Alright, so let’s talk about this whole golf vacation to Ireland thing. I actually went ahead and planned one, top to bottom, a while back. It wasn’t exactly a spur-of-the-moment decision, mind you. More like something that brewed for a bit, and then I finally said, “Okay, let’s do this.”
Getting Started – The Dream vs. Reality
First off, I started like anyone else, probably. I had these grand visions of famous links courses, the wind, the whole shebang. But then I actually opened my laptop and started looking. Man, the sheer number of “top courses” and “must-visit” regions was a bit much. It felt like every county had a world-beater. I quickly realized I couldn’t just show up and expect to play everywhere I wanted. That was dreamland.
My initial step was just to absorb information. I spent a good few evenings just reading, looking at pictures, trying to get a feel for the different areas. Southwest, Northwest, Dublin area… they all sounded great, which, honestly, made it harder.
Narrowing It Down – The Tough Choices
So, I had to get practical. I couldn’t play 30 courses in two weeks. I decided I needed to pick a region, or maybe two if they were close enough. I leaned towards the Southwest, places like Ballybunion, Lahinch, Waterville. You hear those names a lot, right?
Then came the actual course selection. This was a pain. I listed out my absolute “must-plays.” Then I looked at a map. Seriously, get a map. You need to see where these places actually are in relation to each other. I started to plot a route that made some sort of sense, not zig-zagging all over the island.
- I checked availability. Big one. Some of these places, especially the famous ones, you need to book months, and I mean MONTHS, in advance. I learned that the hard way with one or two I initially wanted.
- I looked for slightly less famous, but still highly-rated, courses nearby to fill in the gaps. You can’t play a championship course every single day, or at least, my wallet couldn’t.
The Nitty-Gritty – Bookings and Logistics
Once I had a rough itinerary of courses, the real “fun” began. This is where it felt like a second job for a bit.
Accommodation: I searched for B&Bs and small hotels. I tried to find places that were reasonably close to the courses I’d be playing the next day. Didn’t want to spend half my morning just driving to the first tee. I booked everything in advance. You don’t want to be stuck without a room.
Transport: Car rental was a no-brainer. I booked that online too. Remember, they drive on the other side of the road over there if you’re from the US like me. That was an adventure in itself, especially on those narrow country roads. My wife still talks about a few near misses I had. But you get used to it.
Tee Times: This was crucial. For every course on my list, I had to contact them directly or use their online booking system. I confirmed every single tee time and got it in writing. You can’t be casual about this. Some places wanted prepayment, others just a deposit. I kept a spreadsheet of all confirmations, times, and contact details. Sounds nerdy, but trust me.
Flights: Oh yeah, flights. Almost forgot. I shopped around for those, trying to find a decent deal. Flew into Shannon because it made sense for the Southwest itinerary I’d pieced together.
Putting It All Together and The Actual Trip
So, after all that, I had a pretty solid plan. Day by day, where I’d be playing, where I’d be sleeping, how long the drives were. I even padded in some buffer time because, you know, things happen.
The trip itself? Fantastic, mostly. The golf was incredible. The weather was, well, Irish. We got rained on a bit, the wind definitely showed up, but that’s part of the experience. I hired caddies at a couple of the big courses. Pricey, but worth it for the local knowledge and the stories. And the Guinness, well, it just tastes different over there, doesn’t it?
My biggest takeaway from actually doing it all was that the upfront work, all that planning and booking, made the actual vacation way more relaxed. I wasn’t scrambling to find a tee time or a place to stay. I just had to show up and swing the clubs. It took effort, for sure. I spent hours researching and organizing. But seeing it all come together? Pretty satisfying.
So yeah, that was my process. Lots of researching, planning, booking, and a little bit of hoping the weather would cooperate. It’s a proper project, not just a quick weekend away.