| In Ireland golf courses abound, both links and | | | | through to April.Book tee times well in advance of |
| parklands varieties, about 410 in total, and this is a | | | | your vacation. About 20% of Ireland golf courses |
| good number compared to the population of | | | | have their own website on which you can make a |
| almost 6 million (4 million people in the Republic of | | | | booking. Visit the author's website to see a list of |
| Ireland, and 1.8 million in Northern Ireland). Ireland is | | | | them.Take care of how you dress. You may |
| one of the world's great venues for a dream | | | | have difficulty at some venues if you do not take |
| golfing holiday.Links golf courses are usually found | | | | notice of the following advice regarding clothing. |
| around the coastline where they've been | | | | Wear proper shirts with sleeves and collars, golf |
| scratched out of the abundant sand dunes, where | | | | shoes and sports socks, trousers or smart, |
| the wind often challenges players, especially on | | | | tailored shorts. Clothes NOT TO WEAR include - |
| the west Atlantic Coast side of the island. Their | | | | denims, short shorts, trainer shoes or runners, |
| designers have also used the proximity of water | | | | track suits, sweaters without shirts, clothing with |
| to make the game on these courses more | | | | slogans.Always be at the course well before your |
| interesting. One of the most famous links courses | | | | tee time. Most courses allow spikes - some |
| is the Ballybunion Old Course, whose contures and | | | | encourage their use in wet weather. Many links |
| sea breazes challenge every player.Parkland golf | | | | courses do not allow motorised golf buggies |
| courses are mainly inland amongst the naturally | | | | because of the hilly terrain.Take your handicap |
| hilly landscape where woodlands provide tree-lined | | | | certificate with you as many golf courses will |
| fairways, which are used to advantage by their | | | | insist on visualising it. The handicap limit will usually |
| designers to test the competence of even the | | | | be 28 for men, and 36 for women.If you are |
| best of the pros. A notable parkland's course is | | | | taking your own golf clubs with you, you'll need to |
| the K Club just outside Dublin, which has been | | | | acquire a very strong golf bag to protect them |
| chosen to hold the Ryder Cup in September 2006. | | | | during manhandling by luggage personnel. Some |
| The Slieve Russell course in the Irish midlands is | | | | find an easier solution is to hire golfing equipment |
| also another fine example.Seven of Ireland golf | | | | in Ireland, in which case this should be done at the |
| courses are included in a list of the best 100 golf | | | | earliest time, when booking tee times.You'll find a |
| courses worldwide (Golf Digest)They are:In | | | | friendly welcome not only from the Irish golfing |
| Northern Ireland: Royal Portrush Golf Club | | | | community, but also from the population in |
| (Dunluce) and the Royal County Down.In the Irish | | | | general. Ireland has now become a very popular |
| Republic: the "Old" club of Ballybunion (in the 1st | | | | venue for a stimulating golfing vacation.(Ron Mills is |
| ten world ranking), Lahinch, Portmarnock, The | | | | an amateur providing information on his Ireland |
| European Club and Waterville.Golf high season: | | | | Golf Vacation website, endeavouring to raise |
| June, July, August.Golf mid season: May, | | | | funds for TEAR Fund, a worldwide relief agency. |
| September, October.Golf low season: November | | | | |