Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland 2011

With around 400 golf courses in the Republic of Ireland, there’s certainly no shortage of choice. Many of the country’s greatest courses are dotted around the long coastline and Ireland has more than its fair share of the world’s best links courses. Most golfers visiting Ireland head off in search of the famous seaside names but there’s an excellent selection of inland courses to savour too.

We’ve ranked the Top 100 golf courses in Ireland for a number of years and we’re continuing to perfect the process. Our latest list shows little change at the top of the rankings but we have eight new entries and plenty of ups and downs throughout the Top 100.

Killeen Castle, host to the revived Ladies Irish Open in 2010 and the 2011 Solheim Cup venue, is our highest new entry, straight in at 33rd. Nick, our Ireland Correspondent, was very impressed when he played the Jack Nicklaus-designed Killeen Castle: “From the moment you set foot on the property to the very second you leave you are pampered and looked after with a level of service that I have only encountered at very few places the world over.”

Narin & Portnoo is the highest climber in our rankings – up a whopping 35 places. According to Jim, our Scotland Correspondent: “If only a golfing millionaire could invest in a new clubhouse and tweak one or two of the opening holes then this club would be raved about.” The International Association of Golf Tour Operators recently awarded North West Ireland “European Golf Destination of the Year 2011”. Venues such as County Sligo, Enniscrone, Ballyliffin, Rosapenna, Carne, Donegal, Portsalon, Connemara and Narin & Portnoo are among the veritable smörgåsbord of golf courses in this affordable, wild and dramatic area.

Click here to review our new Ireland Top 100 in detail.