Westport & Galway

Dromoland Castle Golf and Country Club has been in existence since 1962 with golf being played over the lush rolling tree lined landscape that drains into Dromoland Lough with the Castle as a backdrop. The present course opened for play in April 2004 after a lavish restoration of both the golf course and castle. The course architects, Ron Kirby and the late JB Carr teamed up again, following their success at the Old Head of Kinsale, to produce a great parkland challenge that meanders through the estate amongst fine trees and around many natural lakes. The golf course then finishes in fine style in front of the castle. The highlight of golf at Dromoland is the immaculate greens that are true and lightning fast - they are claimed to be the fastest in Ireland.

Carne is the unanimous choice of all of us at Tailor-Made Golf Tours as our favourite course in Ireland. Apart from being a hugely challenging links course, there is a wonderful sense of being in another world when treading the sandy fairways and dunes. One can understand the connection between Carne and the old Irish legend of The Children of Lir. This Eddie Hackett designed masterpiece among the towering dunes will charm you as much as it challenges you. From the moment of arrival, Belmullet exudes an air of specialty. The splendid scenery, the proximity to the ocean and the visual appeal of the links itself are all-pervading. "I am thrilled with the way the dramatic Belmullet course has turned out, and again I reiterate my first opinion that ultimately there will be no better links golf course in the country or I doubt anywhere" said Eddie Hackett. Carne was his last design and his eternal legacy - enjoy!.

A free day to explore the beautty of County Mayo and/or Connemara. The day could start with a journey along the southern shore of Clew Bay, past Croagh Patrick, to Louisburgh. From Louisburgh south across Doo Lough Pass to Leenaun with some memorable scenery between Mweelrea Mountain and the Sheffry Hills. Descending from Doo Lough the road then veers east along the shore of Kilary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord. From Leeenaun enter Connemara, surely Ireland's most gorgeous region. A visit to Kylemore Abbey would be possible although the direct route would be to travel through Joyce Country, the mountain interior of Connemara to end up back in County Mayo at Cong. Cong is a very pictureque village renowned as the filming location for the move 'The Quiet Man' as well as for Ashford Castle, one of Ireland's leading hotels. Cong is just 45 minutes north of Galway.

Galway is Ireland's best city mainly due to the chilled and relaxed atmosphere along its pedestrian streets where there are mnay pubs and restaurants and much 'ceol agus craic'. Galway a popular destination and there are plenty of quality accommodations to choose from.

Connemara Golf Club is a true links course situated on the western coast of County Galway. The scenery is stunning on a sunny day with the Atlantic to the west and south and the rugged Twelve Bens and Maamturk mountain ranges to the east. The 'gentle' opening offers a chance to start well and to put some decent numbers on the card. Given this chance to warm-up, this great links slowly starts to turn the screw with a fabulous stretch of holes from the 8th to the 18th. The par-3 13th is a beautiful golf hole and in many people's opinion Connemara's signature hole. Standing on the tee you know you need a pure strike on the ball to get on the green. Anything short will roll back 30 yards and anything left or right will be gathered by bunkers. Unusually, there are two magnificent Par-5's to finish and you can be guaranteed one of them will be into a sea breeze. Peter Allis commented "If there were a course like this on the west coast of England it would surely host a British Open"