Travelling Between Golf Courses in Ireland: Distances, Routes & Transport
Here is the single most important fact for anyone planning an Irish golf trip: drive times in Ireland are routinely 25–40% longer than Google Maps estimates suggest, and on rural R-roads and L-roads the gap can stretch even wider. Tractors, narrow lanes, sheep crossings, sudden squalls, and the simple reality that “200 km” on the map can mean two and a half hours of single-carriageway driving all conspire against the optimistic itinerary. This is the realist’s guide to transport between golf courses in Ireland: actual distance figures in kilometres and miles, sensible drive-time padding, the routes that work, the routes that crush morale, and the rare moments when a ferry, an internal flight, or a chauffeur genuinely earns its keep.
Most first-time visitors hugely underestimate the country. Ireland is not a small island in the sense of being quick to traverse. Dublin to Ballybunion is the same as Boston to Philadelphia. Royal County Down to Lahinch is the same as London to Manchester. If you treat the country like Long Island with sheep, your tee times will fall apart on day three. Treat it like a network of slow, beautiful roads connecting some of the world’s greatest links, and you will arrive at the first tee unflustered, which is precisely how you want to play Royal Portrush in a fresh westerly.
The Reality of Irish Roads
Ireland’s road network is classified by letter. The hierarchy looks tidy on paper and ragged in practice. Understanding the categories before you book your first transfer is the difference between a relaxed trip and a tense one.
- M-roads (Motorways): True dual-carriageway motorways with 120 km/h limits. Excellent for the spine of the country, M1 Dublin to Belfast, M7/M8 Dublin to Cork, M6 Dublin to Galway. You can genuinely cover 100 km per hour on these. They serve cities, not links courses.
- N-roads (National Primary/Secondary): The backbone of regional travel. Speed limits of 100 km/h in theory, but realistic averages are 70–85 km/h thanks to towns, junctions, tractors, and overtaking-restricted single carriageway. Most of the famous routes between golf clubs, Sligo to Donegal, Tralee to Killarney, Limerick to Ballybunion, are N-roads.
- R-roads (Regional): Two-lane country roads with 80 km/h limits posted, but realistic averages of 50–65 km/h. Expect blind summits, hedgerow walls, and occasional surprises around bends. Many courses are accessed by R-roads in their final 15–30 km.
- L-roads (Local): The narrow lanes you take in the final 1–10 km to reach a links course. Single-track in places, gravel shoulders, frequent passing places. Plan 30–40 km/h. Old Head of Kinsale, Carne, Doonbeg, Enniscrone, all have an L-road final approach.
Layered on top of the road grid is Irish weather. Rain frequency, low cloud, and sudden visibility drops on coastal roads are routine. Add in the fact that Ireland drives on the left, that rural fuel stations close earlier than visitors expect, and that a “shortcut” suggested by an algorithm can dump you onto a farm track, and the case for padding every drive estimate by at least 25% becomes obvious.
Distance Matrix: Top 12 Courses
The table below summarises realistic driving distance and time between Ireland’s twelve most-played destination courses. Distances reflect the most common signposted route (not necessarily the shortest in kilometres). Times include a modest realism premium over Google estimates, they are what your day will actually look like, including a fuel stop, one slow tractor, and a town high street or two. Where a Shannon ferry crossing or a notably slow rural section applies, this is noted.
