Golf School

View photos from our 2007 Golf School Vacation to Ireland here. My reviews of the courses and hotels are in red below.

Friday, August 17 Depart JFK Airport, New York @ 7.10pm on Delta #112 for Dublin, Ireland. Arrive Dublin 7.05 am. (Ireland time is 5 hours ahead of US time.)

Saturday, August 18 Upon your arrival in Dublin you will be met by your Golf Tour Manager and Driver, who will assist you with your luggage and show you to your waiting luxury motor coach. This vehicle, which is air-conditioned, features reclining seats, TV & Video Player. Transfer to the Grand Hotel in Malahide, where early check-in has been arranged. Drive time from airport - 20 minutes. This afternoon golf will be arranged at Portmarnock Golf Club. First tee time is 3.50pm. Portmarnock has hosted the lions share of The Carrols Irish Open Championships over the last several decades. It displays, what many consider, the finest use of bunkering on any course in any country. Fairly straightforward in nature, there are perils for missing nearly every green or fairway. The 14th and 15th are Portmarnock's most famous holes with the former being described by Sir Henry Cotton as "the best golf hole in the world." Played with a prevailing right to left wind off the sea, the par 3 15th may call for as much as a driver, and nearly requires you to send your ball out over the boundary fence and allow the strong breeze to bring it safely to the green. 

Portmarnock is a great golf course, unfortunately this day it rained and we did not get to experience this course at its best.  I did think that the greens were in pretty poor shape for this time of the year.  On a scale of 1 to 10 I would rate this a 7.

Overnight at The Grand Hotel.

The Grand Hotel was convienient, but having stayed at the Portmarnock Hotel attached to the Portmarnock Golf Club in the past I would reccommend that over the Grand Hotel. rating - 5

Sunday, August 19 Today after breakfast golf will be arranged at European Club. First tee time is 10.40 am.

The European Golf Club is not for sissies! This is a tough course and as they do not allow caddies, you have no help.  I would not recommend this course for high handicappers. The staff at European Club were outstanding and made us feel very welcome and were the most hospitable of all the courses by far! I would rate this a 7 (for lower handicap players)

Overnight at the Grand Hotel.

Monday, August 20 Today after breakfast you will transfer to Iragh Ti Connor Guest Inn.

Íragh Tí Connor ("The Inheritance of O'Connor") takes its name from lands held by Ciar, the first King of Kerry and his descendants, the O'Connors, who ruled the Kingdom of Kerry for over 1,000 years.

John & Joan O'Connor invite you to relax in the luxury 17 bedroom country home. The 19th Century building has recently been refurbished to the highest standard with all modern conveniences.

Íragh Tí Connor is situated within its own walled gardens at the top of Main Street, Ballybunion. This provides a unique combination of easy access to the bustle of Ballybunion whilst still preserving the privacy of the discerning guest.

A very relaxed atmosphere where you get to meet many of the locals in their frindly pub. John and Jean made sure our stay was enjoyable.  Wireless internet in all the rooms was a plus. Rating - 6.

Day is free for sightseeing.

Tuesday August 21st After breakfast golf will be arranged at Ballybunion Old Course. First tee time is 8.50am.

Ballybunion is a place of giant sandhills and deep valleys. Herbert Warren Wind, the most famous of all golf writers, once stated, "Ballybunion revealed itself to be nothing less than the finest seaside course I have ever seen." Tom Watson has often lavished the Old Course with nothing but the highest praise. From the opening hole, bordered on the right by a cemetery, the links of Ballybunion is a treat for the senses. The non-golfers may like to visit the Gap of Dunloe. This is a four mile gulch carved by glaciers. The trip can be accomplished in part or entirely by pony trap. The boulders rise high on either side and several seemingly bottomless tarns converge to form a surging stream that runs alongside the road. From the top of the gap the views are breathtakingly compounded by purple mountains, the Upper Lake and the Cummeenduff rolling into the hills.

Ballybunion is my favorite course in the whole world and it did not disappoint! This is a must play, but let me warn you - book early to guarantee tee times. This was the favorite with all our group. They treated us well and the caddy master made sure all our group has at least 2 caddies in each group. Rating - 10

After golf, transfer to the Plaza Hotel, Killarney.

Killarney Plaza Hotel was terrific! It is situated right in the middle of Killarney and has easy access to all the shops and restaurants.  I will definitely use this hotel again on future trips. Staff were great, and again wireless internet access in all the rooms was a plus. Rating - 8.

