The South West Ireland Grand Tour

County Kerry, County Clare & County Cork · Tweddell Golf

The South West Ireland Grand Tour

Ballybunion, Lahinch, Tralee, Waterville, Old Head — and two nights at Adare Manor.

The Trip

A loop of the five greatest links of Ireland's south-west coast, anchored by two nights at Adare Manor (host of the 2027 Ryder Cup) and three nights at the Park Hotel Kenmare.

Irish links golf operates on a different frequency. Wind off the Atlantic, fairways carved between thirty-foot dunes, holes that have changed almost nothing in a century. This itinerary threads together what Tom Watson called "the finest links courses in the world" — and pairs them with two of Ireland's great five-star addresses.

  • Five of Ireland's top six links courses
  • Two nights at Adare Manor (2027 Ryder Cup)
  • Park Hotel Kenmare — four nights
  • Private chauffeured transport throughout
  • Caddies included at every round

Gallery

Ballybunion cliffs and dunes
Lahinch sea view
Old Head of Kinsale promontory
Adare Manor at twilight

Day by Day

The itinerary

  1. Day

    1

    Arrival — Shannon to Adare

    MorningPrivate transfer from Shannon Airport. 30 minutes to Adare Manor.
    AfternoonCheck in. Walking tour of the manor grounds.
    EveningWelcome dinner in The Oak Room.
    LodgingAdare Manor

  2. Day

    2

    Adare Manor Golf

    MorningTee times on the Adare Manor course — 2027 Ryder Cup host.
    AfternoonLunch in the Carriage House.
    EveningAfternoon tea in the Drawing Room. Free evening.
    LodgingAdare Manor

  3. Day

    3

    Transfer to Kenmare — Tralee

    MorningDrive north-west to Tralee. Tee times on the Arnold Palmer links.
    AfternoonLunch at the Tralee clubhouse.
    EveningTransfer to Park Hotel Kenmare. Dinner in the hotel's 1 AA Rosette dining room.
    LodgingPark Hotel Kenmare

  4. Day

    4

    Waterville

    MorningDrive the Ring of Kerry to Waterville (90 minutes — spectacular). Tee times follow.
    AfternoonLunch at the Butler Arms in Waterville village.
    EveningReturn to Kenmare. Free evening.
    LodgingPark Hotel Kenmare

  5. Day

    5

    Ballybunion

    MorningDrive north to Ballybunion. Tee times on the Old Course.
    AfternoonLunch in the clubhouse.
    EveningHosted dinner at The Mews in Kenmare town.
    LodgingPark Hotel Kenmare

  6. Day

    6

    Transfer East — Old Head of Kinsale

    MorningDrive south-east to Kinsale. Tee times on the Old Head.
    AfternoonLunch in the Old Head clubhouse with cliff-edge view.
    EveningCheck in at the Trident Hotel, Kinsale harbor. Dinner at Fishy Fishy.
    LodgingTrident Hotel Kinsale

  7. Day

    7

    Lahinch (full-day round trip)

    MorningEarly drive north-west to Lahinch (3 hours — flexible).
    AfternoonRound at Lahinch Old. Late lunch in the clubhouse.
    EveningReturn via Shannon. Final dinner at the Trident or in Shannon depending on travel.
    LodgingTrident Hotel Kinsale or Shannon airport hotel

  8. Day

    8

    Departure

    MorningTransfer to Shannon or Cork airport.

The Courses

Where you'll play

Ballybunion Old

Designed by Lionel Hewson / Tom Simpson

Par 72Length 6,802 yards

Signature: Hole 11

Tom Watson called the eleventh the greatest par four in golf. The course holds its own from the first tee.

Lahinch Old

Designed by Old Tom Morris / Alister MacKenzie

Par 72Length 6,950 yards

Signature: Hole 5 — Klondyke

The St. Andrews of Ireland — quirky, ancient, beloved.

Tralee

Designed by Arnold Palmer

Par 72Length 6,975 yards

Signature: Hole 12

Palmer called the back nine the finest he ever designed. Played on cliffs above Banna Strand.

Waterville

Designed by Eddie Hackett / Tom Fazio

Par 72Length 7,378 yards

Signature: Hole 17 — Mulcahy's Peak

The most remote of the great links. Payne Stewart's favorite course outside the United States.

Old Head of Kinsale

Designed by Joe Carr / Eddie Hackett

Par 72Length 7,215 yards

Signature: Hole 4

Built on a 220-foot promontory jutting two miles into the Atlantic.

Adare Manor (The Golf Course)

Designed by Tom Fazio (2018 redesign)

Par 72Length 7,509 yards

Signature: Hole 18

The 2027 Ryder Cup host. Inland, parkland, immaculate — a counterpoint to the week's links.

Where You'll Stay

Lodging

Adare Manor

★★★★★

Adare Manor

2 nights · State Room

Five-red-star manor house on the river Maigue. Host of the 2027 Ryder Cup.

Park Hotel Kenmare

★★★★★

Park Hotel Kenmare

4 nights · Deluxe Bay View

Family-run since 1897. Eleven acres of garden above Kenmare Bay.

Trident Hotel Kinsale

★★★★

Trident Hotel Kinsale

1 night · Harbor View

Working harbor-side property in Ireland's gourmet capital.

For Non-Golfers

While you're on the course

Ring of Kerry Private Tour

Full day with private driver-guide through Killarney National Park and the Skellig coast.

Kenmare Bay Sea Kayaking

Guided morning paddle in protected waters.

Cliffs of Moher (paired with Lahinch day)

World-famous coastal cliffs, 15 minutes from Lahinch.

Adare Village Walking & Thatched Cottage Tour

One of Ireland's prettiest heritage villages, on Adare Manor's doorstep.

Included

  • 7 nights luxury accommodation
  • All confirmed tee times and green fees
  • Caddie at every round
  • Private chauffeured ground transport
  • Daily breakfast; 3 hosted dinners
  • Tweddell host on-call throughout
  • Welcome gift package

Not Included

  • International airfare
  • Lunches except where noted
  • Personal extras and gratuities
  • Travel insurance (required)

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