| From → To | Distance | Realistic Drive Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal County Down → Royal Portrush | 135 km / 84 mi | 2 h 15 min | M1 + A26; Belfast bypass at peak hours adds 20 min |
| Royal Portrush → Ballyliffin | 98 km / 61 mi | 1 h 45 min | Crosses Republic border at Derry/Londonderry |
| Royal Portrush → Portmarnock | 295 km / 183 mi | 3 h 30 min | A26/M1/M1 spine route to Dublin |
| Royal County Down → Portmarnock | 135 km / 84 mi | 1 h 50 min | A24/M1, fastest of the cross-border drives |
| Portmarnock → Adare Manor | 225 km / 140 mi | 2 h 30 min | M7/M20 motorway corridor, among Ireland’s easiest |
| Adare Manor → Ballybunion | 72 km / 45 mi | 1 h 15 min | N21/N69, last 20 km on slow R-road |
| Ballybunion → Tralee | 40 km / 25 mi | 50 min | N69/N21, straightforward, scenic |
| Tralee → Waterville | 105 km / 65 mi | 2 h 10 min | Ring of Kerry; very slow on summer weekends |
| Waterville → Old Head (Kinsale) | 175 km / 109 mi | 3 h 15 min | N70/N22; allow extra time, scenic but slow |
| Old Head → Adare Manor | 135 km / 84 mi | 2 h 00 min | N20/M20 motorway most of the way |
| Ballybunion → Lahinch (via Tarbert ferry) | 85 km / 53 mi + 20 min ferry | 1 h 30 min | Shannon car ferry saves 1 h 15 min vs Limerick loop |
| Lahinch → Doonbeg | 30 km / 19 mi | 35 min | N67 coast road, easy 35-minute hop |
| Doonbeg → Tralee (via ferry) | 95 km / 59 mi + ferry | 2 h 00 min | Killimer-Tarbert ferry crossing required |
| Lahinch → County Sligo | 225 km / 140 mi | 3 h 15 min | N67/N17, coastal, no motorway |
| County Sligo → Ballyliffin | 185 km / 115 mi | 3 h 00 min | N15 through Donegal, beautiful, slow, twisty |
| County Sligo → Royal County Down | 275 km / 171 mi | 3 h 45 min | N4/M1 via Dublin loop or N16 via Enniskillen |
| Portmarnock → Lahinch | 270 km / 168 mi | 3 h 15 min | M7/M18, solid motorway most of the way |
| Royal County Down → Lahinch | 425 km / 264 mi | 5 h 00 min | Cross-country day; avoid as a same-day transfer |
Two key takeaways. First, the motorway corridor between Dublin, Limerick, and Cork is genuinely fast, any leg that uses M7, M8, or M20 will run close to Google’s estimate. Second, every coastal leg involving the Wild Atlantic Way is slower than it looks. The Ring of Kerry section between Tralee and Waterville is the classic offender: 105 km that consume more than two hours in summer.
Common Course Pairings
Some pairings are so logical that almost every itinerary should default to them. Others look attractive on paper and punish you in the car.
Royal Portrush + Royal County Down
Northern Ireland’s two giants are 135 km / 84 mi apart, roughly 2 h 15 min of driving via the M1/A26 motorway corridor through Belfast. This is the most efficient cross-island pairing in Irish golf because the motorway makes the transfer comparatively painless. Stay one night in Belfast, Newcastle (Co. Down), or Bushmills to break the trip; never attempt to play both courses on the same day from one base.
Ballybunion + Tralee
At 40 km / 25 mi apart and a 50-minute hop on the N69, this is the easiest pairing in southwest Ireland. Many golfers base in Killarney or Tralee and play both within 48 hours. The drive is straightforward, with one of Ireland’s prettier coastal stretches between Ballyheigue and Banna Strand.
Lahinch + Doonbeg
30 km / 19 mi and 35 minutes apart on the N67. The Wild Atlantic Way’s tightest premium pairing. A Lahinch-base allows a relaxed Doonbeg morning, lunch back at Lahinch, and an easy afternoon stroll on Liscannor pier.
Adare Manor + Ballybunion + Lahinch (via ferry)
This three-course western swing demonstrates the value of the Tarbert–Killimer Shannon ferry. Adare to Ballybunion is 1 h 15 min. Ballybunion to Lahinch via the ferry is 1 h 30 min including the 20-minute crossing. Without the ferry, the same trip via Limerick adds 75 minutes and considerable congestion. This is the textbook Wild Atlantic itinerary.
Ballyliffin + Royal Portrush + Portstewart
Ballyliffin sits 98 km / 61 mi north of Royal Portrush in Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula. Portstewart Strand is just 8 km from Royal Portrush. Combine these three and you have one of golf’s great northern coastlines covered in a single 90-minute commute corridor.
Pairings to Avoid
Royal County Down to Lahinch (5 hours) and Royal Portrush to Waterville (over 6 hours) are not pairings, they are full travel days. If your itinerary includes both ends, plan a split with at least one rest night between rounds, and never schedule a tee time on a transfer day.
Three Realistic Routes
Route 1, Southwest Loop (7 days)
Fly into Shannon. Adare Manor (Day 1) → Ballybunion (Day 2) → Tralee (Day 3) → Waterville (Day 4) → Old Head of Kinsale (Day 5) → Cork airport. Drive time across the week totals about 9 hours. The Tarbert–Killimer ferry can be used optionally to insert Lahinch and Doonbeg, extending to a 9-day version. This loop avoids the Dublin and Belfast spine entirely and is the classic American-style southwest links trip.
