Greatest golf programs in Limerick and Clare forward of the Ryder Cup

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Limerick’s Adare Manor would be the focus of one in all golf’s best spectacles subsequent September when it hosts the Ryder Cup for less than the second time in Ireland.
There is little doubt the occasion on JP McManus’s parkland masterpiece marks a serious milestone in Ireland’s sporting historical past and it additionally locations the Munster counties of Limerick and Clare firmly within the {golfing} highlight.
Perfectly positioned within the coronary heart of the Mid-West area and simply 25 minutes from Shannon International Airport, Limerick provides fast and scenic entry to a number of world-renowned {golfing} locations.
Next door in Clare, are two of Ireland’s top-rated hyperlinks programs, Lahinch and Trump International Doonbeg, the latter host to this yr’s Irish Open in September when Grand Slam hero Rory McIlroy might be defending his nationwide title.
But away from these trophy programs, the area has lengthy been a hidden gem with a number of difficult and reasonably priced parkland tracks. And with a seven-club regional golf cross about to be launched, it’s the perfect time to pack your baggage for the Emerald Isle.
Limerick has six different golf programs and final month, as a part of a bunch press journey, I had the pleasure of enjoying two of those, Ballyneety GC and Limerick GC, together with the highly-rated Dromoland Castle GC in Clare.
Written by Patrick Mooney
After a 70-minute early morning Aer Lingus flight from Heathrow, we arrived in Shannon airport in Clare and headed to Dromoland Castle in superb sunshine – no waterproofs wanted.
Dromoland Castle is simply 12 km over the Shannon and one in all Ireland’s main parkland programs. It hosted the ladies’s Irish Open in 2022 and 2023. You can wager on the ladies’s Irish Open with a DraftKings promo code.
The par-72 Championship course is about on the magnificent 450-acre property of Dromoland Castle and combines mild hills, historic timber and sudden water hazards. It additionally provides a number of risk-and-reward holes, particularly over water.
The course was fully revamped and redesigned in 2003 by architects Ron Kirby and JB Carr, at a value of over 5 million euros, with an extra 3 million euros spent over the previous three years.
The golf membership has been in existence since 1962 with gamers strolling the pristine fairways for over 60 years navigating the tree-lined panorama that drains into the Dromoland Lough with the magnificent fortress as a backdrop. Dromoland Castle can be a five-star resort – one in all Ireland’s best fortress lodges – and might hint its possession again via historical past to Gaelic Irish households of royal heritage.
The opening gap performs uphill and, surprisingly has no bunkers, however the fairway slopes sharply to the fitting and the massive hill-top inexperienced is receptive to run-up or high-lofted photographs. The par-3 seventh is a scenic downhill gem – water to the left, a big green-side bunker to the fitting and a sloping inexperienced, all with with the majestic fortress towering within the distance.
The brief par-4 ninth is Dromoland’s Belfry No 10 equal. You are confronted with two choices – as a two-shotter down the left which leaves a pointy dog-leg second hit over a big pond. Or, take the Seve gamble – a 300-yard carry over water to a small however holding inexperienced.
More water comes into action as you head into the again 9 with a brief however intimidating par-4 – and look out for the Dromoland Ducks crossing the highway to the lake’s edge!
The par-5 eleventh is an actual risk-and-reward choice. Bite off an excessive amount of carry over a marshy space will see you reloading however bravery is rewarded with a lot shorter second and third photographs to a inexperienced with much more water on the again.
The last three holes – often called Kirby’s Corner – once more all characteristic water hazards and none extra so than the majestic house gap with the Castle catching your eye with water in entrance and to the fitting.
The latest funding has seen the creation of a brand new 18th fairway that provides golfers a selection – and- problem tee shot – bale out to the left and defend your rating or nibble off extra water and maybe par or higher is a practical goal.
From the massive sycamore tree, gamers have100 yards left to a contoured inexperienced, protected by two well-placed bunkers on the left and, after all water on the fitting. A par right here is well-earned and well-remembered over a pint or two within the membership’s cosy nineteenth gap – the Fig Tree bar restaurant.
Dromoland has, as you’d anticipate, excellent apply amenities. The membership’s Academy, consists of the most recent in Trackman expertise. And the clubhouse and professional store have each been lately renovated to a wonderful commonplace.
Limerick GC was our subsequent cease on day two and is simply minutes from the town centre. It is one in all Ireland’s oldest golf equipment, being based in 1891, the identical yr because the Golfing Union of Ireland. The course and clubhouse are situated on the unique web site of Roxboro Castle and grounds within the suburb of Ballyclough.
Limerick is a mature, tree-lined par-72 course with a variety of holes designed by Alister McKenzie, architect of Lahinch and most notably Augusta National, and another holes crafted by John D Harris.
The course file is held by one Tiger Woods, who shot 64 in profitable the JB McManus Pro-AM Tournament 26 years in the past. But for us mere mortals, this basic parkland course provides a preventing probability to get pleasure from a rewarding spherical. There’s a mixture of demanding holes, strategically-placed bunkers and water hazards, however interspersed with good birdie possibilities, notably on the par-4 tenth and the even shorter par-4 fifteenth. The lengthy par-5 eighth is an impressive gap, with a stream meandering all the way in which in the direction of a severely sloping inexperienced. The uphill par-4 18th gap gives a becoming end in entrance of the lately refurbished clubhouse.
Limerick provides good apply amenities, together with a driving vary, short-game space, placing greens. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer looking for a difficult spherical or an off-the-cuff customer seeking to get pleasure from an excellent worth for cash, Limerick ticks all of the bins.

