If you are looking for a golfing trip of a lifetime we are hoping this itinerary could fit the bill. Spend 4 Nights on Ireland’s west coast at the fabulous 5* Doonbeg Resort and play Ballybunion, Lahinch and Doonbeg. Then travel to England’s Golf Coast and play Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham and St Annes and Royal Liverpool and stay 4 nights in the vibrant city of Liverpool or the seaside resort of Southport.

Lahinch Golf Club is frequently referred to as “the St. Andrew’s of Ireland” because of its close proximity and interaction with the local village. The links is situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

Lahinch Old Course is frequently ranked as one of the best in the World and is a firm favourite of Phil Mickelson. Old Tom Morris originally designed the course before it was tweaked by Dr Alister Mackenzie, shortly before he traveled to America to design Pebble Beach and Cyprus Point.

Doonbeg’s links course was designed by two-time British Open Champion, Greg Norman. Set along 1.5 miles of crescent-shaped beach, it was designated as Golf Digests “Best New International Course” in its opening year. Heralded around the world, Doonbeg Golf Course offers spectacular ocean side play amid towering, centuries-old dunes.

This is a true links course with slick greens, tightly mown fairways and wispy rough that looks easier than it plays. Scoring well is very wind dependent but shaping shots and learning how to hit the low drives will always help players who wish to step onto a links course.
Doonbeg has some fantastic holes, views that leave you speechless, the friendliest of welcomes and was recently awarded the Best Golf Resort in Europe award for 2010.

Just over an hour south of Doonbeg lies one of the World’s most famous links courses – Ballybunion. The very name Ballybunion Golf Club, strikes a chord with golfing enthusiasts around the globe. Rated one of the ten best golf courses in the world, standing on the first tee at Ballybunion is every bit as awe inspiring as one could imagine in many respects, it's like standing on the first at the Old Course in St. Andrews. The Old Course at Ballybunion is a true seaside links, virtually treeless with a distinct lack of man made influences.

There is certainly a wild look to the course, making it appear intimidating, yet the truth is that the course is eminently fair. The contours on the fairways and greens are what make Ballybunion a great golf course. The golfer is required to play accurate approach shots to the greens, usually to a small target with not a lot of space to miss left or right.  ^

Tom Watson’s thoughts on Ballybunion have been well documented over the years, the main quote being: "It's a course you will always enjoy and never tire of playing...In short, Ballybunion is a course on which many golf architects should live and play before they build a golf course. I consider it a true test of golf."

Doonbeg has been voted as the European Golf Resort of 2010, located on the stunning County Clare coastline. A mere 45 minutes from Shannon International Airport, The Lodge at Doonbeg Golf Club offers guests beautiful seaside accommodation, unparalleled service, world renowned links Golf as well as an award winning spa and dining experience. This unique combination, unrivalled in Ireland, makes Doonbeg Ireland’s premier 5 star luxury destination.

The accommodations at The Lodge at Doonbeg Golf Club, multi-room suites and cottages, are a distinct departure from traditional hotel offerings. The Links Cottages, located a short walk from the Lodge, are Doonbeg’s most spacious accommodation. The cottages feature an ensuite marble bathroom for each bedroom, a living room with fireplace, dining area and a fully equipped kitchen. Offering added privacy, they also provide views of the spectacular 17th fairway and surrounding countryside.

After sampling some of Ireland’s finest links courses you can fly from Shannon Airport straight to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and take on some of England’s finest links courses.

Experience the three Open Championship venues along England’s Golf Coast all in one trip! A round at Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham and St Annes awaits you. Choose to stay in the vibrant city of Liverpool or in the classic seaside resort of Southport.

The Royal Liverpool course at Hoylake started life as the racecourse of the Liverpool Hunt Club, set on the shores of the Dee and with the Welsh hills in the distance. As a reminder of its previous life, the original saddling bell is displayed among the memorabilia in the clubhouse. The golf course was built in 1869 and, with the exception of Westward ho! in Devon, is the oldest seaside course in England.

The club is a place of firsts: the first Amateur in 1885; the first international match between England and Scotland in 1902; the first international between Great Britain and the United States in 1921, now known as the Walker Cup. Although the Club has hosted many Open Championships and many a famous golfing hero has walked the fairways over the years, it is probably best known for its contribution to the amateur game and a place where amateurs feel at home.  ^

Whilst at first appearance the course may look flat, it is a very challenging championship course, 6,900 yards from the member's tees. However, as with all links courses, the wind makes its presence felt. The summer breeze can be your ally and the icy gale a ruthless adversary. All the holes require your utmost attention. The enormous clubhouse offers a respite from the elements and a place to soak up the history and traditions of the game.