Route 2, Northern Loop (5 days)
Fly into Belfast. Royal County Down (Day 1) → Portmarnock or County Louth (Day 2, optional) → Royal Portrush (Day 3) → Portstewart (Day 4) → Ballyliffin (Day 5) → fly home from Belfast or Derry. Total driving roughly 7 hours across the week. The shortest premier links itinerary by total transfer time, thanks to the M1.
Route 3, Wild Atlantic Way (10 days)
Fly into Belfast. Royal Portrush → Ballyliffin → County Sligo → Enniscrone → Carne → Connemara → Lahinch → Doonbeg → Ballybunion → fly out of Shannon. This is the bucket-list routing and the most demanding logistically: roughly 14 hours of driving across 10 days, almost all on N- and R-roads. The reward is unmatched scenery, but you must respect the pacing, no more than two long transfers per week, and a deliberate rest day after the Sligo to Donegal stretch.
Driving in Ireland: Practical Tips
- Drive on the left. Roundabouts circulate clockwise. The first 24 hours feel awkward; by day three it is automatic. Take a deliberately quiet first morning before tackling Belfast or Dublin city traffic.
- Choose an automatic car. Most rental fleets are manual by default. Add €10–20/day for an automatic if you have not driven manual on the left. The mental load of stick-shift on the wrong side of the road is real, especially on rural L-roads.
- Pad every leg by 25%. A “two-hour drive” is 2 h 30 min. A “three-hour drive” is closer to 3 h 45 min. Build the buffer at the front end so you arrive calm.
- Refuel proactively. Rural petrol stations frequently close by 8 PM, and Sundays are quieter still. Fill up at lunch; never run below a quarter tank in west Cork, Kerry, or Donegal.
- Avoid driving after dark on R-roads. Coastal R-roads with no street lighting and unfenced sheep are no place for a tired driver in a borrowed car. End your driving day before dusk wherever possible.
- Mind the speed cameras. Average-speed enforcement zones are now common on Irish motorways, and Garda mobile units patrol the N-routes. Speed limits on N-roads drop to 50 km/h in towns and villages without warning, respect them.
Ferry Crossings
The single ferry that matters for golfers is the Tarbert–Killimer Shannon Ferry, a car ferry crossing the mouth of the Shannon estuary between County Kerry and County Clare. The crossing takes 20 minutes, runs hourly in each direction roughly 7 AM to 9 PM (later in summer), and accepts vehicles without booking. Cars cost approximately €22 one way, €36 return.
The math on whether to take the ferry depends on your specific origin and destination. For Ballybunion → Lahinch, the ferry saves 75 minutes versus the inland Limerick loop. For Tralee → Doonbeg, the saving is closer to 60 minutes. For courses near Adare Manor heading north, the inland route via the M20/M18 is faster than the ferry because you are already off the Kerry peninsula.
The ferry’s real value is not just minutes saved. It breaks the drive, offers a 20-minute walk on deck with views of the estuary, and is genuinely pleasant, a small but memorable element of the trip rather than another hour of motorway. Dolphins are common in the estuary; bottlenose pods occasionally surface alongside the boat.
Internal Flights: Worth It?
Aer Lingus Regional and Emerald Airlines operate a small set of internal Irish flights, primarily Dublin–Donegal (Carrickfinn) and Dublin–Kerry (Farranfore). Both are real airports with real flights, and both look attractive on a map when staring down a five-hour drive. They are almost never worth the time once you account for security and transfer logistics.
A Dublin–Kerry flight is 50 minutes block time. Add 90 minutes for security and gate arrival, plus 60 minutes for car hire collection and drive to your course. Real door-to-door is 3 h 30 min, against a 3 h 30 min motorway drive that arrives with your luggage in your boot and no rebooking risk. The flight wins only when you are already at Dublin Airport (e.g., a same-day arrival from the US) and want to avoid driving on jet-lagged hour one.
Helicopter charters are a different proposition. Several Irish operators offer course-to-course transfers with landings on club fairways or designated pads. A Dublin–Royal County Down helicopter run takes 25 minutes versus a 1 h 50 min drive. At €1,500–€3,000 per leg, this is a luxury choice rather than a logistical solution, relevant only if your group is splitting the cost four ways and treating it as part of the experience.
