All photographs in this brochure are taken directly from club websites
WELCOME
I am delighted to present this rather special UK Golf Guy trip to the south west of Ireland in Summer 2024.
Ireland is one of the world’s ‘ultimate’ destinations for a golf trip And nowhere in the land is there a higher concentration of great golf than in the south west. The trip I have put together is genuine bucket list stuff!
We will play the very best courses in the region, from the historic wonders of Ballybunion and Lahinch, to the modern additions of Waterville and Old Head While the trip is mainly links based we will also play a course that is unlike any other in the area - Adare Manor, host to the 2027 Ryder Cup.
I have picked the hotels on this trip carefully They will all provide a high standard of accommodation, close to pubs and restaurants so we can enjoy what Ireland has to offer beyond the golf course.
We will be travelling in style, in a luxury coach with plenty of room to spread out and relax
I have included in the itinerary some group meals for us to take together, and some unscheduled nights where you can do your own thing. As such, this trip will suit both those coming on their own and also those who want to come with some friends Drinks will be provided after every round to ensure you are well refreshed!
Previous UK Golf Guy trips have proven to be a good way to make new, likeminded friends You will meet people from around the world who all want to play the best courses and have some fun along the way
Places on this trip are limited and will be allocated on a 'first come first served' basis. I really hope you can join me as we explore this truly special area.
I look forward to having a game together in Ireland!
David Jones UK Golf Guy
PAR 72 6,427 YARDS 2002 NORMAN, 2016 HAWTREE
Doonbegmayhavebeenbuiltinmoderntimesbutithasanabsolutelyauthentic linksfeeltoit.
Thefirsthole,awonderfulpar5,couldbethebestopenerinthewholeofIreland. Thecourseissetinspectaculardunesandyouwillhearthewavescrashingasyou goaroundthecourse Youmayevenfeelitonyourfaceattimes
Thecoursehasareallygoodrangeofteessoallstandardswillbewell accommodatedinthisfirstroundwarm-up!
G B & I - R A N K E D 5 6
DAY 1 SATURDAY 1ST JUNE
Flights from the US and London arrive directly into Shannon airport so we will meet there and pick up the luxury bus that will be transporting us for the week.
We will make the hour transfer to Doonbeg where you will have time for a bite to eat before teeing off from 2:36pm.
We will be staying onsite at the 5-star Trump Doonbeg hotel, a fantastic hotel in a phenomenal setting, right next to the Atlantic Ocean
We will be staying in cottage accommodation on the golf course. The bedrooms are elegant and stylish with rainfall showers, Egyptian cotton bedding and underfloor heating.
In the evening we will have a welcome meal and you will have the opportunity to get to know the rest of the group ahead of a week of incredible golf.
PAR 71
6,272 YARDS
1889
IRELAND - RANKED 27
WithmajesticviewsofthewildAtlanticOceanandthenearbyMacGillycuddy's Reeksmountainrange,DooksGolfLinksoffersavisualfeastattheedgeofDingle Bay.It’satranquil,engaging,fungolfcoursethatprovidesatrueandtraditional linksexperience.Thecourseisjustover6,500yardsandisathoroughlyenjoyable challenge.
DAY 2 SUNDAY 2ND JUNE
After breakfast we will check out of the hotel at Doonbeg and make the three hour transfer to Dooks. This is the longest drive we will have during the week and we will be basing ourselves in the Killarney area for the next three nights.
This afternoon we will play at Dooks, with tee times after 2:00pm. Dooks haven't released tee times yet for 2024 but we have a request in. If it's not available for any reason, we will instead play nearby Killarney. After the round we will transfer to Killarney.
Killarney is a vibrant town nestled in a valley surrounded by the magnificent MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Ireland’s highest mountain range. At the foot of these mountains lie thousands of acres of beautiful National Park. It's a great town to stay in with lovely pubs and restaurants where we get to experience Irish hospitality at its best.
We will stay at the 4-star boutique Ross Hotel. It’s a family-owned hotel in the heart of Killarney town centre, just footsteps from the incredible Killarney National Park which comprises ancient woodlands, waterfalls, pristine parkland and the world famous lakes of Killarney.
You have this evening to yourself to explore this great town. However, I will organise a dinner option, not included in the pricing, for those who would prefer to dine with other members of the group.
PAR 73 6,810 YARDS 1973, HACKETT
UK & I - RANKED 22
WatervilleisanEddieHackettdesignwithamodernreworkbyTomFazioinan extremelyrareforaybyhimintotheinternationalmarket.Itisachallenginglinks,on exceptionalland,withviewsoftheAtlanticOceanandBallinskelligsBay,
Standoutholesaremany,butthecoursereallytakesoffwhenyouenterthedunesat theeleventhhole Thisstretchincludesthefamous“MassHole”twelfth,where Catholicparishionersgatheredformass,hiddenbythedunes,whenCatholicismwas outlawedbytheBritishmonarchy.
Watervilleisagreattest,andsimplyawonderfulplacetoplaygolf.DAY 3 MONDAY 3RD JUNE
After a leisurely breakfast you can take some time to explore Killarney.
