Northwest Ireland based in SligoNorthwest Ireland based in DonegalScottish Highlands Golf TripSt Andrews (Scotland) Golf TripEast Lothian (Scotland ) Golf Trip
If seeking out underrated golf experiences in far-flung destinations is your cup of tea, then steep your favorite bag of Earl Grey and nestle in. We have unearthed five of the best “hidden” gem golf tours in the UK and Ireland, each of which will not only give you and your buddies the chance to play some of the best courses across the pond but will also leave your friends at home wondering how the heck you found these diamonds in the rough.
Within each of the following itineraries, you’ll see everything from under-the-radar courses on the northern coast of Ireland to the unsung heroes of St Andrews, Scotland. The shadow of the Old Course, Royal County Down and Muirfield loom large, but those are far from the only vacation-worthy tracks you’ll find in the UK and on the Emerald Isle.
1. Northwest Ireland — Sligo
Perched on the edge of Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way, Sligo’s riverside Glasshouse Hotel is the perfect home base for a week-long golf trip. Within an hour of the hotel, you’ll find five of Ireland’s finest courses: Carne Golf Links, Strandhill Golf Course, Rosses Point at County Sligo Golf Club, Donegal Golf Course and Enniscrone, known as one of the top links in the country.
2. Northwest Ireland — Donegal
Venture even further into Golfbreaks’ northwest Ireland trips and you’ll find this five-round, seven-night gem based in Letterkenny. You’ll be staying all seven nights at the Station House Hotel, a family-run boutique that provides in-house dining plus easy access to the town of Letterkenny and the rest of northwest Ireland. You’ll play a round at five courses: Narin & Portnoo Links, Sandy Hills Course, Glashedy Links & Old Links and Old Tom Morris Links (yes, that Old Tom Morris).
3. Scottish Highlands
For No. 3, we’re headed across the Irish Sea to the Scottish Highlands, where you’ll find a unique combination of links and parkland courses. The seven-night trip includes five rounds of golf, each of which boasts distinctive Scottish challenges, from links on the coast to highland and parkland terrain. You’ll play Tain Golf Course, Brora Golf Course, Nairn Golf Course, Golspie Golf Course & Nairn Dunbar Golf Course, a group that includes Old Tom Morris-designed courses and one of the most northern courses in the entire country (Brora). Your lodging is the bed-and-breakfast-style Glen Mhor Hotel, made up of 11 different Victorian-era buildings and has views of the River Ness.