Public Transport Reality Check
Bus Éireann, Translink (Northern Ireland), and Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) cover the country, but their geometry does not align with the geometry of links golf. Courses sit at the ends of peninsulas; trains and buses run between population centres. The combinations are almost universally slow.
A representative example: Dublin Connolly to Tralee by train is 4 hours, then a 35-minute taxi to the course. The same trip by car is 3 h 45 min direct. The train wins only on cost (around €40 advance vs. €120 in fuel and tolls for a hire car), but you arrive without transport for any subsequent moves and are committed to taxi or coach for every onward leg. For a six-night, four-course trip, the maths simply does not work without a car.
Public transport is realistic only if (a) you are playing a single course based in or near a city, Royal Dublin or Portmarnock from Dublin city, Belfast Hilden services to Belfast Lough courses, or (b) you are travelling solo and using rail to reach a regional hub before joining a chauffeured group.
Chauffeur Services for Long Transfers
Professional chauffeur drive is Ireland’s premium golf-transport segment, and rates have risen steadily. A typical day rate sits at €450–€650 for a 4-passenger executive saloon with an experienced driver, rising to €700–€900 for a 7-passenger Mercedes V-Class or similar. Multi-day packages are quoted weekly; expect €3,500–€5,500 per week for a full self-drive substitution.
Whether the cost is justified depends on group size and trip ambition. Split four ways, €500/day is €125 per golfer, and that is genuinely worth paying for on a Wild Atlantic Way trip where the alternative is jet-lagged driving on the wrong side of the road through unfamiliar coastal lanes. For groups of two on a southwest motorway-corridor itinerary, a hire car is far better value.
- Best case for chauffeur: Wild Atlantic Way 7+ day trips, groups of 4 or more, golfers who want to enjoy a Guinness after the round, and any party including older travellers unfamiliar with European driving.
- Best case for self-drive: Couples or pairs, motorway-heavy southwest or northern loops, golfers comfortable with manual or automatic on the left, and any trip with frequent unscheduled detours.
Realistic Itinerary Pacing
The single biggest mistake in Irish golf-trip planning is over-stuffing the schedule. The country rewards travelers who play seven or eight rounds in ten days, not eleven rounds in nine. Use the following pacing rules to design a trip you will actually enjoy:
- No more than two long drives per week. A “long drive” is anything over 2 hours. Three long transfers in seven days is the threshold at which fatigue compounds and play deteriorates.
- No tee times on transfer days. If you are moving more than 90 minutes between bases, leave that day clear. Use it for sightseeing, the hotel spa, or a casual nine at the destination club to scout the course.
- Two nights minimum at each base. One-nighters are exhausting and waste tee-time flexibility. Build the trip around 2–3 night clusters at logical hubs (Newcastle, Belfast, Killarney, Lahinch, Sligo, Donegal).
- Build in one buffer day per seven. Weather, missed flights, course closures, and simple fatigue all consume buffer. Without one, the first hiccup cascades through the rest of the trip.
- Front-load the marquee courses. Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Lahinch, book these for days 2–4. You will play better with one round under your belt and before transfer fatigue sets in.
The Border Crossing: Republic ↔ NI
The land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland has no physical controls. You can cross it at speed, often without realising you have done so, a subtle change in road signage (km to miles, green to white) is the only obvious cue. There are no passport checks, no customs stops, no waiting.
Three practical implications:
- Currency change: The Republic uses the Euro (€). Northern Ireland uses Pound Sterling (£). Most card terminals accept either, but cash machines dispense the local currency only, and small clubs and cafes can be cash-only. Carry both currencies if you are crossing the border, or rely on contactless cards.
- Speed limits change units: Limits in the Republic are in km/h; in Northern Ireland, in mph. A 60-mph zone in NI is faster than a 100-km/h zone in the Republic. Read signs carefully for the first 30 minutes after crossing.
- Hire car cross-border permission: Some Irish hire car contracts restrict travel into NI (and vice versa). Always confirm with the rental company at pickup. Most major operators allow it on request; budget rentals sometimes do not. Insurance coverage may also change at the border.