We will leave later in the morning for the 1 hour 15 minute transfer to the modern classic that is Waterville, where we have tee times from 1:00pm.
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On our return to Killarney we will enjoy an evening out together in the town. We'll enjoy a night of good food, drink and somelocal music at the excellent 'The Laurels' pub nearby.
PAR 72 6,578 YARDS 1984, PALMER
UK & I - RANKED 70
Tralee is an Arnold Palmer course although he was happy to share the praise for the course saying, ‘I may have designed the first nine, but surely God designed the back nine’.
The front nine is on lower ground, running alongside the beach on some lovely classic links land before heading into towering dunes for the second nine.
Undulating fairways, dramatic cliffs and majestic views of the Atlantic Ocean create an unparalleled backdrop for an unforgettable golfing experience. The course demands both strategy and precision from golfers of all levels.
DAY 4
TUESDAY 4TH JUNE
It's another leisurely start today. We will leave at around 10:00am for the Arnold Palmer-designed Tralee where have tee times from 11:42am. We'll have a drink at Tralee after the round before heading back to Killarney.
We will be back in Killarney by 6:00pm and this evening you will be at leisure to explore the town.
Killarney has a whole host of traditional music pubs and, if you would like to spend an evening with the group we will no doubt find ourselves enjoying the craic in some of the local hostelries. Paddy Sheehan's bar at The Grand will be a good place to start!
PAR 71 6,366 YARDS
ThedunesandoceanviewsatBallybunionarestunning,butthereareothercourses builtongreatland.It’sthevarietywithwhichthedunesareincorporatedintothe routingthatreallymakesBallybunionstandout.
Thereareholesalongthetopsofthedunes,holesplayingthroughthevalleys, greensperchedhighonridgesandsomeatthebaseofthedunes(allwith challenginggreensurroundstotestyourshortgame).
Eachholefeelslikeanew,excitingadventure–certainlyarecipeforgreatness.
WORLD - RANKED 24, GB & I - RANKED 20DAY 5
WEDNESDAY 5TH JUNE
We will leave Killarney this morning after an early breakfast and will make the hour-long trip to Ballybunion where we have tee times from 9:12am.
We'll have lunch at Ballybunion before making the 2 and a half hour trip to Kinsale.
Kinsale (from the Irish, Ceann tSáile – ‘Head of the Sea’) is one of the most picturesque, popular and historic towns on the south west coast of Ireland.
Visitors to Kinsale are captivated by its beautiful setting, its long waterfront, yacht-filled harbour, narrow, winding streets and brightly painted galleries, shops and houses.
We will be staying in the Trident Hotel, a 4-star hotel overlooking Kinsale’s harbour. It is set spectacularly on the water's edge, in a prime location for guests to enjoy the stunning views.
This evening we're going to head out together for a meal at one of Kinsale's excellent restaurants - expect to find some great fish on the menu!
PAR 72 6,450 YARDS 1997
GB & I - RANKED 74
OldHeadmaywellbethemostphotographedgolfcourseontheislandofIreland. Perchedonclifftops,attheedgeoftheAtlantic,thiscoursewillkeepyoureaching foryourcamera.
Thesettingthatwillabsolutelythrillyou-justdon’tlookdown!
DAY 6
THURSDAY 6TH JUNE
Spend an hour or two discovering the lovely town of Kinsale this morning before we depart for the short trip to Old Head where we have tee times from 12:15pm.
After the round we'll have drinks in the Lusitania bar at the club before heading back to Kinsale for a night at your leisure.
PAR 72 6,613 YARDS
1894 - OLD TOM MORRIS, MACKENZIE
WORLD RANKED - 31, GB & I - RANKED 11
Withstunningviewstomatchtheamazing,naturallandscape,Lahinchstirsthe sensesaswellasthemindrightfromthestartoftheround.It’shometotwoofthe mostdistinctiveholesfoundanywhereingolf.
Thepar5,fourthhole,isablinddrivefollowedbyasecondblindshotovertheaptly namedKlondykesanddune(withsomeonestationedatthetopsignallingwhenthe landingareaisclear).Thepar3,fifthhole,theDell,isplayedtoacompletelyhidden green.
Lahinchisapersonalfavouriteofmineandthoroughlydeservesitshighrankingin worldgolf.Enchantingstuff.
DAY 7 FRIDAY 7TH JUNE
We will check out of our hotel and make the 3 hour transfer to Lahinch.
Lahinch doesn't allocate tee times until later this summer so we are not able to confirm our allocation yet. If times are very early then we may travel on the Thursday afternoon instead, but we have requested afternoon times.
There is a very small risk that Lahinch tee times are not available on this day in which case we will try to re-arrange the itinerary to accommodate.
We will be staying in Lahinch for our last two nights. The town is nestled between stunning cliffs and a long sandy beach. Lahinch boasts a vibrant atmosphere with charming pubs, lively music sessions, and a thriving local arts scene.
After our round we will check in to our accommodation. The 4-star Vaughan Lodge Hotel has elegantly designed rooms that blend classic charm with modern comfort. With plush bedding, stylish décor, and an array of amenities, you'll find everything you need for a restful stay
This evening we will eat together at the hotel on the eve of the last round.
