This trip was a delayed 60th birthday trip for me, so golf was a major focus of the planning. To ensure she was not bored out of her mind, for the 10 days of our trip, Thérèse disappeared off to Copenhagen and London whilst I went golfing pretty well every day!

Being Ireland, rain was a regular feature for the first few days!

Throughout this blog I will give my rating of the course on a scale of 1 to 10. By way of comparison, I would rate Ballybunion and Lahinch (my two favourite golf courses in Ireland) 9.5 and the two Tasmanian courses at Barnbougle 8.5. This may be slightly favouring Ballybunion and Lahinch given its 23 years since I played them (on my 40th birthday trip)! I will also note my score in stableford points - mainly off the White or equivalent tees at each course.

First course was Baltray (aka County Louth) which is located just north of Dublin Airport.

Course rating 8.5

My Score 33points

Great course through dunes. Rained pretty heavily off and on and the wind was up.

Next came The Island which is on Donabate Island, to the north of Malahide, just north of Dublin.

Course rating 8.5

My Score 27 points in a howling gale. Rained about half the time. Not too heavy rain, but the wind made it pretty miserable conditions.

Surrounded on 3 sides by water, with views across from Donabate to Malahide. Another course that cuts through dunes in classic links style (that will be an on-going feature of the trip).

After golf at The Island, a long drive across Ireland to Enniscrone in County Mayo.

Course Rating 7.5

My score 36points

Bit tough to rate this one down, still a great course cut through high dunes. However not quite of the same quality as some of the others. Rain was starting to clear up here, just some showers.

With Enniscrone as a base, I also played Carne Golf Links.

Course Rating - First 9 - both courses 9

Course Rating - back 9 - Hackett Course 7

VC score 30 points in strong winds.

Built in the 1970s there are 27 holes composite holes at Carne with 9 holes shared (they play each course every second day). I played the Hackett Course (changed date due to forecast rain!) which unfortunately has the poorer back 9. The first 9 are superb - reminded me very much of Jacks Point in Queenstown. Lots of greens surrounded by high dunes and difficult shot choices to be made. Holes roll up and down hills throughout. The second 9 are still solid, but not of the same quality over flatter ground.

However I understand the other 9 (Wild Atlantic Dunes course) are comparable to the first 9 so if I had played that course it may have been a different rating!

Ireland - golf ... or rain?