Drive Times to Airports from Top Courses
Airport selection drives the shape of every Irish golf itinerary. Ireland has four major international airports plus two regional ones relevant to golfers. The table below shows realistic transfer times from each top course to the nearest sensible airport.
| Course | Closest Major Airport | Distance | Realistic Drive Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal County Down | Belfast International (BFS) | 75 km / 47 mi | 1 h 15 min |
| Royal County Down | Dublin (DUB) | 165 km / 103 mi | 2 h 00 min |
| Royal Portrush | Belfast International (BFS) | 95 km / 59 mi | 1 h 20 min |
| Royal Portrush | City of Derry (LDY) | 50 km / 31 mi | 50 min |
| Ballyliffin | City of Derry (LDY) | 45 km / 28 mi | 1 h 00 min |
| Portmarnock | Dublin (DUB) | 15 km / 9 mi | 20 min |
| Adare Manor | Shannon (SNN) | 50 km / 31 mi | 45 min |
| Ballybunion | Shannon (SNN) | 110 km / 68 mi | 1 h 30 min |
| Ballybunion | Kerry (KIR) | 65 km / 40 mi | 1 h 10 min |
| Tralee | Kerry (KIR) | 30 km / 19 mi | 30 min |
| Waterville | Kerry (KIR) | 95 km / 59 mi | 2 h 00 min |
| Old Head of Kinsale | Cork (ORK) | 40 km / 25 mi | 50 min |
| Lahinch | Shannon (SNN) | 70 km / 43 mi | 1 h 10 min |
| Doonbeg | Shannon (SNN) | 80 km / 50 mi | 1 h 20 min |
| County Sligo | Knock (NOC) | 55 km / 34 mi | 50 min |
The most efficient overall pattern: fly into Belfast for any northern itinerary, into Shannon for any southwestern itinerary, and into Knock if focusing on the northwest (Sligo, Donegal, Mayo). Dublin works as a hub for combination trips but adds at least 2 hours of motorway driving compared with the regional alternatives.
GPS, Maps & Navigation Apps
Ireland’s rural mobile coverage is patchy. Donegal, west Mayo, the Beara Peninsula, and stretches of west Cork all have multi-kilometre dead zones where Google Maps cannot recalculate. Plan for offline navigation as a baseline rather than a backup.
- Google Maps: Best overall mapping data and traffic layers. Download offline regions before each travel day, every region you plan to drive through, not just the destination.
- Apple Maps: Surprisingly competitive in Ireland following recent updates. Reliable for in-town navigation and dependable on N-roads.
- AA Roadwatch (now AA Ireland): Best source for live road incidents and weather warnings. Worth bookmarking on your phone before you arrive.
- Maps.me or OsmAnd: Open-source offline mapping. Slightly clumsier interfaces but unbeatable when Google has lost signal in west Donegal.
- What3Words: Increasingly accepted by Irish hotels and clubs, particularly in rural locations where postal addresses are vague. Excellent for delivering precise pickup points to chauffeurs.
One specific warning: avoid relying on Google’s “fastest route” feature without sense-checking. The algorithm occasionally routes via L-roads to save 3 minutes on paper, and the resulting farm-track 8 km can cost 30 minutes and a chip in your hire car windshield. If a route looks unfamiliar, prefer the longer N-road version.
Common Drive-Time Mistakes
- Trusting Google Maps default estimates. They are calibrated to free-flowing traffic on signed roads. They do not factor in tractors, single-track L-roads, or summer Ring of Kerry tour-bus convoys. Add 25% as a baseline.
- Booking back-to-back tee times on transfer days. A 9:30 morning round at Ballybunion plus a 2:30 afternoon round at Doonbeg looks tight but doable on the map. In practice, a slow morning four-ball and a missed ferry sailing turns it into a no-show.
- Underestimating the Belfast and Dublin bypasses at peak. The M50 around Dublin and the M1/M2 around Belfast can add 30–45 minutes between 4 and 6 PM. Plan transfers for 10 AM or 11 AM to skip this entirely.
- Treating “the Wild Atlantic Way” as one route. It is 2,500 km long. Confirm specific course-to-course distances rather than thinking “we’re both on the WAW, it must be close.”
- Forgetting the last 5 km of L-road. Doonbeg, Old Head, Carne, Enniscrone, all have an L-road final approach where the last few kilometres take 10–15 minutes. Build this in to every coastal-course estimate.
