Where you should play golf in Limerick

All eyes will be on Adare Manor and its luxurious golf course next year as the much awaited Ryder Cup match returns to this side of the Atlantic.

The course in the heart of County Limerick in the south west of Ireland will undoubtedly feature on the bucket list of many a travelling golfer. But those lucky enough to secure a tee time will need very deep pockets indeed.

Others will be content with visiting to support and watch the action - and even then competition for spectator tickets is fierce.

That said, there are many other reasons to visit this beautiful part of Ireland. If you base yourself in Limerick, a city found just a handful of miles from Adare Manor, you will never be short of things to do and places to eat and drink.

It’s also home to a number of great courses in its near vicinity making it an ideal base for a golfing break.

I sampled three lovely parkland courses and can assure golfers this really is a good place to visit and play.

Dromoland Castle

Regarded by many as the best course in the area (Adare Manor apart) visitors to Limerick should play here. It’s a mere 30 minutes drive from Limerick, situated in Co. Clare, and eight miles from Shannon Airport, which will be the destination arrival point for most travellers.

The course opened in 1962 in the rolling mature parkland of Dromoland Castle, now a five star hotel. It was entirely revamped in 2003 at a cost of 5m euros and a further 3m was invested in recent years to bring it up to true championship standards. It hosted the Women’s Irish Open in 2022 and 2023.

The many golfers who turn up their noses at playing parkland golf in Ireland purely in favour of the undoubtedly brilliant links land should consider Dromoland - and many other inland courses of very high quality.

It opens with a bit of a climb to an elevated green at the end of a fairway that slopes left to right as well as top to bottom and you might at this point wonder what all the fuss is about. But the downhill blind 2nd par four and the long par three that follows will soon put you in your place. This is a super course that will challenge all abilities.

Numerous holes of great quality come to mind. The spectacular par three 7th played from an elevated tee overlooking the lake and castle is breathtaking, and the long 18th, which requires a drive away from the lake to the safety of the fairway followed by two shots navigating majestic trees in the centre of the fairway, is one of the finest of finishing holes.

There are three risk-or-reward par fours that tempt the big hitters to try to drive the green at their peril, including the most excellent 9th.

As you would expect from such a quality venue, the clubhouse is well appointed and welcoming.

Ballyneety Golf Club

This golf club can tell a story that should warm every golfer’s heart.

It opened as Limerick County Golf and Country Club in 1994, was upgraded in 2003, but then closed after running into financial difficulties in 2011.

Fortunately for all golfers living in the area, and luckily too for golf tourists visiting this lovely part of Ireland, it was rescued from the club’s administrators by former members and reopened in 2013 as Ballyneety Golf Club.

Today its members shake their heads in disbelief - as it was named as Great Britain & Ireland Golf Course of the Year and will host the Junior Ryder Cup in 2027.

It’s a rich reward for members and the local community who witnessed the overhaul of all 50 bunkers, a comprehensive programme of drainage improvements and the reseeding of fairways and greens.

It’s another classic Irish parkland course, situated just six miles south of Limerick. At 6,463 yards, it is currently short by modern standards, although new tees are under construction to add length to test the Ryder Cup colts.

The grounds are dominated by the modernist circular clubhouse which sits on the high ground overlooking several holes.

Well maintained and varied in nature, some of us preferred playing here over the higher regarded Dromoland Castle, so it goes without saying this is another course worthy of a visit.

Practice facilities and the welcome in the clubhouse are second to none.

Like Dromoland, water comes into play on several holes, particularly on the back nine.

Limerick Golf Club

Unlike its more modern neighbours this is a traditional parkland course with up-and-down tree lined fairways, more typical of its genre.

Established in 1891, it’s one of the oldest clubs in Ireland and prides itself on having Dr Alister MacKenzie visit in 1927 to redesign the course. A number of his ideas are still to be seen and his trademark influences are reflected in subtle contours and thoughtful routing.

Accuracy off the tee is more important than length and those who like to plot a route around a golf course will find plenty to test their skills here.

In 2025 a renovation programme and remodelling of the historic layout took place, extensive drainage work was undertaken and bunkers remodelled or refreshed to ensure consistent playability.

It is now a course to be enjoyed by many - not too challenging, particularly if you keep it straight, and conditioning throughout was superb during my visit in May.

The clubhouse was lively, bustling and welcoming - a sure sign that it’s a true community hub.

Where to Stay

Limerick, a gateway city to the Wild Atlantic Way, is a great base for enjoying golf in the area. It’s Ireland’s third largest city but easily walkable for visits to its historic sites such as King John’s 13th century castle set on the banks of the River Shannon, and to trawl the numerous pubs and restaurants. Full of typical Irish vibe and legendary sense of fun, it’s well recommended for a weekend visit as well as a golfing trip, particularly as it is easily reached from Shannon Airport. A visit to the Treaty City Brewery Experience should be on everybody’s agenda where you should be sure to sample the home brewed Sarsfield Stout, their answer to Guinness.

Getting There

A huge advantage this region has is easy access to Shannon Airport with regular inexpensive flight connections to London and UK regional airports

For more information, please see www.ireland.com/golf and https://www.limerick.ie/discover/eat-see-do/sports-recreation/activities/golf.

Our travel partner Golfbreaks offers deals in the Limerick area to suit all pockets. See https://www.golfbreaks.com/en-gb/holidays/limerick/.

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