Golfers around the world are familiar with many of the famous Irish Golf Courses in southwest Ireland, the likes of Ballybunion, Waterville, and Tralee, just to name a few.  Many are also familiar with the famed K Club,  host of the 2006 Ryder Cup, and Royal Country Down,  a majestic golfing venue voted “the best golf course in the world outside the United States” by Golf Digest.

However, many golfers looking for good values and hidden gems are not all that familiar with golfing in Northwest Ireland.  This somewhat undiscovered golfing paradise in Ireland will be the destination for an upcoming golfing journey by Irish Golf Vacations North American Director Rick Hetzel; freelance writer, Sam Blackwell and a small group of lucky golfers, who will spend a week in March 2011 exploring the golf courses, pubs, hotels, and Irish hospitality or “Craic”.

Freelance writer Sam Blackwell, an avid golfer and frequent playing partner with Hetzel in the United States, will be chronicling their experiences in a daily blog on the company’s website (irishgolfvacations.net/blog).  According to Hetzel, “Sam is an excellent writer with keen insight and a love for the spirit of golf.

Blackwell, a seasoned journalist and college professor, also has a weekly column in the Southeast Missourian Newspaper in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  “Sam will do a great job blogging about our golfing and travel exploits in northwest Ireland. Blackwell is also planning to chronicle the events of the trip in a magazine article following the trip.”

“Although we have clients from all walks of life, this trip to northwest Ireland is designed to give the average golfer a taste of what hidden gems and great Irish communities exist off the beaten path”, said Hetzel. “Not only are there great golf courses and splendid Irish communities, there are tremendous values to be found for the traveling golfer.”

Hetzel and Irish business partner, Michael Danagher, are currently developing the itinerary for the group’s golfing journey, which will include links and parkland style courses, as well as a taste of several different hotels, restaurants, and pubs.

We are developing our travel group now, says Hetzel.  Golfers interested in joining us in March 2011 for some great golf and lots of fun should contact Rick at rick@irishgolfvacations.net.

“One warning” says Rick Hetzel – “a spirit of adventure is required”!

To follow our blog or for updates or information about golfing in Ireland, contact Rick Hetzel or Michael Danagher at www.irishgolfvactations.net.

1. If you are an avid golfer then the Ballybunion Courses, both Old and Cashen, are a must play. Located in Southwest of Ireland, County Kerry, the course is 65 miles from Shannon and presents a lovely drive to get there. The town of Ballybunion welcomes with a wonderful selection of fine restaurants, pubs, and shopping opportunities.
2. Druid’s Glen, 30 minutes South of Dublin in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow, is considered to be one of the finest new parkland courses in Ireland. Do you know how this name came? The name of the course comes from a pre-Christian stone altar discovered during the construction of the course. The altar stands today with a Druid presiding over the 12th green.
3. Royal Dublin Golf Course was the first club in Ireland to have 18 holes. Besides offering a glorious golf experience, the setting provides breathtaking scenery.
4. Lahinch, County Clare, is often described as “The St. Andrews of Ireland,” and the site also offers two courses, the Old Course and the Castle Course. The small town of Lahinch is just over 30 miles west of Shannon Airport in County Clare. The Castle Course offers the sights of Castle ruins as you play.
5. Finally, Adare Golf Club, County Limerick was host to the 2007 Irish open. The course is built around the ruins of Desmond Castle, built in 1200, and the ruins of the Franciscan Abbey, built in 1464, offering challenges and diversions.