- Ignoring weather. A January transfer along the N56 in Donegal in horizontal rain at sunset is not the same drive as the same route in June at 11 AM. Slow down. Eat breakfast. Skip a round if conditions are dangerous.
Related guides
- Ireland Golf Travel Guide (2026) — Practical Tips for Visitors
- Irish Golf Etiquette & Dress Codes — What Visitors Need to Know
- Ireland Currency & Money Guide for Golfers — Euro vs Pound & Tips
- Tipping Etiquette in Ireland — Caddie, Hotel & Restaurant Guide
- Phone & WiFi on an Ireland Golf Trip — Staying Connected Abroad
FAQ
Do I need a car for an Irish golf trip?
For any multi-course trip outside Dublin, yes, either a self-drive hire car or a chauffeured vehicle. Public transport does not align with course geometry and adds hours to every leg. Single-course city trips (Portmarnock from Dublin, Royal Belfast from Belfast city) can work without a car.
Is it cheaper to drive or hire a chauffeur?
Self-drive is materially cheaper for groups of 1–3 (€60–€120/day all in including fuel and tolls). For groups of 4, chauffeur prices fall to €125–€160 per person per day, which becomes competitive once you factor in not having to drive. Above 4 people, chauffeur or coach hire is the default choice.
How many courses can I realistically play in 7 days?
Five to six rounds across 7 days is comfortable. Seven rounds in 7 days is achievable but requires tight pairings (Lahinch + Doonbeg, Tralee + Ballybunion). Eight rounds in 7 days is exhausting and almost always degrades scoring and enjoyment. Pace yourself.
Can I drive a hire car between Northern Ireland and the Republic?
Yes, but confirm with your rental company first. Most major operators allow cross-border driving on request, sometimes with a small administrative fee. Insurance terms can vary; always read the policy. There are no passport or customs controls at the border.
Is the Tarbert ferry worth it?
For any north-south trip between Kerry and Clare, yes. It saves 60–90 minutes of driving versus the inland Limerick loop and is a pleasant 20-minute crossing. The cost is modest (~€22 one way per car) and no booking is required for cars.
Should I rent an automatic or manual?
If you do not regularly drive a manual transmission on the left, pay the small premium for an automatic. The mental load of stick-shift on Irish rural roads, especially in the rain, is significant. Reserve early, automatic fleets are smaller and book up first.
What is the best time of day to drive between courses?
Mid-morning (10 AM–12 PM) and mid-afternoon (2 PM–4 PM) outside school terms. Avoid 8–9 AM and 4:30–6 PM around any city. Avoid late evening or pre-dawn driving on rural R- and L-roads where wildlife and reduced visibility add risk.
Are tolls a significant cost?
Modest. The M50 around Dublin and the Dublin Tunnel use barrier-free electronic tolling, your hire car will be billed and you must check that the rental contract includes a toll-tag or pay online before midnight the next day. Other motorway tolls are €2–€3.50 each. Total tolls for a typical week-long trip rarely exceed €30.
Final Thoughts
The transport layer of an Irish golf trip is the layer most travelers underestimate, and it is the layer that most often determines whether the holiday feels relaxed or rushed. Distances on a map are deceptive. Google’s drive times are aspirational. The country’s roads, weather, and rural geometry conspire to slow you down, and that slowness, paradoxically, is part of the magic if you plan for it. The drive between courses in Ireland is not dead time. The hedgerows of Kerry, the mist over Donegal, the sweep of the Mournes coming into view from the M1, the Shannon ferry crossing at golden hour, all of these are part of the Irish golf experience, not interruptions to it.
Plan with the realist’s distance matrix. Pad every leg by 25%. Cluster your courses sensibly. Let the Tarbert ferry do its work. Choose your airport to match your itinerary, not the other way around. Limit your transfer days, multiply your buffer days, and accept that no more than two long drives per week is the maximum any group should attempt. Do these things, and your tee times will hold, your pace will be civil, and you will arrive at every first tee with the unhurried clarity that Irish links golf demands.
The realist’s guide to transport between golf courses in Ireland is, in the end, an argument for slowing down. The country’s links are among the world’s greatest. The drives between them, when planned with respect for Irish roads, are some of golf travel’s quiet pleasures. Treat the journey as part of the round, and the round as part of the journey, and Ireland will repay you generously on every fairway.