenge plays over three of Ireland’s most highly acclaimed links courses – Ballybunion, Doonbeg and Lahinch – and promises five star treatment from start to finish. Entry costs €620 and is very popular with American who make up roughly 80% of the field. Indeed, when the tournament was first played in 2010, American Football legend, Dan Marino, was among the competitors and he returned in 2011. Other famous names include Darrius Rucker (of Hootie & The Blowfish fame) and Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics.
The renowned Lodge at Doonbeg is the centre of attention, with its multitude of awards (e.g. Conde Nast Traveler’s Number 1 Resort in Europe 2013) making it almost as big an attraction as the Greg Norman-designed golf course. Competitors enjoy transportation to the courses, daily prizes at each venue and nightly entertainment.
Ray Kearney, Marketing Manager at the Lodge, acknowledges the wonderful response the tournament has received:
“The Great Links Challenge is now in its fourth year and it has been a runaway success. The level of entry right from the outset has been fantastic and that, coupled with the relaxed format of the event, has made it one which everyone loves. For many participants it is the cornerstone tournament of their year.”
DETAILS:
Competition Format: Teams of four: Stableford Fourball Betterball.
Date: 11 – 14 May 2014 (Welcome Reception on the 11th)
Cost: €620
Accommodation Options: The Lodge at Doonbeg as well as numerous others, including Vaughan Lodge Hotel, The 19th Lodge and self catering options.
Prize Fund: Crystal prizes are awarded to daily and overall winners.
More details: www.greatirishlinkschallenge.com
Ballybunion: The Old Course, cherished by Tom Watson, has explosive dunes and a sea-swaying rhythm that tees off at the 6th hole and never lets up. It is not that long, which makes it manageable, but the par threes are tough. The mesmerising back nine delivers a sweet rollercoaster ride, including the par four 11th – one of the world’s best holes.
Doonbeg: Doonbeg is the glamour resort it was always built to be, winning countless international awards. The sensational links weaves through picture-perfect dunes and takes you to the sea frequently – nowhere more telling than on the brilliant par four 6th, the lethal par three 14th, and the 9th green at the farthest curve of Doughmore Bay.
Lahinch: Lahinch sits alongside Ballybunion with its reputation, seaside town and staunch advocates. It has the added bonus of a pair of goats who predict the weather and a rhythm that proves almost hypnotic. You visit the coastline early, with the Old Tom Morris holes (Klondyke and The Dell) starting the most tantalising stretch of holes.
6. Great North Links
The north of the island hosts three excellent challenges and the Great North Links is one of them. This challenge sees you playing the mighty Royal Portrush (The Dunluce Championship course), Ballyliffin (Glashedy) and Portstewart (Strand). The challenge is very popular with golfers from Sweden and the UK… Ballyliffin even has a dedicated page in Swedish on its website.
“The tournament was set up because these three courses are seen as destinations of choice by golfers everywhere. It also fits in well with the clubs at this time of year to offer great value for money,” says John Farren, Ballyliffin Manager.
There’s the added attraction that these three courses have four further courses between them… just in case you’re worried about not playing enough golf. And then there’s the stark beauty of Malin Head, Ireland’s most northerly point, a short drive north of Ballyliffin.
DETAILS:
Competition Format: Teams of four: Singles and Team Stableford.
Date: 8 – 10 October 2014
Cost: £175
Accommodation Options: See www.ballyliffingolfclub.com
Prize Fund: TBC
More details: Tel: 074 937 6119, info@ballyliffingolfclub.com
Ballyliffin (Glashedy): The stark beauty of Glashedy Rock, rising out of the Atlantic, combines with the roughly hewn mountains to give Ballyliffin a raw air and one that is matched by the Pat Ruddy-designed course. It bears all of his hallmarks, combining elegance with danger. Golfers must approach greens with care for bunkers are deep and perfectly positioned.
Portstewart (Strand): Few would argue that Portstewart’s front nine is among the best on the island. You are thrown straight into a landscape known as ‘God’s Own Country’, where valleys and tall dunes help to create holes that are truly tantalising. The new clubhouse is magnificent, as are the views over the 1st tee from its balcony.
Royal Portrush (Dunluce): Designed by H.S. Colt in the 1930s, this masterpiece combines a world-class reputation with some of the country’s finest holes (5 and 14 most notably). The Dunluce has an air of greatness and an aura of invincibility which will inspire you all day long. Be patient as club selection is the key on holes where you can almost always see what lies ahead.
