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Ireland Resort News
Nick Faldo is working on a new layout for the Lough Erne Golf Resort in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh in the west of Ireland, to open in the fall of 2007. New also will be the luxury hotel with 69 rooms and suites, and 25 two- and three-bedroom lodges. Among the amenities will be a full-service spa (http://www.loughernegolfresort.com).
A 550-acre residential resort with a 5-star hotel and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is underway in idyllic parklands near Dublin. The centerpiece is 12th century Killeen Castle, which is undergoing a complete, multi-million-dollar restoration, stone by stone—to open in fall 2007.
The new Nicklaus/O'Connor-designed PGA National at Palmerstown House is a 7,419-yard parkland course an hour south of Dublin (http://www.palmerstownhouse.com). This is a beauty, endowed with tens of thousands of laurel trees, and lakes, streams and Augusta-like banks of flowers. A PGA Training Academy is in the works. Also brand new here is the 4-star, high-rise, 1,147-room City West Hotel and convention center (http://www.citywesthotel.com).
Nick Faldo's design company has just completed a major renovation and toughening-up of the Old Links at Ballyliffin Golf Club in County Donegal, including re-bunkering, new Oceanside tees and a new 14th hole (http://www.ballyliffingolfclub.com).
The first Ritz in Ireland will be the Ritz Carlton Powerscourt, County Wicklow, just out of Dublin, to open in 2007 (http://www.ritzcarlton.com). The 1,000-acre estate will be comprised of the 203-room hotel, a large E'Spa and a convention center. The resort will incorporate two existing courses: designed by Peter McEvoy, the East Course has hosted the Smurfit PGA and the AIB European Senior Tour. The West Course is a David McLay Kidd design, a parkland/links layout.
Tips for Ireland
When to Visit: the warmest, driest months are May through September, with no guarantee that you won't encounter some rain, or at least heavy mist, even in those months. June through August is high tourist season, when quaint villages, country roads and golf courses are busy. The shoulder seasons of April/May and September/October are best for obtaining tee times and lodgings.
Rainwear: the perfect outerwear is a lightweight, waterproof parka (not just water resistant) with a hood that can be easily flipped up and down. And, both cold weather and wet weather golf gloves can make stormy days more enjoyable.
Caddies: keep in mind that you will play golf in Ireland just a few times ever; for some golfers, it's once in a lifetime. Caddy hire may be the best Euros you will spend. Besides handling your bags and paraphernalia and wielding the umbrellas, your caddies will direct alignment to the most advantageous landing spots, point out unseen dangers and explain the quirks of the greens. And maybe best of all, they are full of local lore and history of the courses, and imbued with "craic"—the famous Irish good cheer. Caddy fees are about 40 Euro.
Driving: give yourself more time than you think you need to drive the curvy, two-lane roads between your destinations; you can't tell by looking at a map how long it will take. The last thing you want is to arrive on the tee exhausted. And, save some days to wander the spectacular Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle and more "must-see" attractions.
Heli-Golf: Links Helicopters Limited will send a new EC 130 jet copter to transport you and your five friends and your clubs from lodgings to courses, not a bad idea considering the driving time involved (http://www.linkshelicopters.com).
Work out: you won't be allowed to ride a cart on the Old Course at Ballybunion and on some other courses, so take care to walk or work out a few hours a week during the months before your trip.
Tour Company: based in Dublin, Carr Golf & Corporate Travel offers tailored golf vacations throughout Ireland and Scotland and is long established and highly respected in the golf travel industry. The company was founded by Joe (J.B.) Carr, one of Ireland's legendary amateur golfers and past Captain of the Royal & Ancient; today Carr Golf is run by Joe's son, Marty. Most of Carr Golf's clients are individual groups from two to sixteen people (http://www.carrgolf.com).
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