Ballyneety was our last day vacation spot, and like Adare Manor, can be gearing up for the Ryder Cup subsequent yr – they host the Junior model in the identical week.
The par-71 Championship course, co-designed by Irish Ryder Cup vice-captain Des Smyth and Irish novice worldwide Declan Branigan, opened in 1994. It encompasses a scenic format, set on 183 acres of rolling Irish countryside on the historic Croker Estate.
The course has sand-based greens and tees constructed to USPGA requirements. After the completion of in depth bunker and drainage programmes final yr, the main target is now firmly on extending the size of the course to 7,000 yards with new tees being constructed on seven holes to check the easiest junior golfers on each side of the Atlantic. Renovations to the locker rooms and clubhouse amenities will even be accomplished in time for the beginning of 2027.
The course units out with a brisk par-4 in the direction of the village of Ballyneety earlier than dramatically altering path into the countryside. The observe then rises on the fourth and fifth holes to supply gorgeous views of Limerick metropolis, the Clare hills and the Shannon estuary.
The again 9 gives a contrasting route with water coming into action on six holes, notably the par-4 twelfth and par-3 thirteenth, earlier than the par-4 18th sweeps again as much as the spectacular clubhouse. After golf, the Vines Grill and Wine Bar/Restaurant, situated in an uncommon glass enclosed clubhouse, provides panoramic views of the house gap.
The McSweeney Golf Academy gives a full vary of companies, together with a state-of-the-art coated Trackman Range with 15 bays and is located subsequent to the clubhouse. There are additionally 16 outside bays and two swing studios for these seeking to high quality tune their swing.
Limerick metropolis is the proper base on your {golfing} adventures – It straddles the River Shannon – the longest within the British Isles – with the historic core of the town situated on King’s Island. The metropolis is on the head of the Shannon Estuary, the place the river widens and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Limerick is usually often called The Treaty City, after the Treaty of Limerick which ended the Williamite War in Ireland within the seventeenth Century. Hurling and rugby are the area’s two hottest sports activities – the hurlers lately received four-in-a-row All Ireland titles whereas Munster Rugby legend Paul O’Connell’s towering line-out bronze statue dominates the doorway to Shannon airport.
Limerick, which has a inhabitants of over 102,000, can be a cultural and historic hub – from the commanding thirteenth century King John’s Castle, to the collections of the Hunt Museum, which home one in all Ireland’s best personal artwork and antiquities collections.You’ll by no means go thirsty in Limerick both – pubs galore and the 2 we visited, The Locke Bar and The Old Quarter Bar/Restaurant, each present a tasty selection of locally-sourced meals.
No go to to the town can be full with no stroll to the Treaty City Brewery, situated within the coronary heart of the medieval quarter. The Brewery crafts distinctive beers that commemorate native flavours and traditions. Visitors can expertise the brewing course of first-hand, get pleasure from tastings, and discover the historical past behind every pint. The artisan craft brewery emerged in 2014 from a love of craft beer intertwined with Limerick’s historic significance.
The Limerick Strand Hotel is a perfect and reasonably priced base for the entire surrounding golf golf equipment. It has 184 visitor rooms, centrally situated, with nice views of the mighty Shannon and inside strolling distance of Arthur’s Quay Park and The Treaty Stone monument. Many of Limerick points of interest are simply walkable from the resort.
Shannon airport, in the meantime is simply 20km west of the town and has direct flights from all main UK airports. So, whether or not you’re teeing off for the primary time or chasing your lowest scorecard, Limerick’s Ryder Cup area invitations you to action, keep, discover – and probably be impressed within the footsteps of Rory and Tiger.
Useful web sites:
Tourism IrelandDromoland GCLimerick GCBallyneety GCThe Limerick Strand resortThe Treaty City BreweryThe Locke BarThe Old Quarter Bar/Restaurant

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