Photograph by Bernard Gagnon
Atlantic Dunes to Antrim
Ireland
The finest dunes in golf, and the warmest welcome in it.
On Ireland
Ireland's golf is all dunes and weather: Ballybunion and Lahinch on the west coast, Royal County Down and Royal Portrush on the north, each one a walk across ground the sea shaped long before anyone mowed it.
We know the welcomes as well as the tee sheets, and the small hotels in between.
From the notebook
No two journeys share an itinerary. These are the places we return to, and the ones we send people to when they trust us.
- Royal County DownThe most beautiful golf course in the world. We will not be argued out of it.
- Royal PortrushAn Open venue that still feels like a discovery.
- Ballybunion, Old CourseThe dunes that made America fall in love with Ireland.
- LahinchGoats on the course, genius in the routing.
And more we argue about.
Off the course
- The drinkA stout poured properly in a Dingle snug.
- The waterA boat out to Skellig Michael when the sea allows.
- The tableChowder and brown bread in Kinsale.
- For the non-playersDublin in whatever measure suits, and the gardens at Powerscourt.
A week here, roughly
The west for Ballybunion and Lahinch, the north coast for County Down and Portrush, a short flight between them if you want both. Three nights each, with a slow day built in for the weather.
The next step