Wednesday, August 22 The morning round is at Waterville Golf Club. First tee time is 12.50 pm. This Championship links course cresting the Atlantic Ocean has been described as "a magnificent monster" by Sam Snead, and was so loved by it's founder John Mulcahy that his ashes are buried under the tee box on the seventeenth hole. Played from the Championship tees, it is the longest of the Irish courses, and certainly, some may argue, the hardest. It possesses four of the finest par 3's in all of Ireland. Golfers may like to tour the Ring of Kerry. This is a hundred mile route around the Iveragh Peninsula, which is one of the world's great scenic drives. This route, an amazing mixture of rugged mountains, winding valleys and dramatic seascapes, begins and ends in Killarney.

Waterville is another must play. The views are terrific and the course was in great shape.  Rating 8.

Overnight at the Killarney Plaza Hotel.

Thursday, August 23 Today after breakfast golf will be arranged at Tralee Golf Club. First tee time is 12.06pm. The course at Barrow is the creation of Arnold Palmer. No critic may claim that this is an "Americanized" golf course. Palmer has created a pure, unabashed links-style golf course on fertile, rugged Irish soil. The front nine plays nicely on open flat land with several memorable golf holes. It is the back nine at Tralee that grabs your attention, with its absorbing mix of mountainous dunes, carries over cavernous valleys, and a stretch of unforgettable seaside holes. Golfers may like to visit Dingle Peninsula. Here the dramatic mountains sweep down to golden beaches and stark rocks. The greens of the hills in contrast with the wildness of the scenes make Dingle an enchanted place. Dingle is a native Gaelic speaking area and the lilt of this ancient tongue adds an extra element of mystery to this hauntingly beautiful place.

Like Waterville, Tralee is a great Irish seaside links course that must not be missed.  Rating 8.

Overnight at Killarney Plaza Hotel.

Friday, August 24.  Today you play Old Head at 11.15am.

The Old Head of Kinsale is one of the most remarkable developments ever conceived in the history of golf. The Old Head is ideally located on the south coast of Ireland. The course was designed by a combination of Ireland's greatest past golfing heroes and recognized international contemporary design experts - led by Joe Carr, Ron Kirby, Paddy Merrigan and Eddie Hackett. Non-Golfers may like to sightsee in Cork. Cork is the second city of the Republic and claims to be the cultural capital. Built on an island formed by two channels of the River Lee, Cork was a monastic settlement in the 17th century. Later plundered by Norse invaders, it became a thriving center of commerce. There are many architectural pleasures to be discovered in the city, including the French Gothic cathedral and St. Anne's Shandon, where the famous Bells of Shandon are played on request

I was in heaven! To play Old Head is always a pleasure, but to play Old Head in beautiful sunshine, and very little wind is a rarety. What spectacular views. One of our participants said to me, "I have only one complaint: the views were so beautiful I couldn't concentrate on my golf game!" Rating - 9.

Today after golf you will transfer to the 5 Star Adare Manor in Adare, County Limerick.

Adare Manor was terrific and the staff exceptional.  I would highly recommend this as a place to stay. Although we did not play the course at adare, four of our group went out early one morning for 9 holes a proclaimed it a great test. I will most probably add this course to our itinerary in the future. Rating - 8.

Saturday, August 25

Lahinch Golf Club. Tee times start at 2.10pm. Known as the "St. Andrews of Ireland", the Old Course was originally laid out by Old Tom Morris. It is a classic Irish Links in every sense with plenty of blind shots, cavernous bunkers, and large, sweeping sand dunes. Holes number 5 & 6 (The Dyke and The Dell) propose that you play completely blind to your target area, and the latter has a volcanic-like green setting. A visit to Lahinch is a must for any student of the game.

Lahinch is another classic. Similar to Ballybunion but the views not quite as spectacular. Definitely a must play. Rating - 8.

Golfers may like to visit Cliffs of Moher. They stand on the edge of Ireland with the Atlantic crashing on the rocks 700 feet below and look out on the Arran Islands in the distance. A few miles from the coast is one of the strangest landscapes in Ireland, the Burren. Here there are fascinating neo-lithic tombs called dolmens, and concealed in the fissures of the rocks are some of the most exotic flora and fauna that lure botanists from around the world. And underneath are the Ailwee Caves.

