Welcome to Talking Golf Travel: No.18.
Finally, the new season is here. Over the coming months, across Ireland and Scotland, countless ecstatic visitors will make lifelong memories on those unparalleled links courses.
If you’re looking to plan your golfing adventure, this issue is packed with inspiring stories.
Let’s tee off.
First, a quick caveat:
The Top 100 International Courses for 2026 list excludes the United States.
So Ireland and Scotland haven’t achieved complete global domination!
But it’s yet another reminder of the calibre of golf that awaits you.
As you’d expect, Royal County Down, St Andrews Links and Royal Dornoch top the ranking.
And not far behind, you’ll find Trump Turnberry, Ballybunion and North Berwick.
Learn more in Golfweek here.
Traditionally, only the most pious golfing pilgrims made the epic trek to the wild, windswept Scottish Highlands.
But not anymore.
Now, thanks to new additions like Castle Stuart and Old Petty, this far-flung links paradise is increasingly popular with travelling golfers.
And there’s more to come, according to Neil Hampton, General Manager at the iconic Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
Listen to his fascinating interview with Scotland Where Golf Began here.
Alongside the mystical Royal County Down, it’s the main event on your golf trip to Northern Ireland.
Royal Portrush is truly majestic.
Between the iconic Dunluce Links and the lesser-known Valley Course, you have an irresistible 36-hole experience that few places can match.
But that’s not all.
Nearby, the enchanting seaside town of Portrush brims with blue-flag beaches, boutique stores, lively pubs, and elegant restaurants.
Learn more in IrishCentral here.
Think of Gullane as the capital of Scotland’s Golf Coast.
Set on the shores of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian, the village overlooks a breathtaking panorama of glistening beaches, lush grasslands, and spellbinding courses.
Since 1882, Gullane Golf Club has been its epicentre.
With three top-ranked links (No.1, No.2 and No.3) and a fascinating Heritage Museum, you’ll absolutely love this golfing wonderland.
Learn more in Break80 Golf here.
Let’s linger a little longer in East Lothian.
Obviously, you’ll love its extraordinary championship courses.
Meanwhile, between rounds, this delightfully diverse destination has something for everyone.
You’ve got Dirleton Castle, a formidable medieval fortress, and the beautiful, award-winning beach, Belhaven Bay.
You can sample the craft flavours of NB Distillery. Finally, the vibrant North Berwick seafront is ideal for sightseeing, socialising and shopping.
Learn more in Visit East Lothian here.
Joe Carr. Padraig Harrington. Rory McIlroy. Shane Lowry.
For over a century, the West of Ireland Amateur Open has been a reliable proving ground for Ireland’s greatest golfers. Tellingly, it’s a competition that reveals character as much as skill.
On April 3, the next edition gets underway at the mesmerising County Sligo Golf Club.
Learn about its long and celebrated history in this star-studded episode of The Bogey Men podcast.
Imagine that.
Even the island’s most successful golfer has yet to grace all its greatest layouts.
For Rory McIlroy, that elusive round nestles within tumbling dunes on the sparkling Atlantic coastline of golf-rich County Kerry.
Any guesses?
It’s not Ballybunion, Dooks or Tralee…
In a recent interview, he listed the raw, rugged, remote, and absolutely ravishing Waterville Golf Links among his must-play courses.
Learn more in the Irish Examiner here.
4 golfers | 10 rounds | 7 nights
Imagine playing the 2026 Walker Cup and Irish Open venues… on the same day!
Our Feigelsohn group enjoyed this knockout combination – Lahinch and Doonbeg – on their epic adventure across the Emerald Isle.
Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary:
Portmarnock. Old Head. The Island…
Ballybunion. Jameson Links. Tralee.
From Dublin to Clare, Cork and Kerry, their tailormade Golfer Journeys experience delivered non-stop legendary links, luscious landscapes, and luxury lodgings.
Need inspiration for your dream itinerary? Start with this mouthwatering list.
With its blockbuster landscapes shaped by the crashing North Sea, Aberdeenshire has always been a hub of world-class links golf.
You get classics such as Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen, and Murcar Links.
And modern masterpieces like the Old and New courses at Trump International.
But who tops the leaderboard in 2026?
Learn more in Top 100 Golf Courses here.
Though somewhat unheralded, Seapoint Golf Links is fast-becoming one of Ireland’s marquee championship venues.
In May, Seapoint welcomes the prestigious Irish Amateur Open for the second consecutive season.
Previously, this scenic seaside track staged back-to-back EU Legends events.
Unquestionably, it’s a serious test.
But it’s also the most pleasant surprise on your East Coast itinerary.
Timmy Jordan experienced both in his thrilling showdown with three top prospects. See for yourself.
When it comes to golf in Scotland, you’re spoiled for choice.
With an unrivalled 600-year legacy and 550+ courses dotted across its sumptuous landscapes, you have both quality and quantity.
Alas, this embarrassment of riches means some top-notch layouts get overshadowed.
Well, there’s a list for that, too!
And it features gems such as King Robert the Bruce, Brora, Dunbar, and Glasgow Gailes.
Learn more in National Club Golfer here.
From underrated to acclaimed.
Scottish Golf Tourism Week showcased the incredible courses, hotels, attractions, and people that make your travel experience so special.
The IGT team saw it firsthand during this all-star industry gathering across Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh and East Lothian.
You need only look at the illustrious winners from its showpiece event, the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards, including Cruden Bay, Cabot Highlands, Nairn, and Carnoustie.
Learn more in bunkered here.
It was the final creation of the legendary Eddie Hackett.
It has inspired best-selling authors and Hollywood directors.
And it boasts the most dramatic dunescape on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Yet Carne Golf Links remains largely unknown to travelling golfers.
However, when it comes to thrilling playing experiences and sheer, jaw-dropping grandeur, no other layout in Ireland comes close to our Course of the Month.
Uncover this 27-hole hidden gem.
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Author: Tom Rooney