Among the many great courses along the Northwest coast, Royal Birkdale stands out as a perfect example of links golf. It is currently the number one course in England and has been voted the number one in Britain, most recently in the survey published in 1998 after The Open. The Club was formed in 1889, starting life as a 9 hole course.

In 1897 the decision was taken to move to Birkdale Hills where an 18 hole course was constructed. In 1991 a decision was taken to redesign and relay all the greens. This considerable investment and ongoing improvement has enabled the club to retain its position as one of the finest links courses.

The course has been the stage for many great golf championships including the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup and the Ryder Cup. On eight occasions The Open has been played here. The links measures 6,690 yards and although the distance itself is a test even for the most accomplished golfer, the wind, whistling down the fairways when it comes from the sea, adds to the challenge. Each hole runs through a landscape of high dunes, the fairways are flat and fair and from the tee there is generally a clear view of the task ahead.

Nestling between two busy seaside resorts, the Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Course is one of the most unique courses in the rotation of the British Open. It is a links in every sense of the word, with sandy soil and the wind blowing in from the Irish Sea. Open to the elements, the trees on the course permanently lean sideways, with the wind often proving a formidable competitor in the homeward five holes of the course.

Unusually, the course is set amongst a Victorian housing estate, and occupies a limited piece of land, with red-brick houses in plain view. Located nearby is the St. Annes train station with the railway line running adjacent to the first nine holes of the course.

The course is well designed, with holes to test every level of player. It opens with a Par 3, the only major championship course to do so. The first four holes and last five are said to be amongst the trickiest in Britain, but some respite is offered in between where everyone can hope to emulate Seve Ballesteros' five birdies and an eagle in this stretch on his way to winning the 1979 Open, this is a chance to put some lower scores on your card.

Holes 16 to 18 have produced some of the most memorable moments in major championship history; the 16th is the scene of Seve's famous 'car park' shot. Standing behind the 18th green, the grand Victorian clubhouse, with its oak-paneled dining room, offers a haven from the elements. The Clubhouse really is a place to soak up history of previous championships and admire the skill of the past and present golfing heroes.

Situated on Lord Street, Southport's Parisian Boulevard, the Vincent Hotel takes comfort and personal service to new heights - all within a fresh, stylish and contemporary interior.

Six floors of tranquility - a boutique hotel with 60 guest studios, residences and penthouses as well as a destination V Cafe & Sushi Bar, the V-Spa and V-Gym, this hotel is perfect for golfers wanting to play some of the finest courses in the North-West of England and sample the wonderful night life of Southport in the evenings.

The Ramada Plaza Hotel, Southport offers the finest in luxury city centre style hotel accommodation at the heart of one of the UK’s most classic seaside resorts.

You can enjoy the very best facilities expected in a modern Four Star Ramada Plaza Hotel yet have the luxury of being able to overlook magnificent panoramic coastal views, close to some of the best and most famous championship golf courses and also benefits from being only two minutes from Lord Street, famous for its shops and boutiques.  ^

The Heywood House Hotel occupies The Heywood House, built in 1799, it is the oldest bank building in the city of Liverpool, established by Arthur Heywood, the son of a wealthy merchant. Opened in March 2010, the Hotel has 35 luxuriously decorated rooms as well as well as one of Liverpool’s finest eateries – The Noble House Restaurant and Bar.

Situated directly in the heart of Liverpool, the Heywood House Hotel gives you opportunity to explore everything Liverpool has to offer from shopping and nightlife to the Beatles experience.

Superbly located, adjacent to the Royal Liver Building and overlooking the River Mersey, the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Liverpool City Centre provides guests with outstanding standards of comfort and service. All the bedrooms and suites at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Liverpool City Centre offer the comfort and facilities expected by today's sophisticated traveller, with many offering the added attraction of dramatic views of the Liver Building, River Mersey and the historic Princes Dock.

The Radisson Blu Hotel is situated on the waterfront in Liverpool and is within easy reach of Liverpool’s main tourist attractions. As well as 194 stylish bedrooms there is the White Bar Lounge and Cocktail Bar and the award winning Filini Restaurant with striking views over the River Mersey.
With a lineup of golf courses like this you will have happy memories of this golfing trip for many years to come.  ^