Overnight at Adare Manor.

Sunday, August 26 Golf today is at Doonbeg at 2.48pm.

Doonbeg is a much anticipated links on some of Irelands most attractive dunes, with a highly acclaimed design by Greg Norman. Some of the best links land in the world!

I was very disappointed in Doonbeg. The staff were not at all friendly—dictatorial was more like it—and I think Greg Norman messed up a good piece of linksland. The Clubhouse looks like a prison and as our bus driver said, "a blight on the landscape." This is one that will be dropped from future itineraries, and the group as a whole agreed. The only plus was that the woman golfers got quite a beak on the tee positions, making it a little more woman friendly. Rating - 3.

 Monday, August 27 Today after breakfast you leave for the airport @ 6.35am and will depart Shannon @ 9.35am on Delta Flight 123 for the USA and and home. Arrive August 28, JFK 11.40 am.

Ireland 2007 Golf Vacation Package Costs

• Golfers with airfare: $6430
• Golfers without airfare $5630
• Single Supplement $1100 additional

Your trip includes:

• 9 nights accommodation, double occupancy, at hotels indicated.
• Full Irish breakfast each day.
• All transportation by motor coach, with one train trip.
• All local taxes on hotel accommodations and golf.
• All bag handling at Irish airports and hotels.
• Services of a Tour Manager/Driver throughout.
• Complete program of activities for non-golfers.
• Starting times and green fees for one round of golf at each of the following courses:
• Portmarnock, European Club, Old Head, Waterville, Tralee, Ballybunion Old Course, Lahinch and Doonbeg.

Deposits of $2000 are due immediately, with the balance due early 2007.

Cancellation Policy: Written notice of your cancellation should be mailed to P.O. Box 2580, Pawleys Island, SC 29585 or faxed to 843-237-8397 as soon as possible. Cancellation fees are as follows:

• $2000 is non-refundable
• No refund will be given within 7 days of departure.

In no case will refunds be made for unused portions of the booked itinerary. Total Golf Inc. reserves the right to cancel, change or substitute any service and to decline to accept or retain any tour member at any time for any reason.

Golf Carts: Pull carts are available at most golf courses. Motorized carts are only available on a limited basis at very few courses and must be requested in advance; however, they cannot be guaranteed. All cart fees must be paid by the golfer directly to the Golf Club. (not included in the price of a tour.)

Caddies: Approximate cost is 20 pounds plus tip and can be requested in advance at most golf clubs. Payment is made by the golfer directly to the Golf Club or Caddie. (not included in the price of a tour).

Changes: Once a program has been booked and confirmed, an administrative fee of $30.00 will be charged for each subsequent change in the tour.

Course Selection: All golf is subject to course availability. In the event a particular course is unavailable, a course of equal value will be substituted. The actual sequence of the courses listed In our scheduled tours may also change due to course availability.

Documents: Upon receipt of full payment, traveler will receive a detailed itinerary and all necessary, travel documents within ten days of departure.

Handicaps: It is suggested that all golfers carry a current handicap certificate as an increasing number of courses require visiting players to be a member of a golf club.

Insurance: Travel insurance for accident, baggage and trip cancellation protection is recommended. Details and applications are provided to all passengers with confirmed reservations or upon request. The policy cannot be purchased after final payment is received.

Passports: U.S. citizens are required to have a current passport. No exceptions will be made.

Prices: All tour costs are provided in U.S. Dollars and are subject to change due to currency fluctuation.

Responsibilities: Total Golf Inc. has contracted with independent contractors in securing and booking the services provided in their tours and is not responsible for any negligent act and/or omissions of these independent contractors, their employees, agents, servants or representatives. Total Golf Inc.gives notice that in issuing coupons, vouchers or tickets for travel conveyance or transport by any means, and in making arrangements for golf, hotels or other accommodations, they are acting not as principals but as agents only for the companies, corporations or persons providing or offering their service. Total Golf Inc. is not responsible or liable, with respect to person or property, for any loss, damage, injury, accident, delay or irregularity however sustained or suffered during any trip or tour arranged by them. The responsibility and liability of international air carriers are subject to international conventions limiting their liability, which limitations of liability are contained on the reverse side of your airline ticket and form part of the terms end conditions hereof.

To make your reservations, or to find out more, please call us toll-free at 1-800-624-4653, or send us an email.