Top 5 Golf Courses in the UK & Ireland

The United Kingdom and Ireland boast some of the most iconic golf courses in the world. Most top-rated golfers have won tournaments and played in these world-class courses. Golf fans can wager on games in these courses on Irish golf betting sites.

Most of these courses have existed for centuries, and they attract visitors globally, which helps them maintain incredible standards. In this article, we’ve picked our top 5 golf courses across the two nations. From Royal County Down to Tralee Golf Club, we’ve reviewed the best golf courses in no particular order.

Royal County Down

Royal County Down in Northern Ireland is one of the oldest golf courses in the world. Its traditions date back over a century, and it is rated one of the best golf courses globally.

When you visit Royal County Down, your eyes will be pleased with the breathtaking views of Dundrum Bay and the Mourne Mountains. Golfers need to be up to the challenge while playing here. Its “bearded” bunkers and narrow fairways require any athlete to have magnificent ball control. The Irish course has hosted many pro events, including the famous Irish Open.

Old Course St Andrews

The old course has been around for over six decades since 1552 and is one of the most famous and oldest golf courses. It welcomes players with narrow fairways and deep bunkers, a challenge for most pro golfers – the course is a dream destination for every golf fan. The course continues to host golf’s oldest classic major every five years.

Royal Birkdale, England

Most golf fans and players will tell you that Royal Birkdale is the best golf course in England. Indeed, the course stands as a major cultural and entertainment location in the UK. Some of its unique features are flat fairways, high dunes, and long par 4s – one of the longest in competitive golf. It was established as a 9-hole course.

When Royal Birkdale was moved to Birkdale Hills in 1987, nine holes were added to make it 18. More restructuring and redesigning continued in the 90s, and a clubhouse was added.

Birkdale Club boasts of forward-thinking members who are gender inclusive. They’ve been voting in favour of women and began allowing ladies as early as 1889. The course hosted the Ladies British Open in 1909, one of the first ladies’ tournaments.

Royal Portrush Dunluce Links

Royal Portrush has 36 holes over two courses – the shorter Valley, at 6,346 yards, and Dunluce, at 7,317 yards. It is famous for hosting the Open 2019 and will host the tournament again in 2025. Located in County Antrim, the Northern Irish golf course offers visitors incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean.

There are many features that make Royal Portrush stand out among other golf courses. Some features that visiting fans will love include undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and demanding greens. These features make it one of the most challenging courses in the world.

Tralee Golf Club, Ireland

Located in the beautiful County Derry, fans also call this course Arnold Palmer’s Jewel. The Irish course is one of the best in Britain. Some features that make this course stand out include a stunning clubhouse and world-class practice facilities.

The short distance from Tralee makes it an excellent destination for visitors. Tralee Golf Club is located on an impressive land stretch, which the golf course reflects well. Established in 1984, the course was the first European course built by Palmer Design Company.

It lies on elevated ground, giving idyllic views of the Atlantic coastline from the clifftops. Tralee is a challenging course, and even the most accomplished players have attested to it.

A Final Word

The United Kingdom & Ireland boasts some of the best courses in the world in terms of quantity and quality. The Isles we’ve listed in this article are some of the best among hundreds of courses. It’s tough to say which course is the best in the two countries because there are many stunning courses.

Each golf course has its challenges and upsides. However, if we had to recommend a golf course that you should visit, we would say the Royal County Down. Most magazines and golfers have named it the best golf course on the planet on many occasions.