Although the combination of golf and whiskey is usually aligned with travel to Scotland, the heritage of whiskey runs far deeper in Ireland. The Irish version was once the most popular spirit in the world, but a variety of factors brought Ireland’s whiskey industry to its knees in the 19th century. A resurgence over the last decade has brought with it a number of ways to enjoy golf and whiskey as part of Ireland golf packages.
Here’s 5 perfect pairings for a golf and whiskey tour of Ireland.
Royal Portrush and Old Bushmills
Perhaps the most notable pairing of golf and whiskey in Ireland comes courtesy of Old Bushmills and Royal Portrush Golf Club. The former is the oldest distillery in Ireland and can trace its origin to 1608. The latter hosted the 2019 Open Championship after a 68 year absence, and has firmly cemented its place among the top-10 courses in the world.
To enjoy this perfect pairing to its fullest, tour the Bushmills distillery after golf at Royal Portrush, then retire to the Gas Bar at the Bushmills Inn for a nightcap.
Credit: Tourism Ireland
Old Head and The Jameson Experience
The connection between Jameson and golf runs deep. At the end of the 19th century, John Jameson gifted a portion of his estate near Dublin to form the Portmarnock Golf Club and went on to serve as its first president. In the early 1970s, Jameson moved much of its operation to the town of Midleton, where today the Jameson Experience operates as one of the most popular attractions on the Emerald Isle.
About an hour to the southwest lies the show-stopping Old Head Golf Links, which has quickly become one of the must-play golf courses in Ireland. Although our advice is to savor the view from the clubhouse patio after the round, a visit to the Jameson Experience around golf at Old Head forms arguably the finest pairing of golf and whiskey in Ireland.
Credit: Tourism Ireland/Chris Hill
Tralee and Dingle Distillery
Arnold Palmer famously said of his Tralee Golf Links “I may have designed the front-9, but surely God designed the back-9.” The spectacular design work of the inward half at Tralee carries on to the entire Dingle Peninsula. The coastal drive yields one stunning panorama after another en route to the fishing village of the same name. It’s there that the Dingle Distillery has produced single malt whiskey since 2012, as well as Dingle Gin; a personal favorite of our Founder and Chairman, Sam Baker.
While Tralee and the Dingle Distillery offer an exceptional pairing of golf and whiskey, it’s important to note that no visit to this picturesque peninsula is complete without a stop at Murphy’s Ice Cream.
Credit: Tourism Ireland/Valerie O’Sullivan
Royal Dublin and Roe & Co.
Those in search of golf and whiskey when traveling to Dublin will find the first half of the equation on nearby Bull Island. The Royal Dublin Golf Club relocated to this sliver of land in 1889, and Harry Colt – whose design work took him to Muirfield and Royal County Down – redesigned the course in 1920.
The second half of Dublin’s golf and whiskey combination can be found adjacent to the most popular tourist attraction in Ireland. At the height of its popularity in the 19th century, George Roe & Co. was the largest producer of Irish whiskey. Like the industry itself, Roe’s distillery eventually fell on hard times and was closed in 1926. Fast forward to 2019, Roe & Co. was reborn inside a former power plant next door to the famous Guinness Storehouse.
Credit: Tourism Ireland/Roe & Co.
Enniscrone and Connacht Whiskey Co.
Although located just off Ireland’s well worn path, those who make the visit to Enniscrone Golf Club inevitably come away singing its praises. Thanks to the daunting dunes which tower over the course, Enniscrone offers a visual feast for any fan of links golf. The course is as charming to play as it is dramatic to view, yet the party for the senses doesn’t have to end once the round is over.
Just 15 minutes away, the Connacht Whiskey Company brought distilling back to the west of Ireland after an absence of nearly 100 years when it opened in 2012. The distillery offers tours of its whiskey, gin, and vodka production facility, all of which is supervised by an award-winning master distiller from Philadelphia.
Our free guide includes over 40 pages of valuable insight, plus links to nearly 50 additional resources, on Golf and the Good Life in Ireland.
For more insight on planning your Ireland golf trip, visit the pages below or have a look through our Yardage Book, where you’ll find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
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