If you’re looking at Ireland for 2026 and thinking, “We’ve left it too late,” you’re in good company. Most golfers only start seriously searching once the group chat turns into “Right… are we actually doing this?” and by then, plenty of club websites are already flashing Sold Out.
Here’s the insider truth: you can still make 2026 happen, especially if you target the months where we’re seeing the best real-world opportunity right now: May, August, and September.
And if you want the highest odds of landing world-class links without a long wait? Focus on Ireland’s southwest Atlantic coast — the stretch that includes Lahinch and Doonbeg up the coast and runs down towards Ballybunion and Waterville.
A lot of US travellers assume Ireland is a narrow window: June and July or bust. In reality, some of the most enjoyable links weeks often sit just outside that mental box.
Right now, the strongest “still doable for 2026” months are:
And yes, early October can be brilliant for firm links conditions and that golden light but there’s an important practical note:
At some clubs, visitor tee times begin to reduce or close from around mid-October, so if October is your target, you’ll want to keep it early and move quickly.
Let’s talk about what actually stops most late-planners: tee times at the top clubs.
You check a website, see Sold Out, and assume the door is closed. If you’re booking direct, that’s often true.
But that “sold out” sign doesn’t apply in the same way when you travel with Irish Golf Tours.
Lahinch Golf Club
We’ve been operating since 1993, and that longevity matters. It means deep-rooted relationships with Ireland’s leading clubs — built over decades of doing things properly.
As a result, we can often secure access and tee times for our clients that simply aren’t available to the general public, even when the online booking page says otherwise.
Think of it like this: the public booking system is one door. We have keys to others. Not magic. Not empty promises. Just relationships, timing, and experience.
If you want the strongest route to a 2026 trip, the one that gives you the best chance of tee times and the trip you’ll talk about for years — here’s the clearest play:
Ireland’s southwest coast has the best overall availability for the remainder of 2026.
It’s also one of the most stacked links regions on the planet, including:
If your group wants a trip that feels unmistakably “Ireland”, this is the coastline to build around.
If your plan points at September, especially around Lahinch and Doonbeg, there are two major events that can tighten accommodation, transport, and local availability:
Plain-English takeaway: the first half of September can fill faster than people expect — not just for golf, but for the hotels your group actually wants.
The smart plays:
Ballybunion Golf Club
If you’re pulling a 2026 trip together now, the winning mindset is not perfection — it’s smart flexibility.
You may need to be flexible on:
But here’s the payoff: you get to play Ireland’s most sought-after links in 2026, instead of watching the year slip into “maybe next year”.
May, August, and September aren’t just “possible”, they often deliver the version of Ireland golf people actually want:
It’s not just a trip that works. It’s a trip that lands.
If you only take three things from this:
If Ireland is on the list for 2026, the window can still be open but it won’t stay open by itself.
Don’t wait for 2027. Contact us today to see what exclusive slots we still have for 2026 in Ireland’s Soutwest.