In my opinion, Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain, with a border with England to the southeast, and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast, the Irish Sea to the south, and more th…Scotland
Full Answer
Is it better to play golf in Ireland or Scotland?
Sorry, Scotland, but in Ireland I find the people friendlier (after all, its motto is “Céad Míle Fáilte” or “land of a thousand welcomes”), the food better and the golf every bit as good, but a tad more accessible. And there are plenty of those lesser-known courses there are well.
Are Scotland and Ireland the ultimate golf vacation destinations?
Scotland and Ireland are often mentioned when it comes to bucket list golf and ultimate golf vacations. First off, these golf destinations are indeed worthy of those labels – the golf really is that good. Second, these countries are easy to travel to, so trips here should not be considered to be “once in a lifetime”.
Where are the best golf courses in Ireland?
Waterville, Ballybunion, Lahinch in the southwest; Old Head down south in Kinsale, Portmarnock, Royal Dublin and County Louth (Baltray) in the Dublin area; Rosses Point and Donegal in the west and my word, Portstewart, Royal Portrush and Royal County Down in the north. It is simply disgusting how many wonderful courses there are.
Is there any good parkland golf in Ireland?
Let’s first be clear on one thing: There’s plenty of wicked-good parkland golf in both Ireland (Adare Manor, K Club, Druid’s Glen, Mount Juliet, Carton House) and Scotland (Gleneagles, Loch Lomond, Duff House?
What is the most picture perfect golf course in Ireland?
It is the most picture perfect links in Ireland. Dooks is shorter but packed with character.
What is the South West of Ireland known for?
Ireland’s South West is renowned for its string of links courses which stretch along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. It starts with the Alister MacKenzie classic, Lahinch, to the north, and embraces Doonbeg, Ballybunion, Tralee, Dooks and the idyllic Waterville, on the Ring of Kerry to the south. On Ireland’s southern coastline lies the immaculate Old Head Golf Club, peering down on the ocean from 300 foot cliffs on, a peninsula which resembles a diamond earring in shape… and quality.
What is the longest coastal driving route in the world?
Three of these courses make Golf Channel’s Top 10 Ocean Courses in the world (Tralee, Ballybunion, and Old Head), while the entire stretch of coastline from Clare to Cork forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way – the longest coastal driving route in the world. In a face-off between Scotland and Ireland for the ‘best golf trip ever’ there are two other ...
Where to see the giants in Scotland?
Visit the Giants in Lothians and Perthshire. Further afield, and all within just two hours of St. Andrews, are the likes of Gleneagles in Perthshire, whose stunning King’s Course is one of the best inland tracks in Scotland, and the delights of East Lothian, which features the iconic links of Muirfield, Gullane and North Berwick within ...
Is Killarney a good place to live?
And there’s no better place to start than Killarney, one of Ireland’s most colorful and vibrant towns. Packed with restaurants, artist studios, bars and hotels, Killarney is surrounded by the 26,000 acre Killarney National Park, the 19th century Muckross House (designed by a Scot, ironically), and the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. This is the place to stay for some unforgettable golf.
How many hotel changes are required for golf in Scotland?
In Scotland, they can do so with just a single hotel change. In contrast, Southwest Ireland golf trips generally require three hotels and a number of hour-long commutes to the course. The Dublin-Northern Ireland combination also may require two hotel changes, but the commutes are quite a bit shorter.
Where is golf played?
Scotland is The Home of Golf for a reason. The earliest mention of the game in historical record occurred over three decades before Columbus set sail for America. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers penned the first rules of golf when Thomas Jefferson was still learning to crawl. Even in Dornoch, considered a far flung outpost for centuries, the game has been played since before the Mayflower landed in Plymouth Rock.
Where is Killarney National Park?
Ireland has Killarney National Park, the cliffs of the Southwest, and the dramatic seascapes of the North Coast. In Scotland, lasting memories come courtesy of the vistas of the rolling hills near Gleneagles, the magnificent sunsets of the West Coast, and where the mountains meet the sea in The Highlands.
Is golf in Scotland shorter than a week?
In fact, there’s several areas for golf in Scotland where one could spend a week, play a different world-class course every day, and never repack the suitcase.
Golf Breaks with Championship Golf
Scotland Vs Ireland golf, it’s a no brainer to me why Scotland is superior. So why does Scotland offer better championship golf than Ireland? Well…golf was invented in Scotland, so to put it simply: it is The Home of Golf.
Scotland vs Ireland Golf for Societies & Groups
In my opinion, Scotland just nips ahead of Ireland as being best for Golf Societies as well. There is a trip out there for every budget and every group.
Golf Breaks for Couples
To say I would be biased here is an understatement, having got engaged at the stunning Gleneagles Resort. I cannot think of a better couples getaway than a trip to Scotland. Scotland has everything to offer from the romance of Loch Ness, the rugged beauty of the Highlands to the majestic Trossachs and Cairngorms.