7. Lough Erne & Links Challenge
For a brilliant touch, that combines links with parkland, try the Lough Erne & Links Challenge. Lough Erne is Northern Ireland’s top golf resort, with Fermanagh’s famous lakelands draped around it. In 2013 it was home to the G8; unfortunately for the resort, Obama didn’t make it to the course’s silken fairways for that perfect photo opportunity. This event is one of Ireland’s newest challenges, which makes it fresh and, by combining the big resort with Donegal and Narin & Portnoo links courses, it also promises very different experiences.
DETAILS:
Competition Format: Teams of four: Singles and Team Stableford.
Date: 21 – 23 July 2014
Cost: $190
Accommodation Options: Lough Erne Resort, Lough Eske Castle, Mill Park Hotel
Prize Fund: Dependent on numbers of entrants.
More details: www.donegalgolfclub.ie or 074 9734054.
Donegal: Donegal is one of those beautiful, idyllic and unspoiled Irish locations, tucked away on the isolated Murvagh Peninsula. The views are spectacular and, equally spectacular, is the links course that glides effortlessly through and over the dunes. Donegal is often discussed in terms of its length, but this is a very playable course, with big greens (the Valley of Tears 5th hole excepted) and a lazy rhythm.
Lough Erne: Faldo’s name is synonymous with this golf course, which is so elegantly bordered by lakes and forest. It is young but has the feel of a much more mature venue, testament to the quality of the surfaces and the maintenance, as well as the deep, natural rough that remains untouched. Plenty of room to play, plenty of chaos around the greens and plenty of opportunities to get wet. Superb five star hotel and amenities.
Narin & Portnoo: This is one of Ireland’s great hidden gems. You’ll have the opportunity to eye up the course as the road leads you down into Narin village and the ridge of dunes buckles the landscape just beyond. The course starts inland but by the 8 th you are next to the ocean… one wrong step and you are in the Atlantic. It puts a refreshing perspective on things. N&P has one of the best stretches of holes in the country (from 7 to 11), but it also boasts three consecutive par fives on the back nine. Stunning scenery and a riveting golfing challenge.
8. The West Coast Challenge
The West Coast Challenge will enjoy its 28th year in 2014. This four day tournament has become an annual pilgrimage for golfers from Ireland, England and Scotland. It plays along the dazzling coastline and rolling seascapes of counties Sligo and Donegal, with an accompanying blaze of fresh north west breezes and stunning landscapes. Covering Bundoran, Enniscrone, Donegal and Strandhill, it mixes in four very different links courses, from the quirkiness of Strandhill to the muscle of Donegal. The format sees you playing with different golfers over the four days. It has created long friendships with golfers returning year after year to reunite with friends. It’s part and parcel of the Challenge’s overriding spirit.
DETAILS:
Competition Format: Teams of three: Singles and Team Stableford.
Date: Early May 2013, with pre-competition reception.
Cost: $170 (TBC)
Accommodation Options: Hotels in Bundoran include The Great Northern, The Holyrood, and Allingham Arms. The Diamond Coast Hotel is in Enniscrone.
Prize Fund: over $13,500
More details: www.westcoastchallenge.info
Bundoran: Famous for Christy O’Connor Senior hitting ‘every-club-in-the-bag’ to one of the par threes, Bundoran can be a terror of a links on a windy day. There’s no place to hide (apart from behind the Great Northern Hotel) on a bumpy, open golf course that will teach you the art of links golf – pure and simple.
Donegal: See No. 7 above.
Enniscrone: See above.
Strandhill: There is something of the genius about Strandhill – a design and quirkiness that makes this short course one of the most fun and intriguing to play. That is in no small part down to the members who designed the course over 80 years ago. Don’t let the par 69 fool you, for Strandhill is a stern test.
Conclusion
The variety and quality of courses is astounding when you consider that many of the above venues regularly feature in Ireland’s Top 100 courses, with some making the World’s Top 100. Similarly, the value is remarkable and the price to enter some of the Challenges is less than the price of playing one of the clubs at regular rack rates. And while the quality of the courses and the value for money have to be highly commended, there is one other thing that makes such Challenges so attractive – and that’s the people who organize them, the people who play them, and the people who welcome you to their region of Ireland with open arms.
About the Author
Kevin Markham is an Irish golf writer, blogger and photographer. He toured Ireland in an RV in 2007/2008, playing and reviewing every 18 hole golf course for a book entitled ‘Hooked’. That’s 350 courses in case you were wondering. He still has a wife. Visit his blog, TheIrishGolfBlog.com, or follow him on Twitter at @kevinmarkham