Coming to Ireland for The Irish Open?

The 13th hole at Royal County Down

If you're travelling from overseas to watch one of the most impressive Irish Open line-ups in years (maybe ever), at the magnificent Royal County Down, then chances are you'll be thinking about playing a little golf.

After all, as the Northern Irish Tourist Board has been bragging for a number of years, this is the 'Home of Champions'... you'd expect plenty of exceptional courses. And Northern Ireland doesn't disappoint.

Here are some options to consider:

Irish Independent Weekend Magazine Article

As part of the promotion for my book 'Driving The Green', the Irish Independent asked me to write a piece on five of my favourite golf courses. It was for the Travel section of last Saturday's Weekend Magazine.

Choosing five is always tough and it seems so unfair on all the courses that don't get mentioned. If I asked you to list your top five golf courses, you'd list off five, then add another, think about it, mention another, groan because you'd left out that favourite course... and end up listing nine or ten. Don't believe me, then go ahead and try it.

Ireland's Best Hidden Golfing Gems

Views over Strandhill's 5th fairway

The list of Ireland’s Fairways Less Travelled… The Hidden Gems… The Jewels… The Unsung Heroes… whatever you want to call them... is now complete.

So here is the final list of Ireland’s 20 best golf courses that rarely get the credit or coverage they deserve.

I’m sure that you have plenty of hidden Irish gems that you’d like to add… please feel free to do so in the Comments section.

I would like to thank everyone who entered the draws, and I would especially like to thank the golf clubs who donated free fourballs for this blog to give away. Eighteen of the 20 clubs donated. Many thanks for your generosity.

Ireland's Top Ten Hidden Golf Courses - No. 2 (Parkland)

The superb opening hole, Scrabo Tower on the right. It's Index 1.

For the number two parkland in this Top Ten of Ireland's Fairways Less Travelled we're staying in the North, although this one is east, not west.  

And of all the 20 parkland and links courses in this Top 10 list, this club is the least well known. Chances are, you haven't even heard of it. 

Scrabo Golf Club is the Number 2 Parkland. You can win a fourball for the course at the end of this blog.