By Mike May
During the Masters, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alison Metcalfe, an Executive Vice President for Tourism Ireland.
Q: What is the big appeal of planning a trip to Ireland?
Metcalfe: The (British) Open Championship is returning to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland next year (2025) and the Ryder Cup will be held in Ireland at Adare Manor in 2027. Golf in Ireland is in a good position right now for visiting golfers.
Q: What are some of the many appealing destinations for golfers who visit Ireland?
Metcalfe: More than one-third of all the links golf courses in the world can be found in either The Irish Republic, or Northern Ireland. There are also many inland/parkland golf courses to play, such as the K-Club and Mt. Joliet.
Q: What are the popular times of the year to travel to Ireland for golf?
Metcalfe: Most American visitors come to Ireland April through October. The best pricing is available in the ‘shoulder’ seasons, April, or October.
Q: Besides playing golf, what are other sights to see?
Metcalfe: Ireland is much more than just a golf destination. Visitors enjoy hiking along our coastline, bicycling through the countryside, visiting historic castles, attending the many annual festivals, sightseeing in Dublin, Belfast, and Shannon. Throughout Ireland, many old railway tracks have been turned into walking paths. In August, Dublin will host the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, a football game between Florida State and the Georgia Tech.
Q: What are some of the iconic views that are the must-see destinations for golfers visiting Ireland?
Metcalfe: The views from 14th hole at Royal Portrush, the entire front nine at Port Stewart, the many blind tee shots at Royal County Down, the landscaping at Carne in northwest Ireland, and the many views from the golf course at Ballyliffin.
Q: Of the many pubs scattered around Ireland, can you name a few of memorable destinations?
Metcalfe: In Dublin, I highly suggest visiting the Old Stand and Foley’s. In Belfast, two of the famous pubs are The Crown Saloon and Fibber McGee’s. The entire country is filled with great pubs, many of which serve delicious food.
Q: What are some of the more popular and historic sightseeing destinations in Ireland?
Metcalfe: Dublin has been voted one of the top ten friendliest cities in the world. The Giants Causeway, in Northern Ireland is something that everybody enjoys seeing. The West Coast of Ireland is the the longest coastal touring route in the world. Not many people realize this, but Belfast was the home of the Titanic
Q: What is the best way to travel to Ireland?
Metcalfe: Delta, American, and United and Aer Lingus have several daily trips directly to Dublin or Shannon. There are17 U.S. airports that offer direct flights to Dublin.
Q: What is the best way to book a trip to Ireland and do some research on where to go, where to stay, what to do, and where to play golf?
Metcalfe: Visit www.ireland.com/golf. There are links to experienced travel operators that specialize in golf packages for golfers, as well as the casual traveler. and tourists who want to come to Ireland.
Ireland was named Europe’s Best Golf Destination 2020 at the World Golf Awards.
