St. Andrews
Who could have predicted in January 2020 what lay in front of the world for the foreseeable future?
The global pandemic has not just had a devastating effect on all those involved in the tourism industry, but also on all those who love to travel. Ireland and the UK have long been established as premium golf tourism destinations, and finally the clouds are parting and sun is set to shine on the native links lands that have provided so many golfers such pleasure for the past number of decades.
Both the Irish and UK governments have in recent weeks announced an almost complete relaxation of restrictions for the tourism and hospitality sectors that will enable golfers from all around the world to once again play golf as it was originally played on some magnificent links.
Social distancing measures and early closing hours for bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels have all been abolished, thereby enabling visitors to enjoy all the hospitality the region is famed for. There is no requirement to take a COVID test before flying into the UK or Ireland for fully vaccinated travelers.
Golf clubs are fully open and while timesheets are almost at capacity for 2022, there are some great opportunities to explore some superb links, and indeed parkland courses in some of the areas less traveled. While it is possible to facilitate trips to include some of the marquee courses in 2022, this is more realistic for groups of four or less if they are flexible with preferred dates of travel. Groups requiring two or more tee-times wishing to play all the top courses will need to consider a 2023 trip. In fact, many tour operators have several booking requests on file for 2023 as pent-up demand is for links golf rockets.
Demand levels are at an all-time high, and the lack of availability for 2022 tee times means 2023 timesheets will fill up in record time. Our friends at Lyons Links have provided us with a guide to where there is still some availability for 2022 and where to consider for 2023 tee-times:
County Sligo Golf Club
Northwest Ireland
Certainly, the road less traveled in this region offers links golf that is every bit as good, if not better than what’s in offer in other parts of the UK and Ireland. In County Donegal alone there are nine superb championship links courses universally acclaimed by all who explore the region. Further south in the province of Connaught, County Sligo Golf Club, Enniscrone and Carne are off the beaten track but many of those that visit there make it an annual pilgrimage to return. Connemara Championship Links is further south and located in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The journey there will fill the senses. Galway Bay is a beautiful headland course on the edge of Galway City which is a “must stay” destination for anyone visiting Ireland.
Connemara
Southwest Ireland
A truly stunning golf destination that boasts so many spectacular links and headland courses it is little wonder this region has been one of the top golf destinations on the planet for going on 40 years. Using the stunning town of Killarney, golfers commute to world renowned courses such as Ballybunion, Talee, Waterville Dooks, Hogs Head and Old Head. Further North in this region you’ll find Adare Manor, Doonbeg and Lahinch also draw a lot of visitors. While many of these courses are full for 2022, for smaller groups it is possible to put a combination of some of the courses together if golfers are flexible with their dates of travel. For larger groups, 2023 is a more realistic option for this region.
Hogs Head
Dublin and The East of Ireland
While it is nice to visit some of the more rural venues in Ireland, it is very feasible to fly in and out of Dublin and play some of the great links (and parklands) in and around the city. Portmarnock and Royal Dublin are world renowned and have staged some spectacular Irish Opens in the 1980s where Seve, Langer, Faldo, Woosnam, Lyle and Norman all competed for success. County Louth is just North and the venue where Shane Lowry won The Irish Open as an amateur. The Island is a truly spectacular links that co-hosted the Amateur Championship with Portmarnock in 2019. The Bernhard Langer-designed Portmarnock Links hosts superb links while the European Club, one hour south of the city, is widely regarded as Ireland’s toughest championship links – it is a beast! There is some availability for 2022 at these clubs but once again groups would need to be flexible with dates of travel and larger groups should consider putting a booking request on file for 2023.
Royal Dublin
Northern Ireland
Hugely popular as always with Royal County Down, and Royal Portrush at the very top of a lot of people’s wishlists. There is practically no availability for 2022 at these venues and while Portstewart, Castlerock and Ardglass are all exceptional options, practically all golfers who make the trip here wish to play the former two courses. We are now taking bookings requests for 2023 for Northern Ireland trips.
Castlerock
West Coast of Scotland
With Turnberry, Royal Troon and Prestwick in this region and a plethora of other superb links this is another region high on demand. Like the Southwest and East Coast of Ireland there is limited availability here for smaller groups who are flexible on dates for 2022 but outside of that 2023 is the best option.
Royal Troon
Edinburgh and East Lothian
Edinburgh is, without doubt, a must-visit for anyone traveling to Scotland. It is a truly remarkable city. There is some availability for golf here at Gullane, Renaissance, Archerfield and the ever-popular North Berwick, however, anyone looking to play Muirfield may have to turn their sights towards 2023.
Gullane
St. Andrews
With the 150th open taking place in St. Andrews in the summer of 2022, guaranteed tee times on the Old Course have never been more in demand and are all but sold out. Lyons Links has one package left that includes a Guaranteed Old Course tee time just 9 days after the conclusion of The Open. There are however some good options to visit and enter the local ballot while staying in St Andrews and Lyons Links would be more than happy to assist with booking requests for this option for 2022 and 2023.
St. Andrews
Aberdeen and The Scottish Highlands
In reality, two distinct regions but both with superb links golf courses to choose from. Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart and Nairn in the Highlands (among others) and Royal Aberdeen, Murcer, Cruden Bay and Trump International all stack up against the best links throughout the UK and Ireland. Both Inverness and Aberdeen have quality accommodation to choose from and a trip combining these regions is certainly an option for 2022 and 2023. As with everywhere though, your group may need a little flexibility if aiming for a 2022 trip.
Cruden Bay
Liverpool
A truly superb golf destination, England’s golf coast, boasts three open championship venues and a slew of other great championship links. Stay in either Southport or Liverpool (great for Beatles fans). Again, availability is tight for 2022 with some room for maneuvering if your group is small and flexible on dates. Larger groups are most likely going to need to consider 2023.
Royal Liverpool
Recommendation
While tee times are tight and indeed some hotels are also filling up, there are still options to create a spectacular trip in 2022 and definitely in 2023, but we certainly recommend getting on your planning immediately as the demand is not going to be slowing down any time soon. We’ve partnered with Lyons Links to highlight these options for you as we know they provide top quality service and can assist you with any of your UK and Ireland booking needs.
Safe travels, and we hope to see you across the pond soon!