PAR 72 6,505 YARDS TRENT JONES, FAZIO
GB & I - RANKED 55
AdareManorhasshotupmanypeople’s‘mustplay’listssincetheclubwasawarded the2027RyderCup.Itwillbeafantastictestfortheworld’seliteplayers.
WhenJPMcManusboughtAdareManorafewyearsagohehiredTomFazioto largelyreworkthisReesJonescourse Fazio’screationisunlikeanythingelsein Ireland.Theparklandcourseiskeptinthemostincrediblecondition;thereisno rough,whichyoumightthinkwouldmakeitaneasiercourse,butthegreensand surroundsarebothdeliciousanddevilish.
It'sEurope'sAugustaandneedstobeseentobebelieved!
We cap off our trip with a final round at the amazing Adare Manorapproximately an hour from Lahinch. This exclusive course really does deliver a unique experience.
Please note - caddies are mandatory at Adare Manor, at a cost of €95.
After the round we will have a drink at the club before heading back to Lahinch for a last meal together and a final night of great Irish hospitality. The seaside village is likely to be busy on a summer Saturday night so there should be plenty of fun to be had!
DAY 8 SATURDAY 8TH JUNE DAY 9 SUNDAY 9TH JUNE
Transfer to Shannon airport for flights home.
PRICING
The price for this trip is £5,495 per person for twin or double sharing, or £6,795 for single rooms. For those travelling from the USA, based on the exchange rates of 28th May 2023, this is approximately $6,785 for sharing and $8,340 for single.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Thepriceincludes-
Eightnight'saccommodation,asdetailed,onabedandbreakfastbasis
5eveningmeals-atDoonbeg,Killarney,KinsaleandtwoinLahinch.Meals includetwoalcoholicdrinksperperson
Eightroundsofgolfasdetailed
Giftonarrival
TransportfromShannonairportandtoandfromgolfcourses
ThepricedoesnotincludetraveltoandfromIrelandorotherexpenses incurredbyindividualguests.MandatorycaddiesatAdareManorarenot includedandshouldbepaiddirectlytothecaddieontheday
HOW TO BOOK
Emaildavid@ukgolfguy.comtoreserveyourplace.
Youwillbeissuedwithaninvoicefor30%ofthevalueofyourtripwhichis duewith14days.Thebalancewillbedue90daysbeforethetrip commences.
YouwillbecontractingdirectlywithOutpostOverseas,partofTheOutpost ClubwhichisaUSbasedtraveloperator.Paymentcanbemadeviabank transferorcreditcardpayment(thereisa3%surchargeforcreditcard payments).
Q&A
WHOISTHISTRIPAIMEDAT?
Anyonewholovesgolf!Whetheryouwanttocomewithagroupoffriendsor onyourown,Ithinkyouwillhaveagreattimemeetinglike-mindedpeople whoalsolovethegame.Wewillhavenomorethan16peopleonthetrip.
Wewillrunadailyfunstablefordcompetitionaswellasanoverallprizefor theevent,butparticipationisentirelyvoluntary.Thistripismoreaboutthe camaraderieanddiscoveringnewcoursesthanthecompetition.
WHERESHOULDIFLYINTO?
Wehavedesignedthetripforamid-morningpickupatShannon.Thisworks forflightscominginfromLondonorfromtheUSA.However,ifyouwantto arrivethedaybefore,wecanorganiseaccommodationforyou.Additionally,if youareflyingintoDublinwecanarrangetransportforthe2andahalfhour journey,atanadditionalcost.
ISTHEREAHANDICAPRESTRICTION?
Menshouldhavehandicapsof24orlowerandwomenshouldhavehandicaps of30orlower.
CANIHIREABUGGYORTROLLEY,ORTAKEACADDIE?
Thesecoursesarepredominantlywalkingcourses.Manualpushtrolleyswill beavailableontheday.Caddiescanbearrangedinadvance,atindividual's owncost.CaddiesarecompulsoryatAdareManor.
WHATHAPPENSIFIHAVETOCANCEL?
Ifyoucancelafterbooking,yourinitialdepositof30%willnotberefundable. Thefullcostofthetripisnon-refundableifyoucancelafterthefinalpayment hasbeenmade.Westronglyrecommendyouhavecomprehensivetravel insuranceincaseyouneedtocancelforanyreason.
TESTIMONIALS
I take huge pride in giving people on a UK Golf Guy trip a truly special experience. I know how important it is to get the big and the little things right and I will personally ensure that everything possible is done to make the trip perfect.
Here's what some previous clients have said about UK Golf Guy trips -
'I made the trip with David last year to Paris. Great courses and I made new friends. The trip ran as smoothly as could possibly be imagined… good accommodations, food and transport. Cannot wait to join up again for another trip'
Michael - Pinehurst, USA
'What a trip! I can't thank you enough for everything. The choice of courses was fantastic. I was a bit nervous about going on the trip on my own but in the end made some great new friends. Everything went so smoothly, your organisation was amazing!
Dirk - The Netherlands
'Expertly organised golf trips at the best courses. Strongly recommend @ukgolfguy for all your golf trips...'
Ian - United Kingdom