Scotland vs Ireland Golf for High Handicap Golfers
With golf in Scotland, most people associate it with Championship Courses as we talked about above, however, there is golf for all abilities. The resorts of Dalmahoy / Fairmont St. Andrews and Turnberry all have a 2nd course that play very well for the higher handicapper.
Golf Breaks for Low Handicap Golfers
Why is Scotland better for the lower handicapper? Simply put, it’s because of the sheer number of championship courses available and I must reiterate it being the home of Links golf. The Links Association claims there are only 247 true Links courses in the World and Scotland has 85 of these, spread throughout the country.
Luxury Golf Breaks
I don’t see how Ireland can compete here, as golfers going to Scotland you have so much choice around luxury, it is not just the courses. All 5* properties have fantastic dining opportunities eg Andrew Fairlies at Gleneagles. Who doesn’t want to open their curtains onto views overlooking the Ailsa course at Turnberry.
Golf Breaks with Nightlife
Scotland offers such a variety of after-golf activities.
SCOTLAND: 7 Days in St Andrews
It would be difficult to find a more fulfilling golfing destination than St. Andrews. The town is completely synonymous with the game, as its spiritual home, and features some of Scotland’s finest links courses on its doorstep.
IRELAND: 7 Days in Killarney & South West Ireland
Ireland’s South West is renowned for its string of links courses that stretch along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. It starts with the Alister MacKenzie classic, Lahinch, to the north, and embraces Doonbeg, Ballybunion, Tralee, Dooks and the idyllic Waterville, on the Ring of Kerry to the south.
Our conclusion
When it comes to the golf, the history of the game and the sheer feeling of the occasion when you step out on the first tee, it would be hard to beat St Andrews as the ultimate golf trip destination. However, when you take in the overall golfing experience, a trip to South West Ireland could just edge it.
What hole is golf quirkiness?
Hole 8: Golf Quirkiness You travel far to see and play golf you can’t find at home, and while Irish courses hold their own eccentricities, the quirks of Cullen and Covesea in Scotland (two short courses played through what feels like an archeological excavation), the Rockies par-three at Anstruther ...
What is the Irish craic?
They call it the craic in Ireland (pronounced crack, don’t feel weird if someone tells you where you can find some), it translates to fun, and it is a word you will hear often and come to know deeply during an Irish golf tour. Scotland is tough to top for a real golf-head, a player passionate about history and course design, or for a student of the finer points of links golf. It’s also unbeatable for those who want to avoid the tour bus and golf their brains out. But when it comes to pure fun, craic is an official Irish pastime. They practice the art of simple joys with an air of carefree contentedness that make Irish days feel like gifts, even the rainy ones. (I was going to include weather as a category, but it’s too simply a draw, with a daily chance of rain, chance of sun around either coastline.) From the pub jokes to the caddy blarney to the hosts set on sending you home smiling, Ireland gets the nod when it comes to laughs. And as I tend to recall the laughter more than I recall the golf shots, fun seems a fit tiebreaker for this epic golf clash.
Heritage
Value
- When discussing Ireland vs Scotland golf tripswith prospective H&B travelers, we’re often asked which country will cost more. The short answer: It depends. The choices you make for your trip, such as accommodation options and courses played, will drive the overall cost more than anything. But if we were to craft two somewhat similar trips in each c...
Beauty
- When it comes to natural beauty, Scotland vs Ireland is essentially like Tiger Woods playing against himself. Ireland has Killarney National Park, the cliffs of the Southwest, and the dramatic seascapes of the North Coast. In Scotland, lasting memories come courtesy of the vistas of the rolling hills near Gleneagles, the magnificent sunsets of the West Coast, and where the mountai…
Logistics
- In recent years, airlines added a variety of non-stop routes from the U.S. to both Scotland and Ireland. Those routes are slowly returning after the restart of international travel, but both destinations have been impacted equally. As a result, this match will focus on your time on the ground. We’ve shared many times how the great courses of both countries are clustered inside …
Hospitality
- Attempting to crown the most hospitable country in a match of Scotland vs Ireland golf is a fool’s errand. The warm hospitality and general friendliness of both countries is known the world over. From the moment you arrive in Scotland and Ireland alike, you will feel welcome and, at times, like a member of the family. Extending the question to food and drink, a wealth of outstanding dining…
Drama
- The great links courses of Scotland and Ireland are home to no shortage of awe-inspiring moments. When it comes to sheer drama on the course, however, there is still little doubt which country reigns supreme. Compared to the terrain of Ireland, visually speaking, many of the courses in Scotland are a fairly benign affair. Don’t get us wrong, there’s plenty of excitement in …
Final Record: 2-2-2
- You didn’t really think we’d pick one country over the other, did you? Nevertheless, we hope that the insight here was a helpful starting point to the Scotland vs Ireland debate. We say starting point because there’s many more factors to consider when choosing your destination. At the start of the planning process, your Expedition Planning Manager will walk you through all of these fac…