The Irish Links Worth Playing Instead of the Famous Ones

Ireland’s famous links earn their reputations, but the big names fill their tee sheets months ahead, and a round at one of them can feel scheduled to the minute. Some of the country’s best coastal golf sits a few hours away, with similar dunes, similar Atlantic views and a calmer pace. This guide pairs each quieter course with the famous one it most resembles, so you can see what you would be swapping in.

Most of the picks are on the north and west coasts, with one on the east coast for a shorter trip.

What makes a links underrated, and what it should still deliver

A links is underrated when its quality is higher than its profile. It may be far from an international airport, or built by a lesser-known designer, or simply overshadowed by a neighbour that hosts professional events. Those are all reasons the green fee, the tee sheet and the car park are less crowded than the reputation of the golf would suggest.

Underrated should not mean second-rate, so hold every candidate to the same standard you would apply to a famous course:

• Natural routing. The holes should run through the dunes and along the shoreline as the land allows, with few flat, forgettable stretches.
• Firm, fast turf. Real links golf means ground you can bounce a ball along, and fairways you can read.
• A setting you will remember. An estuary, a mountain backdrop, a cliff edge or open ocean, ideally more than one hole with the view.
• A proper welcome. A clubhouse where visitors are expected, and a pro shop and kitchen that can look after a group.

A course that delivers all four is a legitimate alternative, not a consolation prize. The sections below say which ones come closest to which headline name.

If you love Ballybunion or Lahinch, look to the northwest Atlantic coast

Ballybunion and Lahinch are known for big dunes, blind shots over sandhills and an open Atlantic edge. The coast of Mayo and Sligo, further north, has the same ingredients with fewer people on them.

Carne, in Belmullet, County Mayo. Of these three, Carne is the one to choose if dune scale is what you want from Ballybunion. The landscape is high, wild and remote, and the Belmullet peninsula is far from the usual tour circuit. The trade-off is distance: you are committing to the northwest, not squeezing it between two famous stops.

Enniscrone, on Killala Bay. Enniscrone suits golfers who like their links with large, rolling dunes and a beach alongside. The fairways run between high sandhills, and the views over the bay give it some of Lahinch’s openness without the same footfall. It is a good second round for anyone based around Sligo.

County Sligo, at Rosses Point. The backdrop of Ben Bulben gives County Sligo a setting that few courses anywhere can match. It plays as a classic links with a long history, and it makes a sensible parallel to Lahinch for golfers who value tradition and a clubhouse with some character.

Expect real hills and wind on all three. If you want to walk, plan for it, and ask each club about its buggy policy before you book.

If Royal County Down or Portrush is on your list, try these Ulster and Donegal alternatives

Royal County Down is known for its mountain backdrop, its bunkering and its demanding blind tee shots. Portrush’s Dunluce is known for its dramatic dunes and for hosting the 2019 Open. Both are among the hardest tee times to secure in Ireland. Ulster and Donegal offer several links that capture part of what they do.

Ballyliffin, on the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal. Ballyliffin has two links, the Old and the Glashedy, which gives a group of golfers two distinct tests on one site. Glashedy is the more dramatic of the two and is the closer comparison to Portrush for its dunes and its wild, exposed feel. It is a long way north, which is exactly why it is quieter.

Castlerock, on the north Derry coast. Castlerock sits near the mouth of the River Bann and is within reach of the Portrush area. It suits golfers who want a traditional links in the same region as Portrush, with a more relaxed day than the headline course offers.

Ardglass, in County Down. If Royal County Down’s sea-and-hills setting appeals, Ardglass offers clifftop golf above the Irish Sea, with the clubhouse set in a centuries-old castle building. The golf is more varied in character than a pure dunes links, and the setting is memorable. It is also close enough to Newcastle to combine with a County Down base.

Rosapenna and Narin & Portnoo, in Donegal. Both are worth a look if you are already heading to Donegal. Rosapenna has a long history and several courses on one property, while Narin & Portnoo is a smaller, community-style links with sea views throughout.

The quieter east coast option for a first or short trip

Not everyone has the time for a drive to Donegal. For a first or short trip based around Dublin, County Louth at Baltray is the one to know. It sits on the coast north of the city by the mouth of the River Boyne, and it is a serious championship-calibre links without a headline price in attention.

It is the east coast answer to Portmarnock: a proper, firm, dune-lined test that is easy to reach from the capital. If you only have a few days, one round at County Louth gives you real links golf without a cross-country transfer.

How to fit one or two hidden gems into a trip built around a famous name

You do not need to rebuild a trip to include a quieter course. The simplest approach is to book the famous course first, since its tee times go earliest, and then add a hidden gem within reasonable driving distance of your base.

• Pair by region. A Lahinch or Ballybunion trip can be extended north with Enniscrone or County Sligo. A Portrush trip pairs naturally with Castlerock, and a Royal County Down trip with Ardglass.
• Put the quieter round on the day after the famous one. After a demanding, high-expectation round, an unhurried links is a pleasant change, and a late tee time is easier to get.
• Keep transfers short. Avoid more than one long drive in a row. Our guide to planning a luxury golf trip to Ireland region by region covers how to group courses and bases so you spend your time on the course.

One hidden gem on a trip of four or five rounds is usually enough. Two works if you have a full week and a driver.

Pace, caddies and clubhouse: what the relaxed side of Irish links feels like

The main difference at a quieter links is time. Tee sheets are less packed, so groups are not pressed from behind, and the round can follow the pace of the group instead of the schedule of the club. Staff often have more time to talk about the course, the weather and where to eat.

Caddies are generally available at clubs that expect visitors, though you should arrange them in advance at smaller courses. A good caddie reads the wind and the firm ground for you, which matters on a links you have never seen. Our guide to caddies, cars and tipping in Ireland explains how to arrange them and what is customary.

The clubhouse is part of the day. After the round, a long lunch or a drink overlooking the course is the norm at most of these clubs, with no one waiting for your table. For golfers who want a premium trip without a rush, that unhurried finish is often what they remember.

Which hidden gem suits which golfer: a quick-pick table by handicap, walking appetite and travel style

The suggestions below are general guidance. Conditions, tees and buggy availability vary, so confirm details with the club or your booking partner.

Links Echoes Handicap comfort Walking Travel style Carne Ballybunion Confident mid to low handicaps who enjoy a big, wild test Hilly; plan for effort Remote adventure, more days in the northwest Enniscrone Lahinch Mid handicaps and up, if you like dunes Moderate to hilly Pairs with Sligo and Mayo County Sligo Lahinch Most handicaps, from mid to low Moderate Good base in Sligo, strong for tradition Ballyliffin Glashedy Portrush Lower to mid handicaps Moderate to hilly Destination trip in Donegal Castlerock Portrush Most handicaps Moderate Easy add-on to a Portrush trip Ardglass Royal County Down Mid handicaps and up, who enjoy views Hilly in places Combines well with County Down County Louth Portmarnock Mid to low handicaps Moderate Short trips based in Dublin

If you are unsure, County Sligo and Castlerock are the most forgiving choices for a mixed group. Carne and Ballyliffin Glashedy reward golfers who want the full, windswept experience and are happy to travel for it.

Check tee-time availability and package options with our booking partners for the links on your shortlist, then build the trip around them.