The home of champions

For a tiny island on the edge of Europe, Ireland sure knows a thing or two about golf. Everyone from champions Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Tigers Woods, to actors Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Bill Murray all love playing golf on the island of Ireland, and it's hard not to see why. With world-class courses in some of the most spectacular locations on the planet, Ireland's credentials are sky-high when it comes to golf.

Ireland is home to over 300 golf clubs, including a quarter of the world’s natural links courses, and a selection of exceptional championship courses in amazing locations, so it’s no wonder that every year over 240,000 golfers from all over the world come to the island of Ireland’s greens to experience the impressive but unforgiving fairways.

It should come as no surprise that in the last 20 years of or so, Ireland has been named International Golf Destination of the Year on more than one occasion by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, as well as hosting the prestigious Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and The Open. Or that some of the world's best golfers hail from the island of Ireland, including Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington.

Ireland – a links paradise

With an astonishing one quarter of all the world's links courses, Ireland is an island paradise for golfers.

For most of us, the finest links courses in the world remain tantalisingly out of reach. We might grab little peeks of them through the gates or perhaps we've seen Rory, Dustin, Justin or Jordan destroy 18 holes on TV, but that's as close as we get. Not on the island of Ireland.

The whisper among golfers about easy access to Ireland's links courses is turning into a roar. A look at courses like Royal Portrush on the County Antrim coast or Old Head Golf Links on the Old Head of Kinsale in County Cork might lead you to believe that this is membership only territory. It's not.

What you need to know

It's always best to call ahead and book your tee times in advance. For green fees, most clubs offer special rates for visitors and groups, so be sure to ask about any special offers from the club or your tour operator. They may also know about packages that allow you to play two or three courses over your trip, so that you get to test your skills against our greens.

And, if you're going to be playing on some of Ireland's championship courses, it's best to get a caddy. They know the fairways best, save you plenty of shots, and will probably be the best four hours' conversation you'll ever have on a golf course!

Traditional dress codes are still common in Ireland's clubs. Jeans, shorts and trainers are frowned upon while some clubs might insist on a jacket and tie for the dining room. The safest bet is smart casual, with waterproof gear and sunscreen at hand just in case. Many clubs will only allow soft spikes, so do check in advance.

But the best thing of all is that you don't need to be a member to play our courses, either. All you had to do is find the courses, book your tee times and turn up – or choose an operator to arrange it all for you. As with all golf clubs, green fees do vary. But will you make as good friends anywhere else in the world? We think not.

The beauty of golf in Ireland

Most of Ireland's courses, especially links, are open all year round. However, courses are in best condition and the weather is most suitable for golfing from April to October. In summer, daylight hours can stretch up to 10pm so two rounds and a lazy lunch can easily fit into a day.

But that's not all, the truly great thing about golfing in Ireland is that there's far more to a golf trip than just the challenge of the fairway! In Ireland, we blend exceptional golfing with wonderful off-the-course-experiences. So next time you're planning to tee off somewhere special, we think the island of Ireland should be at the top of your list…